A unique exhibition that promotes reading as a way of bringing families together has been launched at the Sir John Gorton library in Gannawarra Shire Council in northern Victoria.
Along with Gannawarra Mayor Brian Gibson, special guest Debra Rosenfeldt, Manager Public Libraries and Community Engagement at the State Library of Victoria was in attendance to officially launch the Story Island: An Exhibition in Pictures on Monday 17 July.
Mayor Gibson said it was very exciting to be working in partnership with the State Library to host this exhibition.
“This is an internationally recognised exhibition and is specifically aimed at improving and building the imagination and literacy skills of 0–8-year-olds and encouraging them into our local libraries.”
Open until 25 August, the exhibition explores four themes: Splash, which is all about bath time and water adventures; Bush Friends, which explores country life; City Dreams, which explores the built environment and the magical and fantastical worlds that come to life during the night; and, Snuggle, exploring bedtime, a time of closeness, safety, peace and cuddles
Featuring some of the 7500 artworks from the Dromkeen Collection, one of the world’s most important collections of children’s book art, each image is accompanied by an activity that encourages children to explore and engage with text and images in a way that will help build literacy skills.
Ms Rosenfeldt explains that Story Island looks like a small exhibition, but it’s big on ambition, beauty and content.
“It took nearly a year to pull together and with specialist curators involved, including a designer experienced in designing adventure playgrounds, we know it can take a lot of handling by little, and not so little people, as they explore and have fun with it.”
