What are we reading in the Corner this September

Our First 5 Forever team are reading… Miimi Marraal, Mother Earth by Melissa Greenwood!

My precious baby, will you listen to me?

I want you to grow knowing

that we are one with the trees,

plants, animals and seas.

We must take care of them,

only take what we need.

Miimi Marraal, Mother Earth (2022) is the debut picture book from Gumbaynggirr artist, Melissa Greenwood.

Miimi Marraal, Mother Earth is a lightly worded, rhyming letter-style story from a mother to her new baby explaining the connection between mothers, babies and Miimi Marraal, Mother Earth.

The voice of the mother invites the readers into a special, intimate conversation between herself and baby. She talks to baby about life and introduces baby to wisdoms of love and responsibility to family and country.

The story is told in a combination of English and Gumbaynggirr language and includes some simple explanations of cultural beliefs. It is a lovely, gentle way to introduce babies and little people to culture and language.

The beautiful artwork in the book is a mix of peach-pink, orange, and red with moments of green and blue, and evokes feelings of warmth, maternal comfort, and calm. The pictures are perfect for capturing and holding the interest of your slightly older little people.

Miimi Marraal, Mother Earth has been recognised with a shortlisting in the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards 2022 (Birth to Three Years), ABIA Children's Picture Book of the Year 2023 (ages 0-6), and the 2023 Karajia Award for Children's Literature.

In The Corner, our First 5 Forever team are using this beautiful book to experience culture and language and promote comforting one-on-one play and connection with baby, but almost all the First 5 Forever play activities can be easily enjoyed at home.

Start by laying your baby on the floor in front of you and, using a slow, comforting voice, read the story to them. Ask them, my precious baby, will you listen to me? For very little babies, the pictures may not be as important as the words and the connection with you, so you could put the book on the floor next to them. As you are reading, you could massage baby with gentle, rhythmic hands. Massage is a great way to boost communication between caregivers and babies and combined with the sound of your voice, it can also build trust and security in baby. One of the wonderful things about Miimi Marraal, Mother Earth is the rhyme and maternal perspective naturally build this connection between baby and caregiver.

For more information about how you can support your baby’s health and wellbeing through play, visit The Corner at the State Library of Queensland or attend a First 5 Forever session at your local library.  And remember, you’re never too young to be a member of your local library – you can join baby from birth and borrow Miimi Marraal, Mother Earth by Melissa Greenwood to read and enjoy at home.

What else are the First 5 Forever team reading in The Corner?

My Little Barlaagany (Sunshine) by Melissa Greenwood (2023)

Baby Business by Jasmine Seymour (2019)