Bankstown City Council is thinking outside the square, using magic to promote the benefits of reading to children and their parents.

Mayor Khal Asfour has announced a special magic show will be the highlight of National Reading Hour, part of National Year of Reading celebrations, which will be held at the city’s libraries on Saturday 25 August.

“As a community, we need to find creative ways of making reading fun, particularly given the growing popularity of computer games, the internet and television,” Mayor Asfour said.

“The I Love to Read Magic Show is one of those interactive events which children respond to.

“It also illustrates Council’s strong commitment to helping Bankstown’s young people prepare for future success, as studies have linked literacy with success in life.

“We also run other programs throughout the year, such as Summer Reading Club and Storytime, at our libraries.”

National Reading Hour is one of the highlights of this the National Year of Reading and is a call to action with people urged to:

• Share a book with children for 10 minutes a day;
• Restore some work-life balance by taking a break with a book at lunchtime;
• Get together with friends to read and talk about favourite books; and
• Incorporate a reading hour in the school week.

Australian author Margaret Allen is supporting National Reading Hour.

“Ten minutes a day, an hour a week is our take away message that we hope will become the accepted norm,” Ms Allen said.

“Children have the best chance of becoming a good reader with all the social and educational benefits that brings, if parents can manage 10 minutes a day reading with them.

The I love to read Magic Shows will be performed at Bankstown Library at 10am and Noon on Saturday 25 August for children aged 5-12 years (accompanied by an adult) and bookings are essential (9707 9708).