Book hook reaches less fortunate schools
JOBURG - Children of Salvazione Primary School in Brixton and The Sunshine Foundation were given a treat on 13 August when Hooked on Books Outreach performed stories for them.
Members of the Johannesburg Junior City Council (JJC) Arts and Culture Committee joined the cast of Hooked on Books to present Malorie Blackman’s The Monster Crisp Guzzler and Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo to the children.
The Hooked on Books Outreach theatre show performs at schools to encourage a love of reading and literacy among pupils. Stories are left at a ‘cliff hanger’ to encourage pupils to borrow the books from the school library to finish reading the story themselves.
Five members of the JJC Arts and Culture Committee were upskilled by Shaeleen Tobin, Hooked on Books’ company director, and fellow director Dineo Komane.
“We were extremely proud to partner with the JCC Arts and Culture Committee for the first time this year… [which gave us] the opportunity to take the Hooked on Books show to less fortunate schools in and around Johannesburg,” said Tobin.
Rehearsals were stretched out over a month. While the committee members rehearsed, the entire Johannesburg Junior Council embarked on a book drive and were able to collect thousands of previously-loved books.
Publishing houses Random House (The Monster Crisp Guzzler) and MacMillan Children’s Books (The Gruffalo) donated new copies of their author’s books to each school where Hooked on Books performed.
After the performances, the cast and fellow council members formed reading circles with the children and enjoyed reading time together.
Details: www.hookedonbooks.org.za
