As in previous years volunteer readers helped at the Lord Mayor’s picnic on Sunday 6th November in McCabe Park.
At the moment there is only anecdotal evidence that this program is benefiting children from these lower socio-economic areas. These children would not normally be exposed to books. Many of the parents are poor or are themselves illiterate.
Infant teachers at Warrawong Primary School have said that they can tell which children have been exposed to books before starting school. Their feedback was positive – the children who had been exposed to books are respectful of books; they have a love of books and choose to look at them in their free time; they can sit and listen to a story; they know that a book is telling a story; they have a better vocabulary; they are more adventurous with their use of words when writing. The school has agreed to ask parents of 2017 Kindergarten enrolments if they have received books through the Imagination Library for feedback on the project.
Di North
