A celebration of young children’s curiosity, imagination

and creativity.

Art works and words by:Seb BaronGemma BodySophia BoothEnzo CannarozzoXavier FussZachary HallSammy KinnairdMax LindFreya MurdochMadison RivettMeabh RussellRuby Sadgrove

Rodeales Publisher20 Cleghorn Street, Upper Junction, RD2 Waitati, Dunedin 9085.Email: reales@clear.net.nzPhone: 03-4736452

First published 2017Copyright © Rod Eales and the contributors

ISBN 978-0-473-39617-6

A catalogue record for this book is available from the National Library of New Zealand.

This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior permission of the publisher.

The art work in this book was developed by Rod Eales (ECE teacher and artist) with a group of 4-year-old children from Early Childhood on Stafford, Dunedin.

Design by Christine Buess in collaboration with Rod Eales.

THIS COLLECTION of drawings was created during a long term investigation and exploration into space. Artist-teacher Rod Eales worked with a group of four-year-olds at Early Childhood on Stafford, Dunedin, on the scientific aspects of space, as well as the visual language of art.

Both the project and the book were developed in response to the children’s initial interest in the planets. The project’s focus expanded with time to include learning about the science, history, mysteries, drama and beauty of space.

The children used a range of visual and written references for their inspiration, including reference books, photographs and other printed images, YouTube and a trip to the Dunedin Planetarium.

They also explored a range of artistic processes and mediums to develop their designs. Their main tools included varying sizes and colours of metallic pens and colouring pencils.

These images have been created in the language, form and structure of art, expressing a range of knowledge, skills and attitudes which reflect the children’s understanding and curiosity about a more remote part of our natural world. This book provides an insight into the young child’s capacity to meditate the marvellous and express their wonder at the world above.

PLATE 1

It’s dark in space. ZACHARY HALL

PLATE 2

If you look through a telescope you might see something. MEABH RUSSELL

PLATE 3PLATE 2

This is when the Milky Way galaxy was born and there was a big explosion. ENZO CANNAROZZO