By Danielle Kutchelr
The library may be closed, but that doesn’t mean Children’s Book Week is cancelled.
Casey Cardinia Libraries is getting into the spirit with a number of fun online activities for readers to get involved with.
Sarah Litchfield, team leader at Doveton Library, was among those getting into the spirit of the occasion by dressing up as Cruella de Vil.
Passionate about children’s literature, Ms Litchfield said parents should begin reading to their children as early as possible to help with their language and literacy development.
“It’s a beautiful way of bonding with a child as well,” she said.
She said reading doesn’t necessarily need to be books – parents can pick out food labels on trips to the supermarket for example, to inspire kids to think about the words and what they mean.
“Just reading and talking is the most important thing you can do,” she said.
Chris Buckingham, CEO of Casey Cardinia Libraries, said books could transport readers to different places.
“Books are our passport to other worlds. It is so important during these disrupted times that children are able to exercise their imaginations through reading,” he said.
“Children’s Book Week is an opportunity to celebrate reading with the young people our lives and help them navigate their way to happy spaces and places.”
As part of Children’s Book Week, Casey Cardinia Libraries is giving young readers the chance to win a variety of prizes.
Children can dress up as their favourite character or design their own bookmark, and the winners will receive Robinsons Bookshop vouchers.
For more information on Book Week at the library or to enter the competitions, visit www.cclc.vic.gov.au/cbca-book-week-2021/
