Storytime for a love of reading

SEVENTY young members of the community were at Bannockburn Library last week as part of National Simultaneous Storytime.

Geelong Regional Libraries staff read the story Bowerbird Blues to children as part of the initiative which is coordinated by the Australian Library and Information Association.

The aim of the event is to promote a love of literacy and reading.

“National simultaneous storytime is a wonderful celebration of story and literacy, and it was great that so many eager little readers and story lovers visited Bannockburn library on Wednesday,” said Geelong Regional Libraries CEO, Vanessa Schernickau.

“We are proud of the role we play to foster a love of reading and literacy in young children, and seeing the delight on their faces is a bonus.”

During the event which took place at 12pm on Wednesday 22 May, millions of children around the country read the same book.

Bowerbird Blues is by author and illustrator Aura Parker and follows a bowerbird who, while looking for treasure, finds something even better.

Panellist and convenor of ALIA’s children and youth services group, Nicola McGeown, said the book was perfect for the event.

“Bowerbird Blues is an outstanding and visually appealing picture book,” she said.

“We all agreed that it was beautiful to read and would be a wonderful book to share across a wide range of age groups.”