Southern Downs children join country in storytime

Southern Downs children in Grades 1 to 6 and their families joined Warwick and Stanthorpe librarians and more than 140,000 children across the country yesterday for National Simultaneous Storytime.
Now in its 11th year, National Simultaneous Storytime was organised by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) during Library and Information Week.
Warwick librarian Marianne Potter said it was a colourful, vibrant and fun event that promoted the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children’s book.
Feathers for Phoebe by Rod Clement, a wonderful Australian tale about self-esteem, self-acceptance and learning that appearances aren’t everything, was read, Mrs Potter said.
“It’s a great book with age appropriate themes that tackles key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Grades 1 to 6,” she said.
Phoebe is small, grey, and ordinary – very ordinary. “I want to get noticed!” she declares.  Zelda is glamorous, talented and famous. She runs the most popular beauty salon in the forest. And she’s only too happy to help Phoebe become the bird she’s always wanted to be.
First a little feather headdress, then wing extensions – until Phoebe is transformed into a Diva. She looks gorgeous – but when she tries to take off, surprises are in store for them both!
Author Rod Clement uses wacky and exaggerated situations and illustrations, and his nature-lover’s eye helps him portray the animal world with a precision and flair that makes images leap off the page.
When he went to school, Rod’s main ambition was to draw and to make people laugh. Living in Papua New Guinea for several years as a child gave Rod an intense awareness of nature and his initial work was in the realism mould.
Rod soon decided that this was too restrictive and that he wanted to draw straight from the imagination.
His acclaimed picture books include Counting on Frank, Just Another Ordinary Day and the bestselling Edward the Emu and Edwina the Emu, both written by Sheena Knowles.
Grandad’s Teeth has been shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council 1998 Award in the Picture Book category.
Every year, at more than 1000 locations around Australia – libraries, schools, kindergartens, childcare centres and bookshops – about 140,000 children read the same Australian children’s book simultaneously and enjoy a range of supporting educational activities that promote the value of reading and literacy.
National Simultaneous Storytime is an important annual national literacy campaign that guarantees more young Australians will ‘Get Reading’.
The first National Simultaneous Storytime was held during Library and Information Week 2001, and from 2002 to 2007, the event took place during National Literacy and Numeracy Week.
In 2008, due to popular demand, the storytime returned to Library and Information Week with great success. It continues to attract a wide audience from around Australia.