On Wednesday, 21 May at precisely 12 noon, our Junior School joined over 2 million children across Australia and New Zealand for the 25th annual National Simultaneous Storytime - a joyful celebration of reading and storytelling.
This year’s book, The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel, illustrated by Danny Snell, follows truck driver Yacoub and his feline companion, Tinka, on a heartwarming journey of friendship and belonging. With themes of immigration and identity, the story gently explores what it means to find home.
The truck cat beautifully reflects Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop’s concept of “mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors” in literature. For some children, the story is a mirror, affirming their own experiences. For others, it’s a window into different lives. And for all, it can be a sliding glass door, inviting empathy and understanding (Bishop, 1990).
Reading aloud not only builds literacy skills, it nurtures compassion and connection. NSS reminds us that stories have the power to shape a more inclusive and empathetic world. As the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis once said, “There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.”
Citation:Bishop, R. S. (1990). Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors. Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom, 6(3). Retrieved from https://scenicregional.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Mirrors-Windows-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors.pdf
The benefits of design and creative thinking extend far beyond traditional artistic endeavours, offering practical...
Read MoreDiscover how Somerset College celebrates its Alumni legacy and enduring community spirit in this heartfelt...
Read MoreAs part of our commitment to providing real-world learning experiences that align with the International...
Read MoreFor those of us who remember, there was a time when you flew on a...
Read MoreA.B. Paterson Public Speaking CompetitionOur students performed brilliantly at the A.B. Paterson Public Speaking Competition,...
Read MoreThese past couple of weeks, our Year 6 students embarked on an electrifying journey into...
Read MoreThe study of languages other than English (LOTE) has been an integral component of the...
Read MoreAs part of the Somerset Mathematical Society’s mission to promote a love of Mathematics within...
Read MoreThis week, Headmaster Chris Ivey reflects on the powerful conversations sparked by our recent In...
Read MoreDear Somerset Community,I’ve just returned from a delightful afternoon with one of our Pre-Prep classes,...
Read MoreHeadmaster Chris Ivey shares reflections on the beginning of Term 2, acknowledges the efforts of...
Read MoreSomerset College is proud to celebrate an outstanding achievement by Year 12 student Ethan Grocott,...
Read MoreIn an era where the digital landscape shapes the minds of our youth, the insights...
Read MoreThe 2025 School Swimming Championships, held in Brisbane from March 23-28, saw Somerset College swimmers...
Read MoreFrom April 4th to 8th, 2025, the bustling city of Perth played host to the...
Read MoreSomerset College is committed to fostering both innovation and intellectual rigor in a rapidly evolving...
Read MoreOn Friday, April 4th, our Under 8 Somerset Football students had the incredible opportunity to...
Read MoreType on the line above then press the Enter/Return key to submit a new search query