By Sara KIRBY
A festival of stories filled with exciting characters, dramatic plot twists, words old and new, and syntax that breaks all the rules. But wait, there’s more! Real-life authors who take to the stage with infectious energy, drawing you into a world where words mean everything and adventures stretch as far as your imagination. This is the world of Storyfest — one I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of since its inception, first as a student and now, as a parent.
My three children describe it as the best week of the year: meeting their favourite authors, connecting with other children, and sharing stories — both formally and informally. All the while, perhaps without even realising it, they’re sparking curiosity, creativity, and empathy.
I describe it as an immersive literary experience like no other — one that celebrates difference, community, and the power of words. My children’s great-grandfather said, ‘Words are like a flaming sword that you carry into battle.’ Poignant, when one considers the declining rates of literacy.
Those rates are on a similar trajectory across the globe. In the UK, a Reading Revolution campaign has been launched, with 2026 declared the National Year of Reading. Its goal is to reverse the decline in reading for pleasure and ‘help give kids the best start in life.’ That’s because reading for pleasure isn’t just a hobby.
In Queensland this year, Premier David Crisafulli launched the Premier’s Reading Challenge with the goal of lifting literacy rates across the state. A love of reading is sparked in childhood. For the enthusiastic reader, a spark is all it takes. But others need more fuel to light the fire. That comes in the form of Storyfest: in the words of an author who seems to just get you; in the story left of field that inspires you; the workshop that teaches you to be bold; the seed of an idea that grows; and in the pages of a book that suddenly don’t seem so foreign.
And so, it grows from that spark — building vocabulary, spelling, and general knowledge. From this foundation of early literacy come, according to the research, stronger educational and life outcomes: higher self-esteem, greater emotional intelligence, and lasting mental health benefits.
Importantly, reading for pleasure has been found to improve empathy for others, both inside and outside the confines of a story. It fosters tolerance and understanding of other cultures. To walk in another’s shoes — surely needed now more than ever, as we battle the tribalism of social media in a tech-laden world.
It’s like an onion when you start considering the benefits: layers building upon one another; hidden advantages with lifelong implications — the flaming sword every child deserves to carry through life. Because reading for pleasure isn’t just a hobby. But joy is where it starts. And Storyfest has that in abundance.
Sources
https://grattan.edu.au/news/au...
