National Simultaneous Storytime at Piney Lakes Child Care Centre
Sharing stories and sparking imagination with “The Truck Cat”
This week, the children at Piney Lakes Child Care Centre took part in one of Australia’s most heartwarming literacy events – National Simultaneous Storytime!
At exactly 11am on Wednesday, we joined thousands of children across the country in reading this year’s chosen book, The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell. It was a truly special moment – knowing that classrooms, libraries and early learning centres all over Australia were reading the same story at the same time.
Why We Love National Simultaneous Storytime
Organised by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an engaging picture book written and illustrated by Australians. It’s a fun and meaningful way to bring communities together and encourage a lifelong love of stories in young children.
Our Time With The Truck Cat
The children were captivated by The Truck Cat – a gentle, beautifully illustrated story about a stray cat who finds a new home on the road with a kind-hearted truckie. After reading the book together, we had some lovely follow-up activities to explore the story further.
We acted out scenes from the book with props and puppets, bringing the cat’s journey to life through storytelling and imaginative play. This was a wonderful opportunity for the children to express themselves, practise communication skills, and build confidence.
We also had a group discussion about the story’s important messages. Together, we talked about:
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Belonging – what it means to find a place where you feel safe and loved
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Kindness – how a small act of care can change someone’s life
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Courage – and how it sometimes takes bravery to start something new
At Piney Lakes, we’re passionate about encouraging children to read and helping them understand the significance of books. Stories are not just fun – they help children build empathy, expand their vocabulary, and make sense of the world around them. We aim to create an environment where books are always accessible, storytime is meaningful, and reading becomes a cherished part of each child’s day.
Thank you to all our families for supporting early literacy and helping us foster a love of books here at Piney Lakes. We can’t wait for next year’s National Simultaneous Storytime!
