Poppy the Possum, Cumberland Council’s Paint Cumberland REaD ambassador, helped roll out the new boxes to help encourage reading, spark children’s imagination and improve literacy skills.
CUMBERLAND’S youngest readers now have more books to explore with the rolling out of six new community reading boxes (pictured) as part of the Paint Cumberland REaD Program.
The community reading boxes are a small collection of books located within streets, parks and at the front of the childcare centres across the city and now includes locations at Jack and Jill Park, Cambridge St, Berala, and Warnock Park, Stimson St, Guildford, bringing the total to 19.
Cumberland City Mayor Lisa Lake said she hoped that the reading boxes would encourage community reading, spark children’s imagination and improve literacy skills.
“According to 2021 early childhood census data, children in Cumberland are behind the State average when it comes to literacy and communication skills and are particularly vulnerable in the areas of language and communication,” she said.
The council partnered with the Granville Men’s Shed to make these boxes which are left unlocked to allow for book donations or borrowing at any time.
The Paint Cumberland REaD Program launched its first community reading boxes in 2018 to encourage community reading, improve access to books and promote children’s literacy.
