FREDERICTON (GNB) – Children in Grades 4 through 6 are being invited to join a Hackmatack book club at their local public library and to participate in the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Awards.
“The Hackmatack program is a fun and educational way to support families and lifelong learning,” said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Francine Landry. “Programs like this have a positive impact on youth and complement our government’s plan to develop a comprehensive literacy strategy.”
Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Awards is an Atlantic Canadian initiative involving libraries, schools and bookstores. Awards are given in four categories: English Fiction, English Nonfiction, French Fiction and French Nonfiction.
Each year, selection committees comprised of library staff from New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, nominate 40 Canadian books as candidates for the awards. The nominated books are available in New Brunswick public libraries.
Public libraries host Hackmatack book clubs and also work with some New Brunswick public school teachers to offer the program. The program runs through the school year and concludes in the spring. Participants have until Dec. 31 to join a book club.
“Our libraries are engaging young readers by giving them the opportunity to read the nominated books, discuss the books they have read at book club meetings, post their reviews of the books in the New Brunswick Public Library Service catalogue, and even vote for their favourite book,” Landry said.
This is the sixteenth year for the book awards. Each year, the project attracts about 350 reading groups from communities in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. An estimated 7,500 children participate.
LINK:
● New Brunswick Public Library Service
26-11-14