A brand new band a story about inclusiveness by Penny Harris and Winnie Zhou

A Brand New Band is one of eight stories written by an award-winning writer and animator in consultation with experts in education, psychology and linguistics. Each story has a social and emotional theme that is perfect for sharing with younger readers. The books are brightly illustrated and the text is simple to read and follow. In this story Lulu does not bring an instrument to the band practice and offers to sing and dance but is left out. The band does not play all that well together and the audience is fast losing interest. Eventually Lulu makes her own music, and the band asks her to re-join them which she decides to do and the event is a success.

This book touches on the themes of friendship, accepting that we should be inclusive and kindness. For classroom teachers, this book series has been designed to support the Early Learning Framework and the Australian School Curriculum.

Themes: Inclusiveness, Concert, Friends, Social skills, Kindness, Wellbeing, Emotional development and intelligence.

Kathryn Beilby