Yarning Strong A Christmas Ya Won't Forget

Warning to First Nations Peoples: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that the contents in Yarning Strong may include names and images of people now deceased.

Regan and Riley live near the beach. They enjoy the surf and an outdoor lifestyle. Every second year, the family visit their Irish relatives for the Christmas holidays. The children enjoy playing in the snow, going to church on Christmas Day and eating a traditional Irish Christmas lunch. When Regan and Riley’s Aboriginal grandparents tell them they have been given back their traditional land, they invite the family to visit so that Regan and Riley will know their heritage. The family agrees, despite the long drive and the heat in the country. After they arrive, everyone sets out to gather food for a traditional bush tucker Christmas lunch. They collect everything they need from their own land, and Regan and Riley enjoy a swim in the river. The lunch is delicious, and the family plan to return to their land every second year.

A Christmas Ya Won't Forget is part of the Yarning Strong series, a vibrant and purposeful series of novels and anthologies by First Nations authors, created to inspire Years 3–6 students while supporting meaningful classroom learning. Rich in story, voice and perspective, each text offers teachers and students authentic opportunities to explore First Nations cultures and experiences through high‑quality literature.

Themes: Importance of land • Knowing your family heritage • Different traditions celebrate in different ways