Huge success for Mandurah's Reading Hour Pyjama Party

The City of Mandurah’s Reading Hour Pyjama Party has been hailed a huge success after close to 500 people took part in the ultimate community bedtime story session on Saturday.

Many children and their families dressed in brightly-coloured pyjamas or as storybook characters for the free event, which was held at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre.

After browsing a variety of reading displays and stalls in the foyer, the crowd moved to the main Boardwalk Theatre for the story sessions, where local reading champions took to the stage to share some of their favourite storybooks.

A highlight of the evening was local MLA David Templeman – dressed in his colourful pyjamas – giving an entertaining reading of The Very Cranky Bear.

The Pyjama Party was held as part of The Reading Hour – a key date on the 2012 National Year of Reading calendar which aims to raise awareness of the importance of reading to children.

The Reading Hour encourages parents to read with their children, especially in the first three years of life, for just one hour per week, giving children the best chance of becoming good readers.

Deputy Mayor Darren Lee said the event was a big success and highlighted the importance of reading with young children among the local Mandurah community.

“The Pyjama Party was well attended and it was great to see so many young children and their parents come and support the event.

“Hopefully we have helped to spread the message that just one hour of reading per week provides children with a range of educational and social benefits.”

For further information on The Reading Hour go to http://www.thereadinghour.org.au/

Look who is coming to the Pyjama Party!

There will be some familiar characters making an appearance at The Reading Hour Pyjama Party this weekend.  Do you recognise the character above?

And how about these four friends below?

I am sure that many people will know who this creature is.

These characters are all from books that reading champions will read to the audience at The Reading Hour Pyjama Party.  There will also be readings of classic Australian poetry and original works by local authors young and old.

Full details as follows.

The Reading Hour Pyjama Party

Saturday 25th August, 5-7 pm

Mandurah Performing Arts Centre

Come dressed in your best pyjamas (or as a book character) and join us for the ultimate community bedtime story session featuring a series of reading champions!

5-6pm Supper, entry into prize draws, stalls, displays.

6-7pm The Reading Hour bedtime story session.

Free family event for all ages.

RSVP online here to be entered into a prize draw!

See you there!

(The three much-loved books these characters feature in are Wombat Stew, The Very Cranky Bear and The Gruffalo.)

The Reading Hour Pyjama Party

Please put the following date in your diaries.

You are invited to

The Reading Hour

Pyjama Party

Mandurah Performing Arts Centre

Saturday August 25th, 5-7pm

The ultimate community bedtime story session featuring a series of reading champions!

Dress code: Pyjamas or as a book character (Adults this means you too!)

Free event.   Suitable for all ages.  Prize draws.

RSVP online here to be entered into a prize draw

The Reading Hour is a key date in the National Year of Reading 2012.  Libraries, bookshops and other organisations will be holding Reading Hour events all around Australia at this time to promote the following message:

10 minutes a day, an hour a week

Sharing a book with your child for 10 minutes a day, an hour a week is our aim for The Reading Hour on the 25 August 2012. We know it’s not always possible for parents to share a book at bedtime with their children, but if you can manage 10 minutes most nights, your child will have the best chance of becoming a good reader, with all the social and educational benefits that brings. Most of our brain development happens between birth and three years of age, so it’s not enough to assume that your children will learn to read when they get to school. Parents need to share stories and rhymes right from day one – and a good way of finding out more is to join storytimes, rhymetimes, baby bounce and toddler sessions at your local library.

For more information see http://www.thereadinghour.org.au/