1. Bilingual books
2. Board books
3. Indigenous languages
4. Nursery rhymes
5. Parent and child
6. Sky
7. Stars
8. Tiwi people (N20) (NT SC52-16)

‘Ngirringirri Kirijinga Japalinga’ is a board book created by the Families as First Teachers and Bubs at Pirlingimpi on Melville Island in the Tiwi Island group.

The book’s title translates as Shining Little Star and is based on the well-known nursery rhyme ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’. It has been published as two books, one in Tiwi with the other including both Tiwi and English. A QR code on the back cover of both editions provides an opportunity to listen to the song sung in Tiwi.

The text of six lines is simple and poetic, accompanied by the black night sky with stars of different sizes embellished with various colours and set against the black background. The star shape reappears in different colours and sizes. Adults and young children have an opportunity to share both story and illustrations.

1. Northern Territory Government Department of Education and Training ‘Families as First Teachers’ https://education.nt.gov.au/support-for-teachers/faft
2. Tiwi Islands Regional Council ‘Pirlangimpi: Publishing Books https://www.tiwiislands.nt.gov.au/the-region/pirlangimpi.aspx
3. Indigenous Literacy Foundation ‘Community Publishing: Publishing Books written by Community’ https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/community-literacy-programs