When Hong Kong author Sarah Brennan sits down to write one of her captivating children's books, she imagines rascally rabbits that defy evil emperors, hungry dragons that eat children, or plump pandas that are incredibly vain, and then puts these characters into exotic settings that appeal to her young audience.
'Kids have wonderful imaginations and a great sense of fun,' says Brennan. 'My books always involve a challenge or problem that tickles children's sense of humour, or their love of mystery'.
In this age of digital distraction, capturing children's imaginations so they want to sit down and read books is becoming ever more challenging. Enter the Hong Kong International Young Readers Festival, which is hosting a number of acclaimed children's authors from around the world including Brennan, Mem Fox, Christopher Cheng, Eoin Colfer, Dianne Wolfer and Peter Brown. It kicks off tomorrow with a series of school activities, but the programme also features weekend events for parents and the whole family, such as storytelling sessions with the authors, lectures, workshops and panel discussions, all focused on encouraging young children to read.
'Reading is important, as it affects every aspect of our lives,' says Cheryl Raper, managing director of Sylvan Learning, a tutoring chain.
'If you do not develop solid reading skills as a child, you may have difficulty completing job-related tasks or reading for enjoyment. Encouraging children to read helps transform reading from a basic skill to an intellectual habit. The more children read, the more they will enjoy it, and the better reader they are likely to become. Introducing new ideas and objectives to our children increases their vocabulary. Children love to learn, and early childhood - well before kindergarten begins, when they're absorbing everything around them - is the most important time for a child's reading development.'
The event, a spin-off from the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, is a wonderful opportunity for schools and teachers to help youngsters explore storytelling and writing, while coming face to face with some of their favourite authors. Hearing writers read and discuss their work can prompt students to develop a habit of reading outside the curriculum, says festival manager Isabella Lim.