Excitement filled the air at the Montford Library when the facility hosted its first Book Worm Club meeting on 3 March 2026, drawing an enthusiastic group of young readers and their families eager to celebrate the joy of books.
Twenty children, accompanied by twelve parents and grandparents, attended the inaugural gathering, with several new members joining after hearing about the club through friends at school. In celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday week, the junior section of the library was decorated with a colourful display inspired by the beloved story The Cat in the Hat.
The meeting began with a warm welcome and introductions, allowing members to become familiar with one another before being briefed on how their reading progress would be tracked. Each child received a book worm template, where a dot will be added for every book they read during the month, encouraging them to develop a regular reading habit.
Children were also taught about the importance and purpose of bookmarks and were each given a themed origami bookmark inspired by The Cat in the Hat. Members then took part in a lively book discussion, sharing reviews of books they had read by presenting the title, author and a short synopsis. The activity sparked interest among fellow members and encouraged them to explore new titles and authors.
To support the reading journey, members were given book review templates to record their thoughts, while younger children received phonics hat charts and colouring pages inspired by the Cat in the Hat theme.
According to organisers, the Book Worm Club aims to create a space where children can share their love for reading, exchange ideas and explore the limitless worlds found within books. Reading, they emphasised, opens doors to imagination, strengthens literacy, develops the brain and encourages greater use of libraries.
Librarian Thembeka Nyawuza and Library Assistant Amsha Naicker expressed gratitude to parents and guardians for their support in bringing children to the first meeting.
They noted that when homes, schools and libraries work together, it creates a strong community of pupils. They added that the positive involvement of parents remains one of the most important keys to a child’s success.
The first meeting received an encouraging response, setting the stage for many more literary adventures for young book lovers in the community.
