Children's books written in English, Hazaragi and Noongar-Menang languages

Australia Broadcast Center

10-05-2025

Noongar woman Jeanice Krakouer says the story of how her great-grandfather found a missing child in the West Australian town of Mount Barker was only known within her family until recently.
Indigenous readers are advised this article includes the names of people who have died.
She decided to share it as part of Mount Barker's Reading for Generations project that has published four children's books, telling stories from the local Hazara, an ethnic group originally from Afghanistan, and First Nations Menang-Noongar communities.
Ms Krakouer's book Little Boy Lost tells of how, in 1954, her great-grandfather Sammy Miller found a four-year-old boy who had wandered away from his home one winter morning.
After hours of searching, including into the night, the boy was found in bushland 5 kilometres from his house.
Given the cold and wet conditions he had been in, the boy was taken to the hospital, and his family was grateful to be reunited with him.
Ms Krakouer said the historical context of the story was important.
"I think the story came because of the way that Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people worked together [to find the missing boy] in 1954 and I think it's a great way to lead up to Reconciliation [Week].
"It wasn't until 1967 that things had changed, our people weren't allowed in town before 6am and after 6pm at night, yet, late at night, these Aboriginal guys were still out searching the district to find the little boy?"
She said, at first, it was difficult trying to decide whether to tell the story to the wider community.
"Then I started to do more and more and see the illustration from the kids and hearing the story they were asking, 'What did Sammy do?'
"It brought joy to your heart and you knew that you were doing the right thing.
A group of primary school students from Mount Barker Community College illustrated the books for the project.
Eleven-year-old Maisie Hemmings said they worked on the artwork for two terms and it was great to see the final published book.
"It's crazy," she said.
Ms Krakouer's book, as well as a story about the late Bella Kelly, a local Aboriginal artist who painted landscapes of the Great Southern region, both include a Menang-Noongar translation.
Ali Sina Azimi contributed the stories of The Farmer and the Snakes and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, both include a Hazaragi translation.
The former Mount Barker Community College student said it was a privilege to share the stories and their values, including with his younger brother.
"When I was writing the book he was four years old and he was slowly starting to read," he said.
Nicole Selesnew from the Shire of Plantagenet, which includes Mount Barker, was one of the main organisers of the project.
She said including an audio recording in both languages with each of the books was important to assist parents who wanted to help their children with their reading.
"We had an opportunity to talk to a Hazara family and they said that for their parents to read to the kids it was quite intimidating because not a lot of the parents could read English very well, so that's sort of when the ideas started,'" Ms Selesnew said.
The Shire of Plantagenet has a population of approximately 5,700 people. About 4.5 per cent are part of the Hazara community.
Rhonda Oliver from Curtin University's school of education said it was great initiative.
"To foster cultural understanding across all kids, regardless of background, to see that we do have other ways of being and knowing and doing," Professor Oliver said.
"It's really good for the kids whose language background it is because it makes them feel good about who they are and and self-identity is really important for academic success."