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With a growing need for positive mental health messages for children and teenagers, the Children’s Book Council of Australia WA Branch has created a series of five videos to highlight how books and reading can play an important role in helping young people feel better about themselves and their place in the world.

Reading for the Heart and Mind explores the topics of: Reading to Children, Imagination, Curiosity, Resilience and Self-Acceptance. The series highlights incredible Western Australian children and YA authors and their books, including titles from the CBCA Notables and Shortlist.

Mental Health advocate and award-winning author of the Being You is Enough series, Josh Langley, teams up with CBCA WA Branch Secretary and avid book lover, Kris Williams, to present this insightful series.

Under each video you'll find a list of books featured and links to further reading and more resources. 

Reading for the Heart and Mind is an initiative by the Children’s Book Council of Australia WA Branch, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Lotterywest and Healthway with the message Go for 2 & 5.

Episode 1 : The importance of reading to children

Books featured in this episode
Click on the book titles to find these books in your local public library, or purchase them from one of our supporting West Australian book stores.
  • Let’s Count Wildflowers by Tracey Gibbs
    Rhyming, colour, number recognition, actions, plants, listening
  • In the Lion by James Foley
    Funny, expression, interest, able to ask questions, listening
  • The hole Story by Kelly Canby
    Imagination, curiosity, questions, looking for things in the text
  • The Bear in our Backyard by Emma Middleton & Briony Stewart
    Imagination, curiosity, prediction, images
  • My Super Hero by Chris Owen
    Questions, communication skills, imagination, acceptance
  • Pandamonia by Chris Owen & Chris Nixon
    Rhyming, expression, predicting, curiosity, images, listening
  • Super Side Kicks series by Gavin Aung Than
    Graphic novel, develops language, puts pictures to words, understanding, communication skills
Further resources on reading to children
  • Starting Blocks | Reading with pre-schoolers
  • National Literacy Trust (UK) | Mental wellbeing, reading and writing
  • Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development | Reading to Young Children: A Head-Start in Life 
  • Healthline | Reading to Children: Why It’s So Important and How to Start
  • Raise Smart Kid | 16 Benefits of Reading To Your Child
  • First Five Years | Reading to kids: Quality over quantity

Episode 2 : Imagination

Books featured in this episode
​Click on the book titles to find these books in your local public library, or purchase them from one of our supporting West Australian book stores.
  • The Smugglers Curse by Norman Jorgensen
    One of a series of books featuring the same character. Pirates, adventure, Western Australian history
  • Little Jiang by Shirley Marr & Katy Jiang
    Themes include: imagination, ghosts, other places, family, friends. How would you feel if you had a ghost following you from the day you were born?
  • No! Never! ; a cautionary tale by Libby Hathorn & Mel Pearce​
    What would you do, would you like it or not, how would you feel?
  • Kumiko and the Dragon by Briony Stewart
    This is one of a series of books. Themes include family, adventure, other cultures, other worlds
  • The Red Wheelbarrow by Briony Stewart
    There are no words in this book.  You are free to let your imagination go and tell the story, inspiration
further resources on imagination
  • CBCA WA | Make your own story book
  • Australian Children's Laureate Foundation | Write with Ursula
  • Literacyworks | Why Read? Reason #6: Knowledge is Power but Imagination is More Valuable
  • World Literacy Foundation | Reading Enhances Imagination
  • Insightful Reading by Bookly | How Reading Improves Imagination

Episode 3 : Curiosity

Books featured in this episode
​Click on the book titles to find these books in your local public library, or purchase them from one of our supporting West Australian book stores.
  • ​Once Upon a Small Rhinoceros by Meg McKinlay
  • The Riddle Gully Series by Jen Banyard
  • History Mysteries and The Legend of Lasseter’s Reef by Mark Greenwood
  • Zeroes & Ones by Cristy Burne
  • Super Side Kicks series by Gavin Aung Than
    Graphic novels easy to read for young reluctant readers
  • S. Tinker Inc Series by James Foley
    Graphic novels, funny, curious inventions
  • Tomorrow All Will Be Beautiful by Brigid Lowry
    Quirky creative, contains short stories, poetry for older readers, mainly girls
  • Ubby’s Underdogs by Brenton E. McKenna
    Graphic novels for middle to older readers
  • Aussie Legends by Tom Badderley & Tracey Gibbs
    Non-fiction sporting heroes
  • Cricket the Aussie Way by Mike Lefroy with Justin Langer
    Non-fiction sport
  • Bawoo Stories by May L O’Brien
    Indigenous traditional teaching stories
  • Aussie STEM Stars
    Children’s series that follows the real-life stories of some of Australia’s top scientists and inventors​
more about curiosity
  • State Library of WA | Public Library Directory
  • Psychology Today | Curiosity: The Heart of Lifelong Learning
  • International Literacy Association | From Surviving to Thriving: Four Research‐Based Principles to Build Students’ Reading Interest
  • Engaging Secondary School Students In Lifelong Learning
  • National Library of New Zealand | Reluctant readers
  • Better Reading | How to Get Them Hooked! Motivating Reluctant Readers​

Episode 4: Resilience

Books featured in this episode
​Click on the book titles to find these books in your local public library, or purchase them from one of our supporting West Australian book stores.
  • Magnificent Mistakes and Fantastic Failures – finding the good when things seem bad by ​Josh Langley
    What can be learnt from mistakes and failures, seeing that they are not a bad thing and giving kids the inner resources to be resilient
  • Here in the Garden by Briony Stewart
    Dealing with loss
  • Before you Forget by Julia Lawrinson
    Dealing with dementia/Alzheimer's Disease
  • Forgetting Foster by Dianne Touchell
    Dealing with dementia/Alzheimer's Disease
  • Father of the Lost Boys by Yuot A Alaak
    How do you bounce back when you have nothing?  A story of courage and hope and not giving up
  • Sister Heart by Sally Morgan
    A story of not giving up and making the best of the moment
  • Worse Things by Sally Murphy
    Many of Sally’s books touch on resilience. You might think that what is happening to you is the worst thing, but sometimes it isn’t
more about resilience
  • Josh Langley | It's ok to feel the way you do
  • Reading Australia | Pearl Versus the World
  • Penguin Teacher Resources | Mr Huff
  • Beyond Blue | Building Resilience in Children
  • Kids Help Line | Building Resilience
  • Texas Child Care Quarterly | Using books to foster resilience in young children
  • Source Kids | Beautiful books that teach children about resilience

Episode 5 : Self-Acceptance

Books featured in this episode
​Click on the book titles to find these books in your local public library, or purchase them from one of our supporting West Australian book stores.
  • Being You is Enough by ​Josh Langley
    Self-acceptance, positive thinking, friendship
  • Meet Me at the Intersection edited by Rebecca Lim & Amberlin Kwaymullina
    Diversity, own voice, First Nations, People of Colour, LGBTQA+, disability, memoir, short story, poetry
  • Invisible Boys by Holden Sheppard
    Mental health, identity, sexuality, suicide, self-care
  • Littlelight by Kelly Canby
    Difference, acceptance, tolerance, being open-minded
  • A Crocodile in the Family by Kitty Black
    D
    ifference, acceptance, family, belonging
  • Every Family is Different by Maureen Eppen
    Family, acceptance, difference, belonging
more about self-acceptance
  • Josh Langley | Being you is enough
  • Raising Children Network | Self esteem in children:
    1-8 years
  • PositivePsychology.com | How To Build Self-Acceptance: 16 Tips, Activities & Exercises
  • ​Big Life Journal | 25 Things You Can Do Right Now To Build a Child’s Confidence
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Major Sponsors of CBCA Book Week in Western Australia

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AWARDS FOUNDATION BENEFACTORS

Allen & Unwin · CBCA NSW Branch · Laurie Copping OAM · Margaret Hamilton AM · Maurice Saxby AM · Scholastic Australia · Thyne Reid Trust No.1

Major Donors

​Australia Post · Jill B Bruce · Sandy Campbell · CBCA ACT Branch · CBCA VIC Branch · CBCA WA Branch · Era Publications · Five Mile Press · Libby Gleeson AM · Bob Graham · Hachette Children’s Books · Hardie Grant Egmont · HarperCollinsPublishers · Ipswich District Teacher-Librarians' Network · The James N Kirby Foundation · Kinross-Wolaroi School · Koala Books · Library Board of Queensland · Robin Morrow · Angela Namoi · Northern Territory Government · Parents & Boys at Sydney Grammar Edgecliff Prep School · Penguin Books Australia · Random House Australia · Emily Rodda (Jennifer Rowe AC) · Gillian Rubinstein · SA Dept of the Arts & Cultural Development · Gail Spiers · Myrtle Spiers · Cathie Tasker · University of Queensland Press · Julie Vivas · Walker Books Australia · Margaret Wild · Sue Williams

Major Donors in Memoriam

Jean Chapman · Max Fatchen · Beryl Moncrieff Matthews · Jill Midolo ·  Narelle Oliver · Jan Ormerod · Eve Pownall · Marion E Robertson · Gregory Rogers · Cassandra Weddell · Maisie Williams, Garah NSW ​

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  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • CBCA WA Committee
    • Membership
    • Governance
    • WA Judges
  • Events
    • A Night With Our Stars
    • Book Discussion Group
    • Judges Talks
    • Book Week Opening and Dinner
  • Children's Book Week
    • Children's Book Week®
    • Book of the Year Awards
    • Merchandise >
      • Members only merchandise
    • Ideas and Activities
    • EOI Children's Book Week
    • Shadow Judging >
      • Contact The Sun Project
  • Competitions
    • Make Your Own Story Book >
      • Make Your Own Story Book Winners 2022
      • Make Your Own Story Book | Winners Archive
  • WA Awards
    • Muriel Barwell Award
    • Penny Hutchens Memorial Fund
  • Resources
    • Reading for the Heart & Mind
    • WA Publishers
    • WA Bookshops
    • WA Authors & Illustrators
    • Useful Links
  • News
    • Calendar
    • Newsletters
    • Local Book Launches
    • WA Branch News Archive