Alpacas, maracas and book stackers galore! Students at Holy Cross have joined over one million kids in Australia and New Zealand in gathering together to be read aloud the same book at the same time for National Simultaneous Storytime!

In its 19th year, the annual Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) event has been a huge success, with kids in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country all sharing in Australian author and illustrator, Matt Cosgrove’s book ‘Alpacas with Maracas’.

The colourful, fun event aims to promote the value of reading and literacy using an Australian children's book. This year’s book celebrates a positive storyline and themes and was chosen for its appeal to a modern and diverse audience, addressing key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6, and lending itself to craft and other learning activities – many of which were greatly enjoyed by our students throughout the day.

Our students particularly loved reading and rhyming with Macca the Alpaca during National Simultaneous Storytime. 

“We were hooked to the book due to the detailed, funny pictures. We also really enjoyed the rhyming, as we could all join in,” Year 4's Matilda and Muireann said.

“I enjoyed when the alpacas were rocking out. I really liked reading with the other classes,” Lachlan from Kindergarten added.

Holy Cross was one of several CEDoW schools who celebrated National Simultaneous Storytime. Read more here.