General News
1 June, 2025
'The Truck Cat' read at Storytime
Storytime at Yarriambiack Library in Warracknabeal looked a little different last week as they participated in National Simultaneous Storytime.
Normally hosted on a Tuesday, storytime was shifted to last Wednesday afternoon so children could read the same book, at the same time, as many other young Australians.
At 12pm on Wednesday, May 21, hundreds of schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, libraries and many others around Australia stopped to read 'The Truck Cat' written by Deborah Frenkel and illustrated by Danny Snell.
Now in its 25th year, National Simultaneous Storytime is an annual event held by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) where a picture book that is written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator is read simultaneously.
The aim of the community event was to promote the value of reading and literacy in a colourful, vibrant and fun way while also addressing key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year six.
'The Truck Cat' covers themes of cats and humans, immigration and identity, and homes lost and found, as the story follows Tinka the cat and his owner Yacoub.
Warracknabeal Kinder students joined in on the storytime fun, facilitated by Sarah-Jayne Holland, as they listened intently to the book.
After discussing their own pet cats, Ms Holland got the children up and striking their best cat poses.
A fun craft activity soon kept everyone busy as they created their own Tinka the cat using a paper plate, pipecleaners and other materials.