The gift of connection
We all know how important it is to read books to our babies from a very young age, but what happens to whānau in our most vulnerable communities who don’t have access to books? That’s where the Storytime Foundation (and you!) come in…
The Storytime Foundation is a nationwide charity which delivers free books to local families in need, and they’ve just launched their first book! The Pepeha Cloth Book for babies, is designed with images to support whānau in having important conversations about culture and identity. It’s based on extensive evidence that reading and telling stories to babies and young children helps to strengthen and enhance the bond between parent and child early in life.
They are offering a “buy one, give one free” deal, where every purchase of The Pepeha Cloth Book, $19.90, will gift one extra to be given to a family in need through well child providers.
The picture book is for babies aged 0-12 months, and is inspired by the rich Māori tradition of pepeha. Part of tikanga Māori, a pepeha is a way of introducing ourselves through connections to the people and places that are important in our lives.
Featuring striking black and white illustrations designed for babies’ developing vision, the Pepeha Cloth Book encourages families to spend time together telling their own stories to little ones, prompted by the pictures. It’s presented in a drawstring cotton bag for easy storage and beautiful gifting.
Since it was established in 2004, The Storytime Foundation has assisted more than 81,500 families and distributed more than 326,000 books. The Foundation’s ‘First 1000 Days’ programme reaches families with children up to three years of age.
Storytime Foundation Chief Executive Tony Culliney, says “We know a strong bond made in the early years between tamariki and their parents/caregivers acts as a protective cloak throughout the child's life. Forming that bond in the first 1000 days of the child’s life significantly improves outcomes in life for the child and the wider family unit. Bonding and a secure foundation is fundamental for tamariki and their whānau to thrive, contributing to a strong community and making a difference.”
Despite distributing approximately 40,000 books per year to families, there is currently more need than the they can meet. In launching Storytime Books and its inaugural Pepeha Cloth Book, they’re hoping to create a platform for a wider audience to get involved.
Tony adds, “regularly reading aloud to babies and young children results in significant development in children’s language skills and future literacy, because the language in books is richer and more diverse than in everyday conversations. Being read to also extends a range of children’s cognitive abilities, including memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. It helps develop vital social and emotional skills and self-esteem in children.”
To find out more about the Storytime Foundation, visit storytime.org.nz.
To “buy one, give one free”, visit storytimebooks.org.nz/product/storytime-pepeha-book/
