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Get hooked on WA authors - Anne Morgan at Fremantle City Library

HOIST the sails and swab the deck to make way for a visit to Fremantle by popular Captain Clawbeak series author Anne Morgan on Wednesday, January 23.

Ms Morgan is one of eight WA authors visiting public libraries during the summer school holidays, to read their books and talk with children as part of the Premier’s Summer Reading Challenge.

She will be at the Fremantle City Library, 8 William Street, Fremantle, from 2pm to 3pm, Wednesday, January 23.

Ms Morgan’s three Captain Clawbeak books feature a cranky old pirate’s parrot – her most recent offering is Captain Clawbeak and the Ghostly Galleon. She has also worked as a teacher in Tasmania, China and on remote settlements in the Northern Territory, and is currently completing a PhD in writing at Edith Cowan University.

The fifth annual Premier’s Summer Reading Challenge encourages children from kindergarten to Year 7 to spend at least 15 hours reading between December 6, 2007, and February 11, 2008.

Department of Education and Training Director General Sharyn O’Neill said the “writer in library” sessions were a great way to get hooked on reading and get involved in the challenge.

“Enjoying reading is an important first step in improving literacy for life, and can unlock countless opportunities at school and beyond,” Ms O’Neill said.

“Meeting a local author is a very inspirational experience and it will motivate many children to pick up an entry form and a handful of books this summer.

“Western Australia has some fantastic children’s authors, so the ‘writers in library’ sessions promise to be fascinating, and I encourage parents and children to take advantage of this special opportunity.”

Children can read by themselves, with a friend, listen to an audio book or be read to by an older parent or sibling – all of which count toward the required 15 hours of reading. Books, magazines and newspapers are all included in the challenge.

There are plenty of fantastic prizes to be won by children and for their schools. All entries must be received by Monday, February 18, 2008.

For more information on the challenge, the “writers in library” sessions and tips on how to help your child read, visit www.det.wa.edu.au/education/events/readingChallenge