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Australian Book Week 2011 - ONE WORLD, MANY STORIES

Australia Book Week is here, do you have a story ready?

This year’s book Australian week will run from August 20th to August 26^th, and the Australia Book Council has issued a shortlist of books that you can read to your young child, or buy for your older one. But first, have you ever stopped to wonder why we tell stories and what we achieve through them?

Storytelling was and is an essential art in many cultures. From the earliest times, before the written word came into existence, it was the only way to preserve a community’s traditions, rituals, faith, practices etc. In the present day context, storytelling is a way of remembering those communities and creating new experiences. For example, Pocahontas, one of the first celebrated tales of American literature, provides an insight into the early life of Native Americans, telling us about their history, culture and traditions.

Stories are also key in binding people and cultures together.

We learn to respect diversity through stories, and we understand traditions, values and customs. In the present world where countless cultures co-exist, respect, acceptance and tolerance are integral lessons for children. What better way to establish this than through telling a story?

Take for instance Our World: Bardi Jaawi life at Ardiyooloon, a book on the reading short list. It transports readers to One Arm Point, a remote Indigenous community 200km north of Broome in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Our World, which was created by the school’s children and cultural team, will help the reader see the connection of the Bardi Jaawi people to the land and sea, and their efforts to retain those links. 

The book is also an excellent representative of the Bardi Jaawi as it shares children’s experiences of camping and fishing, traditional stories and dances, kinship chart, how to track, cook and eat bush tucker, and make spears, boomerangs, bough shelters, bush brooms and so much more

Its stories like these that make the reading room a richer place.

They bring us face-to-face with indigenous cultures and show that no matter where we belong, stories on culture help us understand the fascinating history of our roots.

This not only makes us more literate, but we also become more culturally aware of the society around us. We stop seeing people based solely on face value; we learn about their traditions, customs, lifestyle, dress codes, as well as their religious and spiritual beliefs, equipping us with a greater social and cultural sense.

It is also interesting to know that multiple cultures shared similar stories like creation myths and the great flood stories. Creation ex nihilo, Latin for “out of nothing”, is a story that evolved from ancient Egypt, the Rig Veda, the Bible and the Quran.

It is shared by diverse multiple cultures in Africa, Asia, Oceania and North America.  The stories often keep people riveted to their seat till the end, and speak about how the world is created by the alluring act of the creator.

While modern day stories don’t dwell on the creation myth so much, they definitely help us assess our place on the planet in relationship with others. Mirror - from the Australia Book week short list - is a wonderful example of this!

In the children's book Mirror, two diverse cultures, countries and families are linked with warmth and charm. This creative two-in-one picture book comprises two stories that are meant to be read simultaneously – one from the left, the other from the right – mimicking the different ways text can be read.

Page by page, the reader experiences a day in the lives of two boys and their families.

An Australian family, whose way of life strikes a familiar chord, and a family from a far away country with a way of life that differ more than one can imagine. As the stories unfold, the reader discovers that we are all the mirror of each other – driven by similar emotions and needs.

Stories are also a way to travel to places without the need for the various formalities that accompany such a trip.

This truth is showcased by another reading selection titles Why I Love Australia. In this magnificent celebration of country, Bronywn Bancroft – a descendant of the Bundjalung people of Northern New South Wales – uses both images and words to explore the awe-inspiring beauty of the Australian continent, and to express the depth of her feelings for it.  Why I love Australia is a superb and unique showcase of reverance for landscape.

There are more benefits to reading stories together.

Reading aloud to children makes them feel special and gives them the benefit of your love and attention. They form a deep emotional bond with you, forming one-in-one communication with you. It helps children learn new words and actions, thereby steering them to the road of academic and intellectual success.

By the act of listening, the child’s attention span increases, developing their ability to concentrate for a period of time. Children learn to express their feelings more confidently, thereby becoming expressive.

Moreover, their natural curiosity is developed and fostered, improving their ability to imagine. It is also a great way to teach and be taught. What more can you ask for when fun and learning come together in this unique experience of parent and child bonding?

The Iranian philosopher Bahaullah once said, “So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth!”

This is indeed true and there is no better way to inculcate the phenomenon of unity than with books.

Books break barriers and touch our souls on the matters of culture and tradition. We break free from the concepts of cultural differences and disparities, respecting the diversity of the world around us. It is therefore our duty and responsibility to make children around us culturally aware, so as to foster a sense of peace and unity in the world.

Take one of Australia’s most popular stories – ‘How the Water Got to the Plains?’  It’s an engaging narration for kids about the Aboriginal community as it revolves around the legendary account of how water reached the plains of Australia while talking about how the Aborigines always kept the interests of the community first.

Similarly, then there are folk tales like the Panchatantra and Jataka tales from India that provide an engrossing cultural learning experience for li’l ones.  These stories with their morals and values are relevant even in the present day as they understand important morals and behavior through them.

Article written on behalf of Global Kids Oz by Annie Besant