Families and children have even more reason to visit Brightwater Community Lake Park with the launch of Sunshine Coast Council Libraries’ First 5 Forever story seat featuring artwork from the popular children’s picture book Jump and Shout!
Published 2017 by Little Big Book Press, Jump and Shout! tells the story of a family as they swing, skip and tumble through the neighbourhood on a fun day out.
Author Mike Dumbleton is a literacy consultant. In 2005, he received the Federal Minister's award for Outstanding Contribution to Improving Literacy which recognised his work as both an educator and writer.
Seven of his picture books have even been selected as "notable books" by the Children's Book Council of Australia.
The illustrator, Peter Carnavas, is an award-winning author and illustrator whose books sell internationally and have been translated into many different languages.
Division 6 Councillor Christian Dickson said the story seats were a great part of the First 5 Forever early childhood literacy program.
“Families with children under five can come along to Brightwater Community Lake Park and have a great time exploring the magic of storytelling at the purpose-built story seat,” Cr Dickson said.
“The story seat is a colourful, engaging and positive way to encourage parents and caregivers to play a proactive role in the development of their child’s early literacy skill from 0-5 years.”
Community Portfolio Councillor Jenny McKay said Sunshine Coast Libraries had been granted $1 million over four years by the Queensland Government to implement the First 5 Forever program.
“The aim of this universal family literacy program is to support strong language and literacy environments for young children from 0–5 years and their families,” Cr McKay said.
“We have already implemented a number of activities under this program and we are now installing colourful story seats in parks across the region which will be a visible way of promoting literacy inviting families to engage in storytelling, active play, singing and reading.
“The seats, designed by council’s Parks and Gardens area, reinforce the message, ‘the first five years last a lifetime’.”
Story seats can be found across the region in the following parks:
Pioneer Park, Landsborough
Nelson Park, Alexandra Headland
Power Memorial Park, Mudjimba
Muller Park, Bli Bli
Russell Family Park, Montville
Kenilworth town park, Kenilworth
Maroochy Lions Park, Maroochydore
Shelly Beach Park, Shelly Beach (to be completed)
Grahame Stewart Park, Currimundi (to be completed)
Brightwater Community Lake Park, Brightwater
Families are encouraged to obtain a map and head off on an adventure to find all 10 story seats, take a picture with the seats and share on social media using the hashtag #Storyseat.
First 5 Forever is a universal family literacy program aimed at supporting stronger language and literacy environments for young children from 0 to five years and their families. The program is funded by the Queensland State Government and is being delivered by 320 public libraries across Queensland.
Visit council’s library website for more details and join the #Storyseat conversation by following Sunshine Coast Libraries Facebook page.