Flying Penguin hits first birthday

Newtown’s Flying Penguin Extraordinary Educational Toys is celebrating its first birthday and is offering Sydney Star Observer readers a discount special.

Flying Penguin is owned by Vicki Harding and Jackie Braw, who will be known to readers for their advocacy on behalf of same-sex parented families, including a 2004 appearance on Play School that drew criticism from the Howard Government.

“On Saturday, October 23 we want SSO readers to celebrate our first birthday with us so we’re offering a 15 percent discount on everything in the store and online all day.”

“For online shoppers all they need to do is put ‘happy birthday’ in the check out voucher code and that’s 15 percent off whatever they want to buy.”

Flying Penguin stocks educational toys and games for children up to 15 years that are made from recycled or sustainable materials and made locally or Fair Trade certified.

They also stock kids books, many of which are inclusive of gay and lesbian parented families, including a range written by Vicki an daughter Brenna Harding themselves with titles like The Rainbow Cubby House, Koalas On Parade and My House.

Harding said readers might be surprised to learn that many of the same-sex parenting-themed children’s books they sold were bought by straight families.

The books are useful for heterosexual parents wanting to explain the relationship of a gay or lesbian family member or friend to a child, but they were often bought for other reasons too.

“Straight families buy them simply because they’re nice books,” Harding said. “One mother who came in bought one because it had her daughters’ name in the title.”

Harding said it had been an exciting time for daughter and co-author Brenna, who spoke at the NSW Parliament’s inquiry into same-sex adoption in 2009, to then watch the passing of Clover Moore’s Adoption Amendment (Same-Sex Couples) Bill last month.

info: Flying Penguin Extraordinary Educational Toys, Shop 1, 359 King St Newtown  or www.flyingpenguin.com.au