Little Landers Literature
Literature and rugby are forming an alliance to bring the joy of reading to Dunedin’s children.
Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature Director Nicky Page said the Little Landers Literature campaign was developed to bring reading to those who would benefit most.
Under the programme, Highlanders players will head to Pine Hill, Bathgate Park, Carisbrook, Brockville, Concord and Bradford schools to read to pupils, and share stories about the books they love to read.
Ms Page said the programme was developed because reading helped people empathise and understand others.
Research links literacy skills with a range of improved life outcomes.
It was a key goal of City of Literature to encourage a love of reading in children from an early age.
She said Highlanders players and pupils would swap stories about their favourite books, articles, graphic novels or lyrics, and read to each other. The programme ran during term two last year, and will continue in 2019.
Local writer-illustrators Robyn Belton and Kathryn van Beek would also visit the schools to provide insights into the process of writing and illustrating.
Pine Hill School principal Melissa Ward said she "jumped at the opportunity" to be involved. "Experiences like this are fabulous for the pupils."
Male role models were important to children, as was seeing sports stars reading.
2018 Little Landers Literature Programme
Local writer-illustrators Robyn Belton and Kathryn van Beek visited the schools to provide insights into the process of writing and illustrating. During their time together, the students wrote some wonderful stories:
- Tank the Flanker Bathgate Park School
- Otter Trouble Bradford School
- The Birthday Boy Brockville School
- The Vegan Lion Carisbrook School
- The First Donkey in Space Concord School
- Socks or Sausages? Pine Hill School
Here is a review of their weeks:
- Brockville School Final Week
- Concord School 15 June
- Concord School Final Week
- Pine Hill School Week 1
- Pine Hill School Final Week