Parkhurst Primary pupils get copies of new Oaky book
High fives, big smiles and hugs welcomed the Read to Rise team members who delivered copies of the new Oaky book at Parkhurst Primary School, last Wednesday, July 24.
The Westridge school was the fifth in Mitchell’s Plain to receive the ninth book in the Oaky series, Oaky hears a song.
Brand new books were handed over to the Grade 3 pupils during an interactive learning and reading session with the Read to Rise team, a non-profit literacy organisation which teaches children about book ownership and encourages them to read.
The books were written by Athol Williams who was raised in Westridge, having attended Mitchell’s Plain Primary and then Westridge High School.
Today he holds seven university degrees including five Master’s degrees from five top-ranked global universities and a PhD from the University of Oxford.
The story of Oaky, who started as an acorn and grew into a big Oak tree, meeting friends and sharing songs, games and life experiences; now shares in a character having died.
The books are illustrated by Mr Williams’s wife Tarryn Lock. Together they founded Read to Rise to promote literacy and give children something interesting to read.
The Plainsman accompanied Mr Williams’s brother Roscoe to the Grade 3 class where they discussed the lessons learned.
They read the book and talked about continuing the legacy of their loved ones who had died.
“My daddy love to read and today I can share and teach thousands of children to read,” said Roscoe.
Similarly he said people around the world were able to continue former president Nelson Mandela’s legacy with Mandela Month when they could volunteer to do good.
The latest Oaky story is set in the Cape Town Company’s Garden, where the oldest Oak tree in South Africa resides.
A little bird is heard singing next to its friend, who has died. The friend wants to continue the deceased’s friend’s song.
Last year, Read to Rise celebrated its 10th anniversary and its annual visits to the 46 primary schools in Mitchell’s Plain.
- Read to Rise will be hosting a comedy night fund-raiser at West End Primary School, in Lentegeur, on Saturday August 3 at 6pm. Tickets cost R100. For more information or to buy tickets call 064 358 2725 or go to www.quicket.co.za.
