Dewey Dex delights Geraldton kids as Premier's Reading Challenge returns with fun, books and prizes
WA's one-eyed purple alien is back in Geraldton for another challenge, encouraging kids to read and log more books, with prize incentives and even a special performance.
Students at Geraldton Primary School were treated to a special guest performance by Dewey Dex — the interglactic reading alien — and his friends on Wednesday for the Premier's Reading Challenge.
Established in 2022, the annual challenge is designed to make reading exciting and encourage WA students from kindergarten to Year 12 to explore the joy of reading.
From the squeals and shrieks of excitement, it seemed Dewey had done just that, as he danced across the Geraldton Primary School auditorium, solving riddles and teaching children about the power of reading.
Principal Jade Fallon welcomed the initiative as a positive way to encourage students to read.
'All students at our school read each night through our home reading program with individual and class incentives,' she said.
'We are a reading rich school. We understand the many benefits of reading, including knowledge and vocabulary building, oral language and writing development, as well as the impact on developing attention span.'
Year 5 student Toby Armitage, Year 4 student Jaxon Pember and Year 1 student Cayden Dela Cruz spoke with excitement about their favourite novels and how reading helps them.
Toby said he loves David Walliams' Gangsta Granny, while Jaxon has been enjoying Zombie Season by Justin Weinberger.
Cayden said he was currently reading a book about the native Australian bowerbird, and so far this year he has read over 33 books.
When asked what his favourite thing about reading was, Jaxon said: 'I like what I'm thinking about, like where the characters are in the story and thinking about the book in my head.'
The Premier's Reading Challenge runs for 12 weeks from April 7 to June 27. To complete the challenge, students from kindergarten to Year 10 must read 12 or more books, while busy senior students in Years 11 and 12 must finish six or more books.
This is the first year the challenge has opened up to high school students.
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