By KLTV Newsdesk
Kirklees Libraries announced on Thursday that they will be launching a new online reading development programme for children in Kirklees next week.
Library Adventures Live! will be aimed at encouraging more children to read for pleasure to help with their long term literacy skills.
There will be authors reading from their work; illustrators running draw-along and sketching people’s suggestions, and a large variety of inspiring and creative activities to take part in.
Kirklees Libraries aims to stream the programmes live on Facebook and make them available on YouTube later on.
Who can get involved?
The online programme of events is primarily aimed at children aged 4 – 11 years old.
Children can watch and join in with their families at home and teachers can use the sessions with children in school. Parents are also being encouraged to use the sessions to support homeschooling.
Councillor Carole Pattison, Cabinet Member for Learning, Aspiration and Communities said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for children in Kirklees to reach new literary heights through reading for fun and creative activities.
“The programme will support young children to take an interest in reading from an early age, improve literacy, early language development and attainment for all ages.
“It will also help parents give their children the start they need to aspire and achieve academic ambitions now and in the future.”
How will children take part?
Kirklees Libraries says the adventures are designed to encourage reading for pleasure and stimulate creativity.
The programme will include sessions designed to engage reluctant readers, offer playful activities for younger children and give updates on what’s trending in children’s fiction.
Kirstie Wilson is a Development Librarian at Kirklees Libraries and a Winner of the Best Local Authority Arts Champion in the Hearts for the Arts Awards.
She said: “Taking the children’s activity programme online enables us to bring inspiring authors and illustrators from all over the country into homes and schools in Kirklees.
“There are no restrictions on how many children can join in or when they can access these marvellous opportunities.
“Library Adventures Live! is not just for lockdown, it’s for the long term.”
Children will be set a challenge at the end of each session which can then be submitted to Kirklees Libraries who will create an online display of all the everything received.
The first of the programmes are set to begin on 14 July with children’s author and poet, Joseph Coelho.
The full list of events can be found here.