Encouraging children to become hooked on books

ON Friday, August 14, Hooked on Books Outreach visited children at Lerato School in Jackson’s Drift and TLC (Love of Christ Ministries) in Bronkhorstfontein.

Little children sat mesmerised as the Hooked on Books Outreach cast gave a performance of The Gruffalo. The cast are all members of the Johannesburg Junior Council Arts and Culture Committee and were selected by their respective schools to act as representatives for the council for one year.

Hooked on Books is a theatre show which is performed at schools to encourage a love of reading and literacy. Stories are left with a cliffhanger to encourage children to borrow the books from the school library and finish reading the story. All five of the cast members enjoyed many years of Hooked on Books during their primary school years.

During the months of rehearsals, the entire Johannesburg Junior Council embarked on a book drive to collect previously loved books. In addition, the council members turned shipping pallets into bookshelves.

Publishing houses, Random House (The Monster Crisp Guzzler) and MacMillan Children’s Books (The Gruffalo) generously donated new copies to leave at each school so after the performances there will be many happy hours of reading.

After the performances the cast and council members formed reading circles with the children and enjoyed reading time together.

For more information on The Johannesburg Junior Council and to see a full gallery of photographs visit their Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/johannesburgjuniorcouncil

For more information on Hooked on Books, visit www.hookedonbooks.org.za