Annual Report

2017

– 1 – Contents

5 6

The Year in Kids’ Own Numbers Making Gigs

11 14 16

Community Book Impact & Projects Reach

20 21 23

Thanks to our Partners & Our People Financials Supporters

– 2 – Kids’ Own Publishing is a pioneering social purpose arts organisation that empowers children, families and communities from diverse cultural, social and linguistic backgrounds to share their stories through artist-led processes and community publishing. Children’s community publishing is widely endorsed by professionals in early learning centres, schools and as a highly efective way for children to engage with .

Our vision is a world where books by children for children strengthen culture, language and literacy in all communities.

Our mission is to harness the power of books and the publishing process to connect children, families and their communities.

– 3 – Kids' Own Publishing celebrates the creation of books by kids for kids which strengthen and connect communities

– 4 – 17 2017 Projects in Numbers

47 2589 620 Workshops Total Number of Participants Launch Attendants 14 19 Training Total Artists Presentations Employed 3,699 2 Artist in Mentor 22 8 & 12 page (instant) books made program Book Cubbies

9 4200 7 29 Books Published Books Printed Book Launches (ISBN) (KO imprint) Community Partners

– 5 – Celebrating Creation

Kids' Own Book Making Gigs

These one-of gigs are popular Flemington Housing Estate for municipal events, community Afterschool Program celebrations, libraries, and school Community programs which engage culturally incursions. Gigs often take place and linguistically diverse young people with the alongside the Kids’ Own Book Cubby arts lead to great books. Here is Hamza's: I want to go said Hamza. — a specially designed portable We will go on a boat. library in which books made by The people in his land did not listen children for children are displayed Because there[z] no boat and celebrated. They give children So he dreamed of this and families the experience of instant So [he] that it became real authorship and publication. An onsite The end photocopier allows everyone to create Glen Eira Storytelling Festival their own instant book, with copies to This gig was hosted by the Glen Eira Library over share with family and friends. two days. Libraries are natural partners for pop-up publishing events. Books made are now touring in the Kids' Own Book Cubby to inspire book makers around the state.

Preston Market Kids' Own is a partner in placemaking projects: this one celebrated a popular family destination. Artwork from the books was then used in signage.

City of Darebin Kite Festival Kids' Own has had an ongoing partnership with the City of Darebin and this was our second appearance at this event. Books were published as kites and took to the skies.

Tathra Primary School & Wildlife Reserve The environment of the south coast of NSW was a perfect place to make books inspired by nature.

Victoria's Multicultural Festival This festival was the ideal forum for a demonstration of the WePUBLISH: Our Voices iPad app. Families contributed portraits of each other to a collaborative mural which was then incorporated in to books in their home language.

– 6 – “This is epic. I’m going to do this at home.” Thomas, 9, mid-school-gig

“It’s good to share your books, cos they might send it around the world for kids to read” Child participant

– 7 – “Maybe one day I can be an artist? Maybe one day I can be a chapter book writer?” Alva, 6 years

– 8 – Celebrating Creation

The Grand Imaginarium The Grand Imaginarium is supported by Stories, books and art combined in a grants from the Ian Potter Foundation and CAL magical space for children and families at (Copyright Agency Limited) and significant our home base, the Abbotsford Convent. venue partner support from the Abbotsford Convent (ACF). The Grand Imaginarium A myriad of wonderful experiences were has further leveraged and supported the made possible by artists, authors, illustrators development of the ACF’s Convent Kids program. and storytellers, inspiring children and their adults to connect through the power of The Grand Imaginarium can travel to other sites. publishing. In essence, the Grand Imaginarium is a space for children and families to make stories together using simple book- making and publishing techniques.

In Summer 2017 the Grand Imaginarium moved outside to the stunning Convent gardens and “I’ve heard so much took on the name Your Story Garden. We held about your program public sessions in January and September school holidays, and welcomed local schools to join and it was great us during Term 4. All proceeds from the public ticketed events supported our schools program. to have my boys experience it. Both of them are very proud of the books they made with you!”

Parent

– 9 – – 10 – Celebrating Connection

Community Publishing Book Projects

The books Kids’ Own makes with The explosion of colour and creativity which communities over a longer timespan populates these pages belies the significant impact children’s community publishing can celebrate the creative energy of a group have on social change. of children and their signifcant adults in a given time and place. In 2017 Kids’ Own Publishing was approached by several organisations which valued the We use a democratic process of voices of children in their remit to tackle the big developing content for a book issues in society: Gender equality and respectful collaboratively alongside an artist. relationships, connection to culture, successful transition from primary to secondary school, This process is respectful of children race-based discrimination … Here are some of and their adults, across all communities, those projects: and in all contexts where children and Gender Equity Storybook Project, families are present such as playgroups, Bendigo kindergartens, schools, libraries, Everything is ducky and foxy in this exuberant community organisations and book written and illustrated by kindergartners in health services. Bendigo – Rainbow Fox.

“The book is a powerful tool to capture children’s voices to meet our goal for Early Years’ contribution to social change” Partner

– 11 – Celebrating Connection

This project was developed in consultation Goodbye Primary, Hello High School – with Kids’ Own Publishing, as part of the Joining the Dots in Moreland implementation of the Communities for Kids' Own have made books about transitioning Children (C4C) Early Years Family Violence from kindergarten to primary school but this is Action Plan for Bendigo, a partnership between our first about making the leap from Year 6 to C4C and Centre for Non-Violence (CNV). Year 7. The promises "This book will help A fox who can run superfast, a dinosaur who you with starting High School. Your troubles gives his babies piggybacks and cuddles, and and worries will be solved." Senior Kids' Own a duck who likes to play football find homes artist and author, Ailsa Wild, led this project and in a cave that’s all the colours of the rainbow. mentored new Kids' Own artist Reeham Hakem This book was produced in collaboration in the process of book making with children. with Lightning Reef Early Learning Centre, to Kids’ Own worked with Westbreen Primary provide a resource for parents and early years School and Pascoe Girls High School. professionals to talk with children about gender One Mob, Many Mobs — equality and respectful relationships. Inspired by activities introduced by artist Kathy Holowko, a partnership with Best Start, MCH a kindergarten class imagined a world in which and Aboriginal Best Start their quirky characters could do anything, a Children, parents and grandparents attending world in which neighbours help each other, and the Aboriginal Best Start playgroup at the Casey play solves everything. Gathering Place — one mob, many mobs — made and played with clapsticks, created beautiful LiveWires After School Program — pictures with ochre and were photographed our frst magazine! doing their favourite things for these two books 2017 was the fourth year our artists have worked ‘Fun in the Water and Our Numbers’. Fun in the with students in the LiveWires after school Water has words in Wurundjeri/Aboriginal program run by Concern Australia, at the local language. This project was in partnership with Collingwood Neighbourhood House. This year, City of Greater Dandenong Maternal Child Health the authors and illustrators worked with the and Best Start. artist to produce our first magazine. Lively is full of interviews, debut stories [and] the natural HIPPY Australia Age 4 books exuberance and individuality of each LiveWires Home Interaction Program for Parents and contributor. Youngsters (HIPPY) sought out Kids’ Own Publishing to consult, devise and project manage Hume Valley School Cookbook Project the production of three books for diverse families Hume Valley School is a F-10 school in northern in their program, to align with the specifically Melbourne that caters for the needs of students designed and structured curriculum to prepare with mild intellectual disabilities. In partnership children to achieve at school. with Dianella Health and the school, students The partnership delivered two consultative and their parents created a book of recipes and workshops with HIPPY families in Melbourne stories from the 24 cultures represented in the and Perth, with three books published under school including Aboriginal, Croatian, Samoan, the HIPPY imprint and distributed nationwide, Greek, Italian, Indian and Afghan. The What in Counting Animals in Colour, Summertime Party and the World is for Dinner? Project is a great example Tall and Small. of the power that parent and community partnerships have to enhance student learning, Three Kids’ Own artists drew on their work social inclusion and openness to others. with children to complete illustrations for these books, with Kids' Own providing production management and design support.

This project provided valuable insight into end use of books by home education programs and will inform future collaborations.

– 12 – “We really enjoyed working with Kids Own Publishing! We went through an extended process and we could not wait to see the fnished product. The whole class loved it.” Participant

– 13 – library

Published in 2017

GOODBYE PRIMARY HELLO HIGH SCHOOL By Year 6 students at Westbreen Primary School & Year 7 students at Pascoe Vale Girls College

Volume 1, May 2017 LIVELY! THE FANTASTIC MAG BY THE LIVEWIRES CHILDREN

Make Story clay into debut: An slime! Owl and a in the Little Girl What

Pokemon Livewires World’s bath toy artwork,

interviews adventures

and more for Dinner? by the children & families of hume valley school

Fashion glasses; the latest trend

ER SUMM TIME Party

– 14 – “the book's so great, and we really love the student voice. Very happy! You guys are fabulous!” Partner – Hume Valley School

– 15 – Celebrating Connection

Impact & Reach

Kids’ Own Publishing is currently Evaluation of Kids’ Own Publishing steering two social impact enquiries. public program Funding from the Ian Potter Foundation is University of Melbourne supporting an inquiry into whether access to Research Partnership creative arts and book making opportunities can The work of this partnership will help us increase developmentally vulnerable children’s understand and document how the vision and engagement with books. The primary site for mission of Kids’ Own Publishing is enacted in this investigation is The Grand Imaginarium our work and through the experiences of the School Access program. Three out of four children involved in publishing. local schools have been accessing the Grand Imaginarium program since early 2016. In 2018 In late 2017, with mentorship from Dr Mary Kids’ Own Publishing will work directly with one Tomsic, Kids’ Own held planning meetings for a of these schools to complete an evaluation led 2018 research project on the impact of the public by Dr Pam Macintyre. and intergenerational storytelling on the child authors involved in Donkeys Can’t Fly on Planes, WePublish App — a platform for book In My Kingdom and All the Way Home. This suite creators everywhere of books, first published between 2013 and 2015, Our app for home book creators — WePublish: document stories of survival of South Sudanese Our Voices — continued to find fans and make refugees now living in Australia. sales through promotion and demonstration One of the original child authors, Abiar Maluk, at workshops, as well as word-of-mouth. In will be contracted as research assistant and 2017, with support from RE Ross Trust, Kids’ collaborator, through funding provided by a Own explored options for the development of Community Fellowship with the University customised versions of WePublish to meet the of Melbourne Social Equity Institute. Abiar is goals of organisations working with Victoria's pictured right, at the launch of In My most vulnerable children, and major institutions Kingdom. with broad reach to children and families across the State. A business plan was developed which Additionally, this partnership with the is currently under review by the Kids’ Own University of Melbourne will also entail Publishing board. the development of resources (‘Donkeys, Homes & Kingdoms’) that support the use Beyond the workshop — of these publications in classroom teaching the story continues in collaboration with the History Teachers 91% of surveyed parents who attended The Association of Victoria. This project is funded by Grand Imaginarium in January 2018 said that the Melbourne Humanities Foundation and the they felt confident to continue using the skills Scanlon Foundation. they learned at home.

Kids’ Own Publishing looks forward to celebrating the creation of more books by kids for kids which strengthen and connect communities in 2018.

– 16 – “The KOP gave me and my child and extraordinary experience to learn how to fold the paper and how to connect the story using picture and collage. For me it was a new experience expressing my thoughts through the art. I didn’t know how much I love the art. It gets your creative juices going. Also, I found out that my daughter is very creative. I am very proud of myself and my little one. We continue story making at home.”

“I am really happy I had the opportunity to become a young author because I would like people to know who I am and what has happened throughout my life. I always wanted my name to be in a book and it has actually happened to me.”

– 17 – our people

In early 2017 Founder and Executive Director, Victoria Ryle, stepped down from Kids’ Own Publishing to call Tasmania home. Victoria established an extraordinary legacy since setting up Kids’ Own Australia 13 years ago. The Kids’ Own Publishing board, staf and artist team extend their immense gratitude to Victoria for her passion, commitment and vision. Victoria continued to consult on WePublish throughout 2017.

2017 Guest authors/artists/ Kids’ Own Publishing Board Community Publications illustrators/musicians Thomas Barry Director: Fiona Burrows Louise Cummins Anna Dollard Amy Joy Morelle Bull Accounts: Luke King Chloe Hall Jennifer Bishop Leigh Hobbs (until November 2017) Jane Godwin Simon Spain (until May 2017) Pippa Bainbridge Artist team Yuria Okamura Ailsa Wild Michael Camilleri Annasophia Larsen Lucinda Giford Bel Schenk Michael Wagner Eliza Herbert Trace Balla Kathy Holowko Jesse Gardiner "Thank you Kids’ Kieran Dickson Lisa Gardiner Own Publishing Lea Czikowski Volunteers for an incredibly Jacqui Lanarus Lucie Macmahon unique, creative Mathew Gardiner Michelle Buza Margaret Robson Kett Danyelle Hucker and confdence Naasicaa Larsen Naomi Callander boosting experience. Te Koha Russo-Greig Patrice Mahoney Watching the kids Reeham Haken Gabrielle Perversi Romy Bradbeer create and publish

their own original

Book designers story book is a Naasicaa Larsen memory I and they

Kathy Holowko will cherish forever."

Michelle — Volunteer

– 18 – Partners & Funders

Thank you!

Funders Venue partner

Scanlon Foundation In-Kind Supporters Melbourne Humanities Foundation

Fuji Xerox Australia Crumpler Bostik Thibault Lazennec Partners 2017

Centre for Non Violence, Bendigo Flemington Afterschool Homework Club Communities for Children, Bendigo City of Yarra Children's Literature Festival Lightning Reef Early Learning Centre HIPPY Australia Westbreen Primary School HIPPY Armadale Pascoe Vale Girls College HIPPY Dandenong INLLEN Inner North Local Learning and Hume Valley School Employment Network Dianella Health City of Greater Dandenong Best Start LiveWires Afterschool Program City of Greater Dandenong Maternal Child Health Concern Australia Casey Gathering Place Many Hands East Timor DDACL Dandenong & District Aboriginal Preston Market Cooperative Ltd Capire Consulting City of Darebin Tathra Primary School Victoria's Multicultural Festival Tathra Wildlife Reserve City of Glen Eira University of Melbourne City of Moonee Valley

– 21 – – 22 – – 23 – C2.29 Abbotsford Convent T. 03 9078 1168 Victoria 3067 E. [email protected] Australia www.kidsownpublishing.com