Having a book of your own

At Pormpuraaw, on the remote west coast of Cape York Peninsula, kids aged from 0 to 12 years are increasingly enthralled by books from ILF. “Definitely with more access to books the kids are showing more interest in reading.”

Books from our Foundation have been delivered to Pormpuraaw, a remote community on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula, for the past five years. And kids aged from 0 to 12 years are increasingly enthralled by them.

“They are now more willing to sit down and read [them] or just look through the pictures,” says Erin Kendall, the Children’s Services Director at the Pormpur Paanthu Aboriginal Corporation. “Definitely with more access to books the kids are showing more interest in reading.”

Some of the books go into the community library so families can access the books. Others are sent to the school, where “every classroom offers a range of books”. Many of the books are used daily in the Long Day Care and Outside School Hours Care centres.

Among the kids at the Outside School Hours Care Centre, the big hits are The Guiness Book of Records, as well as books about magic and jokes, although dinosaurs maintain their perennial appeal.

Books from our Book Supply are also gifted to children in the community to ensure there are books in as many homes in Pormpuraaw as possible.

On Indigenous Literacy Day on 6 September last year, the Outside School Hours Care Centre held a special afternoon tea for the kids. After refreshments, activities and storytime each of the 5- to 12-year-olds who came along was able to choose a book to take home and keep.

“They were so excited,” says Erin. “We hadn’t told them beforehand they were going to get a book and still 32 turned up.”

There were virtually no disputes over the book choices. And some of the kids helped their siblings and friends to choose books, according to what they thought they’d like.

“It’s an amazing program. The kids absolutely love the books. And they are of such high quality.”

• Posted 31 December, 2019