My Language Rights: a child’s right to their language

Discover the power and beauty of our world’s languages!

My Language Rights invites young readers into the rich tapestry of multilingual communities. Through clear, engaging text and bold illustrations, children explore how our words carry our memories, heritage, and cultural identity.

This timely picture book presents a child-friendly manifesto for linguistic rights, celebrating the fundamental freedom to speak and learn in our mother tongues. Drawing from her experience as an educator, Judy Thompson crafts this essential message in collaboration with Spanish artist Tete Garcia, whose colorful artwork illuminates these important concepts for young readers.

Perfect for:

• Educators and Librarians: An invaluable resource for exploring cultural identity and human rights in an accessible way.
• Families: A thoughtful choice for multicultural households, sparking important conversations about language and heritage.
• Young Language Learners: An empowering book that validates children's experiences with multiple languages.

Drawing from PEN International's Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights, My Language Rights is a vital non-fiction picture book that educates and inspires, showing readers of all ages why protecting our diverse linguistic heritage matters.

Judy Thompson is an Australian educator and author based in Alexandria, Egypt, where she lives with her husband and three daughters. With a love for exploring and learning languages, she delights in how languages connect people and offer new perspectives. A passionate advocate for bilingual children, Judy’s teaching, training, and books emphasise the importance of acknowledging, valuing, and nurturing all classroom languages.

Tete Garcia is a Spanish illustrator based in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, known for her vibrant, bold artwork that captures everyday beauty and joy. Her mission is to create meaningful art with a story behind it. When not illustrating, she enjoys crocheting, exploring museums, sipping coffee by the beach, and learning to surf.