Events
Parents know their kiddo best & probably know what motivates them too! Maybe a little competition will help drive them to read more? Maybe an event to look forward to attending?
Check out our tips below for competitions & events to help the reading spark shine.
Tune into your kiddo - what aspect do they like about reading? Highlight that part, do more of it & help grow their love of reading.
“In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.”
PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE
This is a really great motivator for kiddos who thrive on achieving a goal. Kids are invited to read a certain number of books during the Challenge.
Library Lovers Day
There are so many reasons to celebrate the valuable role libraries play. Find your local & enjoy their planned celebrations with your kiddo. #LibraryLoversDay
Indigenous Literacy Day
Indigenous Literacy Day celebrates & promotes the revitalisation & preservation of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander languages now & for future generations of Indigenous children. Your family can contribute & celebrate each year by:
hosting a Great Book Swap or similar fundraising event at your kiddos school
purchasing or borrowing ILF-published books written by remote Community authors & illustrators
tuning in to the digital celebrations hosted by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation
buying an ILF t-shirt
simply talking about the treasure of our Indigenous stories with your kiddo & friends
International Literacy Day
UNESCO started this global celebration in 1967 - to “remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity & human rights”.
BOOK WEEK
The Children’s Book Council of Australia began this annual celebration in 1945. Each school will choose how they wish to celebrate Book Week - sometimes it’s a dress up parade, special book activity session or reading challenges. Keep your eyes peeled on your school newsletter to find out more.
The theme for 2023 is ‘Read, Grow, Inspire’ & related artwork is by the talented Matt Ottley.
MS READ-A-THON
An epic reading fundraiser, the MS Readathon challenges kids to read as much as they can each August & raise funds for people living with multiple sclerosis.
Library Lovers Day
There are so many reasons to celebrate the valuable roles libraries play. Find your local & enjoy their planned celebrations with your kiddo. #LibraryLoversDay
Big Summer Read
The free to access program is aimed to assist with the ‘Summer Slide’ (a lower literacy consumption by kiddos over the summer holidays). A Victorian initiative to raise awareness of the benefits of reading over summer. All children between the ages of 0-18 are welcome to participate!
Anytime Events
Great Book Swap
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The Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
ILF was created to respect & celebrate the unique place of Australia’s First People. It is an incredible not-for-profit charity founded by a former teacher which acts as a major advocate for literacy development in our Indigenous Communities across Australia.
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You can support them by hosting a Great Book Swap (it’s great fun, I’ve hosted one myself) at your school. Kids become excited by the involvement too, in swapping their no longer used books with each other & participating in a donation count. The idea is to swap a favourite book in exchange for a gold coin donation.
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Any time that suits your school! Line it up with end of term, a school fair or Book Week.
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More like why not! ILF supports remote Communities across Australia, over 400 in fact, in providing much needed books & literacy resources to children & families.
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Register your event via the link below:
Share-A-Book
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The Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation.
ALNF was founded in 1999 by Mary-Ruth Mendel & Kim Kelly, who are passionate about helping people in Australia’s most marginalised communities gain literacy skills.
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Share-A-Book provides new & quality pre-loved books to Indigenous, refugee & marginalised communities in need of resources.
Once books are received by the communities, ALNF Share-A-Book Libraries are established in local schools, pre-schools, community & language centres.
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Any time! Try a spring clean! Make a deal with your kiddo that each time a new book comes in the house, another goes in a box to be sent to Share-A-Book.
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As the saying goes, ‘sharing is caring’. Quite simply, those abandoned books on your shelves at home can give new life to communities who are really in need.
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Find out exact details here:
"Wear the old coat & buy the new book."
- Austin Phelps