Read with Me will be introduced at the International Library of Children’s Literature in Japan

The Read with Me Program will be introduced at the International Library of Children’s Literature in Japan as the 12^th lecture from a series of lectures entitled: What’s happening with Children’s Books in the World?

On 16 June 2019, in a lecture called “What’s Happening with Children’s Books in Iran?”, Keiko Aiko and Saori Katagiri, two Farsi translators in Japan will be giving speeches about the charm of children’s literature in Iran, introducing the Read with Me program as one of Iran’s successful reading promotion programs.

For this occasion, on 9 May 2019, Keiko Aiko had a meeting with Zohreh Ghaeni, head of Read with Me project and Hourzad Attari, project coordinator, in which she was thoroughly introduced to the project. Finally, on 15 May 2019, she visited Kousha House for Children and Avay-e-Mandegar Empowerment Center, two centers covered by the Read with Me program in Tehran. During her visit, she participated in the Learning Sounds, Learning Alphabet and Reading Aloud sessions alongside children, in order to get to know the project from up close.

The lecture “What’s Happening with Children’s Books in Iran?” is sponsored by the International Library of Children’s Literature in Japan and Japan P.E.N. Club which is accompanied by an exhibition entitled “The Land of Peoetry and Legends: Children’s Books in Iran”, held at the library from 5 March to 21 July 2019. 2019 marks the 90th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, in commemoration of which this exhibition presents an introduction to children’s books in Iran.

About Read with Me

“Read with Me” is a reading promotion program for all children, especially for those deprived and in crisis. This program is being implemented under the supervision of the Institute for Research on the History of Children’s Literature. The program has been built upon providing quality books for all children. For those in particular who don’t normally have access to such books, making “All children have the right to read quality book” its main concern.

Read with Me concentrates on Improving Basic Literacy and Reading Aloud, using discussion and dramatic arts as means of making reading a joyful and effective experience for children.  Therefore, in addition to reaching out to children with carefully chosen quality books, the program holds various workshops to empower teachers and tutors with Reading Aloud and its related activities.