‘Vibrant and fun’: how reading together boosts literacy
Sunshine Coast Libraries invites young people to join this year’s National Simultaneous Storytime.
Come and join millions of Australians on Wednesday, May 22 at noon to read this year’s book, Bowerbird Blues, written by Aura Parker.
National Simultaneous Storytime is an annual event held by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA).
Each year an Australian picture book is chosen and read simultaneously across libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes and bookshops.
It addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.
Young Peoples Services Supervisor Karen Gawen said that the event had been running for 24 years.
“2023 was the biggest and most successful to date with over 2.3 million participants Australia-wide,” Ms Gawen said.
“It is a colourful, vibrant and fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy. We’re hoping to help make this year bigger and better than ever.”
Participants are encouraged to celebrate by wearing their ‘best blue outfits’ to the storytime sessions.
Sunshine Coast Library Storytime Sessions include:
| Coolum Library | Wednesday, 22 May | 11.45am – 12.45pm | No booking required |
| Kawana Library | Wednesday, 22 May | 11.45am – 12.45pm | No booking required |
| Maleny Library | Wednesday, 22 May | 11.45am – 12.45pm | No booking required |
| Maroochydore Library | Wednesday, 22 May | 11.45am – 12.45pm | No booking required |
| Nambour Library | Wednesday, 22 May | 11.45am – 12.45pm | No booking required |
About the book:
Bowerbird Blues is about a bowerbird on the search for all things blue. He swoops and snatches vibrant treasures for his collection and soon his bower (a mix of natural and unnatural objects) attracts something greater and more fulfilling than he could ever have imagined.
Author, Aura Parker is an award-winning illustrator, writer and designer. Her picture books are joyful with a playful sense of humour, brimming with details to explore.
To celebrate this year’s National Simultaneous Storytime, Sunshine Coast Libraries will also be hosting a blue-themed scavenger hunt!
Young People Services Officer Codie Perris said scavenger hunts were a favourite for our young library members.
“Given the theme of this year’s book, we thought it was fitting to host a blue-themed event,” Ms Perris said.
From May 6 to May 25, children can search participating libraries for hidden items featured in the book. See a library staff member for a scavenger hunt playing card then check off the items are you find them.
You can scavenger hunt at Coolum, Kawana, Maleny, Maroochydore and Nambour libraries.
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This article ‘Vibrant and fun’: how reading together boosts literacy has been supplied from the OurSC website and has been published here with permission.