Students Benefit from Provincial Support for Literary Program

More young students in the province will be inspired to read thanks to a regional program that continues to put many exciting, new books into every elementary school library.

Education Minister Marilyn More today, Sept. 14, delivered a collection of children's books to Hawthorn School in Dartmouth to support the Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award Program.

The program gives young people the opportunity to read from a selection of outstanding Canadian and Atlantic Canadian books, and then vote for the books they like best.

Students will be able to read from a selection of 40 books nominated in the categories of fiction and non-fiction, both English and French.

"We are proud to support a program that promotes literacy, celebrates Atlantic Canadian writers, and fosters a love of reading for our students," said Ms. More. "Our support of Hackmatack also represents our ongoing commitment to school libraries."

The Hackmatack program, the country's only bilingual children's book award, is designed for readers in grades 4 to 6. Students in registered reading groups read books shortlisted by the Hackmatack Selection Committee and will vote this spring for the winning authors in each category.