As Victoria’s inaugural Public Library Ambassador and the Big Summer Read ambassador, what excites you most about these roles and the impact they have on young readers?

Libraries always put a smile on my dial! And I want others to feel that same sense of joy too.

Libraries have been pivotal to my childhood, parenting life, community connections and my information and reading discoveries too.  Because of this, I’ve always valued how libraries are such vitally accessible, reliable, inspirational and safe spaces in our lives.  And with programs like the Big Summer Read  I’m equally excited to help keep kids connected to stories, make their own books choices, move their reading confidence forward and help them see themselves through the pages of a book.

The Big Summer Read is now in its fifth year and expanding nationally - why is this program so important for combating the ‘summer slide’ in literacy?

Most of us know that our kids need all the support we can give them to keep them reading. Summer is often that time when kids step back from reading after the end of the school year, but we know from research that this ‘summer slide’ has adverse impacts on children staying connected with reading and with their own progress in personal literacy skills, information gathering and the discoveries that come from books.

The Big Summer Read helps them feel in charge of their reading choices, continue to grow vocabulary and decoding skills, and sparks curiosity to discover other books too. Now in its 5th year, I have no doubt that the Big Summer Read has changed several children’s lives – welcoming them into libraries, helping them find stories to suit them, exploring self-expression and self-identity, experiencing the fulfillment of making their own choices, and just mooching about over summer with memorable reads they’ll love.

The more we make opportunities to read and decipher information accessible, fun and fulfilling, the better chance our kids have in life. The Big Summer Read program makes it easy for families to keep books within reach. It helps parents with suggestions, activities and collections for kids to discover, and there’s prizes too for a little extra incentive.  

I would have loved this as a kid, and I have no doubt  my parents would have also put it on our affordable, free summer holiday activity list that benefits the whole family. 

You’ve worked closely with libraries and authors to promote reading - what role do libraries play in keeping kids engaged with books during the summer break?

Libraries are lighthouses in summer (… all year round really) shining the light on discoveries for kids through book, information, games, events and other friends. Kids can step into their local library over summer to beat the heat, take a break from busy outdoor days, jump into activities and amble the aisles to choose books that tell stories about things, people and places that interest them. 

There’s a beautiful freedom with hanging out in a library as kid on a  summer’s day, leaving with an armful of books, games and activities to enjoy at home too. 

But libraries aren’t just borrowing spaces over summer, they’re gathering & growing spaces for families too. Kids are welcomed and encouraged to be curious, creative, active, energetic and chilled out too. Library folks want kids to be in-charge of their discoveries in libraries, and I love that we continue to value these places that celebrate our young people and their pathways to reading

What are your top three practical tips for parents and educators to keep kids reading over summer and prevent the ‘summer slide’?

1.       Model reading. I think you can’t be what you can’t see. So, it’s up to grown-ups to read in front of, and with our children. Turn the screens off, take a ½ hour to sit together to share books, the books you are reading, and the book they are reading. Listen to an audio book together.  Just make room for that reading time together whenever it suits the family flow.

2.       Make room for books. Pop a pile of picture books in a tub next to the couch, put a bunch of non-fiction books by the kitchen bench, grab a handful of board books or graphic novels for the car.  Then be a stealth story parent and let curious eyes or slightly bored brains find their own ways to books. Don’t say anything, just see how the discoveries evolve. But you can give me a smug parent thumbs up if we ever meet! Sometimes these accidental reading opportunities lead to lovely moments for our kids.

3.       Listen to your reader.

Ask your young person to read to you while you are cooking or even driving. Younger kids often love to chance to share their comprehension and literacy skills with their grown-ups, and the theatrics of reading can be a tonne of fun too. If they’re not up for reading, see if you can open up the chat about the subject matter, or the hero character in the book and ask them questions about the plot or event theme. Books open up conversations for families in super fun ways.  

Many families struggle to motivate reluctant readers - what strategies or resources do you recommend to make summer reading fun and stress-free?

I get it. It’s tough to keep kids reading,  but the good news is that there’s fabulous and fun resources at families fingertips:

Sign up to the Big Summer Read first and foremost. It’s designed to help foster a love of reading, inviting kids to register to read and win prizes, enjoy interactive library programs, online gallery connections and collecting bookmarks.

Tune into stories with StoryBox Hub. I love how each book featured on this online website is produced in such an engaging way, and there’s also super activity sheets and resources for families to craft, or exploring or writing ideas to try out too.

Mix up the usual reading choices. If they’re turning their noses up at chapters books, ask your librarian to recommend some graphic novels. If they are really into something they love like sports, or space – ask a librarian to help them find non-fiction books. If they’re kids who love unusual and strange lines of enquiry, or silly slapstick humour – tap into the knowledge of library folks to help you find fantasy or dystopian novels, or funny books too. Keep your eyes peeled for library displays as they’re often curated collections of books that just might catch the attention of your reluctant readers too. 

Register for the Big Summer Read here