National Reading Days kick off in the Netherlands
The National Reading Days in the Netherlands kicked off on Wednesday morning with numerous Dutch celebrities reading to kids at breakfast at schools, kindergartens, daycares and libraries across the country, Het Parool reports.
Readers included Princess Laurentien, Minister Ronald Plasterk of Home Affairs, Minister Jet Bussemaker of Education, State Secretary Martin van Rijn of Public Health and presenter Beau van Erven Dorens. They all read from the picture book of the year - De Kleine Walvis, written and illustrated by Benji Davies. It tells the story of a boy who lives in a fisherman's house with his father and six cats. He finds a young whale on the beach after a stormy night and the two become friends.
The reading breakfast is the official kickoff of the 14th edition of the National Reading Days, ending on February 4th. The annual event is meant to encourage reading in children who can't yet read.
