The ILP have pledged to provide multiple copies of board books to babies, toddlers and preschool children in remote indigenous communities. Multiple sets of the books will also be provided to schools where students and community members will be taught to read the books. They will then be encouraged to read the books to babies and preschool-aged children both at home and at school.

The ILP is a partnership between the Australian book industry and The Fred Hollows Foundation and for the past three years has raised funds to buy books and literacy material for remote indigenous communities.

"A lack of literacy skills in very remote indigenous communities means that young children growing up in these communities are at a severe disadvantage compared to ordinary Australian children" said David Gaunt, Chair of the ILP. Some children are turning up for school in remote communities having never seen a book. The new early literacy project hopes to directly address the problem by providing babies, toddlers and preschool children with access to a wonderful set of books for early childhood."

Book Buzz will be trialled in a number of remote indigenous communities this year including in Wugularr in the Northern Territory; Warburton in Western Australia and Wilcannia in New South Wales.

Book Buzz will be launched by Therese Rein:

Background on the Indigenous Literacy Project:

-In 2008 over $300,000 was raised
-In 2009 money raised by the ILP will fund a full-time Indigenous Literacy Project Co-ordinator based in The Fred Hollows Foundation office in Darwin
-In 2009 the ILP will supply books and literacy material to remote indigenous communities in: the Northern Territory (Katherine East Region, East Arnhem and Gulf); in Queensland (Camooweal, Dajarra and Urlampi communities); in South Australia (Port August and Mount Lindsay in the APY lands on border of South Australia); in north western New South Wales in Brewarrina, Wilcannia, Ivanhoe, Engonnia, Bourke and Menindee and in Western Australia in the Ngaanyatjarra region.
-In 2009, the ILP in conjunction with the Northern Territory Writers' Centre funded books to over 70 schools in the Northern Territory.