Vision Australia this week launched its Big Visions series of books, the first picture books in Australia to feature full braille to complement the text and images. Big Visions has been developed in partnership with award-winning children’s publisher, Berbay Publishing.
Featuring three inspirational stories of amazing Australians, Big Visions has already been touted as ‘a ground-breaking and vital series for all ages’ in first reviews. Each book centres on a true experience of navigating life, growing up, and finding your path.
Surfing in the Dark, the first of the series, introduces you to Matt Formston, a champion big wave surfer and Paralympian who has never let his low vision stop him from tackling life with classic Aussie grit and determination. Matt was present for the launch of Surfing in the Dark at Melbourne Museum on 23 March 2023, where he was interviewed by ‘all round good guy’, ten-year-old Ethan.
In second book in the series, Cooking up a Storm, scheduled for release later this year, we meet Craig, the blind chef who runs his own café. Dressed for Success tells the story of Nikki, a blind fashion designer who built her own fashion label.
Big Visions has been created to help all children to believe what they can be. By celebrating diversity, difference, challenges and successes, Big Visions helps children to see themselves on the pages of books, invites positive conversations and helps promote kinder storytimes.
Written by award-winning author, John Dickson, and with the inspired illustrations of Philip Bunting, Claudia Frittitta and Chantel de Sousa each book is a beautiful addition to any bookshelf.
Each book features braille on every page. Big Visions is the first children’s book series created in Australia to feature full braille to complement the text.
How can you help?
- Get Big Visions onto your library shelves. Surfing in the Dark is now available to purchase, and pre-order is available for the two following books. Little fingers will love following the braille and all ages will enjoy the beautiful, funny stories of Matt, Craig and Nikki. https://shop.visionaustralia.org/matt-formston-surfing-in-the-dark.html
- Braille posters are available free for display in your libraries – email [email protected] with your postal address to order yours.
- Tell everyone about it! The future can only change with us. Encouraging everyone to have a diverse bookshelf of stories that celebrate differences will contribute to a kinder storytime for all. Please use the attached collateral below to share on socials, along with the hashtag #ReadItToBelieveIt and get involved in the #BookshelfChallenge launching next week (more information to come…)
- Hold a special storytime session Bring these stories to life with fun and sensory storytelling in your library. Notes for storytime planning are here.
