Stories That Grow at Home: Viona Reads with Her Family

“Mom, listen to me reading this book.”
“Sis, have you read this one before?”

Those sentences are often heard in Viona’s house after school. Viona, a sixth-grader at SDK Lena, has developed a new habit: borrowing books from the school library and reading them with her family. In the past, this rarely happened. The school library had very limited books, so Viona could only read the ones her father occasionally brought home from his work trips to Kupang.

The year 2023 became a turning point. Her school partnered with Taman Bacaan Pelangi to create a more engaging reading space. The library walls were painted in bright colors, the floor was covered with carpet so students could sit and read comfortably, and the shelves were filled with hundreds of new storybooks. Teachers also scheduled regular library visits and read stories aloud with expressive voices—often making Viona laugh and get lost in the tales.

Since then, the library has become her favorite place. Viona is now one of the most active borrowers in the school. Beyond the changes in the library, there is another reason she enjoys reading even more—her sister, Laura. Laura, also a student at the same school, often shows off the books she borrows and reads them aloud to Viona. Now, Viona and her sister love reading expressively with fun intonation, taking turns as storytellers at home. When Laura is away or busy, Viona goes to her mother and asks her to listen to her reading instead.

Viona’s mother smiles proudly when she talks about this change. “When we heard that the school was partnering with Taman Bacaan Pelangi, we were very grateful. Our children can now read so many more books. In the past, they only had new books when their father returned from work trips to Kupang. We as parents have always believed in the importance of reading,” she shared during Taman Bacaan Pelangi’s visit to their home.