National Simultaneous Storytime is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association. Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by Australians is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, homes and children’s facilities all over the world. This year’s book was Family Tree, written by Josh Pyke and Illustrated by Ronojoy Ghosh and on Wednesday 25 May our Junior School and Prep students gathered in the Goodhew Research Centre (Library) which had been whimsically transformed into a forest wonderland to read along with Gardener (Principal) Nealy and Gardener (Mr) Green.

There was laughter and wide eyes all round as the two gardeners theatrically led students through a number of story books, songs and a special guitar performance from Year 12 student Daniel Grieve.  

Students love stories and connecting them to a love of reading from an early age develops both their creative and critical thinking skills. It was clear to see the joy this event brought, as they read along with and interacted during the readings. These events are aimed at encouraging literacy by making the experience fun and engaging, but also instilling in children the understanding of libraries as a ‘third place’, somewhere they can engage with others as a community, a place that is much more than a home for books.