Indij Readers for little fellas, for big fellas
various
authors, (series) Indij Readers, Rockdale, NSW, 2008
A series of small guided readers suitable for primary school people,
but aimed at low reading ability students particularly Aboriginal
students, this series is delightful. Each of the books is well
illustrated, has bold large print, and 16 – 24 pages long. Each has a
simple premise, but is told with charm and insight. Each of the stories
aims to explore a contemporary Indigenous issue, and so support the
idea of Reconciliation.
Our Aunty Sharon (by Chasity Prior, Kelli McIntosh, Philip
Murray,
Sharon Hughes and Karen Briggs) tells the story of Aunty Sharon who is
a volunteer in the classroom, helping the kids read, plays football
with them, gets cross with them but is always their Aunty Sharon. There
are about 10 sentences, each with a variety of words and sounds, and
each page has another question at the bottom of the page, so offering a
range of sentence structures.
Firewood and Rabbits (by Ron Jackson and David Leffler) tells
the story
of Ron Jackson's early life when he lived at Balranald on a mission
station. He and his brothers used their father's axe to fashion a raft
out of the roof of an old FJ Holden to get across the river to find
wood. It is a story about making do, and families and working together.
Dreamtime at the 'G (by Alinta Hayes and Andrew Nelson) will
have huge
appeal to middle school students, with its history of the AFL and the
games played at the MCG in Melbourne. The book shows the development of
the game from Gaelic and Marn Grook, to racism in the game and
Aboriginal players over the years. It's a winner.
Lake Mungo, our story (by Johnno Mitchell, Leanne Taylor, Naomi
Carr,
Raeleen Berriman, Ron Jackson, Roslyn Thorpe, Vanessa Dyke and Wendy
McDougall) This wonderful little book uses a variety of fonts and
design to present information about Lake Mungo. It presents the flora
and fauna of the area, and shows the erosion, the fossils and talks
about the finding of Mungo Man and Mungo Woman, buried in the area.
Each of the books is most interesting to read and a set of these will
add to the guided reading boxes in the classroom. A Teacher's handbook
comes with the set, giving ideas about using the series, as well as
information about what to look for in each book.
(info@indijreaders.com.au or visit www.indijreaders.com.au)
Fran Knight