Students shake maracas with alpacas for National Simultaneous Storytime
Alpacas, maracas and book stackers galore! Students at St Thomas Aquinas 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 in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 all read ‘Alpacas with Maracas’ at 11am together. Students listened attentively and ably assisted their teacher in bringing the book to life, shaking their own maracas when the instruments featured throughout the story.
A fun occasion enjoyed by all the boys and girls!