Summer Reading Aboriginal Culture

In an Australian context, Aboriginal culture refers to the culture of the first Australians, which spans back some 40 to 60 thousand years. Well before white folk arrived in Australia there existed a vibrant, fascinating and rich culture that varied according to location and language around the country. Today, many people are working hard to ensure that at least some of this cultural background and tradition is retained.

Fremantle Press, an Australian publishing house from Western Australia, has established a strong catalogue of books that represent the Western Australian indigenous community. In doing so, they are helping to keep alive the culture, language and traditions as well as the stories that relate to the indigenous people of their region. Strong writing combined with bright, contemporary illustrations mean that these books are appealing to a wide audience. They have great appeal in a teaching situation as they are written to suit the reading needs of primary (elementary) students and to encourage discussion, critical thinking and wider reading beyond the original text.

'How Frogmouth found her home' is the latest picture story book to add to your Aboriginal summer reading list. Written by author / illustrator Ambelin Kwaymullina (Fremantle Press, 2010). It tells the tale of how an indiengous bird, the frogmouth, learnt to help the other bush creatures and found her place in the sky alongside the moon as the first star. This book is terrific for introducing younger children to the various Australian animals and birds, and is a great starting point for an environmental discussion related to species conservation and the importance of preserving habitat for the benefit of all indigenous species. The bright illustrations promote close attention to detail and the simple text encourages independent reading. Activities to try include:

1. conducting a webquest to find out more about Australian indigenous animals
2. reading the story as part of a small group and discussing the characters and plot
3. talking about the notion of 'helping' each other and think of ways of offering help to others in the school community

The two latest chapter books in the Fremantle collection are also a useful find for teachers of early primary children. Aimed at readers in around Grade 1 to 2, both 'The Magic Fair' (Sally Morgan) and 'Barlay!' (Cheryl Kickett-Tucker) are written using a wonderful clear text (perfect for children who struggle with their visual tracking skills) and a combination of black and white illustrations and well laid out text with around four pages to a chapter will enhance reading comprehension. The bright, cheery covers will make both these books frequent borrowers on the shelves of the classroom.

Activities to try include:

1. Finding out more about writer Sally Morgan and sharing some of her other stories for children, as well as learning about her artwork
2. Talking about stories that are told to scare children for specific purposes in other cultures (eg. Red Riding Hood and the big bad wolf)
3. Friendship and being a friend

Whatever your teaching situation, encourage your students to read widely and experience writing from various cultures to help them learn about the world beyond their own location. These suggestions for your aboriginal summer reading collection should provide a good starting point!