One of my favourite picture book authors is Mem Fox. You might know of her work with Australian timeless classic titles such as Possum Magic, Koala Lou, I’m Australian Too and Where Is the Green Sheep? just to name a few. Written almost 20 years ago, Mem Fox’s book written for teachers and parents called Reading Magic has one key message – if you want to help improve your child’s reading – read aloud to them, every day!

If parents understood the huge educational benefits and intense happiness brought about by reading aloud to their children and if every parent – and every adult caring for a child – read aloud a minimum of three stories a day to the children in their lives, we could probably wipe out illiteracy within one generation. 

Mem Fox

Exposure to good quality literature is essential to building solid literacy skills in our youngest learners. Some nights you might be too exhausted to read three books aloud but listening to anyone read is better than none. ABC Kids Listen App has many programs you can use, including one called ‘Bedtime Stories’. Stories range from five to 10 minutes in length and are perfect for children before they nod off to sleep.

Copies of Reading Magic are available in our library and parents are always welcome to come in and borrow a copy. 

Sarah Leary, Assistant Head of Primary – Lower Primary