Children from Young joined thousands of kids across Australia for National Simultaneous Storytime on Wednesday morning.
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The Young Library hosted about 20 kids from Goodstart Early Learning for the event held at 11am, the Library's children's program organiser Beth Rothe reading this year's book Alpacas with Maracas.
"It's been going for nearly 20 years or thereabouts. Anyone who wants to participate reads the same book at the same time as part of Library Information Week," Beth Rothe explained.
"This year's story is Alpacas with Maracas by Matt Cosgrove.
"It's about promoting literacy, reading and the joy of sharing a story together."
Beth warmed up the young audience with a few children's songs before keeping them captivated with the use of maracas during the storytime read.
She said the story is about Macca and Al, two alpacas, and an opportunity to enter a talent contest.
"It's about two alpacas.
"They like each other, they're friends and they work out what their talents are to participate in a talent contest.
"I think the kids will really enjoy it."
Each year, one picture book is selected for the simultaneous read-aloud event held in libraries, schools, preschools, family homes, childcare centres, bookshops, children's hospitals and communities across Australia and New Zealand, where two nations read together as one.
Matt Cosgrove is an author and illustrator of children's books who lives in Sydney with his wife and two children.
He spends his days writing and drawing and loves making kids laugh.
He was understandably thrilled to have his book chosen for the event.
"I can't believe over one million kids across Australia and New Zealand will all be reading my book for National Simultaneous Storytime," he said.
"It's an absolute honour and so exciting.
"I hope everyone has a blast reading Alpacas With Maracas."
In its 19th year, this year's National Simultaneous Storytime is aiming to attract even more participants after 2018's biggest and most successful edition with more than 1,062,230 participants at more than 8,255 locations.
