Last Wednesday 22nd May at 11am at the Forbes Library a group of children were treated to an entertaining reading of the book Alpacas with Maracas by Matt Cosgrove as part of National Simultaneous Storytime.
Central West Libraries Manager Jan Richards said that 2019 will be the biggest year yet for the event with 1 million children throughout the country sharing the story all at the same time.
“Now in its 19th year, National Simultaneous Storytime is well established on the Library calendar and this year’s story is a real treat,” Jan said.
“The story features alpacas Macca and Al in a talent show. It takes them some time to work out they can play the maracas. It is a great rhyming story and very entertaining,” continued Jan.
National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, preschools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country.
It is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children’s book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.
The children at Forbes Library loved the story that was also being enjoyed by thousands of other children at the same time across Australia, followed by craft.
“Kathy Garland did a great reading of this year’s story for our greatly appreciative group of storytimers,” said Forbes Branch Librarian Bronwyn Clark.
If anyone would like to have their own personal storytime session at home you can listen to read aloud renditions of Matt Cosgrove’s books with Story Box Library.
Alpacas with Maracas can be accessed on the Story Box Library link via the Central West Libraries website http://www.cwl.nsw.gov.au/ All you need is your library card to log on to Story Box Library and you then have access to over 200 beautifully animated and brilliantly read story books.