Tell us a bit about you:

Jodi and Maxi work for the Department for Education, Children and Young People. You can often find them on the Great Start website singing Nursery Rhymes and visiting early years programs at our Schools, Child and Family Centres and Libraries.

Why do you think reading is important? 

Reading is very important for babies and small children because it is how they learn about words and the world around them. The more we read and sing to them, the more they learn. And it helps them feel safe and loved if you read cuddled up together.

My favourite book/s:

As an adult: Jodi – The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

As a child: Jodi – The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton,     

Maxi – We Love Country by Kylie Dickson, Leanne Pelikan and Nicole Smith

I’m currently reading:

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey – It’s a modern take on a traditional tale.

My Reading Tip:

Babies and toddlers love short stories with interesting pictures. And if they can’t sit still for a whole story, you can just point and talk about the pictures.    If you have a little brother, sister or cousin at home, you can practice reading to them, they will love to hear your voice and snuggle up with you!

Where can we find out more about you? 
Visit Maxi and I on the Great Start website.

Tell us a little bit about you:

My name is lyndon and I am a teacher and writer who just loves stories.

Why do you think reading is important?

Lemony Snicket once said, “All the secrets of the world are contained in books. Read at your own risk.” What an exciting thing it is that in stories you can go anywhere and be anyone. People sometimes imagine what it would be like to travel in time to the past or the future, or how interesting it would be get inside someone else’s head. Guess what? You already can! In books!

My favourite book/s:

• As a child – I loved Andy Griffiths more than anything in the world. There is a story of his called “In the Shower with Andy” from Just Annoying, where a young Andy tries to silicone himself into the shower and fill it up with water. It was so funny that I couldn’t stop laughing!
• As an adult – I’m always waiting patiently for Neil Gaiman to write something new. If you haven’t read anything of his, a great starting point is The Ocean at the End of the Lane. It’s short, and magical and scary and beautiful. You won’t regret it.

I’m currently reading:

At the moment I’m reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, which is a favourite of mine. He is coming to Launceston for the Tamar Valley Writers Festival in October and I’m refreshing my memory before I get to meet him in person!

My reading tip:

Reading should be fun, and part of creating that fun isn’t even the book itself, it’s what you do around it. It’s winter while we are doing the reading challenge, so embrace hot chocolates, and oodies, doonas and snacks. I like to put on a reading playlist without lyrics (searching “lo-fi” is a good option on either Spotify or YouTube) and get cosy!

Where can we find out more about you? 

You can find out more about me on my website at: http://www.lyndonriggall.com!

Tell us a little bit about you:

My name is Barbara Baker and I am Tasmania’s 29^th Governor. Before becoming Governor, I was a lawyer and judge specialising in Family Law.

I have always been a champion of reading because I believe that reading is one of the most important foundations for learning. Education is an important key to success in our society. Reading is also great fun!

Why is reading important to you and how does it make you feel?

Reading gives us all an opportunity to learn about things that we may not otherwise have the opportunity to do. We can learn about the world around us, about far away places or about history. Reading can help us find places and things that we may wish to try.

Reading is one of the best ways to learn and it can make me feel happy or sad, depending on the book or subject matter. Most of all, it gives me access to knowledge about people, places and ideas throughout the world and that has been developed over the centuries.

What book inspired you, or was your most read, as a young person?

When I was in primary school, I loved reading “The Famous Five” and the “Secret Seven Adventure” series written by Enid Blyton. I also loved the Milly-Molly-Mandy stories. I really enjoyed our Tasmanian author, Nan Chauncy’s book, “They Found a Cave.

What advice or tip would you give someone who is struggling to read, or doesn’t think reading is fun?

I have always found that, when something is hard, you should ask for help and put in your best effort. When you try hard it usually works. Also, surrounding yourself with friends and others who want to learn and have the same goals as you, makes reading easier. It may also be fun to look for books that are funny, such as the “Treehouse” stories by Andy Griffiths.

Where can we find out more about you?

https://www.govhouse.tas.gov.au/the-governor/biography-of-the-governorhttps://www.govhouse.tas.gov.au/the-governor/role-of-the-governor

Who are you and why are you a reading champion?

I’m Kim Millar and I’m the weekday news anchor for 7 Tasmania Nightly News. I read all day, every day; whether that is reading a book, online, a publication, or aloud to audiences. It’s how I stay informed and how I learn about others. At the end of the day, it’s how I relax.

Why is reading important to you and how does it make you feel?

Reading enables you to understand the world around you from other people’s perspectives. I love the way reading can make you feel. You can experience a whole range of emotions. Most nights, while reading the nightly news, I experience this – it may be anger, sadness, concern, happiness or elation. Sometimes it’s all of these on one night!

What book inspired you, or was your most read, as a young person?

I used to write my own books. It was fabulous escapism and a wonderful way to learn more about structuring sentences and spelling. I wrote about a young girl, called Olivia, who solved crimes. It was along the lines of the Secret Seven book series. I would write for hours. No-one else read my books but I would get lost in the story-telling. 

What advice or tip would you give someone who is struggling to read, or doesn’t think reading is fun?

Perhaps like me, you’d rather write a book, or pretend to be a character in a book and it read it out loud. Have you tried reading to your pet? They are great listeners!

Where can we find out more about you?

You can see me on 7 Tasmania Nightly News each night at 6pm.

Tell us a little bit about you:

Kylie: I am an Aboriginal woman with connections to Tasmania and Victoria. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a book in my hand and my nose buried in it. I am forever grateful to my Nan for teaching me about libraries and the value of books.

Leanne: My name is Leanne Pelikan (nee Briggs) and my mob is from NSW and Tasmania. I work for the Department for Education, Children and Young People. As a long-term employee, I have spent many years enjoying creating activities and watching little people learn. I have loved reading to them and listening to them read to me.

Why do you think reading is important and how does it make you feel?

Kylie: Reading is important because it introduces you to words and worlds that you will never know about unless you open a book. Sharing a book with a little person lets you learn and imagine together. Sharing a book with a big person creates conversation.

Leanne: Reading is important to me because it has helped me to learn lots of different things about how I can better support our little people. I mostly read for a purpose because I am curious. Reading helps me to understand, and this makes me feel good about myself.

What book inspired you, or was your most read, as a young person?

Kylie: I was attracted to authors. I loved Enid Blyton. She had so many stories that made you use your imagination. YOU had to imagine what people and things looked like. Books are a television in your head where you decided what things look like.

Leanne: I love fairy tales and princesses. They made me wish that I was a princess. I am still waiting for my Prince!

What advice or tip would you give someone who is struggling to read, or doesn’t think reading is fun?

Select books that interest you and plan a time to read every day (like bedtime). We live in a generation which has lots of different sources that can help us. There is something for everybody! You just need to check out your local library and ask questions and it’s free. Explore all of the options like books, eBooks’, comics, and find what works for you.

Where can we find out more about you?

• Great Start – Thanking Country
• We Love Country – Great Start
• We love Country book for Tasmanian children – Department for Education, Children and Young People (decyp.tas.gov.au)

Tell us a little bit about you. Who are you and why are you a Reading Champion.

My name is Jane Wardlaw, and I am a Disability Advocate.  I am a Reading Champion because I want children to discover the magic of reading. Reading is a way to discover, dream, and dive into worlds that may be different from or similar to their own. 

Why is reading important to you and how does it make you feel?

Reading helps me be grateful, have empathy, create change, and be mindful. It can also give me hope, joy, happiness, and sometimes sadness.

What book inspired you, or was your most read, as a young person?

My favourite books were Barbar the Elephant and Wind in the Willows. I also loved Born Free, about raising Elsa the lion, and setting her free back into the wild. 

What advice or tip would you give to someone who is struggling to read, or doesn’t think reading is fun?

Take reading slowly.  Find a book that looks interesting to you, a book that feels good.  Seek out someone to help you with the reading.  It can change your life.  Once you finish the book (practice every day), reflect and think about how that story made you feel.   

Where can we find out more about you?

You may find me by looking at my webpage:  www.janewardlaw.com.au