Children would usually have the chance to dress up as their favourite characters and engage in book-themed activities at school in a week-long celebration of books and Australian children's authors and illustrators.

Ballarat Foundation community engagement and communications coordinator Ricci Shepherd said she hoped the online story time sessions would help children celebrate books at home instead.

"At the Ballarat Foundation, we are really committed to getting kids reading," she said.

"We know that better literacy rates in children can lead to greater success later in life."

The Ballarat Reads program is an extension of Ballarat Foundation's Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which delivers a book to the letterbox of more than 300 children aged zero to five every month.

RELATED COVERAGE: Ballarat Reads program prepares young children for school

The aim of the program is to ensure books are already part of children's lives when they get to school to help their development.

Ms Shepherd said her own daughter was looking forward to dressing up as a koala from the book Fluffles this week and she felt sad children were missing out on book week activities due to lockdown.

She will read one book from the Children's Book Council of Australia shortlist in an online video on the Ballarat Foundation Facebook page each day this week.

Watch Tuesday's Book Week story time with Ms Shepherd below.

Friday's story time video may feature Ms Shepherd's own book week costume.

"The benefit to children's development just from reading a book to them is huge," she said.

"Most people think its just an increase to literacy and vocabulary, but children can learn so much from being read stories; social skills, lateral thinking, it builds curiosity and also increases attention span.

"It's also a really nice bonding time to share with parents.

"I know I have really fond memories of reading with my Dad when I was a child. I remember all my favourite books too."

The Ballarat Foundation's Ballarat Reads program moved online when the coronavirus pandemic hit last year after running story time sessions at Stockland Wendouree.

Ms Shepherd is a former primary school teacher.

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