Minimbah Primary School students have become the first in the nation to receive a pack of books encouraging healthy living after hosting the launch of the series.
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The program, funded by the Aboriginal Literacy Fund, will see 80,000 early-reader books given to 20,000 indigenous students across Australia, with Minimbah students getting the first taste of the packs.
The four books in the series carry health and wellbeing messages and were written to reflect Aboriginal characters and interests. Principal Carolyn Briggs said the school was pleased to be chosen to host the launch.
“We’re really just happy to do anything that will encourage reading in the home,” she said.
The book was launched at the school on Monday, with the students putting on performances including singing, ukuleles and clapping sticks for the occasion.
Author Jennifer Cooper-Trent, illustrator Evette Morgan and creative director Don Trent visited the school for the launch.
Ms Cooper-Trent is the Sydney based author of the reading program Fantastic Phonics, which has been used in indigenous communities and in countries including Rwanda, Liberia and Bangladesh and said she wanted to help disadvantaged children.
“This happened because I wanted to do something for our own indigenous children,” she said.
