Book Cubby a new addition at Armadale Libraries

The City of Armadale Libraries is home to the first community built Kids’ Own Book Cubby, thanks to the efforts of a joint project with Bunnings Warehouse Armadale and the Heart & Soul Menshed in Forrestdale.

The Kids’ Own Book Cubby was officially launched on Friday 15 August at Armadale Library and was celebrated with all of the project partners.

The Book Cubby is a specially designed portable library in which books made by children are displayed and celebrated. The Book Cubby shelves hold both published books (with ISBN) as well as books hand-made in workshops.

Mayor Henry Zelones said the City purchased a licence for the plans and construction materials and paint for the project were generously donated by Bunnings Armadale.

“Tom Johnson and Terry Thompson from the Heart & Soul Menshed were instrumental in building the cubby, with the assistance of Bunnings team members.

“Well known children’s book author/illustrator Sean Avery, art teacher at Challis Early Childhood Education Centre (ECEC), assisted with the painting of the cubby house.

“Children from Challis ECEC and the ‘We Are Champion Children’ book, had lots of fun using colourful paints to place their hand prints on the walls of the cubby.

“The Armadale Book Cubby will be used to promote the library and literacy at community events, and is available for loan to other organisations within the City of Armadale.

“The cubby is a place where children can read stories written by other children and discover other worlds through another child’s eyes. All children involved in book making workshops are invited to leave a copy of their newly created book on the shelf.

“The cubby will be used to showcase collections of community published books, profile the works of local communities and artists and act as a creative hub/stimulus for community publishing activities.

“The Book Cubby creates a hub for the ongoing creation of books by children and raises the status of children as writers and illustrators.

“This is the first Book Cubby in Australia to be built through a joint community effort and was made possible through the generous support of the Heart & Soul Menshed and Bunnings,” said Mayor Zelones.