Meet Ezy!
Ezy is a charming Staffordshire Terrier who is always learning—and helping children learn Dharawal language along the way! Building on Dr. Jodi Edwards’ previous book (Dharawal: Words, Phrases, and Activities), this picture book serves as a primer for teaching Dharawal. Each sentence is presented first in Dharawal, followed by English, with engaging illustrations by Amy-Lea Hill-Trindall.
To support learners, readers can access pronunciation guides at dharawalwords.com.au, which is helpful for both educators and young readers. The story is straightforward and easy to follow, allowing children to focus on the language without the distraction of a complex plot. The illustrations are bright, bold, and truly leap off the page, making learning vibrant and enjoyable.
About the Ezy Books Series
Dr. Jodi Edwards, author of Dharawal Colouring and Counting and Dharawal Words, Phrases, and Activities (illustrated by Merindah Funnell), developed this series to support revitalization of the Dharawal language. The series includes 11 primary readers featuring Jodi’s Staffordshire Terrier, Ezy, whom she “teaches” in Dharawal throughout the books.
Each book is written as if Jodi is teaching Ezy both his language and cultural heritage. They incorporate vocabulary from Jodi’s previous works, now expanded into sentences and phrases reflecting Dharawal cultural themes, such as the sea, birds, food gathering, rivers, colors, and directions. By 2025, the series will expand further to cover numbers, the Dharawal alphabet, and camp dogs.
For this project, Jodi collaborated with renowned Aboriginal artist Amy-Lea Trindall Hill, who brings each character to life with a distinctive First Nations perspective.
Each book is bilingual, with sentences in Dharawal followed by English translations. Since exact translations aren’t always possible, readers may encounter minor interpretive challenges, adding depth to the learning experience.
Additionally, Jodi is creating videos where she reads the stories using a dog puppet. These videos will be available at dharawalwords.com.au as soon as they’re completed.
About
Navigate the fascinating world of directions with "Ezy Learns Directions," a delightful children's book by Jodi Edwards, beautifully illustrated by Amy Lea Hill-Trindall. Join Ezy, the curious pet dog, and his adventurous cousin Frankie as they play on Country, exploring and learning about directions together.
In this engaging tale, Ezy and Frankie embark on an exciting journey, as they head east to the sea and north to the river. Along their adventures, they learn about the southerly and west winds, gaining insight into how the elements shape their surroundings. Through playful exploration, they come to understand the cardinal directions, enriching their understanding of the world around them.
Written in both English and Dharawal, "Ezy Learns Directions" offers a bilingual reading experience that helps foster an appreciation for Aboriginal language and cultural knowledge. As part of a six-book series, this book adds another enriching chapter to the delightful adventures of Ezy.
Perfect for parents, educators, and young explorers, "Ezy Learns Directions" is more than a simple geography lesson—it's a journey that encourages curiosity and learning. Allow Ezy and Frankie to guide your child as they discover how to navigate the wonders of their world, fostering a sense of direction, discovery, and cultural appreciation.
General Information
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ISBN: 9780645774368
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Publisher: Dharawal Publishing
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Publication Date: April 1, 2023
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Product Type: Book
