EDITOR’S LETTER

At the heart of the performing arts is often the written word – be it an adapted novel or original play script – so it is imperative to encourage and develop a love of reading from an early age. I was thus intrigued by a recent request to support the TOTS campaign – to “turn on the subtitles” – as a means of encouraging young children to read. When Jack Black popped up to enthuse about what is claimed to be the world’s largest literacy campaign, already helping more than 400 million children around the world, I knew I should share this incredibly simple idea! With the average child watching just over 3 hours and 15 minutes of TV a day, turning on the subtitles for the full year would amount to the same number of words being read that are in all of the Harry Potter series, the Narnia saga, the Lord of the Rings trilogy and

Roald Dahl’s entire collection, combined.

Building on this literacy theme, the YOTO Carnegies shortlist of children’s literature for 2024 has just been announced and there are opportunities for schools to get involved in the shadowing scheme. Applications will be open from 22 – 28 March with packs to be sent out immediately afterwards to the selected schools (see the news story in this issue’s Inbox for details).

The Big Interview in this issue is with prolific author Linda Newbery, giving us an insight into her writing process and we highlight the excellent work of Theatre Works!, ensuring more disadvantaged young people can get to experience live theatre, plus there is an inspiring interview with Zach Opere-Onguende, a young actor and facilitator with cerebral palsy, grateful for the support from Chickenshed.

Please pass on Ink Pellet to your colleagues and students.

John