Cherbourg teacher Martina Jacobs asks the year 4/5 class to write a story using positional language (prepositions) in answer to the question, ‘Where is Nana?’. Children from three schools then came together to create both text and illustrations as a Budburra Books Project.
This is a simple but inventive story which offers surprises as readers wonder where Nana could be. The prepositions suggest a very adventurous Nana. Each left hand double page spread asks a simple question containing a preposition. On the right hand page is a bold, simply drawn, lushly coloured, lively and inventive illustration answering the question. Readers will discover that it is not Nana who is up the ladder, outside the shop, inside the hospital, under the Bunya tree, over the hill, with the football team, behind the Ration Shed, beside the horse or between the cars. The answer—‘No’ (it is not Nana) is followed by family and community members featuring in each action. Young readers will be intrigued and very curious to discover just where Nana could be. Meanwhile the concept of prepositions is absorbed in an entertaining way. Nana’s whereabouts is not revealed until the very end.
Children produced the illustrations during a workshop at the Ration Shed Museum in Cherbourg. They used a variety of methods including drawing, painting, collage and stamp making. Cherbourg is an Aboriginal community in South East Queensland. It was established in 1904. Under the Australian Government’s ‘Aboriginal Protection Act’ at the time, many Aboriginal people from all over Queensland and New South Wales were forcibly moved to Cherbourg.
Series: Strong and Smart Early Years Literacy Project
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
