16 • EdenLocal
Celebrating World Book Day - 7 March 2013
We are lucky to have so many excellent primary schools in Eden with strong reading programs as well as a lovely, well stocked public library in Penrith with good opening hours which of course costs nothing to use. Good reading starts early. It begins well before school age when parents, grandparents and others read to children and encourage them to read for themselves. A report by the Sutton Trust in 2012 stated that “poor standards of literacy are the biggest single factor leading to low attainment [in school].” The evidence is clear: where children are not encouraged to read at home these children enter school less prepared to learn generally than other children, and this difficulty will be carried with them through their school years and into later life. Parents, grandparents and carers can make a huge difference to a child’s success at school by taking the time to : • • •
read stories and poetry with children teach nursery rhymes and songs look at picture books together with children and talking about them at home
World Book Day itself is a worldwide celebration of books and reading for children. The tradition began in Spain in 1923 as a national celebration to honour Miguel de Cervantes, and became an official worldwide celebration sponsored by UNESCO in 1995. The date varies by country. In most counties it is celebrated on 23 April, but in the UK it is the first Thursday in March to
avoid clashes with Easter and St George’s Day. To mark the day school children are entitled to receive a World Book Day £1 Book Token for free. The Book Token can either be exchanged for one of eight specially published World Book Day £1 Books, or to get £1 off against any book or audio book of their choice costing £2.99 or more at a participating bookshop or book club. If you need ideas about good books for younger children www.readitdaddy.blogspot. co.uk is a great site to visit, with lots of independent reviews and advice (all for free!). With your £1 voucher many children’s books will cost less than £5. Much healthier than an Easter egg, books last longer, and you can give them away when you have finished with them. I hope you use your World Book Day vouchers this year. They will be valid from 25 February to 24 March 2013 at participating shops.
Win this Eggberts adventure book signed by the author Count, how many eggs you can see in this months Eden Local and take you answer to Hedgehog books The winner will be drawn from all the entries and announced in next months Eden Local
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