The Backyard Games

A joyful celebration of the sports, ceremony and fun of the Games from the team that brought you Cricket, I Just Love it!

What a glorious day for the Backyard Games!
Who will be champions, household names?
I jump on my bike and round up my mates.
We visualise glory, think of the greats.

Create all the fun and drama of the Games in your own backyard - your imagination is the only limit!

Exuberantly written and illustrated, The Backyard Games is a celebration of summer and sport from the creators of Cricket, I Just Love It!

About the Author

Alister Nicholson is one of Australia's best-known radio and TV sports commentators. He is a leading voice on Channel Seven's AFL and cricket coverage and has commentated many of the biggest sporting events in the world, including the Summer and Winter Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, AFL Grand Finals and Test cricket. Alister grew up in Penguin on the north-west coast of Tasmania and began his broadcasting career on ABC Radio. His first children's book, Cricket, I Just Love It!, was published in 2021.

About the Illustrator

Tom Jellett has illustrated a number of books for children including Whale in the Bath by Kylie Westaway, The Gobbledygook is Eating a Book by Justine Clarke and Arthur Baysting, and My Dad Thinks He's Funny by Katrina Germein. Tom has also been an editorial illustrator for News Limited and been included in the Editorial and Book category for Illustrators 53, exhibited at the Society of Illustrators, New York in 2011 and 2013. He was also included in Communication Arts Illustration Annual 2012, 3x3 Children's Show No. 9, and was Highly Commended in the 2013 Illustrators Australia Awards.