Get hooked on Western Australian authors

as posted on COGsite

Take a sneak peak at the secret world of Batman with Western Australian comic book author Shane McCarthy in Thornlie on Thursday, January 17, 2008.

Mr McCarthy is one of eight Western Australian authors visiting public libraries during the summer school holidays, to read their books and talk with children as part of the Premier’s Summer Reading Challenge.

He will be at the Thornlie Library, at the corner of Connemara Drive and Culross Avenue in Thornlie, on Thursday, January 17, between 9.30am and 10.30am.

Shane has worked on many famous comic book titles including Batman, Daredevil, Star Wars and, currently, Transformers. His work has been published throughout the world and translated into more than five languages.

The fifth annual Premier’s Summer Reading Challenge encourages children from kindergarten to Year 7 to spend at least 15 hours reading between 6 December 2007 and 11 February 2008.

Department of Education and Training Director General Sharyn O’Neill said the ‘writer in library’ sessions were a great way to get hooked on reading and get involved in the challenge.

“Enjoying reading is an important first step in improving literacy for life, and can unlock countless opportunities at school and beyond,” Ms O’Neill said.

“Meeting a local author is a very inspirational experience and it will motivate many children to pick up an entry form and a handful of books this summer.

“Western Australia has some fantastic children’s authors, so the ‘writers in library’ sessions promise to be fascinating, and I encourage parents and children to take advantage of this special opportunity.”

Children can read by themselves, with a friend, listen to an audio book or be read to by an older parent or sibling – all of which count toward the required 15 hours of reading. Books, magazines and newspapers are all included in the challenge.

There are plenty of fantastic prizes to be won by children and for their schools, and all entries must be received by Monday, 18 February 2008.

For more information on the challenge, the ‘writers in library’ sessions and tips on how to help your child read, visit www.det.wa.edu.au/education/events/readingChallenge

Media contact: Carmen Carter, Media & Communications Officer, 9264 5723

as posted on COGsite