1. Animals
2. Barramundi
3. Board books
4. Children as artists
5. Cockatoos
6. Indigenous languages
7. Kangaroos
8. Koalas
9. SC52-16)
10. Teaching
11. Tiwi Islands (NT SC52-15

‘Arlamunga’ is the Tiwi language version of a series of books created by various community groups and facilitated by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF). This program grew from the excitement generated by ‘The Barramundi Song’ sung to the tune ‘Frere Jacques’. This has now been translated into several First Nations languages and each community is adding their own unique take through the illustrations and the choice of animals.

The Tiwi edition celebrates through art and song, the barramundi, the cockatoo, a cuddly koala and a kangaroo. The illustrations created by the children of Pularumpi School on Melville Island are bright, lively and full of character particularly the cockatoos. There is a QR code on the back cover that enables readers to hear the book spoken in Tiwi.

The creation of these board books is part of the ILF’s ongoing Community Literacy Program which endeavours to work with First Nations communities to create culturally appropriate books in their language. The ILF believe ‘each of these board books will help the current generation of parents and their little ones living in these remote communities become more confident in learning and reading their first languages.’

1. Indigenous Literacy Foundation ‘From barramundi to the kookaburra — turning songs and nursery rhymes into board books in first languages.’ https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/news-events/from-barramundi-to-the-kookaburra-turning-songs-and-nursery-rhymes-into-board-books-in-first-languages
2. Indigenous Literacy Foundation Jessica Mauboy sings The Barramundi Song in Mangarrayi and Tiwi https://www.facebook.com/betterreadingkids/videos/1653755811440436/
3. The Sector 22 June 2021. Freya Lucas reports ‘Songs and nursery rhymes become board books to boost First Nations languages’ https://thesector.com.au/2021/06/22/songs-and-nursery-rhymes-become-board-books-to-boost-first-nations-languages/
4. Indigenous Literacy Foundation ‘Community Literacy Programs’ https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/community-literacy-programs
5. Northern Territory Government BushTel. Pirlangimpi - Melville Island. Site of Pularumpi School https://bushtel.nt.gov.au/profile/411