John King
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Dec 09/05) - Making it easier for parents to read to their children is a top priority for the Literacy Council.

Angie Matto of Fort Providence works on a story sack during an NWT Literacy Council Workshop. The program is a way to help connect parents and children through reading. - John King/NNSL photo

"One of the ways the group does this is by making story sacks, a creative way to keep children interested in books," says Karen Leyk, who helps run the story sacks workshop.

"What goes into the story sacks are dolls of the main characters, props such as back-drops, an audio tape, as well as whatever else we can fit, and of course the book itself," says Kathy Blake, one of the workshop leaders.

The workshop is part of the NWT Literacy Council's Family Literacy Symposium.

"This is my fourth time making story sacks," Blake says. "It really helps to promote literacy to parents and children alike. It's a great learning tool for children."

The story sacks are made for children from five to 13 years of age.

What's important to Blake is teaching educators how to make the story sacks.

"Once they know how to make the story sacks and how to use them, they can teach parents," says Leyk.

The symposium drew about 70 participants from across the NWT, including librarians, childhood workers, teachers, as well as others.