The City of Cape Town’s librarians were joined by book enthusiasts, including the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross, in reading to groups of young children on a storywalk in Nantes Park, Athlone.

World Read Aloud Day shines a spotlight on the benefits of reading aloud to children and highlights the impact it has on the child’s development.

Today also saw the launch of the City’s 1000 Stories before School reading campaign.

The 1000 stories before School Campaign encourages the sharing of a 1000 stories with children before they go to school.  The campaign promotes the importance of sharing stories and to establish healthy reading habits.  The first phase starts with sharing stories and songs with the unborn baby from 26 weeks as this is when the baby starts to hear sounds outside of the womb.  The campaign will focus on newborns, infants, and toddlers as well as parents, teachers and caregivers. The importance of child/parent bonding through stories remain the key element of the campaign.