This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Book stores host reading events
17/10/2003
Eighteen WH Smith stores are organising a weekend of storytelling and reading related events from today until Monday to coincide with the school break and the start of the second phase of the Executive's Read Together press and radio advertising campaign.
The campaign - which highlights the benefits of parents and carers sharing books with children from a very young age - is backed by an army of authors, politicians and celebrities who have signed up as Reading Champions.
The stores taking part are Ayr, Largs, Greenock, Helensburgh, Hamilton, East Kilbride, Dumfries, Oban, Inverness, Elgin, Peterhead, Arbroath, Dundee, Aberdeen, Braehead, the Gyle (Edinburgh) and Glasgow's Argyll Street and Sauchiehall Street branches.
Education Minister Peter Peacock, himself a Reading Champion, said:
"Reading is a vital skill that has lifelong benefits. Helping your child to enjoy reading and developing a love of books is one of the greatest gifts you can give them and will stand them in good stead in years to come.
"But, just as importantly, reading is great fun - for everyone involved. Books, newspapers, magazines and comics can all feed a child's imagination. There's a wonderful world of reading out there to share if you read together."
Reading Champions are being sought from all over Scotland to join existing Champions who include authors JK Rowling, Aileen Paterson and Scoular Anderson and celebrities David Sneddon, Richard Wilson, Fred Macaulay, Ali Abbasi, Nick Nairn and Sandy Lyle.
The Read Together initiative is co-ordinated by Lindsey Fraser and Kathryn Ross of Fraser Ross Associates.
Tel: 0131 553 2759/0131 657 4412