Children who love reading can now record their journeys in special reading journals designed to celebrate National Library Week.
The journals were launched on Thursday at the Sunflower Learning Centre in District Six by the Otto Foundation, an education-focused organisation that aims to improve literacy through the creation of libraries and resources for underprivileged schools.
The intention behind the journal’s creation is to encourage curiosity within children towards the world of reading and story-making.
“Literacy outcomes improve when children read for enjoyment,” says Nonikiwe Mashologu, the foundation’s Director of Partnerships.
This initiative is an extension of the organisation’s general mission to improve early literacy and promote reading for enjoyment in young people. The reading journal, although aimed at children aged nine to twelve, can be enjoyed by people of all ages, says Xanelé Puren, the Design and Placemaking Manager, and the illustrator behind the book.
The journal, comprised of activities, illustrations, poems and writing prompts, has an Afrikaans equivalent, Reis Met Woorde. This version includes poetry by Philip de Vos.
Puren says, “You can sail on a Book Boat, fly in the Poetry Plane, camp out on top of the Mountains of Meaning and even visit the Desert of Dreams.”
The proceeds from the sales of the journals will go towards the Otto Foundation’s future, and ongoing, library programmes, as well as enabling the organisation to provide free copies of the journal to students in under-resourced schools. The Reading Journal will be on sale for R200 via Imagnary House and selected book stores around the country.
Check out the @ottofoundation on Instagram to follow this story.
Words by Jules Keohane
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Picture: @ottofoundation / Instagram