The Book Buzz project aims to raise literacy levels of young children living
in remote communities by recognising the need for early experience and contact with
books.
You can make a genuine contribution to the life a child in a remote Indigenous community
by sending a book pack which contains 12 wonderful books.
Each Book Buzz pack costs $140AUD.
How the Book Buzz project works
Book Buzz provides babies, toddlers and preschool children with access
to a wonderful set of 12 early childhood books. These books are selected by an Indigenous
literacy specialist in consultation with childrens’ book specialists from within
the Book Industry. The program was launched in 2009 in Manyallaluk (east of the
Katherine Region) and in 2010-2011 is being trialled and launched in Wilcannia (North
West NSW) as well as in Warburton (WA). Read
Andy Griffiths report on a field trip to Warburton at the end of 2010 and
progress of Book Buzz in that community.
Step 1: Book packs are gifted to babies and preschoolers at a special
event (eg an afternoon or morning tea, or a barbecue), decided in consultation with
communities. In some communities, such as Warburton, selected titles have been translated
into local language. A local Indigenous ambassador is appointed to explain the project
at the event and to work and provide support within the community (for example,
at mothers’ groups and childcare centres). The event provides an opportunity to
showcase reading skills of older children as well as the celebrating the joy of
reading.
Step 2: Multiple copies of the set of books are delivered into
schools. Ideally, school students and interested community members and parents (Book
Buddies) are taught how to read the books, pointing to the images etc, enabling
them to engage preschoolers and babies in written storytelling. Hopefully this will
eventually produce a flow-on effect of older siblings reading to younger ones.
Step 3: A second set of Book Buzz kits are selected and
gifted to the community and local schools. Further support to develop a culture
of literacy within community is implemented. For example, in Manyallaluk, 'RIDIMBAT
LANGA OLA BIGINNINI, READING WITH CHILDREN', a book developed in local language
for elders within community, is published and launched.
Step 4: Strengthen local ambassador support and evaluation.
Step 5: If initial trials go well and we manage to get the support
of elders as ambassadors, we will seek to roll the program out in other remote communities.
Why is early literacy so important?
The gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students emerges early and in remote
and isolated communities, this gap is even wider (find out why
here.) Non-Indigenous students far out-perform Indigenous students in benchmark
tests for reading, writing and numeracy in Year 3 and Year 5. By Year 7, the gap
has widened, particularly for numeracy. (DEET NT 2006)
Indigenous homes, particularly those in remote communities, have fewer books, computers
and other educational resources than non-Indigenous homes, making it very difficult
for young children to have the kind of continuous contact with books and reading
that is necessary for developing early literacy skills. Book Buzz packs
are donated both to the schools and to families with young children, by which we
hope to instill the personal love of books and story that we in the bookselling
industry enjoy, as well as promoting their accessibility as an educational tool.
In the Northern Territory, only one in five children living in very remote Indigenous
communities can read at the accepted minimum standard. By Year 7, just 15% achieved
this benchmark, 47 percentage points behind their urban Indigenous peers and 74
percent less than non-Indigenous students. (DEET NT 2006)
More than half of Indigenous families living in very remote communities speak an
Indigenous language in the home. (ABS, 2001) Their children need extra assistance
at school and from the community to learn English as a second language – we hope
to provide the tools for the communities to be able to give the extra help needed.
Why English?
Being able to understand and communicate well in ‘Standard Australian English’ is
important for the life opportunities of Indigenous children and youth. Literacy
in English 'provides them with the necessary skills to interact within mainstream
society and avail themselves of the broadest range of civic, social, educational
and employment possibilities'. (Mellor and Corrigan, 2004). It is also vital to
self-expression and identity in a wider Australia and world context – a concept
which is at the heart of understanding and reconciliation between Non-Indigenous
and Indigenous Australians.
The books selected for the Book Buzz pack are,
- Animals: An Indigenous First Discovery Book by Debbie Austin
- Aussie Toddlers Can from Magabala Books
- Aussie Two's Like To... from Magabala
Books
- An Australian 1 2 3 of Animals by Bronwyn Bancroft
- Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
- I Went Walking by Sue Machin and Julie Vivas
- People and Places: An Indigenous First Discovery Book by Debbie Austin
- Frog (Usborne Cloth Book) by Fiona Watt and Rachel Wells
- That's Not My Truck by Fiona Watt and Rachel Wells
- These are My Hands by Judy Horacek
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
- Where is the Green Sheep by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek