M is for Melbourne M is for Me

M is for Melbourne BookedIn HookedIn (2) (1) (1)

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BOOKED-IN HOOKED-IN FOR ARTPLAY

A partnership between two areas within the City of Melbourne – Community Services (Family Services) and Arts & Culture (ArtPlay) – with external partner Kids’ Own Publishing

Three Terms, Three Artists to Create Three Published Books:

 In 2014, Kids’ Own Publishing founder Victoria Ryle designed ‘Booked-In Hooked-In’ a literacy project where twenty-one mini-books were printed immediately on-site at ArtPlay, giving participants the thrill of seeing their work published and come to life instantly. Three books with ISBNs were published and launched during Children’s Week to then be distributed across five City of Melbourne Children’s Centres.

Artist, Kathy Holowko, developed the initial InDesign template, with subsequent artists who were trained to use and adapt it. Playgroup staff also received professional development, supported by Kids’ Own Publishing, to continue the practice beyond the project. The idea was that this model could be customised and developed in a range of contexts to be shared nationally and internationally ensuring the learnings and impact ripple out into other communities.

“Each week the group made a complete 12-page book. Over the 8 weeks parents and children were introduced to the hot dog book and the 12-page book. Near the end of the 8 weeks the parents were given responsibility, with guidance, to complete a 12-page book by themselves.”  – Amber (Artist & Facilitator)

These sessions explored various topics like place, rhyme, song, and numbers which were represented in each of the mini-books. However, the workshops did more than just produce something tangible, encouraging parent and children as well as family and family to collaborate with each other. The program gradually shifted responsibility to parents, empowering them to take ownership of the publishing process. By the end of the program, many parents were actively participating in the bookmaking process.

“This was very successful, a few of the mums even assembled this week’s book all by themselves, and next week they will fold it and staple it too. It was great to do it at this stage in the project as the mums could focus on me and know their little ones were fine (a big change from week 1 when they were following them everywhere). Once again it is nice for me to have a chance to see how the parents felt about the program and I got some great feedback which is always lovely.”  – Phia (Lead Artist & Facilitator)

“Over the weeks the families have formed strong relationships. They talk to each other during sessions, help each other with their children, work together to achieve each session’s objective, take responsibility and work together to put their 12-page book together.”  – Amber (Artist & Facilitator) 

The bookmaking process supported language and literacy development in a fun and supportive environment which enabled the parents and families to create strong bonds. This was specifically designed to encourage families who wouldn’t usually participate in ArtPlay programs to do so by creating a strong sense of community.

“During one session we explored the topic ‘Our book’. Families talked about what languages they spoke and where they came from. This topic helped support their identity and belonging and helped form relationships among the parents. Parents chose words from their own language, to go into the book.”  – Amber (Artist & Facilitator)

Over time the children grew more confident and carried the pride of being published authors beyond the workshop and into their homes. This resulted in children becoming active participants in the book making process and used the tools and skills they learned in the workshops to express their creativity outside the sessions.

“With age-appropriate materials, tools and skills. Most children are able to concentrate for a long period of time during the book making process.”

“Parents have said, ‘their child is really proud of their books and reads them to their family members at home.”                           – Amber (Artist & Facilitator)

“She is so excited about her book and waits for her dad to come home. He is excited too. She has also become more interested in painting, writing, sticking and cutting. All different ways, on anything. She even uses the back of a receipt to draw on.”    – Diya (Parent)

Broader Impacts & Footprints:

The benefits of a program like Booked-In Hooked-In extends far beyond individual playgroups giving newly arrived migrant families the space and opportunity to connect other through storytelling. The program succeeded in;

• Providing training and support to the playgroup staff and artists ensuring that these skills were embedded for the future.
• Helping parents actively support their children’s literacy and learning while developing new parenting skills
• Enabling participants to experience the pride and empowerment that comes from being published.
• Developing a model that could be adapted and shared across the country and beyond.

At its heart, Booked-In Hooked-In shows that bookmaking is about much more than paper and ink. It’s about creating space for children to discover their own capacity as makers and storytellers and families to connect. And through projects like this, Kids’ Own Publishing continues to prove that every child has a story worth telling, stories that celebrate culture, language, ideas and the joy of community.