Big books and a CD with tunes sung by children were launched during the extension of the Read with Me programme at the Public Library in Floriana.

The Read with Me programme promotes shared reading among very young children and their parents.

Launched two years ago by the Education Ministry and Bank of Valletta, the National Literacy Agency has opened over 50 centres across Malta and Gozo, where the agency organises free reading sessions in both Maltese and English.

National Literacy CEO David Muscat said: “This is an important milestone in our venture, as now, through these highly attractive big books, we are able to reach out to all children in their first scholastic years across all public schools.”

These books, which are in Maltese, are intended to introduce children to the Maltese alphabet using images of fun things constructed in play dough, something which is very familiar to children in this age group.

Regarding the CD, Muscat said that this is another innovative initiative undertaken by the agency. “The CD includes very catchy songs in Maltese, which all relate to reading and the beauty of books and libraries. Our main goal here is to reinforce the joy inherent in reading among children listening and enjoying these songs.”

Mr Muscat thanked Bank of Valletta for their ongoing support. In her reply, Joyce Tabone, Bank of Valletta manager, congratulated the agency for its achievements. “It gives us great satisfaction to see this programme grow at such a fast pace. Education holds a very key role in our community programme. This initiative addresses the very foundation of a holistic education,” she said.

“Instilling a love of books from such a tender age is one of the best investments we can make in our children. The ‘community’ approach adopted by this programme in a bid to improve levels of literacy fits perfectly with the vision promoted by the bank’s community programme,” Ms Tabone concluded.

For further information about the Aqra Miegħi/Read with Me programme visit facebook page ‘Aqra Miegħi/Read with Me’.

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