CanLearn’s Share the Magic Program offers free books to children who don’t have books at home and literacy resources and workshops to child-care providers and parents.
In 2018, the National Literacy Trust’s research (UK) “Book Ownership, Literacy Engagement and Mental Wellbeing” found that:
- Children who own their books are six times more likely to read above the level expected for their age.
- They are also nearly three times more likely to enjoy books.
- Interestingly, children who do not have books of their own at home are twice as likely to have low mental wellbeing.
There is much research to support the importance and value of reading aloud to young children. For example, young children whose parents read to them daily are exposed to at least 290,000 more words by the time they enter kindergarten than children who are not read to regularly. Depending on how much daily reading time children get, that number can go up to over a million words.
However, parents and caregivers do not need research articles to know that literacy development’s true outcome is creating readers who love to read. This is sometimes challenging in the age of so many toys, gadgets, and electronics competing for a child’s attention. Yet, it is not that complicated when we know that children who own books are more likely to be good readers and that nothing sparks a love of reading in children more than reading aloud with them. A lot of it is common sense.
Sadly, things are not that simple for disadvantaged families. Parents with socioeconomic challenges face unique challenges when it comes to supporting their children’s reading development. They may be experiencing their own language and reading difficulties, and their children may not have the opportunity to own books. This may profoundly impact children’s literacy outcomes and create a cycle of educational disadvantage.
The Share the Magic Program visits daycares in high-needs communities and reads with children. At the end of the Program, each child receives a free book to take home, keep, and share with their family. The Program helps caregivers learn strategies to help young children enjoy reading including but not limited to:
- Using different voices for different characters
- Using their body to act out words (for example, yawn if a character is tired)
- Asking children to participate by predicting what will happen next, explaining vocabulary, and asking questions before, during, and after reading
- Reading faster in the exciting parts of the story and softer when the story gets scary.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Program was delivered virtually, which compelled us to create several read-aloud videos of favourite books.
Bark George is read by the former Share the Magic Coordinator, Gwen Schaefer. Gwen coordinated the Program for five years and continues to be involved by volunteering to read to preschool children. Most recently, Gwen has written an amazing children’s book called “The Garden Party.”
On her website, Gwen says, “I wanted to write a preschool children’s book to encourage playing outdoors, using senses to discover the world around us and instill a love of reading in the early years. A book that would be easy for children to memorize and \ “read” \ to family, friends, and even their pets.”
The Garden Party is a delightful and educational journey that takes children on a garden hunt to find creatures hiding behind plants found in many Canadian gardens.
The Garden Party lives up to its author’s promise! Gwen has generously agreed to visit as many Share the Magic Program sites as possible this fall and share her book with children.
Nada Jerkovic
Manager, Literacy Programs
CanLearn Society