NCACL launches First Nations children’s book resource
The National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature (NCACL) has produced a new, freely accessible database of children’s books by and about Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Stage one, partially funded by the Commonwealth Department of Education, offers over 300 books for children up to and including 12 years of age. Each book is annotated and includes related resources with subjects, curriculum links and teaching notes.
A team of experts including First Nations and culturally diverse teachers, librarians, parents, professionals in early learning and childcare centres, publishers, editors, reviewers, booksellers, authors, illustrators, researchers and academics with knowledge of Australian children’s literature and literacy were involved in the selection the books for the database. A reference group and the NCACL project team provided leadership and guidance throughout.
NCACL says the resource, which is aimed at Indigenous and non-Indigenous parents, caregivers, home schooling groups, teachers, librarians and those working with young people in childcare centres, early learning centres, health and social services, will be ‘particularly useful to teachers addressing the Early Years Learning Framework and the Australian Curriculum, as well as those adults exploring creative writing and art with young people’.
The resource currently spans books published from 1974 to June 2020 and will be continuously updated. Books suitable for older children through to secondary school will be available in stage two, if funding can be sourced.
Category: Junior Local news