"THE more you read the more you know" was the buzz phrase at the launch of the Readathon 2011 at Hlakaniphani Primary School in Dlamini, Soweto

Hosted by Isidingo actress Hlubi Mboya, the campaign launch for 2011 featured presentations about what Readathon will be doing this year to promote reading.

Mboya has been an ambassador for the campaign for three years.

"If I were the first lady I would really emphasise reading because it's the first thing that kids need to learn. Education is important to me and I jumped in when I got a chance to be involved (in the campaign)."

Teachers received activity packs with activity guides to help pupils learn to read with understanding as part of the Readathon strategy. Pupils qualify to be reading ambassadors once they have participated in Readathon activities and met the requirements.

The ambassadors encourage their schoolmates to read and form book clubs. The "A Journal on a Journey" part of the campaign will consist of individuals writing about themselves inside a hardcover journal before passing it on to someone else.

One thousand of these journals are to be handed out and, once full, handed in at CNA stores, who are sponsors of the campaign alongside READ.

Babalwa Somthunzi, 9, who said her favourite book is Jim's Trumpet , read out some entries from one of the journals alongside fellow pupil Simphiwe Vangqa, also nine.

Hlakaniphani school principal Elizabeth Phuza said the school has a long-running relationship with READ, which has improved the school's efforts to encourage reading with understanding among learners.

"We wish black parents will read with their children because many of them only read for themselves and don't spend time reading with their children.

"Some only look at the front page of a book and that's it."