Essex Cricket is helping inspire the next generation of readers by bringing together the joy of books and cricket.
Three of Essex Cricket’s women’s team have taken part in ‘Tell me a Story’ an Essex County Council initiative to boost literacy skills.
The three, Abtaha Masood, Florence Miller and Cordelia Griffith read ‘Cricket Kidz and the Magic Ball’, by Ben Rispin with illustrations by Greg David. The three were filmed reading the fun picture book as part of the National Year of Reading.
The storytelling sessions are aimed at children 11-years-old and younger. A new story is being launched every month on Essex County Council’s YouTube channel. The aim is to help families discover new stories and enjoy the art of storytelling.
Councillor Sam Journet, Cabinet Member for Education, SEND and Skills, said: “Combining sport and reading is a fantastic way to engage young people and help create a love of literacy.
“Cricket can inspire teamwork, confidence and resilience, while reading helps children learn, explore new ideas and build important life skills.
“We’re delighted to have the support of Essex Cricket for this initiative. Using stories linked to sport is a great way to make reading fun and accessible, helping more children discover a lifelong love of books.”
A spokesperson for Essex Cricket, said: “By sharing stories that celebrate cricket, we hope to inspire more children to pick up a book, develop a passion for reading and realise that every great adventure can begin with the turn of a page.”
The story will be available on the Essex County Council’s YouTube channel from Wednesday 19 August.