Last week, schools across Griffith dressed up to celebrate Book Week, with a range of activities held in classrooms to encourage reading.

At Griffith East Public School, they even asked students to bake cakes using their favourite book as inspiration.

Librarian Lisa Malone said it was good to see the kids embrace the week and offered her top five ways for parents to get their children to read.

“Start them early. The more nursery rhymes your children know before kindergarten the better readers they become,” she said.

“Read to you kids. Read every day and make it as fun as possible. It should never be a chore. Make it part of a routine.

“Visit the library with them and as they get older find books that appeal to their interests.”

Debbie Guertin from Collins Booksellers agreed there were ways to encourage even the most reluctant reader.

“It doesn’t matter what they read, as long they are reading something,” she said.

“It doesn’t have to be a traditional novel either.

“If they are reluctant readers, choose books that are not made up of blocks of texts and that have pictures and short chapters.

“I’d also say that parents should start reading to them early but also make books accessible. Don’t treat them as precious gifts because it’s not just about learning to read the text, it’s about holding the book and learning you read left to right.”

“I think you need to appreciate that every child is different and will have different reading abilities. 

“Don’t be afraid to start on easier books.”

Tips to encourage reading

* Start them early

* Read often

* Make reading fun

* Introduce kids to the library

* Find books that interest them