First Nations' Stories & NAIDOC Week Reading Challenge
06 Jun 2023
Running from Sunday 2 July to Sunday 9 July, NAIDOC Week is an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Parents, carers, librarians, educators and more are encouraged to explore picture books from our digital collection during this week with children, as an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
Discover engaging and inspiring titles for NAIDOC Week and beyond, via our First Nations’ Stories collection, and join our Reading Challenge to go beyond the book, with links to stories, resources and more, to explore in the classroom, at the library or at home, with 24/7 access to a world of stories.
Encourage young kids to enhance their knowledge of First Nations’ stories, histories, cultures and more by participating in the Story Box Library Reading Challenge in four easy steps:
Watch the story read.
Learn more with Short Films.
Play with Activity Time.
Borrow and discover more!
1. Watch the story read
Find titles in our growing First Nations’ Stories collection, created and read by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creators, storytellers and more. Explore stories suitable for all age groups, including:
What does it mean to be a citizen of Australia? Read by Gunnai writer and multi-disciplinary artist Kirli Saunders, written by Duncan Smith and Nicole Godwin and with beautiful paintings by Jandamarra Cadd, We Are Australians celebrates all those who live on this land. Shortlisted in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards 2023, New Illustrator shortlist.
Come Together: Things Every Aussie Kid Should Know about the First Peoples
A heart-warming story for children aged 5 and up from pop artist Isaiah Firebrace, inspired by his petition to the Australian Government calling for Aboriginal history to be taught in every classroom. In this essential book, Isaiah, a Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara man, establishes a foundation of First Nations knowledge with 20 key topics. Alongside bright and contemporary illustrations by Mununjali and Fijian artist Jaelyn Biumaiwai, Isaiah connects us to each topic through his own personal story and culture, from the importance of Elders to the Dreaming. Shortlisted in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards 2023, Eve Pownall shortlist.
Here are seven inspiring stories about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from history. Each colourful spread tells a compelling story that every Australian should know about incredible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander icons. Written by Karen Wyld, illustrated by Jaelyn Biumaiwai and read by Tamala Shelton. Shortlisted in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards 2022, Eve Pownall shortlist.
Adapted from Briggs’ celebrated song 'The Children Came Back', Our Home, Our Heartbeat is a celebration of past and present First Nations legends, as well as emerging generations, and at its heart honours the oldest continuous culture on earth. Viewers will enjoy Briggs' distinctive voice and contagious energy as he reads Our Home, Our Heartbeat, illustrated by Kate Moon and Rachael Sarra.
2. Learn more with Short Films
Giilang means ‘Story' in Wiradjuri. What does Story mean to you?
Meet the storytellers of First Nations’ Stories (formerly known as Indigenous Story Time), as they reflect on what Story means to them and their families, and the ways we share our experiences and identities.
3. Play with Activity Time
Story Box Library’s Activity Time resources help children go beyond the book with creative activities, resources and more, via video instructions and downloadable PDFs. Find Activity Time instructions on the Activity tab via each story page.
Active subscribers can also find dedicated activities linked to stories in our digital collection, via our Resources page.
Our Home, Our Heartbeat - Activity Time
After watching Our Home, Our Heartbeat, kids can create their own frames and collages, to be used as inspiration for who they could be when they grow up. Find this Activity Time on the Our Home, Our Heartbeat story page.
4. Borrow and discover more!
Using bookmarks from our Reading Challenge resources, encourage students and children to borrow hard copies of stories from our First Nations’ Stories collection in their school or public library, leaving book reviews for other borrowers to find!
Watch Sharing First Nations’ stories in the classroom with Jasmine Seymour
In our first Professional Development (PD) event with a focus on First Nations’ stories, artist and educator Jasmine Seymour shares in-depth knowledge about how educators can facilitate First Nations’ stories confidently in the classroom, in a discussion with Story Box Library Founder and CEO Nicole Brownlee. This event is suitable for parents, educators, librarians and anyone interested in using children’s literature for greater awareness and understanding of First Nations’ languages, cultures, heroes and histories. Special guest Chloe Lumsden also shares how to build a meaningful Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for your school community.
