Young readers rise to the challenge for chance at top prize

Find out which Toowoomba schools have already entered this year’s QSuper’s Top 5 Book Challenge and how your children can get involved for a chance to win.

SUPER READERS: Gabbinbar State School prep students Molly Schmidt and Jack Bosnjak are eagerly reading s many books as they can for the Queensland Premier's Reading Challenge and the QSuper's Top 5 Book Challenge. Picture: Nev Madsen

Three Toowoomba schools are battling it out in this year’s QSuper’s Top 5 Book Challenge, with an author-lead writing workshop and several $500 book vouchers up for grabs.

Students from Gabbinbar State School, St Ursula’s College and Wilsonton State School are all busy selecting their favourite reads for a chance to win one of two full-day workshops with award-winning author of 70 books, Sue Whiting.

The QSuper Top 5 Book Challenge is part of the Premier’s Reading Challenge and aims to acknowledge Queensland’s favourites by those who know them best – the children who read them.

Ms Whiting is a prolific writer with 19 children’s and young adult books under her name and many education and novelty books published over the years.

A former primary school teacher, Ms Whiting said she wanted students to develop a love for books and think of them as companions for life.

Gabbinbar State School prep students Molly Schmidt and Jack Bosnjak readng together for the QSuper Top 5 Book Challenge. Picture: Nev Madsen

“Reading today gives children the best chance at being an award-winning author tomorrow. Through my workshops, I encourage students to freely write every day so they can flex their writing muscles on command,” Ms Whiting said.

“I’m also curious to find out what are Queensland student’s favourite books. A favourite book as a child stays with you, in a special place within you, even when you’re an adult. My love for reading started with The Famous Five.”

QSuper will award two schools a full-day workshop with author, Sue Whiting, during term four and eight schools will be awarded with $500 book voucher prizes.

The Top 5 Book Challenge runs until 28 August and Queensland students from state and non-state schools, as well as early childhood centres and home education students, are all encouraged to enter the challenge by filling in the form on the QSuper website.