The Story Animals Project is a Department of Communities initiative, featuring handmade fabric Australian animal characters and 12 Story Animal yarn books. Designed by specialist child protection staff, the yarn books use metaphorical situations to explore ‘tough stuff’ in life that can lead children and their support networks to experience big emotions.
The Story Animals and yarn books are used by child protection workers, carers, a range of therapy service providers and in schools. Using The Story Animal characters in non-directive play supports respectful ways of working when cultural planning for Aboriginal children in care. The Story Animal characters and yarn books create opportunities for learning about protective behaviours, stability and connection for children who have experienced trauma.
Learn more about the books
Working with the Story Animals books - introductory video
Show moreResources
Show moreActivity book
Activity sheets
Colour-in sheets
When to use the books
What does each book colour mean?
Show moreEach colour group is based on the S.E.L.F. Framework.
Safety - orange books provide ideas on how to talk about protective (safe and unsafe) behaviours; triggers (fight-flight-freeze); or being safe and together (family violence).
Emotion - blue books can help discuss early warning signs and staying connected; sadness and depression; or unsafe substance use.
Loss - use green books to talk about grief and loss (when a child is away from a parent); homelessness and feeling displaced; or self-harm, belonging and identity.
Future - choose purple books for ideas on talking about achieving goals, safety networks and planning; getting back on track and listening to Elders; or unhealthy environments and the process of change.
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