One book and thousands of kids and a magic hat:

it's time for a story!

It's always a good time for a story, but on Thursday 6th September it will more magical than most, as thousands of Australian children sit down at 11am to share the same good book across the nation.

That's when the 7th National Simultaneous Storytime gets underway in hundreds of libraries, schools and early-childhood centres across Australia. Over 40,000 children in 620 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 tale of The Magic Hat written by one of Australia's most celebrated and best-loved children's authors, Mem Fox. The book is delightfully illustrated by Tricia Tusa and published by Scholastic, the major sponsor of National Simultaneous Storytime for 2007. Mem will read her book at her local library in Brighton, South Australia and share her rhyming story of a magic hat which causes mischief throughout the town!

National Simultaneous Storytime is held each year and 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. The Magic Hat is published by Scholastic Australia.

Ends

Issued on behalf of

Australian Library and Information Association
ALIA House
9-11 Napier Close, Deakin ACT

For further information:
Sue Hutley, Australian Library and Information Association, 0412 764 922 Sarah Hatton, Scholastic (02) 9413 8378

Media note:

Mem Fox will be at Brighton Library, 20 Jetty Road Brighton, South Australia
For address information on participating libraries in your area, go to http://www.alia.org.au/advocacy/storytime/2007/ and click on participating organisations.

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