Nelson Park School students have teamed up with well-known local children's authors to develop an eye-catching storytelling project.
The Story Cubes will sit outside the Corio Library, providing colourful public art pieces that aim to engage young children with storytelling and literacy.
The cubes feature images from:
Nan Bodsworth's A Nice Walk in the Jungle;
Jiri Tibor Novak's Birdman; and
A selection of Jedda Robaard's Little Creature series.
Nelson Park's Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) students researched, selected and commissioned the three author-illustrators to take part in the initiative.
The Story Cubes are an accessible way to connect young children and their families with literacy and to encourage the development of reading and language skills.
The interactive cubes can also be used as seats, allowing visitors to relax and connect to the library's free wifi.
Deputy Mayor Peter Murrihy officially launched the Story Cubes at Corio Library on Monday.
He was joined by the authors, artist Don Walters, the students and their teachers to celebrate the completion of the project.
The City's Manager Connected Communities Leigh McCallum compered the launch.
Nelson Park's VCAL students have partnered with the City to create several community projects over the past three years.
These include the Mindfulness Bay Walk in Corio, Story Walk in Whittington and the Kinder Kit Box for playgroups in the Corio-Norlane area.
Deputy Mayor Peter Murrihy
I'd like to congratulate Nelson Park's students for their fantastic work in delivering this colourful and engaging project.The City is proud to have supported the students on a range of initiatives, which not only benefit their own education and personal development but enrich the wider community.
We hope Story Cubes will help spark the imagination of the library's youngest visitors and lead to a lifetime love of reading and learning.
Nelson Park School students
It will be great to be able to see kids using their imaginations from something we have created. - TylerWe have been inspired and influenced to commit acts of kindness in the World. - Ben
We hope that people will enjoy the Story Cubes and that they bring people together. - Shakira and Tyler
I hope children are able to make connections from things in their own lives through the Story Cubes. - Lochlan
I feel grateful for the opportunity to create and provide something for the community; it develops friendship, respect and teamwork. - James
