A story about an alpaca named Macca and his best pal, Al, captivated more than a million children, including some in Port Stephens, during National Simultaneous Storytime last week.
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Alpacas with Maracas, written and illustrated by Matt Cosgrove, was read at 11am on Wednesday, May 22 in more than 11,000 locations across the country, including Raymond Terrace Library.
While wearing a sombrero and kitted out with maracas, Port Stephens Council's facilities and services group manager, Greg Kable, read Alpacas with Maracas to an enthusiastic group of youngsters in Raymond Terrace.
"I think it's great to give kids a reason to come into the library and engage with a book," Mr Kable said.
"It teaches them that not everything needs to be on a screen.
"They get to interact with people and other kids, and they get to learn the joy of picking up a book and reading something that makes them happy."
The storytime program aims to promote the value of reading and literacy to kids while highlighting Australian writers and publishers.
"National Simultaneous Storytime is a fabulous annual initiative run on the same day and time in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops right across Australia," Kris Abbott, Port Stephens Council's library services manager, said.
"It's designed to promote the love of reading and early literacy in children from pre-school to year 6. Not only is it a fun event, it also aims to promote Australian writers and publishers."