IY2019: The Very Hungry Caterpillar in language

This children’s book, which has captured the minds of many generations, has now been translated into 40 languages, including the Aboriginal language Yuwi.

The Yuwi language of the Yuwibara and Yuibera people, of Mackay, was under threat of being lost. In fact, there were no fluent speakers until a group of volunteers collected 1000 words of Yuwi vocabulary.

The Yuwi language group plans to keep translating children's books into local Aboriginal languages, particularly during the International Year of Indigenous Languages.

This could not be a better example to celebrate the theme of the 100^th Children’s Book Week – ‘Read Now, Read Forever’ – looking to the past, present and the future of children’s books.

Image courtesy of the ABC.

Find out more:

• Visit the Children’s Book Week website
• Read the ABC online story
• See our 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages page
• Visit UNESCO’s IY2019 website
• Share your story