World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) was founded by LIT World in 2010 as a celebration of reading aloud, community literacy, and the importance of sharing stories.
Nal’ibali are the local drivers of the project in South Africa and each year they set a national target.
This year, the goal is for all participants, including parents and caregivers, to read to at least three and a half million children across the country.
The City’s Library and Information Services (LIS) is one of the key partners in this initiative and this year WRAD events will be hosted by all the libraries across the city.
Mayor Hill-Lewis and Councillor Higham joined librarians, Nal’ibali and authors in reading to the patients at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital earlier today.
‘What a pleasure it was to spend the morning reading to the young patients of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. We often speak of the massive benefit of reading aloud to young children to help expand their language skills and grow their curiosity, but I am convinced the benefit goes both ways, and that reading to children is one of the most rewarding things you can do. It is the best way to spend quality time together and bond over an activity that gives them an undeniable head start in life. I urge all parents to spend some time every day reading to their young children, and to make use of our City’s incredible libraries to help feed the reading passion,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
‘Reading aloud to our children, starting from when they are infants, sets them on a path of enjoying books and learning. It’s an investment into their growth and education, which only costs some of your time. I want to encourage parents to sign up their children at our libraries no matter how young they are, and make use of our vast range of reading resources,’ said Councillor Higham.
Dr Anita Parbhoo, CEO of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, emphasised the importance of reading to children.
‘As we celebrate World Read Aloud Day this year, I encourage all people to embrace the power of reading to help us shape healthier and more prepared children for the future. Reading aloud to your children not only enables them to strengthen their language skills, but exposes them to new words and ways of expressing themselves. These moments also nurture a precious bond between the child and the parent. This is crucial for their overall development and can set the tone for their academic success when they start school and beyond. I encourage all parents and caregivers to make time to read and bond with their littles ones, as every story is a step towards a healthier future.’
