Key Points
- 'The World is Our Playground' is an illustrated book series for primary school-age children written by Jamel Kaur Singh.
- The books follow Nanak and Tara, two Melbourne siblings who travel to Vietnam, France, Italy and the Philippines to explore the culture, traditions, food and languages.
- Ms Singh says she chose her main characters to represent Australia's 'true diversity'.
Jamel Kaur Singh has spent around 25 years educating others about cultural well-being.
Speaking to SBS Punjabi, the cultural advocate says she created 'The World is Our Playground' book series to create awareness of what culture means among young students.
"Two books of Nanak and Tara's Vietnam and France adventures have already been published in the series, while their Philippines and Greece adventures are set to be released next," she says.
Cultural educator Jamel Kaur.
The books, which feature full-page coloured illustrations, aim to "knock down cultural cringe where people are left ashamed and denying their cultural heritage," she says.
Written by Ms Singh, illustrated by Ronald Santos and edited by Johanna Marie Ferrer, the travel book series is designed for five to seven-year-olds and their teachers.
"In the second book, the duo travel to France to eat croissants and escargot, meet local kids Emma and Gabriel, tour the Louvre Museum and Disneyland, and attend the Bastille Day parade.
"Their journey continues to explore the differences and similarities between people," she explains.
Jamel with her sisters and dad (L-R) Harsel, Parvyn, Dya Singh and Jamel.
She credits her parents, who are peace advocates and interfaith leaders, with instilling values of cultural sensitivity and respect in her and her sisters, Harsel and Parvyn, from a young age.
"The values that were bestowed upon us are the values that I've tried to instil in the book.
"I know a lot of the youth that were in Australia 40 years ago when we first came, they were removed from these values. It was all about English literature and English culture, even from a perspective of food and what they consumed," she says.
"This 10-part book series has an objective to create cultural understanding and enhance teacher resources available for the purpose of creating sociability, reducing racially motivated bullying both in and out of schools, and breaking down cultural barriers and stereotypes," she says.
Click on the player to listen to the full interview with Jamel kaur Singh.
LISTEN TO
the interview with Jamel Kaur Singh.
15:26
