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Egged on to engage with reading to kids

Shannon BochenekSound Telegraph
Isaac Saunders, 4, Maybel Ewen, 8, and Sarah McGowan wonder what will hatch from the Paint Rockingham REaD egg.
Camera IconIsaac Saunders, 4, Maybel Ewen, 8, and Sarah McGowan wonder what will hatch from the Paint Rockingham REaD egg.

About 45 children attended Rockingham Central Library’s pyjama storytime on Thursday evening ahead of the launch of the city’s literacy encouragement campaign.

Paint Rockingham REaD is part of a national campaign which aims to encourage the community to recognise the importance of reading to children throughout their childhood.

Teacher and Never Stop Reading campaign ambassador Sarah McGowan attended, speaking to the families on the importance of reading.

“Reading helps us build our imagination, it helps us with our writing, it even helps us with our talking,” she said.

“It will help you with everything you do.”

Sarah McGowan reads to children at Rockingham library ahead of the campaign opening.
Camera IconSarah McGowan reads to children at Rockingham library ahead of the campaign opening.

The children and their families were read a story before an “egg” appeared, from which a “reading mascot” will hatch come October.

Children were encouraged to read to the egg, to help it grow as it travelled between schools and learning centres over the next five months.

The egg has since begun its journey from the library, with its first stop at Goodstart Early Learning Rockingham on Monday.

Kwinana’s Karrak the red tailed cockatoo holds the Paint Rockingham REaD egg as Sarah McGowan wonders what will hatch.
Camera IconKwinana’s Karrak the red tailed cockatoo holds the Paint Rockingham REaD egg as Sarah McGowan wonders what will hatch. Credit: Shannon Bochenek.

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