Goodstart teacher creates heartwarming children’s book Welcome Home

Early childhood teacher Silvia Barragues, who works for Goodstart Early Learning at its East Brisbane site, has created a children’s book – Welcome Home – which tells the story of Matilda who discovers a discarded clown doll in the park. 

The heart-warming tale takes readers on a journey of compassion, belonging, and the power of reusing toys to give them a second life, and was inspired by her experiences of reading stories to her younger brother. 

“Ever since I was a young girl, I kept a notebook filled with stories that began with scribbles and evolved into words,” Ms Barragues shared. 

Welcome Home began life as a tale she shared with her brother when she was a teenager, and the lockdown periods of COVID-19 gave her the time and space to write the story, expanding and refining it. 

“As I reflected on the challenges we faced during the pandemic, I knew I had a unique opportunity to create a story that would resonate with children and teach them important life values. It became my mission to weave these values into a heartfelt narrative that would leave a lasting impact,” she shared.

Core themes of the story include compassion, belonging, and the power of reusing toys to give them a second life.

Recognising the importance of empathy and kindness, the story serves a gentle reminder for readers to care for one another. With meticulous attention to the mother-daughter relationship and the girl’s journey towards independence, the book serves as a catalyst for teaching values, fostering independence, and nurturing a compassionate mindset among children.

Ms Barragues holds a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, a Master of Teaching (Primary), and has nearly a decade of experience in early learning. As a teacher, she takes “immense pride” in watching her classroom of budding writers unleash their creativity, bringing their stories to life based on the images they have drawn.

“I love being able to share my love of reading with the children,” she said. “Literacy is a big part of the world around us.”

To learn more about Silvia’s book, please see here. Information about Goodstart East Brisbane is available here.