United Way Imagination Library

Most of you know I was a book worm from way back. So was my Mum, and so was her Mum, and her Mum. Generations of readers. And if not books then magazines and newspapers. So was it nature or nurture?

But sadly in Australia, and Ballarat many kids don't get to experience the joy of books. They have nobody to read to them and just don't have any books of their own. No money, no time, not a priority? 

But it's proven that children who are read to from a very young age do better at school and later in life than those who miss out on family story time. 23% of Ballarat's children are not ready for prep when they start school. They can't recognise their own name, they can't count to 10 or name colours. Basic stuff. 

 

Books are so much more than just words on a page. I always write about Books with Benefits. You can touch them. Feel them. Get lost in them. Go to another time, another place. Imagine.

Today I met the lovely Jan from United Way Ballarat who is crusading to fix it. The Imagination Library, started by Dolly Parton! A book a month for disadvantaged kids in Ballarat for the first 5 years of their life! A book chosen just for them at no cost to their family. That's 60 books per child, they may have never owned a book otherwise.

How amazing is that???? 60 books each!

I saw some today. They are just gorgeous. Spot. Walter the Farting Dog. Roald Dahl. Mem Fox (I LOVE Possom Magic). Touch & feel Peekaboo books. Allison Lester and the list just goes on. I could have stayed all day.

But with a waiting list of 7000 kids, and a realistic target of 4,500 kids, that's at least 270,000 books over the next 20 years! Yes, I said 20 years.

SO THEY NEED YOU!

They need you to register as a reading partner and sponsor a book a month per child. They need you to give the children of Ballarat the opportunities they deserve. There is no "Gonski" money for this program. It is run by Ballarat people, for Ballarat people, sponsored by Ballarat people. 

$6 per month will sponsor 1 book for 1 child. 

Less than a salad roll & diet coke from the bakery. 

Is a child's opportunity in life worth more to you than taking your lunch to work once a month? 

Heck, I've convinced myself. Where do I sign up? 

HERE

http://unitedwayballarat.org.au/ballarat-imagination-library

The Space Between

 For the next couple of weeks Ballarat will be treated to a fine exhibit of all things bookish. The Space Between is a gorgeous display of interactive sights & sounds for young and old!

Books aren't for everyone though, especially for those who have struggled to read through learning difficulties or disinterest. But that doesn't mean they can't enjoy the stories within the books, the stories behind the books or the way the look, or feel, or smell. What history lies in those old dog-earred covers? What adventure awaits within the pages?

So even if the kids aren't "readers" as such, there is still fun here for everyone!

Being a go-go-gadget girl, naturally I stopped first at the iPad. A digital library of eBooks, collections and even a digital version of Amy's very own book written & illustrated with her Gran when she was 10. You can stop by here and flick through the books and collections of old pictures. Any kids out there NOT want to play with an iPad?

Then there's the part where I wish I was 3 again and could go to these story tellings & mobile library visits? Now that the big kids are back at school, the little ones can have some learning that's fun of their own. You get to dress up in your favourite Catepillar or Wild Things outfits! How cool is that? Click here for the dates & times.

This was the bit I loved the most. A collection of Amy's very own handmade books from her childhood. Exercise books, pages sewn and stapled together, illustrations & blurbs and wildly imaginative stories. Reminded me of a Cinderella book I made for my Nan once, and then my non-fiction books I made about Medieval Times, then Ancient Greece. Not for school, just for fun.

Grab some paper, some pencils and some time with the kids and make your own books. What could be more fun. If they would rather draw than write...let them do it. Shaun Tan barely writes a word and his books are AMAZING!

And while you're there take a couple of books to exchange. The collection has started off and will grow over the next few days I'm sure! I love this idea. You could try it with your friends & family with children's books. A constantly rotating library in your own home. Wouldn't that be great?

Well as you can imagine, I absolutely loved the exhibition. There is so much to see, touch and be a part of. It was literally a case of the more laps I did, the more I found. Even got myself a little art work. If the kids are interested in history there is plenty to be found there too. Pictures & books of old Ballarat, old books from your childhood you can show them and ancient copies of The Courier!

Go here to find out more.

Now that school is back treat yourself to a special time to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Or take the littlies for some bookish fun!

Happy Learning :)

The Reading Hour

2012 happens to be The National Year of Reading! So what better chance to get your kids excited about books? Better yet, what a great chance to get yourself excited about reading books?

Some of us are book worms; I am reading 3 books at the moment, a comedy novel, a drama novel and a professional development book. But others of us aren't so interested in reading. My husband would not say he is an avid reading; but he is absolutely fascinated by Australian history and brewing so he actually reads quite a lot of books about history and beer. He will tell you that over the past 10 years his reading his improved dramatically just from reading books about topics he is interested in.

So why don't we use this theory more often with our kids? If they are interested in science or nature, how about we encourage them to read books about bugs and animals and technology? If they are mad keen sports fanatics, encourage them to read books about sporting heroes, famous teams, chronologies of sporting history and so on. You would be surprised how much you can learn from sports - maths, statistics, averages, countries, cities, cultures and so much more. If magazines are more their style provide them with good quality magazines that have age appropriate content and puzzles, games, articles, glossy pictures to attract their attention.

Basically, no matter what they are reading, so long as they are reading, they are learning! Encourage them to read the back of the weeties box at breakfast time, read articles from the newspaper, read advertisements, catalogues, signs and posters.

But Saturday the 25th of August 2012 as part of the National Year of Reading there is a special event that you can have in your own living room for free! The Reading Hour. This week, try to spend 10 minutes a day reading with each of your children. And then on Saturday grab some fabulous books that your kids will love and set aside 60 minutes to snuggle up together and participate in the national event! Put on your best voice and get excited about the books you have chosen. You could even choose to read some chapters from a book that also has a movie...and finish the night with the movie version? Harry Potter, The Witches, Narnia, Charlotte's Web and the list goes on.

You've got one week to head down to the library and grab some great books or find some to borrow from a friend. Get some snacks and set up your special spot in the house and let the kids know that this fun time is coming up. Ask at your school if there are any events that they are running that you could also be a part of?

To find out more about the events through out the year, competitions, ideas for schools and families head to the National Year of Reading website:
http://www.love2read.org.au/

And for more information about The Reading Hour head to:
http://www.thereadinghour.org.au/

Happy Reading!