WHY WE’RE ENCOURAGING READING FOR PLEASURE

We all cherish time spent with a good book, and we’d love for all children to experience the same enjoyment.

Beyond that, the research is clear that reading for pleasure is vital to a child’s educational success – more important than their family’s socio-economic status or their parents’ level of education. It’s key to high literacy standards and research skills. It develops empathy and well-being, and it contributes to our wider social, cultural and economic health.

https://natlib.govt.nz/schools/reading-engagement/understanding-reading-engagement/reading-for-pleasure-a-door-to-success

WHY WE’RE FOCUSING ON MIDDLE READERS

Between the ages of 8—13 years, children become confident solo readers and consolidate their reading-for-pleasure habit. It’s also the period of life when they’ll have the most time for reading.

That is why we’re keen to get books in the hands of these middle readers - books that reflect their lived reality (experiences, emotions, communities and country) and books that open windows on the world beyond (other cultures, experiences, ways of thinking including critical thinking).

These children need books that help shape their curiosity and empathy - memorable reads that extend them in terms of language, themes and story reach, and those that will create nimble and discerning minds.

HOW WE HELP

The Fledge Trust’s mission is to help instil a love of reading in these young New Zealand middle readers, and to support new and established New Zealand writers and illustrators who produce work for this readership.

To that end we support Annual Ink to mentor writers and artists across Aotearoa New Zealand; their work is a huge commitment and a unique offering for promising new writers, or established writers writing for a new audience. A major part of that support is getting Annual Ink’s Annuals out to young New Zealand middle readers who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience them.

WHAT WE’RE DOING

During the ’21—’22 year we launched a successful Givealittle fundraising campaign to send 500 low-decile schools (both full-primary and intermediates) throughout Aotearoa New Zealand a copy of Annual 2.

A new Givealittle campaign planned for this year will raise funds to send Annual 3 to around 500 flood-affected schools in those areas most affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and associated flooding: the Hawkes Bay, Gisborne/Tairawhiti, Auckland, Northland and Nelson.

Annual 3 is a handsome, full-colour hardback book full of stories, essays, satire; stories that masquerade as board games, stories told through pictures. Here our tamariki will find humour, pathos, visual richness, linguistic adventure and beautiful design.

Annual 3: A Miscellany from Aotearoa NZ

‘A treasure trove for any reader.’ From Read NZ