Exploring loss and belonging with My Two Blankets, part of National Literacy and Numeracy Week.

Moving to a new country is tough, especially for young ones. They’re leaving behind everything that is familiar, and venturing into the unknown. Chances are they’ll experience loss.

My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald and Freya Blackwood beautifully explores this topic through Cartwheel, who has just arrived in a new country and feels the loss of all that she’s ever known.

Cartwheel creates a safe place for herself under an ‘old’ blanket made out of memories and thoughts of home. As time goes on, Cartwheel begins to weave a ‘new’ blanket, one of friendship and a renewed sense of belonging. It is different from the old blanket, but it is eventually just as warm and familiar.

National Literacy and Numeracy Week

Held between 29 August and 4 September 2016, this week is a celebration of, you guessed it, literacy and numeracy.

As part of this week, Read for Australia will take place on 2 September, a national simultaneous reading event that will celebrate the importance of reading together – children with their parents, carers and the broader community. Schools can invite guests to a reading event in their school, or organise visits to local community centres, nursing homes and pre-schools.

My Two Blankets is the 2016 Read for Australia’s chosen book. Will you be reading it this 2 September?

Learn more about National Literacy and Numeracy Week

My Two Blankets

Winner of the 2015 CBCA for Picture Books

by Irena Kobald, Freya Blackwood (Illustrator)

Cartwheel has arrived in a new country, and feels the loss of all she's ever known.

She creates a safe place for herself under an ‘old' blanket made out of memories and thoughts of home.

As time goes on, Cartwheel begins to weave a ‘new' blanket, one of friendship and a renewed sense of belonging. It is different from the old blanket, but it is eventually just as warm and familiar.

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About the Contributor

Anastasia Hadjidemetri

Anastasia Hadjidemetri is the former editor of The Booktopian and star of Booktopia's weekly YouTube show, Booked with Anastasia. A big reader and lover of books, Anastasia relishes the opportunity to bring you all the latest news from the world of books.