World Read Aloud Day!
Today is World Read Aloud Day! As a book-loving Mum who wants to instil in her children this same love of reading, I am an avid supporter of reading aloud to children. Story-telling, especially at bedtime, is such a special time for connection and coming together as a family. Reading aloud also:
Helps children increase their attention span
Assists in language development
Encourages imaginative thinking
Helps build a child’s comprehension
To celebrate this day, we thought we would highlight our top five Indigenous storybooks to read aloud to under five’s!
Found, by Bruce Pascoe - This gentle story set in the rugged Australian bush is about a small calf who becomes separated from his family. The little calf is alone and simply wants his mother, sisters and brothers. He can see other animals, and after running to the river, manages to ask some horses if they are his family. The calf’s family have been taken away in the back of a noisy truck. So begins the little calf’s journey to find his family.
My Story, by Shirley Purdie - This is the story of Shirley Purdie, famous Gija artist, as told through her paintings. In this gorgeous book, she speaks of bush tucker, of ceremony, of dance and art.
Hello to You, Moon, by Sally Morgan - A beautiful counting book which celebrates the animals who come out at night in the beautiful moonlight.
A Home for Bilby, by Joanne Crawford - A book which takes children on a journey through the Australian outback and the habitats of the animals that live there. Join Kangaroo, Emu, Platypus, Wombat and Koala as they help find a home for their new friend, Bilby.
The Last Dance, by Sally Morgan - Everyone needs a home, but some Australian creatures are losing theirs. From sandstone ridges to tropical beaches, from coastal woodlands to alpine streams, habitats are shrinking and changing. The animals in this book need help, and we are the only ones who can give it.
