By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
CHILDREN from Doveton have been shown just how powerful a story can be.
Putting their hands up again to be part of the National Simultaneous Storytime campaign for kids, staff from the Casey Cardinia Library Corporation held a range of reading activities last Wednesday, 21 May, at Doveton College to encourage primary school students to improve their literacy skills.
The storytime event, which was held in conjunction with United Way Australia, saw children from the college, its Early Learning Centre and Good Beginnings Playgroup all involved in literacy activities for the day, including an 11am reading of the story Too Many Elephants in This House – the specially selected Australian children’s book read across the country for National Simultaneous Storytime.
Casey Cardinia Library Corporation Youth Services librarian Jessica Broom, who visited Doveton College for the event, said it was incredibly rewarding to read the story to the students and watch them take it in.
“They loved it, the children enjoyed reading the story and the teachers thanked us after.
“That early literacy message is so important and the teachers understand that, we’re all on the same side,” she said.
“The idea is that we promote reading and literacy using an Australian children’s book.
“It addresses key areas of the national curriculum and the early learning framework, promoting the value and fun of books and because all children across the country read the same story, everyone can read and enjoy it.”
National Simultaneous Storytime, now in its 14th year, is an annual campaign run by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) that aims to encourage more young Australians to read and enjoy books.
Too Many Elephants in This House, written by Australian author Ursula Dubosarsky, was selected by ALIA as this year’s book, and Ms Broom commended the choice.
“We always want to support Australian authors and it ups the profile of the author and Australian literature,” Ms Broom said.
“It’s really important, apart from bringing communities together, it helps those children understand that books are fun and that books are something we can all enjoy.”
