The Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) is extending its reach into public schools across NSW with a series of videoconferences featuring some of Australia’s best-loved writers for children and teenagers.

The first of the videoconferences, which will be hosted by Sydney Distance Education High School later this month, will feature writer Duncan Ball, creator of the popular character Selby the talking dog.

Mr Ball, who will be joined in the broadcast studio by students from Sydney primary schools, will read from his latest Emily Eyefinger adventure, An Eyeful of Emily. A question and answer time will follow the book reading.

The Dymocks Literacy Foundation Authors Online series aims to support students in remote, isolated schools and give them the opportunity to “meet” and chat with well-known children’s authors and to hear a reading from one of the books on the PRC booklist.

NSW schools will also be able to view the author sessions via the internet or record for later viewing.

Trish Anderson, special project officer with the PRC, said the videoconferences helped to bring books alive.

“The technology alleviates the tyranny of distance and provides an incredible opportunity for students, regardless of their location, to interact with authors,” Ms Anderson said.

The Dymocks Literacy Foundation fundraising manager, Julie Brown, said the foundation was proud to be associated with the PRC and its Authors Online initiative.

“Nothing is more important to us than being able to bring the love of reading to those who might never have received such a chance,” she said. “We are all so excited to offer this to the students of NSW.”

Also appearing in the Authors Online videoconference series in September will be award-winning author Anna Fienberg. Authors appearing in conferences scheduled for July and October are yet to be confirmed.

For information and links to the PRC videoconferences, go to: http://dart.det.nsw.edu.au/html/events.html