Aboriginal students in lutruwita/Tasmania have informed the development of a series of reader books for our schools.
The Our Country Decodable Readers is a new series for early years learners. The books reflect the experiences of Aboriginal students in lutruwita/Tasmania.
The students shared the places, plants, animals and life experiences they wanted to see in the books. Their ideas helped shape the images, settings and stories. Some of the students also appear as characters.
Aboriginal illustrator Emma Robertson brought the stories to life.
The series is being developed through the Tasmanian Government’s Lifting Literacy initiative. The books support children to learn to read while seeing themselves, their culture and Country reflected in the texts they use to learn.
The first set of books started arriving in schools as we celebrated Indigenous Literacy Day on 2 September.
Representation matters
Lainee is one of the young people who shared her ideas for the series. She said the books challenged stereotypes around what an Aboriginal person looked like.
“Growing up, my siblings and I didn’t have shows with characters like us,” Lainee said.
“Representation helps close the gaps and disconnect many indigenous people feel. Seeing someone that looks like you and comes from the same background helps empower young people and helps educate others.”
The books are for everyone
Emma Robertson said the books were for everyone and showed that Aboriginal children belong in everyday stories.
“Non Aboriginal children need to open a book and see Aboriginal kids too,” Emma said. “Not as something separate, not as something that only appears during a week of the school year, but simply as their classmates, their friends, and kids that they share the community with.”