Library News 

National Simultaneous Storytime - NSS   Wednesday 21st May

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, pre-schools, family day cares, childcare centres, bookshops, family homes and many other places around the country. Now in its 25th successful year, 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.

By facilitating NSS we aim to: 

• promote the value of reading and literacy,
• promote the value and fun of books,
• promote an Australian writer and publisher,
• celebrate and promote storytime activities in public libraries, school libraries, classrooms, bookshops and communities around the country,
• and provide opportunities to involve parents, caregivers, the media, and others to participate in and enjoy the occasion.

NSS receives positive media coverage and generates a great deal of community interest. 2024 was our biggest and most successful NSS to date with over 2.3 million participants at over 21,000 locations! What do we look for in the National Simultaneous Storytime book? Each year, interested publishers send in possible titles. From a practical perspective, the publisher has to be able and willing to provide copyright release for use of the illustrations, book projection, translation into other languages and performance. The publisher also needs to commit to a special print run of several thousand copies. This narrows down the options. The criteria for choosing from the remaining books include: a positive storyline; appeal to a modern and diverse audience; suitability for read-aloud (language and length); how well the book lends itself to craft and other activities.  

ALIA is delighted to announce that the National Simultaneous Storytime book for 2025 is

The Truck Cat

Written by Deborah Frenkel and illustrated by Danny Snell. Published by Hardie Grant Children's Publishing.

NSS 2025 will be held on Wednesday 21 May 2025 at 12pm (AEST)

COHR students will participate in their Library lessons of that week.

Perhaps you would like to do some pre-activities at home before the 21st?

 Cat community walk -go on a community walk around your neighbourhood and look for cats. While walking, ask your child about the cats they know. These might be their friends’ or family members’ cats, or ones they have seen in books, television shows, etc. Discuss how each of these cats might be different or similar. Following this search for cats in your community, write a list of the cats you know, including their name (if known) and a distinctive trait. If you don’t know the cat’s name, write their distinctive trait. For example: What is its name? What makes it special? 

OR

Truck search Take note of any trucks you and your child see while walking or driving in your community. Allow your truck sightings to become an opportunity to discuss the work of truck drivers. Ask your child questions such as: • I wonder who is driving that truck? • Where do you think that truck is going? • Where do you think that truck has come from? • What could be in that truck? • Do you think that truck is driven by someone who lives close or far away from here? 

Mrs Karen Wakeling.