MEDIA RELEASE Monday 20 May 2010

Little White Dogs Try to Jump at National Simultaneous Storytime

On Wednesday 26 May 2010 at 11:00am Yarra Plenty Regional Library branches will join
organisations from Broome to Hobart, reading the picture book Little White Dogs Can't Jump to
more than 100,000 children across Australia.
Now in its tenth successful year, National Simultaneous Storytime 2010 aims to celebrate and
acknowledge the vital work being done in libraries, schools and communities around Australia to
develop young people's literacy and numeracy skills.
The event has been organised by the Australian Library and Information Association, to promote
the value of reading and literacy, the importance of Australia's book industry and the role of
libraries.
In 2009, over 120,000 children and adults across Australia took part in National Simultaneous
Storytime.
Little White Dogs Can't Jump is written by Bruce Whatley and Rosie Smith, illustrated by Bruce
Whatley and published by HarperCollins Publishers Australia. The book tells the story of little
white dog Smudge whose legs are so short that he can't jump into the car. One of the children in
the family devises a series of ingenious ways of getting Smudge into the car, but none of them
work.
Guest reader YPRL board member and City of Whittlesea Mayor Cr. Mary Lalios will be
reading the story at Lalor Library at 11.00am on the day and guest little white dog Bella will be
on hand for pats.
Acting Reading and Literacy Coordinator Blaise van Heck invited says everyone is welcome to
attend the event. “As well as encouraging children to read and share books with others, it’s also
fun,” she said.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:
• A photograph of little white dog Bella with the book at Lalor Library (Mondays or
Thursdays).
-ENDS-

For further information:

Suzanne Male
Marketing & Media Coordinator
Yarra Plenty Regional Library
Phone: 9401 0755
Email: smale@yprl.vic.gov.au