Get ready for the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s 2024 Children’s Book Week, with this year’s theme, Reading is Magic!
Throughout the month of August, community organisations, schools and libraries around the country will take part in Children’s Book Week, celebrating the joys of reading for pleasure with classroom activities, competitions, storytelling sessions and, of course, the popular school book parade.
Reading for pleasure has a range of benefits for children and young people. Reading can enhance literacy skills, and has a positive direct effect on academic reading motivation and achievement in later childhood and adolescence. 74% of children agree that reading helps them understand the world better, and 86% of children (age 6-17) said they loved being read books aloud at home or liked it a lot – the main reason being because it is a special time with parents.
Despite these benefits, children’s participation in reading for pleasure has showed a downward trend, dropping from 79% to 72% in recent years according to ABS data.
National events such as Children’s Book Week are an opportunity for schools and communities to come together around the shared value of reading for pleasure, and to promote reading as an enjoyable and social activity for children and young people.
The year’s official Children’s Book Week is Saturday 17th August – Friday 23rd of August, with some organisations celebrating at other various times throughout August, extending the festivities throughout the month.
Libraries, schools and community organisations can visit the Children’s Book Council of Australia website for promotional images and resources.