Wimmera children join Premier's Reading Challenge

WIMMERA children are diving into the colourful and creative world of books as part of the 2013 Premier's Reading Challenge.

The challenge, which started in 2005, saw 220,000 children read more than four million books last year.

Organisers urge pre-school children to read at least 40 books, prep to grade two pupils a minimum of 30 books and grades three to year 10 students at least 15 books before September 12.

The State Government has committed $4.4 million to the challenge over four years.

Ararat Rural City Council will receive $6205, while Wimmera Regional Library Corporation has been granted $30,356.

Horsham's Ss Michael and John's Primary School aims to have more than half the school involved in the program this year.

Librarian Linda McCall said the challenge helped promote different authors and reading styles.

"I had a few children last year who weren't enthusiastic readers and simply because they had signed up for the challenge, they found niches ," she said.

"The children get enthusiastic because it is a challenge and they receive a certificate at the end but it develops a habit for them with reading. Even down the track, when they go to high school they will need to do research so it gets them familiar with libraries and has flow-on effects."

Wimmera Regional Library marketing manager Leanda Elliott encouraged parents to read to their babies.

She said the Horsham Library ran storytime for young children at 10.30am on Monday and Friday and rhyme time for babies at 10.30am on Wednesday.

"We promote reading basically from birth because it is in the first few years of their life that children start making the connections in their brain to do with reading and literacy," she said.

"As they listen to people they will be making the connections and once they get to school they will be ahead of their peers.

"Obviously if children can read it means that they will have more confidence to go on and do other work at school."