Books give the best start

By Jessica Howard

Moorabool’s youngest readers can enjoy some of their favourite stories thanks to a generous donation of books.

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA), along with the a2 Milk Company, have donated a book box to 30 early childhood sites, including the Darley Early Years Hub.

Mary Moore and Lu Smith, members of the Victorian branch of CBCA, visited the Hub on Thursday November 30.

The donation is the second phase of the Reading Together program and includes a box filled with titles from the CBCA suggested reading list.
Ms Moore said the second phase of the program was run off the success of the first.

“The initial Reading Together brochures were so well received that we continued to apply for more grants in order to work towards a second phase,” she said.

“The a2 Milk Company provided us with more funds and the publishers gave us discounts on the books”.

The book boxes were donated to Best Start sites throughout Victoria and include a number of popular titles including ‘Where is the Green Sheep?’, ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ and ‘Orange Pear Apple Bear’.

Ms Smith said she hoped the books would become part of a lending library.

“Children can take them home to share with their family. They can also use some of the hints that are provided in the new brochures”.

The CBCA is a not-for-profit, volunteer run organisation that aims to develop an awareness of quality children’s literature while fostering young people’s enjoyment of reading.

The Reading Together program was launched in November 2016 and saw the distribution of postcards offering parents, professionals family networks encouragement and advice on reading with young children.