Reading to children before the age of five is critically important, children’s author Mem Fox says.

The Possum Magic scribe visited Murray Bridge last Thursday to enchant readers of all ages, from preschoolers to grandparents.

She read them some of her stories in a wonderfully expressive tone, like Grandma Poss incarnate: Possum Magic, The Magic Hat, Where is the Green Sheep?

Then, with children ushered off to another corner of the library for a few minutes, she shared a vital message: “Read aloud to the children in (your) lives between the ages of birth until the age of five, in a lively fashion, for about 10 minutes”.

Why?

She offered five reasons.

Reading to children makes them happy