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Musical Book Day Broadcast for Children from Across Teesside
WORLD Book Day this Thursday, 4 March needs some creative
thinking this year, as with many children across Teesside and the
rest of the UK being home-schooled, the majority of pupils aren’t
set to return to school until March 8.
The UNESCO initiative usually encourages children and their teachers to dress up
as their favourite characters from children’s literature and the school day is infused
with World Book Day activities to celebrate and encourage a passion for reading.
This year Tees Valley Music Service (TVMS) has created a free two and a half hour
broadcast jam-packed full of short readings, sing-alongs related to the books and a
whole host of creative activities to inspire children at home or in school to have fun
with literature.
Children’s Books aren’t just about reading of course, so this World Book Day
broadcast also features an ‘Animal Draw-along Workshop’ with renowned Darlington
illustrator and author, Liz Million.
Middlesbrough Reads, a campaign working to improve these prospects, has
supported TVMS by providing bundles of books as prizes for an illustration
competition which ran throughout February 2021 to get children excited about World
Book Day. Middlesbrough Reads sees the benefit of music to young readers and
says that:
“Singing songs and rhymes can support language development in young children
and help later reading skills. Music is also great for promoting movement and
coordination. World Book Day is really important across the whole of the Tees Valley
as it reinforces the importance of Reading for Pleasure and developing life-long
readers.”
National Literacy Trust and Experian research found that of 533 constituencies in
England, Middlesbrough is the constituency with the greatest literacy need.
The broadcast runs from 9:30am to midday on Thursday 4 th March, and then repeats
at 12:30pm until 3pm and is designed with children at Early Years Foundation Stage,
Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 in mind - though Youth Choir director and singing
teacher, Nikki Lycett-Findlay, whose idea this was, says “we know older children will
also enjoy getting involved, as will the grown-up children”.
Titles range from Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to J. R. R.
Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings; The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson to Goodnight Mr. Tom
by Michelle Magorian.
You’ll be able to watch the broadcast on Facebook @TeesValleyMusic or on their
‘Snappy Music’ YouTube Channel.
All of the activities will be available as separate videos after the event via the same channels for anyone wanting to take the day at their own pace, catch up with after school, or repeat the activities.