For many children their stories, their experiences, their landscapes are simply not there. And, sometimes when they are there they are tokens rather than tales written in their voices.
Kick With My Left Foot by Paul Seden and Karen Briggs is a part of a initiative that sets about to change this. It is produced in the Emerging Indigenous Picture Book Mentorship Project which is a joint initiative between The Little Big Bookclub and Allen and Unwin, it also received support from the Australian Government. It makes me happy that there are these kind of initiatives about. Getting a picture book in front of a publisher is no mean feat and I can see these kind of hurdles might make it especially difficult for minorities (of whatever type) to get their books considered.
The book is simple tale of a little boy who loves his footy. It uses repeated language patterns that are so appealing to young readers and the illustrations really represent the Australian landscape.
I hope that books like these will encourage young indigenous readers to see themselves as valid and their experiences as valid. I hope for non-indigenous readers it will encourage them to recognise that we are all similar and different in the best possible ways.
I like this simple tale and we will enjoy sharing it with little visitors and my big five year old will be able to read this one aloud himself which is a special achievement for him too.
Details - Published June 2014 by Allen & Unwin. RRP $19.99 AU
love you more than a perfect kick xxx
