Sally Rippin on Rescuing Reluctant Readers

While many of us may recall our favourite books from childhood, fewer amongst us can remember how we learned to read, and why we wanted to do so in the first place. Today’s children have a bewildering wealth of titles to choose from, but it can still be a struggle finding a way in to the world of reading. What kind of book can give a child the confidence to develop their word skills and engender a life-long love of reading?

Author Sally Rippin, creator of the hugely popular Billie B Brown and Hey Jack! series of books for early readers, is a guest at this year’s Children’s Book Festival. In this lunchtime lesson, she speaks about writing books that both early and reluctant readers can enjoy and engage with. She also shares precious tips and insights into the often emotion-laden realm of teaching and parenting kids who are taking hesitant steps down the road of literature.

Lunchbox/Soapbox

We love exploring ideas at the Wheeler Centre, and encouraging others to do the same. That’s why every Thursday lunchtime we hand the microphone over to the great thinkers, dreamers and orators of our time.

With a dazzling range of passionate speakers and unusual topics, our soapbox provides a platform for the eclectic, topical and enlightening stories you won’t hear elsewhere. This is the most memorable lunch break you’ll have all week.

If you’re in need of sustenance of body as well as mind, the MOAT lunch cart will be serving delicious $15 lunchboxes in the performance space from 12.20pm.