Instilling a love of stories and reading from a young age can improve learning outcomes for children, including language skills, imagination and cognitive development. Helping Australians learn to read, the much-beloved story of an unsettled bird, Edward the Emu, celebrates its 35th anniversary this year.
Today, Friday 19 August, the Royal Australian Mint unveiled a set of coins commemorating the emu to help the Children’s Book Council of Australia launch national Children’s Book Week.
The 20 cent coin series features an uncirculated coloured coin available in a presentation card or special edition book, and a gold-plated coloured coin with a deluxe edition book.
Written by Sheena Knowles and illustrated by Rod Clement, the short story is recognised as one of Australia’s most loved children’s books.
Tired of his life as an emu in a zoo, Edward wants something more. One evening after everyone has left, the bird jumps his fence, deciding he would rather be a seal. All seems to be going well until Edward hears a visitor remark that another animal is best and he switches homes again. The emu continues joining other creatures in their cages in an attempt to find a place he belongs.
Product developer at the Mint, Matthew Frawley, says the book is just as entertaining today as it was in 1988, with a sweet story about falling for the ‘grass is greener’ phenomenon and learning to love your own life.
“These delightful collectible coins feature Edward in glorious full colour, with some of the friends he makes on his journey in fine relief detail. It is our hope that they lead their future owners and collectors to discover that the best thing you can be in life is you,” says Mr Frawley.
The set is the third release in a series that celebrates enduring Australian children’s books that are available for young readers. The first two in the series were dedicated to Graeme Base’s Animalia, in 2021, and Jackie French’s Diary of a Wombat, in 2022.
The Edward the Emu commemorative coins can be purchased at the Mint gift shop or through an authorised dealer. Each coin is legal Australian tender. Find out more about the Royal Australian Mint via its website.
What Australian children’s book would you like to see the Mint commemorate with a coin series?
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