#EmbraceEquity in Book Week: Inspirational Women in Literature

Readers are Leaders!

Reading is not just a hobby or a form of entertainment, but a critical 21st century skill that will help students be successful in life. Students who read regularly gain improved language skills and cognitive development, enhanced social skills and empathy, and significantly improved academic results.

At Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi we celebrate a love of reading every day. Book Week provides a focal point for that celebration along a common theme. The theme of this years’ Book Week was “Embrace Equity: Inspirational Women in Literature”, aligned with the International Women’s Day 2023 theme #EmbraceEquity.

This year’s ‘Book Week’ has been a real literary treat for the eyes and ears, involving everything from virtual dioramas, fairy tales with a twist, paired reading, draw-alongs from award winning illustrator, Kate Pankhurst and simply finding the pleasure in the love of a good book.

The excitement and buzz during Friday's costume parade was palpable and confirmed to us how much our students love reading and appreciate the importance of having strong, female role models.

During the week, students have not only been reading but writing; creating exciting comics and producing their own collaborative masterpieces, written by a selection of students from Year 1 to Year 9 in the form of a rolling story.

Students have also had opportunities to read to one another from across the school, with our Year 6 students being lucky enough to take part in a wonderful transition event with our Senior school involving the famous author, Mark Grist. Having students in our younger classes choose books for our Senior school students to read with created authentic opportunities for them to practice their expression and prosody, developing communication skills across the curriculum.

We have had teachers and students alike sharing their favourite stories, sharing recommendations from across the school and all culminating in a wonderful ‘snuggle up and read’ session in classrooms, sharing our favourite literary works with a warming cup of delicious hot chocolate.

Seeing the students dressed up, celebrating their love of reading together and talking so passionately about books,  stories and important women across history and literature has been a real highlight of all of us, as well as highlighting the plight that many women still face across the world with regards to illiteracy rates.

Reflecting on the events of the week, we are reminded about Malala's inspirational words, "One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” It is our hope that our students can take this incredible message and act upon it in their everyday lives, long after Book Week has finished.