Guest Post: Sarah Rasmussen on Five Reasons Why Reading to Children is Super Important

We all know that reading to children is important and that we should do it. But do you ever wonder why it’s so important? Other than the fact that it will improve literacy?

See below to see some reasons and get motivated to start reading!

1. Reading teaches empathy in children.
One of the most important skills that young children need to develop is understanding empathy – it is vital to growth and emotional intelligence. Your child will learn empathy as they read about characters and how they deal with different situations that they might not see in everyday life. I know I have learnt plenty of important life lessons from literature and by falling in love with characters.

Such as Harry Potter. Ahem.

International Read To Me Day

Tomorrow is International Read To Me Day, a worldwide campaign aimed at getting each and everyone of us to sit and connect with a child through word and story with the aim to improve literacy and empower children to enter into conversation about what they read.

Reading is a multifaceted process involving word recognition, comprehension, fluency, and motivation. ... to make meaning from print. *

But it is so much more. It is a sharing of pasts and futures, a relaying of cultures and beliefs, and a portal for discovery and realisations that can shape and influence not just a child's literacy but their entire understanding of the world in which they live...and beyond.

Reading is an intensely intimate experience; one which a child can experience for themselves after they've develop the skills to interpret the written word but before that, reading represents an opportunity to connect with a child like nothing else, both emotionally and physically.

It is not just language and comprehension that are enhanced when you read to a child, you are reinforcing their attachment and nurturing their relationship with you every single time you take the time to share a story. For the very young, it's as much about sharing that time with you as it is a cultivation of audio and visual literacy. The importance of this can not be overvalued, ever.

So, take a few moments or more to enrich a child's day, any child, with a book and read to them.

Then do it again and again and again.

Discover more about this annual campaign and the amazing people who drive it at the Read To Me website, here. Get involved - find out how, here.

#readtomeday

* What is Reading? blog post by Diane Henry Leipzig - Reading Rockets Blog

Event: Library Lovers Day

Tomorrow, 14 February, is Library Lovers Day! What would your love letter to a library say?

Library Lovers Day is a chance for everyone to connect or reconnect with the library and share the library love. Share your #librarylove on social media and tell your local library, and the world, why you love libraries, or drop into your library and tell them in person -- your librarians will really appreciate it.

Did you know?

• There is one public library service point for every 15,000 people in Australia, and more than seven out of ten public libraries are open for more than 30 hours per week.
• More than 171 million items were lent to 8.6 million members of Australia’s public libraries and there were more than 112 million customer visits annually, that equates to more than 9 million visits per month.
• There are 203 university libraries, used by around one million staff and students every year.
• There are more than 9,000 school libraries and some 12 million people visit our National, State and Territory libraries every year.
• Behind the scenes, 2,000-plus special libraries provide services for business users, lawyers, health professionals, government officials and other information consumers.

National Simultaneous Storytime 2014

It’s that time of year again! Time to sit down at 11am (AEST) and join children and adults all around the country as we celebrate reading and children’s literature by sharing a story together.

In 2013, more than 430,000 children in over 2,500 locations around Australia joined in National Simultaneous Storytime, reading the book The Wrong Book, written by Nick Bland. This year, Ursula Dubosarsky’s wonderful picture book Too Many Elephants in this House (illustrated by Andrew Joyner) will be read aloud and, if last year was any indication, there will be much laughter and fun as kids not only read, but explore the story through songs, games and educational activities.

The aim of National Simultaneous Storytime is to use a picture book written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator as a prompt for children in libraries, schools, preschools, childcare centres, families, bookshops and other locations to come together to have fun and connect through the story.

Whether you read at home, get some friends together, or attend an event at your local library, when you read Too Many Elephants in this House today, you will be joining others around the country as we celebrate the wonderful talent of our Australian authors and illustrators, and the joy that can be found in sharing a story.

For more information, visit the National Simultaneous Storytime website.

See our KBR review of Too Many Elephants in this House here.

Our Reading Hour Photo Challenge!

Love to read? Love to snap photos?

From Saturday 17 to Saturday 24 August, we invite you to post your reading-to-kids photos* on our facebook page, in celebration of The Reading Hour.

Every day, we will choose our favourite photo for inclusion on our website.

On the evening of 24 August, after The Reading Hour, we will announce three winners, who will each win a four-book pack from Random House!

The three winners will be:

• our favourite overall photo
• our most creative photo
• the person who posts the most photos over the week

And each winner will score a four-book pack valued at $57.80.




*Competition is open to Australian residents only and entrants must have full ownership of every photo posted. Photos will be moderated.

The Reading Hour

5 pm - 6 pm

Saturday 24 August 2013

KBR is proud to be a partner of The Reading Hour, an initiative that encourages parents and carers to share a book with a child for 10 minutes a day or an hour a week. It's not always possible for parents to share a book at bedtime with their children, but if you can manage 10 minutes most nights, your child will have the best chance of becoming a good reader, with all the social and educational benefits that brings.

See our exclusive interview with The Reading Hour ambassador, Andy Griffiths! And if you're an instagram aficionado, check out KBR Founder Tania McCartney's IG photo challenge, which will run during The Reading Hour proper. Join her to post the picture books you read!

Happy reading and happy snapping!

Proudly supported by Random House Australia

The Reading Hour Interview with Andy Griffiths

In celebration of The Reading Hour, this Saturday 24 August from 5pm to 6pm, we are thrilled to have ambassador Andy Griffiths join us with this fabulously fun interview--all about reading!

What is reading?
Moving your eyes rapidly back and forth over a piece of paper with little black marks and, if you're lucky, pictures on it.

What does reading mean to you?
Entering an imaginative space where the normal rules of everyday life don't apply. You can live out your fantasies and experience your fears in a vivid but completely safe way.

Where do you like to read?
At the lounge room table, on a plane, in bed, in a library, pretty much anywhere!

Where do your kids like to read?
In bed mostly.

Is there a special reading spot in The 39-Storey Treehouse?
Yes, we have a library full of comic books!

What do you think reading does to a child’s brain?
It lets a child experience events and emotions from the points of view of other people. It supplies an incredible amount of knowledge about the world and how it works and how they can find a happy productive place within it.

Why should parents and carers be reading to children every day?
Books are really just written down words and words come from speech. The more you can soak a developing child's brain in the rhythms of written language the easier it will be for them to be able to put it all together for themselves when they are ready.

How many minutes should they put aside to read to these kids?
I'd say a minimum of 30 minutes every day. There is no maximum.

What will happen to the parents and carers if they don’t read to children every day?
They'll miss out on a whole heap of great stories as well as a really special time with their children.

And what will happen to the kids?
They'll miss out on a whole heap of great stories as well as a really special time with their parents.

What will you be doing during The Reading Hour? What will you be reading?
I'll be at an event in Melbourne at the BMW edge theatre with Sally Rippin, Ann James and Morris Gleitzman and a few hundred children and parents. I'm planning to read from my new picture book, Ed and Ted and Ted's dog Fred.

Get your ticket right here!

Learn more about Andy's books at www.andygriffiths.com.au and make sure you check out his full tour for The 39-Storey Treehouse, right here!

Head to The Reading Hour website to see more sensational reading events, happening in a town near you. And don't miss KBR's supersonic Facebook Photo Challenge. You could win some sensational books from Random House just by posting your Reading to Kids photos! More soon.

The Reading Hour with KBR Founder Tania McCartney

The Reading Hour is an annual initiative held on the Saturday after Book Week every August. Designed to encourage parents and carers to read to children, it's a great excuse to grab a pile of books and get reading.

Children who are read to from an early age have real life advantage.
Developing a love of books expands the hearts, souls and minds of our children, and is vital for full literacy.

See KBR Founder and author Tania McCartney talking about how important it is to read to kids in the above video, and don't miss KBR's fabulous week-long KBR Reading Hour Photo Challenge, on our Facebook page from Saturday 17 August, 2013. You could *win some books from Random House! Stay tuned for more.

Tania will be reading with her own kids during The Reading Hour, and will be posting photos of each book they read, live on Instagram (followgram.me/taniamccartney or @taniamccartney). If you don't do Instagram, you will be able to see the photos on her blog from around 8pm that same night.

The Reading Hour. Saturday 24 August 2013, from 5pm to 6pm. Come along and join people from all over Australia as we read to our book-loving children.

See www.thereadinghour.org.au for more.

*available to Australian residents only.

National Simultaneous Storytime Event Report - Canberra

If there's any opportunity to encourage a love of reading in children, you'll find me there. Along with Book Week and The Reading Hour, National Simultaneous Storytime is one of my very favourite bookish events for kids.

Today at Dickson Library in Canberra, it was a pleasure to read Nick Bland's The Wrong Book to a group of book-loving kiddles. At that every same moment (11am), libraries, schools and homes all over Australia were reading that very same book - how I wish I could have heard all voices in unison.

News: The National Year of Reading Lives On

KBR was truly thrilled to partner with the National Year of Reading in 2012. It was an incredible year for books and reading, with a slew of huge literary events and many inroads and many insights and advances in literacy in Australia.

During 2012, the National Year of Reading saw 4,000 events, more than 200,000 participants, $26 million worth of media coverage, $5.6 million worth of in kind support and a return on investment at a conservative estimate of $18 for every dollar invested in the campaign.

We loved it so much, we didn't want it to end! And it hasn't.

We're thrilled to report that Love2Read will continue on, nurtured by Libraries all over Australia. In 2013, the focus will be on The Reading Hour which takes place on Saturday 24 August. Events will take place the entire day and the week beforehand in libraries, schools, bookshops, festivals and other community venues.

Do check out the revamped Love2Read website for more info on the results of last year, as well as all the fabulous literary plans they have in store for 2013. There's so much going on - and you can also be involved! Stay tuned to KBR for news on The Reading Hour, later in the year.

 

Andy Griffiths wraps up the Boundless Festival

 

The Boundless Festival of Australian Children's Literature wound up yesterday with a spectacular author meet-and-greet with Andy Griffiths at the National Library of Australia.

Andy spent a few days in Canberra, visiting schools, lunching, dining and sharing his expertise with a range of lucky people.

Today's event at the NLA was simply glorious. Over 300 people turned up - and to see dozens upon dozens of young kids - especially boys - clutching Andy's books and spending time leafing through the pages while they waited {most patiently!} to have their book signed, was so very special.

I hope the following photos explain just how vital author visits like this are for young kids and the development of a love of reading. Andy is a generous, warm soul whose adoration for kids shines through - and these lucky kids were simply agog at the chance to meet him {+ some adults, too!}.

A huge congratulations to Belle Alderman and her team for this year's inaugural Boundless Festival. If you didn't get to this time, I hope you'll have a chance to indulge in this glorious event next year - please spread the word.

Happy reading - and perusing!

- Tania McCartney

Boundless Festival Library Exhibits

 

Today is the last day to enjoy the Boundless Festival of Australian Children's Literature exhibitions, right here in Canberra. The Boundless Festival has been running these fantastic Public Exhibitions at Canberra Libraries - take the kids along before it's too late!

Experience the creation of children’s books, view materials never seen before, satisfy your artistic interest, admire Australia’s creative talent and share familiar and new stories.

Belconnen Library  
What’s the theme? 
‘From Book to Screen’ featuring Wendy Orr’s Nim’s Island Crows Nest, N.S.W. : Allen & Unwin, 2007

What’s on exhibit?
Translations, movie version, film script, handwritten notes, script outline and scenes, movie memorabilia.

Download Activity Sheet 1 and Activity Sheet 2 

Civic Library  
What’s the theme? 
‘Telling the Story’ featuring A Bus Called Heaven written and illustrated by Bob Graham, published by Walker Books, London, 2011, © Blackbird Pty Ltd.

What’s on exhibit?
Artwork, manuscripts, dummies, correspondence, preliminary artwork, alternate jacket covers

Download Activity Sheet 1 and Activity Sheet 2 

Dickson Library
What’s the theme? 
‘Imagine That!’ featuring Going Home written by Margaret Wild and illustrated by Wayne Harris, published by Walker Books, Sydney, 2009, rev. ed. c1993.

What’s on exhibit?
Author’s notebook, story 1st draft with editor’s comments, storyboard, original artwork.

Download Activity Sheet 1 and Activity Sheet 2 

Erindale Library

What’s the theme? 
‘Picture a Pig’ featuring Leigh Hobbs’ Fiona the Pig Camberwell, Vic. : Puffin and Penguin Group (Australia), 2007

What’s on exhibit?
Artwork, dummy, draft text, preliminary artwork, endpaper designs.

Download the Activity Sheet

Tuggeranong Library
What’s the theme? 
‘Light and Shade’ featuring Hist! written by C J Dennis and illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe, published by Walker Books, Sydney, 2012, c1991 and Gary Crew & Peter Gouldthorpe’s First Light Port Melbourne : Lothian, 1993

What’s on exhibit?
Linocut original artworks from Hist!

Download Activity Sheet 1, Activity Sheet 2, Activity Sheet 3, Activity Sheet 4, Activity Sheet 5 and Activity Sheet 6

Woden Library
What’s the theme? 
‘Discover Deltora’ featuring Emily Rodda’s Deltora Quest series:
The Forests of Silence written by Emily Rodda, cover illustration by Marc McBride, Gosford, N.S.W., Scholastic Press, 2012, c2000
City of the Rats written by Emily Rodda, cover illustration by Marc McBride, Lindfield, N.S.W., Scholastic Press, 2012, c2000
The Lake of Tears written by Emily Rodda, cover illustration by Marc McBride, Gosford, N.S.W., Scholastic Press, 2012, c2000
The Shifting Sands written by Emily Rodda, cover illustration by Marc McBride, Lindfield, N.S.W., Scholastic Press, 2012, c2000 Gosford, NSW: Scholastic Press

What’s on exhibit?
Merchandise, including card game, book marks, tattoos, Japanese anime character key rings, fan letters, translations, article & reviews, Deltora Quest map.

Download the Activity Sheet

The Boundless Festival closes today, with a meet and greet with Andy Griffiths at the National Library of Australia.

COOL Awards Announcement with Andy Griffiths

Gungahlin Library was the place to be this morning - Andy Griffiths is in town for the Boundless Festival of Australian Children's Literature - and an ecstatic bunch of kids {and adults!} warmly welcomed him for the COOL Awards announcement.

They also warmly welcomed these cupcakes - how cool are they!?

News: Rocket into Space!

Rocket into Space!, written by award winning author and astrophysicist Dr Ragbir Bhathal and illustrated by Johanna Davids, has been published by NLA Publishing, as a contribution to the National Year of Reading.

Maddy and Jack are flying into space! If you come with them, you can turn the countdown wheel from ten to zero and help the rocket ‘lift-off’ by pulling the tab.

Travelling into the solar system, you can lift the flaps to let the planets reveal their secrets, make craters on Mercury with asteroids, spot the ‘happy face’ on Mars, turn the disk to rotate Jupiter’s moons, and twist Saturn’s rings of ice and rock.

Dodge asteroid belts and pull comets across the sky! then land safely back on Earth. Maddy and Jack reveal simple Did You Know facts, with more detailed information under the flaps.

This lovely book for preschoolers will be launched by eminent astronomer Professor Harvey Butcher at the NYR12 legacy event on 12 November, at the National Library.

Check it out at the NLA online bookshop.

Love 2 Read TV! with Tim Chan

KBR is delighted to welcome Tim Chan, book-lover and the genius behind Love2ReadTV - a spinoff website dedicated to a videography series in support of the National Year of Reading 2012.

Why did you become a friend of the National Year of Reading?
How could I reject the offer?! I speak, breathe and eat books, so I was thrilled when I was invited to be a Friend of the NYR. It has given me the opportunity to share the joy of reading with more people than I ever imagined.

What does reading mean to you?
Reading means everything to me. I’m a strong advocate of public libraries, and I think their important role in our community has been highlighted this NYR. With so much information available to us, and the fact that all this info can be accessed 24/7, it’s important to have a place where we can get trustworthy advice on how best to navigate our information world.

How do books change people’s lives?
I think books change people’s lives on two levels. The first is that reading is critical to improving literacy – almost half of Australia’s population don’t have the skills needed for everyday life and work.

The second is that books give people an opportunity to escape reality. I remember reading an article not too long ago about someone who was on the verge of entering severe depression. She was saved from toppling over through reading books – an inspirational story.

I suppose that’s the magical thing about books – when we read, we find connections to our own lives. Sometimes it’s comforting to know we’re not alone. Books aren’t limited to fiction either, and there’s so much we can learn from biographies, reports, new hobbies . . . I could go on and on!

Tell us about Love2ReadTV. Where did the idea come from?
Love2ReadTV is my exciting project celebrating NYR! Bookworms, authors and librarians are all invited to send in a video of support. These videos will be edited together into Love2ReadTV episodes and published on the project website.

A number of authors have generously donated their time (out of their extremely busy schedules!) to film a short video message for the project. There have also been many submissions from librarians around the country which will form part of the Librarians episode. I’ve even received a submission from the New York Public Library! It’s amazing how people can be united across borders through the joy of reading.

After I became a Friend of the NYR, I wanted to do something which would connect people together sharing the joy of reading. The idea actually came from Masterchef getting people to send in audition videos - food and books are a tasty combination eh?

How can people become involved?
Everyone is invited to be part of the 'I Believe in Reading' video episode. All they need to do is film themselves saying “My name is _________ and I believe in Reading!” They can also add a short message of support telling us why they love reading, or they can tell us their favourite book.

Any device can be used to film the video – use your iPhone, iPad, Digital Camera or dedicated video camera then send it in! Full details are on the website: www.love2readtv.com.au

The closing date is the 12th November – get your entries in quick!

What did you hope to achieve with this initiative?
I wanted to create something which would celebrate the National Year of Reading for years to come. I wanted to not only promote reading, but also connect readers with authors and librarians. This idea has become reality, with four episodes featuring authors already, with more to come. It has just been the most rewarding time seeing videos from so many people all passionate about reading and sharing the joy with the nation - even the world.

What else does Love2ReadTV offer?
I also run a blog which has lots of resources for librarians. You can download posters for each of the NYR themes there as they become available. The year may be coming to an end, but NYR is still going strong! You can access the blog at theopinionchair.wordpress.com

I also post on it quite regularly so if you’re in love with books as madly as I am, do subscribe! I’ll happily send you all the latest news I manage to scavenge.

What are your future plans for Love2ReadTV?
I’m hoping Love2ReadTV will serve as a useful resource for readers and librarians well into the future. There are so many insightful messages from all the videos being submitted by writers and librarians. They are all worth watching. At the heart of the project is a strong promotion of books and reading – so it could be a great classroom resource too. It has been the most enjoyable project to coordinate, and I hope you all enjoy the videos!

As to whether I’ll continue post-NYR12, I’ll have to see what comes along - time will tell! I’ll definitely continue to be a strong advocate for books and libraries, so stay tuned.

We will, Tim! Congratulations on this glorious initiative. Make sure you check out Tim's fabulous sites and be sure to send your video entry in before 12 November!

Mem Fox + Judy Horacek at Gungahlin Library

As part of the annual Get Reading campaign, big-time authors are on the move, visiting libraries all over Australia and delighting crowds everywhere - none more so than Mem Fox who visited Gungahlin Library here in Canberra today, touring with illustrator cohort Judy Horacek to read their delightful books - the immensely popular Where's the Green Sheep and their newbie - Goodnight, Sleep Tight.

Boundless Festival Opening: Gabrielle Lord

Tonight at the ACT Writers' Centre, we experienced a very special event - the launch of the Boundless Festival of Australian Children's Literature - with a keynote address by the superlative Gabrielle Lord, author of the 365 Conspiracy Series, and more.

Boundless:

On 3 October, something wonderful will begin in Canberra. It's the Boundless Festival of Australian Children's Literature and it's a very exciting initiative for the capital, conceived by the fabulous Belle Alderman of the Lu Rees Archives of Australian Children's Literature.

A host of sensational literary and bookish events will take place right through October and into November - so there's plenty to become involved in.

If you haven't already RSVPd, do come along to the festival's keynote opening by Gabrielle Lord this coming Wednesday 3 October at 6pm - at the ACT Writers Centre. You can RSVP on 02-6262 9191. You'll also have the chance to meet local author Jack Heath.

Be sure to check out the festival programme, too - it's right here, and I'll be reporting on these events as they arise, but just take a look at some of the glory you're in for:

• Mini-exhibitions in 6 ACT public libraries, featuring original artwork and other treasures from the Lu Rees Archives
• Gabrielle Lord gives the opening address at the ACT Writers Centre
• Gabrielle Lord speaks at Civic Library
• Gabrielle Lord, talks about writing Conspiracy series at Paperchain Bookshop
• Andy Griffiths talks at combined schools
• Andy Griffiths talks and announces the COOL award winners at Gungahlin Library
• Andy Griffiths runs a workshop for adults on ‘Writing Humour for Kids’
• Andy Griffiths greets fans in the foyer of the National Library of Australia

 Stay tuned for more - and mark those calendars!

Biggest Book Fair

Biggest Book Fair is a fun one-day event on Thursday 20 September when you can share the joy of reading and raise money to help teach disadvantaged Australians how to read and write. Whether you prefer thrillers, self help, fantasy, biography or children’s books: as long as your books are pre-loved and in good condition, they will be perfect for the Biggest Book Fair.

If you’re the social and energetic type in the office, why not organise an event at work so that your colleagues can come together to share the joy of reading? Maybe your friends or community group might like to share their joy of reading?

Hosting your own book fair is a really simple way to create employee engagement in the workplace by asking everyone to donate some of their pre loved books. Organise a simple get together so that all of the books can be sold and everyone can share their love of reading and contribute to teaching disadvantaged children how to read and write and enjoy reading too!

Any excuse for a get together is good. Have it over morning tea, a staff meeting, lunch, and don’t forget the cakes!

The official date is Thursday 20 September however you can hold your event on any day that suits you.

To host or participate, just register here. You’ll be sent a kit containing all the information you need.

All funds raised go to Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation.

If you are in Canberra, Brindabella Business Park, right next to the airport, is holding a book fair in their Town Square.

Event: Canberra Readers’ Festival 2012

Canberra Readers’ Festival 2012

For the love of reading…

Kate Grenville - Frank Moorhouse - Anita Heiss - Hazel Edwards

Kel Robertson - Melina Marchetta

The inaugural Canberra Readers Festival will be a perfect day out for the many Canberrans and Australians who love to read, for aspiring authors, and most especially, for the many passionate people who are members of book clubs in our community.

Celebrate the National Year of Reading this Spring with this special event to inspire and entertain, and to get people excited about books and the power of reading.

Hear from notable Australian authors and discuss and share your views with authors and with the community.

Early bird day passes (for all sessions) start at $32 ($25 concession)

Individual session tickets also available

More information: www.library.act.gov.au

Bookings:  6275 2700 or visit www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au

The Reading Hour Photo Challenge

What are the people in these photos doing? They are changing the very composition of their brains - their understanding, their comprehension, their minds... Reading is the essence of life in a modern world. It is life-changing and life-enhancing in ways beyond the scope of words themselves.

In celebration of the National Year of Reading, and most particularly, The Reading Hour, we are thrilled to showcase the mass of photographs we received (peppered with some famous people) for our facebook page Reading Challenge, sent in during the lead up to this fabulous initiative.

We hope this showcase touches your heart as much as it does ours - and be sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page to see the WINNERS of our Reading Photo Challenge!

We are thrilled to announce four winners - congratulations to Dimity Powell for posting the most photos! You win $100 worth of books! 

Thank you to everyone who sent in photos - there were some AMAZING ones and we so enjoyed them all. It was hard to choose! but congrats to the following people for posting our favourite photos:

 

Jodie McAllister

Nabeela Wahid

Jo Staker

You each win a copy of Tania McCartney's Riley and the Grumpy Wombat!

                                                                            
Happy reading, everyone!