Alpacas, maracas and book stackers galore! Students at Stella Maris joined over one million kids in Australia and New Zealand in gathering together to be read aloud the same book at the same time for National Simultaneous Storytime!

In its 19th year, the annual Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) event has been a huge success, with kids in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country all sharing in Australian author and illustrator, Matt Cosgrove’s book ‘Alpacas with Maracas’.

The colourful, fun event aims to promote the value of reading and literacy using an Australian children's book. This year’s book celebrates a positive storyline and themes and was chosen for its appeal to a modern and diverse audience, addressing key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6, and lending itself to craft and other learning activities – many of which were greatly enjoyed by our students throughout the day.

Our students gathered under the COLA at 11am on the dot to hear Macca the Alpaca’s story. They were delighted to discover they were joining over a million children across the country doing exactly the same thing at the same time!

Librarian, Mrs Jo Love read aloud to the children, while Mrs Maryanne Heddles joined in, adding some acting, colour and sound to enhance the narrative! The children thoroughly enjoyed the story, laughing out loud throughout.

"It was funny and engaging. I enjoyed sharing reading the book as a school community," one Year 6 student commented. "Reading is important because it awakens our minds, allows us to wonder and helps us learn."

“We need to read to learn. I liked it when Mrs Love read the book and Mrs Heddles played the maracas,” a Kindergarten student said.

Stella Maris was one of several CEDoW schools who celebrated National Simultaneous Storytime. Read more here.