The annual event aims to promote the joy of reading to young Australians, celebrating Australian writers, illustrators and publishers. This year’s book, The Brothers Quibble by Aaron Blabey was read aloud in schools, libraries, bookshops and homes across the country.

The junior boys arrived with their teachers and some parent volunteers and could barely contain their excitement at the prospect of meeting their reading buddies. After settling into three large groups in various spaces around the Library, the fun began.

Year 12 volunteers Will Mitchell (12/KL), Callum Strachan (12/JN), Sam Roby (12/JN) and Paul Katidis (12/LE) kicked off the event, reading The Brothers Quibble at 11:00 AM on the dot, followed by a question and answer session.

After the reading of The Brothers Quibble, the groups were split off into small groups of two or three with either a Year 9, 11 or 12 student buddy, and read a selection of picture books to each other and talked about their school and family life.

When the session was over, the junior boys travelled back to their campuses with big smiles on their faces, badges proudly pinned on their blazers.

Similarly, Years 9, 11 and 12 students were buzzing with happiness, and found the event to be very rewarding and valuable. Year 12 student Ed Henderson (12/LE) said that his favourite part about reading with the Kindergarten boys was noticing the differences between himself and the younger students. He said, “Not only the reading ability, but it really makes you think about how much you change and learn in those years between Kindergarten and Year 12.”

Ms Gina Simmonds
Library Operations Manager