Soaring into ILF’s 2026 Great Book Swap with Andy Griffiths and Bunuba Storytellers at Taronga Zoo

On Tuesday 10 March, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) proudly launched our annual Great Book Swap fundraiser at Sydney Taronga Zoo, featuring a special celebration of Girrganyi (brown falcon in Bububa). Girrganyi is one of the 4 Great Book Swap Animals that schools receive Teacher Resources about upon registration!

The Great Book Swap is a fundraiser that can be hosted by schools, universities, individuals and organisations. The whole idea is to bring in a book and swap it for a new one in exchange for a donation to the ILF. Donations help us to gift culturally relevant books to remote First Nations Communities across Australia.

Animals play a central role in First Nations storytelling, and this year’s Great Book Swap Teacher Resources celebrate this connection. When teachers sign up for a Great Book Swap, they receive access to Teacher Resources celebrating animals. The 4 Teacher Resources include: Girrganyi (brown falcon in Bunuba), Marntuwunyini (dugong in Tiwi), Bigibigi (pig in Kriol) and Yari (whale in Yawuru). 

This year’s launch was joined by over 70 First Nations primary school students who celebrated the joy of stories with ILF Ambassador Andy Griffiths, learnt about Girrganyi from Bunuba Leader and storyteller Joe Ross, participated in a Great Book Swap and interacted with a snake and blue tongue lizard! 

It was so special to have Bunuba Leader and storyteller Joe Ross, his partner Stacey Bush, and their children Remi and Boheme Ross – the creators of Winthali (Fire) join this year's launch. In the Dreamtime stories of the Bunuba People, Girrgnayi (brown falcon) brings fire to the Land and People and is an important feature of the Winthali story.

“There are less than 50 Elders who speak Bunuba now and it’s important to keep our Language, Culture and Stories alive for the next generation,” says Joe Ross. 

ILF Ambassador and renowned children’s author, Andy Griffiths also attended to celebrate the launch. 

“Hosting a Great Book Swap at your school, university or workplace is the perfect way to remind your friends, students and co-workers of the power of books to entertain, enchant and maybe even change their lives.” 

“And, at the same time, you are helping to raise funds used to provide books for children in remote Communities so that they can experience the same benefits. Reading opens doors!” says ILF Ambassador Andy Griffiths

The Great Book Swap could be the perfect celebration of reading and stories for your school or workplace. Funds raised support the ILF to provide culturally-relevant books to remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.