It is nothing short of amazing that a book has the capability to make you feel like you are in a technicolour world. One that is inspired by an author’s words and made real purely by the power of your imagination.
It is probably for this reason days like World Read Aloud Day will always hold great weight in our many communities as we recognise the importance of reading and its benefits. De La Salle Holy Cross College Junior School made sure to recognise this day and they held various fun programmes throughout the day for each grade. The school’s grade Rs were treated to a one-of-a-kind experience when author and parent at the school, Augustine Mulenga, read his book, Donk and the stubborn donkeys.
Mulenga spent his morning on the day reading his book to each grade R class and the excitement around him reading to them was palpable. He said reading should be something we constantly entice our children to do. “These days of Netflix and YouTube, though there is nothing wrong with them, you can never get the same thing you get from these streaming service as you do with reading a book.”
He added that with books what you can visualise in your mind and your imagination is endless when it comes to reading. He went on to say that reading to kids who are not yet able to read, teaches them the habit of reading and its benefits.
Headmaster of the junior school, Neil Berndsen, said World Read Aloud Day does not only celebrate the wonderful gift that is reading but also highlights the fact that many people across the world are unable to read. “It, therefore, is important to share the message to the children on the importance of reading.”
Something that is close to the heart of this school is instilling the love of reading.
Berndsen said the wonderful act of being able to share one’s ability of reading is that by doing this you get to share the excitement of the book and its message. The school was extremely proud that one of its parents is an author. “It is a living example of what the children can aspire to and achieve.”
He hopes such days will serve as an invaluable imprint in their memory, which encourages them not only to read more but also to write their own books and share their talents with the world.
