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To celebrate National Simultaneous Storytime, at 11.00am on Wednesday, 22 May, over 1,062,230 participants at over 8,255 locations around Australia read ‘Alpacas with Maracas’ by Australian children’s author Matt Cosgrove. Many of our Archdiocesan schools participated in this fun event to encourage a love of reading in young students.

St Bede’s Braidwood Kindergarten and Year 6 students embraced the opportunity to read to alpacas at Millpond Farm, joined by author Harry Laing. Years 1 and 2 went to the town library, and Years 3 to 5 performed a percussion version of ‘Alpacas with Maracas’ in Ryrie Park.

At St Joseph’s Primary School, Grenfell student leaders Skye, Bas, Amelia and Fergus hosted the reading extravaganza with special guests from Grenfell Preschool. Everyone at the reading enjoyed the opportunity to shimmy and shake along Macca and Al the alpacas.

Students from Grenfell Preschool were presented with a copy of the book as a memento of the occasion. We are sure they will enjoy reading and sharing this story with family and friends.

In Canberra, St Clare of Assisi Primary School students made colourful maracas and gathered in the school hall to listen to a reading of ‘Alpaca with Maracas’ with voiceovers by school staff. Students then went back to class and guessed which teachers voices were heard. The school was one of 50 lucky schools to win a signed copy of the book.

Now in its 19th successful year, the colourful, vibrant and fun event aims to promote the value of reading and literacy. Each year an Australian children’s book is chosen that explores age appropriate themes and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.