Shirin and Amir and the dragon smoke by Liz Drummond and Jemima Shafei-Ongu. Illus. by Magie Khameneh

As a result of the 2019-20 'Black Summer' bushfires, many diverse communities were unaware of the danger posed by the smoke haze drifting across city areas. Researchers from the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH) at the Australian National University (ANU), worked collaboratively with the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies to devise ways to inform families about how to stay safe during these challenging times.

In the story Shirin and Amir and the Dragon Smoke, two young friends, forced indoors by the smoke, creatively play how they stayed safe inside. By pretending the smoke was from a dragon, they bravely fight the dragon by rolling up towels to seal off gaps, wear face masks and stay inside their playhouse. Amir also keeps his asthma inhaler close by. Once the smoke hazard has passed by, the children see the neighbourhood returning to normal.

This engaging read with brightly coloured full page illustrations is an important book to be shared with all. It has been translated by the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies into Persian, Arabic and Turkish and will hopefully reach many communities. It is a valuable resource for school and public libraries.

This quote from co-author Jemima Shafei-Ongu, perfectly sums up the reasons behind this important publication:

'Picture books can be a wonderful conduit between parents' and childrens' experiences, can introduce and hold space for difficult conversations; and when bilingual texts are shared, can expand a child's experience of language and culture beyond the page.'

Teacher/Parent/Carer Notes are available: Bushfire smoke and our health: a guide for kids and grown-ups | National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (anu.edu.au)

Themes: Bushfire Smoke, Safety, Families, Friends, Culturally Diverse Communities, Accessibility.

Kathryn Beilby