25 August 2006

One book and thousands of kids: it's time for a story

[pdf 437kb]

It's always a good time for a story, but next Friday will be better than most, as thousands of Australian children sit down at 11:00am AEST on Friday, 1 September to share the same good book across the nation.

That's when the sixth National Simultaneous Storytime gets underway in hundreds of libraries, schools and early-childhood centres across Australia. Over 38 000 children in 739 locations around the country participated last year, and this year National Simultaneous Storytime promises to be even bigger.

This year, they will all be sitting down to the delightful bedtime tale of Good Night, Me, written by television host and author Andrew Daddo and illustrated by Emma Quay. Andrew will be at his local library in Manly, while Emma Quay will be at the Sutherland Library to share their story of a young orang-utan and his bedtime ritual with readers of all ages.

National Simultaneous Storytime is held each year in conjunction with National Literacy and Numeracy Week. The program aims to promote the value of reading, literacy and books, and also to support Australian writers and publishers. Executive Director of the Australian Library and Information Association, Sue Hutley, says the program has been very successful in promoting story time activities in libraries around Australia.

"National Simultaneous Storytime is organised by the Australian Library and Information Association and supported by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST)," Sue said.

"This partnership has enabled public libraries and schools to work together towards our shared goals of improving literacy skills and encouraging a love of books and reading in young Australians."

The Association works with children's and youth librarians around Australia to select the books and develop activities, including games and songs, and merchandise for National Simultaneous Storytime. Andrew said he feels 'honoured and surprised (not necessarily in that order)' that Good Night, Me was chosen as this year's simultaneous reader.

"It's a simple text, but it took the longest of all my books to write - over three years," said Andrew.

"The idea came from the simplest of places. I was saying good night to my son, he asked for me to tell him a story with my mouth. I couldn’t think of one, so I said to him, 'say good night to your feet.' He did. Then we said good night to his knees, and his legs and an idea was born. And of course, the words are only half the book, without Emma’s illustrations it may have remained just a nice text."

Andrew, who calls kids books 'the real deal' on his website, says the best thing about National Simultaneous Storytime is being able to share the story. "I guess I'm happiest that other people are able to enjoy the story as much as we have," he said.

Illustrator Emma Quay, whose credits also include Bear and Chook and Daddy's Having a Horse, is just as pleased. "Andrew Daddo and I put a lot of ourselves and our families into the text and illustrations of Good Night, Me, so it’s a book very close to our hearts" Emma said.

"I have never met a child who didn't love being read to," she said. "Sharing books is one of the greatest pleasures of childhood and we have been touched to receive many letters from parents thanking us for Good Night, Me, and telling us that reading it to their child every day has been a wonderful bonding experience for them both."

Good Night, Me is published by Hachette Children's Books.