Fostering Digital Literacy with Story Box Library

In this episode, we welcome Teresa Mei Macri and Haley Davis from Story Box Library to discuss how theis digital platform connects young children with diverse Australian stories. We discuss the use of technology in early learning, exploring how multimodal stories align with the EYLF V2.0 and ECA Statement on Young Children and Digital Technologies. Teresa and Haley explain how these digital resources can boost literacy and communication skills by offering a rich, engaging way to read and interpret stories in our contemporary society.

The conversation highlights how digital storytelling can enrich—rather than replace—hands-on play. Our guests share practical ways for educators to use multimedia stories as springboards for creativity, imaginative play, and intentional teaching. Tune in to discover how Story Box Library works to provide high-quality, inclusive literature that inspires a lifelong love of stories.

Find out more:
www.facebook.com/StoryBoxHub/
www.instagram.com/storyboxhub/
www.youtube.com/channel/UCLPoD8EPHgXsrR50OYvMeEg
www.linkedin.com/company/storyboxlibrary/

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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:01

Welcome to Learn Play Thrive the podcast, the ultimate early learning podcast for educators and leaders in the sector. Let's learn, play, and thrive together.

SPEAKER_00 0:11

The Learn Play Thrive podcast was recorded on the land with the Dark and Jung people. We pay our respects to the traditional custodians, past, present, and emerging. Hands up, hands down, clear and dark and jungle.

SPEAKER_02 0:24

Welcome to Learn Play Thrive the podcast. We welcome two innovative guests from Storybox Library, a digital platform created for children to view stories being read aloud by Australian storytellers. First up, we have Theresa May Macri, the business development manager, with her deep knowledge of the education and publishing sectors, is the force behind bringing stories to underserved communities both here and internationally. And joining her is Haley Davis, the client relations manager. Hailey is often the first friendly voice storybox library customers here. And with her background in business development, she ensures that every educator and service provider gets the support they need to bring these amazing digital stories to life. A warm welcome to Theresa and Hayley to Learn Faith Rider the podcast. Thank you so much for coming on. Thank you for having us. Thank you. Yeah, welcome. Can you tell our listeners a bit about the storytelling resource Storybox Library that is housed on the Storybox Hub? How does it bring picture books to life to help connect, engage, inspire and educate young children through multimedia stories?

SPEAKER_03 1:23

Storybox Library is housed on the Storybox Hub and really brings picture books to life in a way that draws children straight into the magic of books and the richness of illustrations and the rhythm of language and the beauty of vocabulary. All of this makes it a really special experience. And we do this because every decision we make is intentional. For example, each story is paired with a carefully selected storyteller whose voice and style perfectly matches the book. No decision is made without the careful alignment and the diversity at the heart of those choices so that every child has an opportunity to see themselves reflected and at the same time glimpse into lives and experiences beyond their own. We need to emphasize that children aren't just watching a book being read, they're connecting with storytellers, who they add warmth, humour and personality, which really makes the story feel alive and relatable. It's a joyful experience that sparks curiosity and makes literacy engaging. The intro and the outro explanation of the books is also enhanced educational outcomes. A great example is how to move a zoo. The true story of Jesse the elephant walking from the Moor Park to Chironga Zoo in the early 1900s. The intro sets the scene with real images from the time, sparking curiosity, and the outro invites reflection. So kids don't just enjoy the story, they take away a deeper meaning. Plus, it's the read by the real zoo keeper at Chironga, Clay Cameron. It's not just a story reader out loud, it's a multimedia experience that connects, engages, inspires, and educates.

SPEAKER_02 3:07

What an incredible way to engage all children for a love of reading and storytelling. It's beautiful. And although both the EYLF version 2.0 and the ECA statement on young children and digital technologies advocate for the inclusion of technology as a useful teaching tool, some educators remain cautious about introducing it in early learning settings. How do you respond to those concerns? And can viewing multimodal stories help promote a young child's digital literacy and communication skills?

SPEAKER_01 3:34

Thanks, Simone. That's a really important question and one we hear often. Both the Early Years Learning Framework and the ECA statement highlight that technology, when used thoughtfully, is an extremely effective and powerful tool for learning. But I completely understand why some educators feel cautious. The world has changed and technology is everywhere, and we want to support kids to thrive in the digital age. So the keys in how technology is used and the intent behind it. Multimodal stories like those on Storybox Library aren't about replacing books or a tactile experience. They're about enhancing them. And this is a real skill. We bring a story to life through tone, pace, expression. It's something we're experts at. Not many of us can do it in the way a professional storyteller can. And that's where children benefit from seeing and hearing it done really well. We really do role model this behaviour. They encounter rich vocabulary, illustrations, sound effects, and expressions woven together, which builds their language, their listening, and their comprehension skills. They can pause, replay, and revisit stories, which actually strengthens confidence and engagement. And of course, promotes a love of reading and storytelling. And you know, that's what we're all about. Importantly, these experiences also nurture digital literacy. Children are learning to navigate different modes from visual to auditory and text and to make meaning across them. That's exactly the kind of communication skill they'll need they'll need in today's world. So I'd say rather than being cautious, we should be intentional, using digital stories as one part of a balanced approach that celebrates books, conversation, and creativity together.

SPEAKER_02 6:29

I love that you use that word balanced approach. I think it's so important and critical in the area of early childhood education and care. And in particular, the way that the storybox is able to reach out to a variety of children in different contexts and typically take them through a storyline of potentially an area that they're not able to see themselves in in their current context. How can viewing Storybox Libraries multimedia stories be used intentionally by educators to enrich rather than replace hands-on learning and creativity in imaginative play?

SPEAKER_03 7:00

That's such an important distinction, Smoone, because Storybox Library was never designed to replace hands-on learning or imaginative play. It's about enriching those experiences. When educators use our stories, initially the screen time is short, it's focused and purposeful. As Teresa mentioned, children hear expert storytellers, they model language, expression, and rhythm and then take the inspiration straight into their own play, drawing, building, or conversations. And that's where our activity time resources come in. These are designed by educators for educators with the intentional learning outcomes in mind. And that's where our activity time resources come in. These are designed by educators for educators with intentional learning outcomes in mind. There is an activity time resource for each book. They give practical creative ideas for how to continue the magic of story well beyond the screen. Whether it's art, dramatic play, critical thinking or early literacy skills, activity time helps educators link each story to meaningful play-based learning experiences. Another big benefit across, most centres can't realistically house hundreds and hundreds of the latest or popular books for every child. But Storybox Library makes this available at their fingertips. Families, well my favourite, my favourite point actually, families also gain access when a centre subscribes. So the experience continues at home, allowing that engagement between home and the centre. And there's something really special about children being exposed to so many stories and book covers digitally. Then later spotting those books on a shelf at their local library, for example. It often makes them more inclined to pick up and read the tangible book as well, beautifully bridging the digital and the physical words of literature and storytelling.

SPEAKER_02 8:55

Yeah, beautiful. Well, at the end of our podcast, we do three takeaways: one theory-based, one practical, and one inspiring. What would be your theory-based takeaway for us today?

SPEAKER_01 9:05

So from Storybox Library, our resources are grounded in the well-established theory that children who are read aloud to regularly and who are exposed to a wide range of books develop stronger language, literacy, and comprehension skills and are more likely to go on to become lifelong readers who read for pleasure. And it's not just us saying that the research really does show that. And practical, what's a practical element? Sure, so I'd say that the Storybox resources give educators access to high-quality story reads on a trusted platform with digital delivery ensuring accessibility and equitable access for all children, no matter who they are or where they are. That's something that we really pride ourselves on at Storybox Library, being able to give all kids that access.

SPEAKER_02 9:50

What I love about Storybox Library as well, what you mentioned, is that the families are able to access it at home too. So if there is a point in time where potentially you're organizing dinner or organising something, there's a trusted platform that they can go on and know that their child's being read aloud in a quality way with all with all the benefits of using storybooks that have been recommended and reviewed by a storybox library. That's awesome. And what would be your inspiring takeaway?

SPEAKER_03 10:19

Well, Simone at Storybox, we are on a mission to create fun, inclusive and engaging content designed to spark curiosity and imagination, and ultimately the joy of literacy. We want to inspire children to see themselves in these stories, to discover new worlds and to develop a lifelong love of reading, while also inspiring our educators with high-quality story reads that they can trust, complementing and strengthening their own storytelling skills with the children.

SPEAKER_02 10:46

Beautiful. Well, thank you so much for coming onto the podcast. Really appreciate you sharing all of that with us, and I look forward to seeing Storybox used amongst Australian services and maybe international as well. Thank you so much, Simone, for having us. Thank you. Thank you for joining us on this episode of Learn Play Thrive the podcast. We hope you found inspiration and valuable insights to fuel your journey in early childhood education. Remember the key to fostering learning, promoting play, and empowering young minds lies within your dedication and creativity. If you enjoyed today's episode, please like, subscribe, rate, or review our podcast on your favourite platform. Your feedback helps us to continue to deliver content that resonates with you. And don't forget to visit us at our website at learnplaythrive.com.au for additional resources, blog posts, and professional development opportunities. Until next time, keep learning, keep playing, and keep thriving. We'll see you in the next episode of Learn Playthrive the podcast.