Duffy troupe makes good reading | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

An entire school has dressed up as the character Duffy.

Duffy Books in Homes celebrated 15 years in existence yesterday and Aramoho Primary School pupils and staff came dressed up especially for the occasion.

At a special assembly to mark the event, staff and pupils were entertained by the Duffy Theatre team.

The group sang and acted their interactive message "to open a book and grow your brain".

Teacher Helen Ngapo said children who were not keen on reading became readers, which they enjoyed.

Mrs Ngapo said there were a lot of factors that went into enjoyable reading and that it was important children trusted the person recommending books to read.

Research undertaken by the National Library has found that the person children looked to the most for advice on what books to read, was their mother.

"You have to build up a relationship with the child and teachers need to be readers as well," she said.

The Duffy Theatre is one of two teams travelling around New Zealand.

Since February, members Cassie Baker, Robert Enari and Greydon Little had visited 250 schools with their highly vocal and visual act to get students to read.

It was interactive and good to get the kids involved, the team said.

The three were all actors who had auditioned for that part.

The troupe also visited St Marcellins and Castlecliff Primary School yesterday.