The 2014 CBCA Book Week theme is ‘Connect to Reading’ and I think it’s the best theme in years. There are so many different contemporary tools to plug into reading and bring stories and literacy to life that I’ve decided to make it my 2014 mission to connect as many kids to reading as I can.
Here’s my three-pronged attack:
a) Use a 360-degree approach to inspire kids and teens to pick up or download a book – live talks, online video, music, games, apps, competitions, TV and website to bring stories alive in myriad ways. (And using the #connecttoreading handle on Twitter.)
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b) Connect children in the developing world to the thrill of reading by inspiring Australasian kids and teens to raise money through the 2014 Room to Read World Change Challenge. I’m launching it in March at Somerset Celebration of Literature.
c) Read a record number of books myself. On my hitlist: Morris Gleitzman’s After, Paul Jennings’ Don’t Look Now, Itch by Simon Mayo, Neil Gaiman’s Fortunately the Milk, The Giver by Lois Lowry, Watership Down by Richard Adams, James Roy’s City, Muchamore’s Cherub series, Michael Pryor’s Machine Wars and Flora & Ulysses – the Newbery winner by Kate DiCamillo.
