ILF launches parenting guide, republishes Australia’s first Aboriginal children’s book

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) will launch its latest community literacy project, a resource to help parents prepare their children for school, in Broken Hill this week.

Ready for School in Wilcannia was written by former school principal Patrick Ellis in conjunction with the Paakantji Language Circle, with editing, design and production assistance from ‘a creative team of editors at Penguin Australia’, ILF executive director Karen Williams told Books+Publishing.

‘The book has been a wonderful collaboration between community and publishers, made possible by a grant from the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.’

Williams said the book came about when parents of the Wilcannia community in north-western NSW asked for practical assistance to prepare their children for school. Copies of the book will be presented to parents and community members at the launch.

The foundation has also recently republished Australia’s first Aboriginal children’s book The Legends of Moonie Jarl, written and illustrated by Butchulla siblings Moonie Jarl and Wandi. First published in 1964, the book tells the stories of the Butchulla people, the Indigenous people of Fraser Island and the Fraser Coast in Queensland. It is available to order through Pan Macmillan and the ILF website here.

Tags: ilf

Category: Local news