What do an egg, a book and red have in common? The children from Gunnedah preschool found out on Wednesday morning when they visited the Gunnedah Shire Library.
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The library re-launched literacy initiative Paint the Town REaD and participated in National Simultaneous Storytime.
This year, the book that was read all over the country at 11am is The Cow Tripped Over the Moon, written by Tony Wilson and illustrated by Laura Wood.
The library has been taking part in storytime for many years, with a guest reader this year – local veterinarian and councillor, Ann Luke.
Gunnedah mayor Jamie Chaffey also visited the library to show Gunnedah Shire Council’s support for the launch of Paint the Town REaD.
Cr Chaffey told the children how important it was to read with their parents and visit places like the library. He also told them about the “magical” REaD egg.
“As people read books, this egg will grow and grow, and in September, at the Teddy Bears’ Picnic, the egg will hatch,” he said.
Paint the Town REaD aims to prepare children for school by encouraging communities to read, talk, sing and rhyme with children from an early age. The library has partnered with Gunnedah Family Support to get the initiative up and running again.
Liz Ironmonger is coordinating Gunnedah’s Paint the Town REad and is also part of the Every Child Gunnedah program campaign, which is working to ensure every five-year-old in Gunnedah is ready to start school.
Paint the Town REaD was originally launched in Gunnedah by PRAMS in May 2013. During this time, thousands of books were gifted to children in the community.