A love of reading can bring a lifetime of joy and entertainment. Share the fun of reading by reading aloud to a child this February.

Reading aloud is a fun activity which helps to stimulate a child’s imagination, empathy and language and listening skills. It can also foster a life-long love of books and reading.

But World Read Aloud Day is much more than just one individual reading a book – it can bring communities together in a shared celebration of books, reading and literacy. With a strong oral tradition of storytelling and listening in South Africa, this is an ideal time to share and exchange our stories through the medium of reading aloud.

Some tips:

Find an audience: decide who will participate – schools, community libraries, families.

Choose a book to read: have a look below at some of our suggestions.

Get comfy: find a quiet area where you can read and spend time together.

Maybe invite an author to come and read their book, or ask a local community member to read.

If you are reading in a group, take turns to read a page, or maybe have smaller children explore the pictures in the book while you read.

Enjoy the experience!

For little ones

Some suggestions:

For older readers