The world of children’s publishing is a constant surprise to me. Never in a million years would I have imagined I would ever experience some things that only writing and illustrating for children has given to me in my short career so far. I’m starting to lose track of the ways in which each and every experience has enriched my life. And now, another feather has been added to this cap. Vision Australia is now offering Eric the Postie to kids with impaired vision through their incredible initiative, The Feelix Library, and I got to record the reading!
Vision Australia’s Feelix Book Kits
Registered members of Vision Australia’s Feelix Library can now borrow a copy of Eric the Postie. What do kids with impaired vision do with picture books you ask? Well, the wonderful folks at Vision Australia have worked that all out. Each picture book is supplied as a “kit”. Each kit includes a copy of Eric the Postie (with braille translation included), and some related sensory experiences that are themed around the book.
The fun part for me was having the opportunity to read Eric the Postie in Vision Australia’s custom-designed recording studio. You know, those double-sided glass rooms with microphones and headphones and all the check check check, one, two, one two stuff? Brilliant. Like the Beatles except, well, not as cool.
The ‘performance’ is burned to CD and included in the kit so families can listen to a reading, experience the tactility of the book, read along with the translated braille, and ultimately enjoy a multi-sensory experience when interacting with the touch/feel components of the kit.
If this wasn’t enough to get excited about, they also asked me to read and *gulp* sing, two other nursery rhyme books of mine – Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. The staff were expert in making me feel comfortable in this confronting scenario and I won’t be auditioning for The Voice any time soon. But, it’s an experience that will stay with me for a long time yet, and better still, we plan to add a few more books in the future, as well as do a live story time at the Vision Australia offices.
Just. Wow.