A Kyneton resident is the creative mind behind a popular children’s storytelling subscription service that has gained a whole new audience during the pandemic.
Former teacher and teacher-librarian, Nicole Brownlee, developed Story Box Library about 10 years ago and now has about 80 per cent of the nation’s public libraries subscribed.
More recently new schools have also taken up subscriptions including many in the Macedon Ranges.
“Story Box Library has seen a sharp rise in use throughout the pandemic as teachers seek out high-quality, innovative ways of engaging students amid remote learning,” Nicole said.
“We often receive feedback from parents who tell us that we have helped their struggling or disengaged child.
“Similarly, public library usage has seen a spike in use as Story Box Library offers a safe online alternative to Story Time.”
Subscribers may recognise some local film locations including Candlebark School and inspiring teachers like the school’s principal, and author, John Marsden.
“We are fortunate to be in a creative community and have access to many incredible storytellers, authors and illustrators,” Nicole said.
Story Box has just released the first in a new Auslan Story Time series that has been hugely popular.
The team worked with the Victorian College for the Deaf and Auslan Consultancy on the series, which features 13 stories and discussions on more to follow.
“We play a key role in improving literacy by providing curriculum-based ideas and activities via our schools and public libraries. We celebrate a range of voices, ideas and communities by connecting the world through storytelling,” Nicole said.
Nicole worked as a children’s bookseller in Australia and the UK for more than decade, studied children’s literature at university and worked for Australian publisher Allen and Unwin. Story Box Library was almost a “natural extension” of her vast experience.
An idea grows
Nicole said the idea for Story Box developed after volunteering in her daughter’s classroom.
“I saw the children watching a story being read on the interactive whiteboard,” she said.
“The children were engaged but what struck me was that it was an American actor, reading an American book. I thought, why not create an Australian equivalent that Australian children can better relate to, and that showcases our incredible home-grown talent?”
Soon after, Story Box Library evolved from Nicole’s loungeroom, with her two children at her feet, via a successful crowdfunding campaign. Since then Nicole has built an experienced, skilled and passionate team.
She and her family moved to Kyneton about four years ago from inner-city Melbourne and never looked back.
New app development
Now Nicole and her team are preparing for Story Box to enter a whole new digital space.
Story Box recently secured a state government Technology Adoption and Innovation Program grant to develop an app version of the website.
“The StoryBox App will be a game changer for us, giving better value for subscribers,” Nicole said.
“The app will be easy to use, allowing young children the ability to play stories in just a couple of taps. It will provide a high-quality, safe alternative mobile activity parents can trust in.
“This is something that public libraries and schools have been requesting for some time, so we know it will be an incredibly valuable addition to our already existing platform.”
Nicole revealed that the team was also busy “developing new content that will take storytelling to a whole new level”.
