Campbelltown libraries will put the focus on kids and reading during August.
Children’s Book Week and The Reading Hour 2015 are set to lure local families into the library to discover the joy of reading.
This year, The Children’s Book Council of Australia will celebrate 70 years of promoting the best Australian literature to children and young people.
Books light up our world, is this year’s Book Week theme, and Campbelltown libraries will dedicate the week to celebrating Australian authors and illustrators to highlight the importance of reading.
All of council’s library branches will support Book Week with colourful displays, competitions and activities, including Baby Read ‘n’ Rhyme and Storytime sessions.
These free events will run during August 22-28 and will feature shortlisted books from this year’s Children’s Book of the Year Awards.
In addition, every child and young adult who borrows a book during August 21-28 will go into a draw to win great prizes of book vouchers.
Two lucky winners will be drawn at each branch.
The highlight of Book Week will be the announcement of the Children’s Book of the Year Award – a prestigious book competition for Australian authors.
There are five categories – Older Readers, Younger Readers, Early Childhood, Picture Book of the Year and the Eve Pownall Award for Information Books. The winners will be announced on Friday, August 21.
Complementing Book Week activities will be The Reading Hour 2015, which will be held at
HJ Daley Library on Tuesday, August 18, from 6pm to 7pm.
The family PJ storytime session will be a fun-filled hour of stories and games, celebrating the joy of families reading together. Children are encouraged to come in their PJs and bring their favourite teddy bear!
The Reading Hour 2015 is an initiative of Love2Read and Australian libraries, to promote the benefits of parents reading to children and to increase national literacy levels.
It is believed that as little as 10 minutes a day will help to improve a child’s literacy skills and give them the best chance of becoming a good reader, with all the social and educational benefits that brings.
Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr Paul Lake, said Children’s Book Week and The Reading Hour 2015 were a great incentive for young people to visit their local library and get to know the services on offer.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“There will be events and activities for all age groups and library staff can show parents the resources that are available to engage children in reading and develop their literacy skills,” Cr Lake said.[/social_quote]
For more information about Children’s Book Week, contact library services on 4645 4444 or visit council’s what’s on at the library website.
