New children's bookcase at the Botanic Garden playground

At a time when young people are coming into contact with reading later and later, it is particularly important to the city of Hof that children can regularly read age-appropriate books here. Children and parents can now find free children's books in the new children's bookcase at the children's playground in the Botanical Gardens. It complements the existing range of children's literature offered by the public library.

"Growing up with books is both happiness and a development opportunity for children. Reading aloud is one of the most beautiful islands in everyday family life, because hardly anything creates as much closeness as spending time together with stories. Anything that promotes access to books and a culture of reading is an important contribution to growing up," says Mayor Eva Döhla.

The idea was developed together with playground sponsor Maximilian Pohl, who looks after the children's playground in the botanical garden. From September, the sponsorship will pass into new hands, when Jan Friedrich, Gislind Klein and Holger Sonntag will provide new reading material for the children's bookcase. When selecting books, particular attention is paid to ensuring that they are suitable for children.

"The children's playground is the ideal place: children spend time here and automatically become curious about what's hidden in the big blue cupboard," says city youth worker Janina Dill about the choice of location.

The bookcase offers the opportunity to swap books, borrow them or take them home free of charge. "This gives all families access to a wide range of children's books," continues Dill. Children's books that are no longer needed can also be placed in the cupboard at any time.

The Erna Weidner Foundation of the Hof Hospital Foundation made the bookcase possible with a generous donation. The cupboard was professionally assembled and installed by the municipal building yard.