The earlier the better and as often as possible. Research has shown that a printrich environment from infancy is the key to creating readers and successful people.
The First Words in Print project was launched recently at the Centre for the Book in Cape Town, to coincide with World Literacy Week. The breakfast gathering was addressed by Parliament’s Deputy Speaker, Baleka Mbete, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Brian Wafawarowa, head of the Publishers’ Association of South Africa.
This project aims in its pilot phase to encourage the creation and distribution of 30 000 books for children up to six years old, through libraries, clinics and crèches.
Using initial funding they hope to encourage a flood of manuscripts from local writers and illustrators to local publishers, who will submit them to the First Words in Print Project. The manuscripts can be in any of the 11 official languages and will be translated into others to create a wealth of picture books for South Africa’s youngsters.
According to Eleanor Sisulu, author of When Gogo Went to Vote, children develop a better relationship with books if they see their own environment and culture, in their own language, in the books they are first acquainted with. Local picture books are the ideal way to achieve this.