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/

Giveaway book - 3 stories to read Anytime Anywhere Anyhow

 

City of Mandurah staff and volunteers have been busy creating gift bags containing a giveaway book which we will distribute throughout Mandurah.  Pictured above are National Year of Reading volunteers Frances Hazelwood, Sally Webb and Peter Shiner with the gift bags.

The State Library of Western Australia produced the giveaway book as part of their READ! Anytime Anywhere Anyhow adult literacy program.  The book is called 3 Stories to read Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow and is recommended for people aged 18 years and over.  The three short stories in the book reflect contemporary life in WA and were selected to appeal primarily to adults in the 18 - 30 age group to encourage them to rediscover the joy of reading.

The three stories are:

        The Kid on the Karaoke Stage by Sj Finch,

        The Man with the Moustache by Jon Doust, and

        My Scallywag Suit by Erin Pearce.

Staff and volunteers will be distributing gift bags at various locations throughout Mandurah over the coming weeks.  Look out for us wearing the distinctive National Year of Reading logo.

Find us at the following places and times:

• Centro Mandurah, Thursday 28th June, 9am - 2pm,
• Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre, Thursday 28th June, 4 - 6pm,
• Outside the offices of the Peel Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Mandurah Transit Station on the morning of Friday 29^th June,
• The Parents Place, Ormsby Terrace, Tuesday 3rd July, 9 - 11.30am, and
• Eastern Foreshore and central Mandurah shopping district, Friday 6th July, 11am - 3pm.

Please take a giveaway book for yourself or give one to someone else to encourage them to treat themselves to a reading break.

Have you thought of starting a book club?

As part of our celebrations of the National Year of Reading, Mandurah Libraries have started the Online Book Club and the First Wednesday Book Club this year. 

If you want to start a new book club too then Mandurah Libraries can support you to do it.  A book club is a great way to get to know people and at the same time enjoy a variety of literature. 

Mandurah Libraries have a number of sets of ten books which can be borrowed by book clubs.  To form a book club, simply get a group of friends together and meet regularly to discuss a book.  The discussion can be as serious or as relaxed as you want to make it. Share your ideas on the book, and maybe read some reviews.

The available titles are listed on the library website or you can see the list here.  New sets are added regularly.  The Library charges $20 to borrow a set of ten books which helps offset the cost of buying multiple copies.

For details phone Kay on 9550 3650.

The picture at the top of this post is from the TV series The Book Group. Clare, a neurotic American, moves to Glasgow and starts a book group to meet new, interesting people. But the members of her group turn out to be rather more interesting than she bargained for...  The DVDs of this very funny TV series are available to borrow from Mandurah Libraries.