Books, the best medicine to boost literacy

In an innovative new literacy program for Australia, TIMAT is launching a Bright Sparks range of children's books. For every two Bright Sparks books sold, one book is donated to a children's charity. In the first year of sales, this will amount to a minimum of 100,000 books being given to children in hospitals and other less fortunate children across Australia. Literacy levels among underprivileged children in Australia is at an all time low and Bright Sparks will help by getting books into the hands of children that have limited opportunities to buy and read books.

Already a huge hit in the UK and recently launched in the USA, the Bright Sparks range is now available for the very first time in Australia. Bright Sparks is a range of fun books for enjoyable learning, with over forty diverse titles now available from Target, Big W and Toys 'R' Us.

"It is well recognised that children who are given the chance to develop confidence in reading will gain greater benefit from their schooling and have more opportunities available to them in the future."

Dr David Kemp
COMMONWEALTH MINISTER FOR
EDUCATION, TRAINING & YOUTH AFFAIRS

Tuesday 16th October - 3000 Bright Sparks at The Children's Hospital at Westmead

To celebrate the launch of Bright Sparks in Australia, TIMAT are donating 10,000 books to under-privileged or hospital-bound children around Australia.

What: 3000 books being donated to be given to sick children entering into hospital.

Who: Sam Sparks (Bright Sparks charity mascot) with hospital children.

When: Tuesday 16th October 2001 at 10.15am for 10.30am.

Where: Starlight Playroom at The Children's Hospital at Westmead.

Running Order

10.15am Media to meet hospital representative at hospital entrance.

10.30am Gilly Paxton to welcome everyone to the launch; introduces Jeff Keighran from TIMAT.

10.35am Jeff Keighran to say a few words about the program; introduces Sam Sparks from Bright Sparks.

10.40am Sam Sparks presents book to the children.

Photo opportunity: Sam Sparks and representatives from Bright Sparks presenting the fantastic books to the children in the playroom.

Interviews: Jeff Keighran, General Manager, TIMAT; Gilly Paxton, Public Relations Manager, The Children's Hospital at Westmead; Ernie Tucker, President, Children's Book Council of Australia (N.S.W Branch).

For further media information, interviews or attendance, please contact:

Sam Tsonis
dreamcoat
(03) 9510 7788 / 0412 564 193
s_tsonis@dreamcoat.net