A collaboration between the Museum, Raising Literacy Australia, and its publishing arm Little Book Press, this free program is inspired by Shoo, You Crocodile!, the popular 2020 picture book by author Katrina Germein.
Colourfully illustrated by Tom Jellett, Shoo, You Crocodile! follows a group of young school students who encounter a giant crocodile in a museum bearing an uncanny resemblance to our own South Australian Museum.
Inspired by the five floors and rich variety of natural history, fascinating science, and world cultures on display on North Terrace, the children have an uproarious time bravely shooing the croc through familiar halls and stairways, past the animals of the South Australian Biodiversity Gallery, to the rainbow Minerals Gallery, and beyond.
Designed to support young children’s foundational development, since publication the book has been sent to thousands of households as part of Raising Literacy Australia’s preschool book gifting program, which distributes free book packs to South Australian families to encourage everyone to read, sing, talk and play with their children.
Building on the book’s popularity and the Museum’s special position as a place of life-long learning across generations, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds, the Crocodile Club will provide young learners under five with essential early experiences with nature, science, and literacy.
Access to the Crocodile Club is free, and includes self-guided tour resources, and an eye-catching limited release bag tag destined to become a must-have accessory across the state’s kindergartens and day-care centres. Plus, a subscription to bi-monthly e-newsletters will keep parents and carers in the loop with new content, special offers, and Museum updates.
Dr David Gaimster, Chief Executive of the South Australian Museum, said the Crocodile Club was an important new initiative that will give a new generation their first taste of the South Australian Museum and the many stories inside.
“Spend one minute in the South Australian Museum and you’ll see families from all around the world learn and discover together, from newborns to grandparents and everyone in between.”
The Crocodile Club will encourage even more families to share this priceless South Australian experience, while also making a valuable contribute accessible early childhood learning for families across the state.
Kate Ellis, Chief Executive, Raising Literacy Australia, said this new program would help put literacy and early learning at the forefront of South Australia’s cultural precinct.
“We are excited to partner with the South Australian Museum and support South Australian children to boost their early literacy skills, develop their love of books and also start forming their lifelong connection with South Australia’s cultural precinct”
Sign up to Crocodile Club: