A book, so often, is a bridge to understanding.

At PlayConnect+ playgroup in Dallas it is often a book that brings the families together. Shared moments of music, art, colour and movement help to create bonds, the centrepiece being a story.

It was a unique opportunity then when Hume City Council Community Grants program and Kids Own Publishing collaborated with the playgroup to make a storybook of their own.

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than a year of conversation,” said philosopher Plato and this is highlighted as the families and publishing team got to know each other over a series of weeks.

The children participating in the book project are non-verbal. Play led the way as they created alongside their families.

The PlayConnect+ program is for children with disabilities, developmental concerns and chronic illness. As such, it is a support service for the parents and carers, as it is for the child. There is an innate understanding and closeness, one that the playgroup facilitators become attuned to over time.

Viet-My Bui, a practicing artist, and Sadia Dubow a writer, love working with families as part of their roles at Kids Own Publishing.

They speak warmly about Lincoln, Neil and Ali, the playgroup children they have spent time with, positively beaming with pride when seeing the vibrant storybook come to life.

They had set up paints and water play areas for the kids to enjoy, alongside play dough and crafts.

The playgroup, already existing in an inviting play space, encourages the children let their imaginations and interests guide them.

 “Sadia and Viet-My Bui sort of worked along with the kids to help them so it was something that was really unique,” said mum Meg. 

“I really loved it and enjoyed the experience. I actually learnt a few things I could take back home and work on with him so it was a very lovely experience.” 

Viet-My Bui noticed how the facilitators and families often narrated what the kids were up doing: “Oh you’re jumping, oh you’re touching this, dip dip dip, squish squish squish.”  

Viet-My Bui and Sadia selected soundbites and collated these with the children’s artworks. Ideas for the storyscape began to take shape.

“This book, we don’t want it to feel prescriptive or restrictive, said Viet-My Bui. “We want them to just be in their natural element, playing again, which is innate.” 

“Creativity and play, they go hand in hand and how they learn to express and how they learn to understand the world and how they learn to communicate with each other all comes through play and it is a vital part of the creative process.” 

Nearly every week, the playgroup sings Sailing Sailing together during their storytime. It has become a group favourite and together they decided it was an apt title for their book.

"It seems to be something they all resonate with and we thought that was something really sweet to tie it all together- a little journey that the children take each time they come here together, and in their minds, with all the games they play, it is represented in this book,” said Viet-My Bui. 

The song originates from Parent-Child Mother Goose in Canada. This was discovered when the local Parent-Child Mother Goose president in Australia heard about the book project.

In fact, it was at Mother Goose training that the playgroup facilitator, Cheryl, became familiar with the song, sharing it with her playgroups.  

“Sailing is often used as a transition song or a lullaby,” said Kathrine from Mother Goose Australia. “I was only singing it to my grandchildren and letting them know that I was coming here because of that song, ‘Remember I used to sing to you when you were a baby.’”

“That rocking motion, it intrinsically calms and soothes so I said it is a nice song for everybody, for babies and for big kids.”  

At the official book launch, this was clear to see.

Anna Dollard, Creative Director at Kids Own Publishing, remarked upon the children’s faces as they sung and read together. They were engaged and absorbed throughout.  

“In these spaces we are gathering words, gathering expressions and then seeing how that comes together with the artworks.”

Kids Own Publishing have identified the sheer breadth of inspiration that wells up like a spring among a group of children. They house so much wonder, experiencing life anew, seeing things with fresh eyes.  

The book launches are always a real thrill for Sadia, seeing the art come to life in print.  

“I always like pointing out to the kids their artwork that made it into the book. I am really proud of everyone. I am really glad so many people showed up and I think book launches are really special and this one feels really special.” 

Australia is a country fortunate with access to libraries and little book houses dotted along side streets, communities sharing their books instead of gathering dust in a back room somewhere. Books, in a different way to a text message or social media update, are hard evidence of our identities, who we are and where we have been and what we feel. 

Through Kids Own Publishing, many families get to see their stories reflected back.

“I think it is so important to have something tangible like a book,” said Viet-My Bui, “because it is easy to say your kids are capable, your kids have imagination and I think it is something we hear a lot but to actually see and hold in your hands evidence of your child’s imagination and their creative expression and to share it with them and to flip through the pages and to say, ‘Look, you did this, you’re in these pages’, or maybe we worked together on these pages, I think that is so special and I think that is affirming for, not just the parents but the child as well. It affirms their bond as well because many parents work together with their kids to make these books.” 

Cheryl and Houda have been part of many of the families lives during crucial points here, creating a welcoming and safe space as PlayConnect+ playgroup facilitators. They both say that it is rewarding and that is why they do it.

They marvel at the book that they have all made, together. 

“It's so fun, now our PlayConnect has a book!,” said Houda enthusiastically. 

For Cheryl, she was moved by the way that Kids Own Publishing considered the needs of the children, spending valuable time with them. Each week, she feels it is a privilege to work at PlayConnect+

“I always wanted to be with children in the community, children with disabilities, families that are vulnerable, families that can really benefit from having or being given the opportunity to feel safe in an environment and understood and respected and to be able to increase their knowledge, share their lives and stories is just remarkable.” 

Louise Buckle-Smith happily hands out copies of the story and celebratory cake after the storytime at the official book launch, chatting with families. As the Social Impact Manager at Playgroup Victoria, Louise travels around the state, working with PlayConnect+ playgroups, helping them establish, reach out and assist families who would benefit from taking part. 

Louise said that it is an emotional rollercoaster for families, navigating diagnosis, appointments and big change- yet to connect with other families going through similar things, being able to share their experience while being supported by playgroup facilitators is amazing for the wellbeing of child and family.

Louise looks forward to proudly sharing their Sailing Sailing storybook far and wide, building more connections and allowing more people to discover the PlayConnect+ program.  

“For families here, what a great thing to take home because it is a part of their PlayConnect journey to be able to sit down and read a book together, to talk about ‘Do you remember doing that?’ and getting that connection to PlayConnect+ but also literacy. I think it is a great way to do it when literacy is so important. If we can get families to sit down and engage in a story, there are the other benefits of literacy and language. That engagement, it’s beautiful, I imagine them sitting close together on the couch or the chair and reading a book. There’s nothing better.” 

Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way writes: “Art is born in attention.” That is what Kids Own Publishing gifts to those they work with. They are paying attention and capturing moments- some that may seem mundane- but it is capturing the extraordinary in the ordinary- it is capturing moments of our lives.  

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Article by Sinead Halliday
Photography by Mylie Nauendorf