"No child should be without food or stories."
Each year, we celebrate World Read Aloud Day to advocate children’s right to read and write and that wonderful quote from award-winning children’s author and illustrator Niki Daly sums up the spirit of our country's celebration of the event on Wednesday 6 March.
"No child should be without food or stories."
Each year, we celebrate World Read Aloud Day to advocate children’s right to read and write and that wonderful quote from award-winning children’s author and illustrator Niki Daly sums up the spirit of our country's celebration of the event on Wednesday 6 March.
Nal’ibali reading-for-enjoyment campaign is leading the fun for us all.
They've put together a special read-aloud kit, which is being inserted into The Times, The PE Herald and The Dispatch, as well as being distributed to schools and reading clubs around the country.
The Nal’ibali reading-for-enjoyment campaign is calling on everyone in South Africa to read aloud the same story on the same day so we can experience the joy and benefits of sharing stories with children together – and be inspired to carry on reading aloud with our children each and every day of the year.
Here at Grocott's Mail, we're giving you a taste of what World Read Aloud Day is all about – click here to read the story Niki Daly wrote and illustrated to share for the occasion.
As part of Nal’ibali’s goal to connect people to reading material in a range of SA languages, the story will be available in six South African languages to ensure even more people are able to enjoy the story in a language that is meaningful to them.
“Food is needed to keep our bodies healthy and alive," says Daly. "Books and stories are needed to keep our minds sharp and imaginative. No child should be without food or stories.”
The National Academy of Education and National Institute of Education says, “The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.”
“Listening to stories sets children’s imaginations free at the same time as they explore language and life," Carole Bloch, director of Nal’ibali co-initiating partner PRAESA, says. "Along the way, they gain riches like
knowledge, understanding and empathy.”
Who can take part?
Anyone and everyone. From older children at school who are able to read to children in the earlier grades; moms, dads, gogos, brothers, sisters, and other caregivers; librarians, teachers and reading club volunteers;
radio DJs and editors – Nalibali are calling everyone in SA to share and experience the magic of reading aloud.
Things you can do on World Read Aloud Day:
1. Read Niki Daly’s ‘A gold star and a kiss for Thoko’ to your own children; to the children in your class or at your school or in your reading club.
2. Arrange an event at your reading club, library, community centre or organisation, where you can read aloud ‘A gold star and a kiss for Thoko’ and other children’s stories.
3. Post pictures or videos of your event or read aloud session at www.facebook.com/nalibaliSA.
5. And don’t forget to register at www.nalibali.org to tell them how many children you read aloud to.
WHERE CAN I SIGN UP?
The Nal’ibali website will have a special form where people can sign up to let us know how many children they’re reading aloud to on World Read Aloud Day. Go to www.nalibali.org or email info@nalibali.org for more information on how to be involved.
