Published on Monday, 14 April 2025 at 10:36:02 AM
Four children’s storybooks were launched in Mount Barker last week in a celebration of community collaboration and cultural inclusivity.
The Reading for Generations project was initiated in August 2022 to encourage Menang Noongar and Hazara families to develop their children’s early literacy skills.
Each children's story has a strong link to Plantagenet or its community.
Former Mount Barker Community College student Ali Sina Azimi created two stories based on folk tales his family used to share with him: The Farmer and the Snakes and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.
Menang Noongar elder Jeanice Krakouer shared the story of Little Boy Lost, as told to her by her late father, Eric Krakouer.
Family and friends of Bella Kelly worked alongside children’s author and illustrator Leanne White to create a moving account of Bella’s history, focusing on how Bella used her paintings to give herself strength during difficult times.
Mount Barker Community College Year 4, 5 and 6 students illustrated the stories with support from art teacher Jay Klinac and Leanne White.
The story text includes a translation to Noongar or Hazaragi language, and each book includes a link to sound-files of the stories being read in English, Noongar or Hazaragi and ideas and instructions for interactive play-based learning activities.
The four storybooks were launched on 3 April at Mount Barker Community College to a crowd of proud students, authors, project supporters and the media.
During the launch, Jeanice Krakouer gave a powerful reading of Little Boy Lost, which spectators described as moving, followed by Sina Azimi’s reading of The Farmer and the Snakes.
Requests for the storybooks have been received from the State Library of Western Australia, National Library of Australia and many public libraries. Anyone can source their own copy (hard copy or digital) globally via Amazon.com.au
The State Library of WA’s Better Beginnings program co-funded the Reading for Generations project with the Shire of Plantagenet.
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