Gin Gin Library’s favourite characters Snappy and Toothy recently celebrated their fourth birthday with the community at a special event promoting reading and socialisation.
The Paint Gin Gin REaD crocodile twin mascots have been helping children to foster a love of books through the early literacy program that encourages reading, singing, talking, rhyming and more.
Last week, children were invited to attend Gin Gin State School to sing happy birthday to the crocodiles while enjoying some party fun.
Arts, Culture and Events portfolio spokesperson Cr John Learmonth said the event was well attended.
“Up to 170 children came along to enjoy the day, from kindergarten groups right up to primary school students,” he said.
“Everyone loved singing Happy Birthday to Snappy and Toothy and the Year 6 students assisted by providing the Acknowledgement of Country as well as reading to the younger children at the reading stations.”
More than 15 activity stations were featured throughout the event as well as displays of a fire and SES truck, obstacle courses, music and more.
Paint the Town REaD
This early literacy movement began with the knowledge that “more than 20 per cent of Australian children arrive at school without the skills necessary to make the most of their early education”.
It has been found that a child’s ability to learn to read and write is set in the first five years – before school starts.
Paint the Town REaD was developed to bring a whole community approach to spending time with children every day, from birth — talking, singing, rhyming, reading.
It is also about inspiring and empowering community groups, businesses, agencies and families to integrate a literacy culture into everything that they do.
To help spread the Paint the Town REaD message throughout the community, three special Reading Egg hatchings happened in 2018.
- Childers Reading Egg hatched a frog
- Gin Gin Reading Egg hatched twin crocodiles
- Bundaberg Reading Egg hatched four baby turtles
All of the ‘hatchlings’ are hand puppets.
Find out more here.
