Giggles over story time

HUNDREDS of children from across Tasmania sat still at the same time yesterday — all captivated by the same story.

The simultaneous reading of The Cow Tripped Over the Moon brought together children from childcare centres, schools, libraries and homes.

They weren’t all in the same place as they shared the story time but were all amused by the same leaping cow.

National Simultaneous Storytime, which was held across Australia at 11am, is an annual event that promotes the shared reading of a book by an Australian author and illustrator.

Two kindergarten classes at St Mary’s College in Hobart shared the story, which is a retelling of the classic nursery rhyme by Tony Wilson and Laura Wood. Student Wesley Robinson, 4, said he loved listening to story books — at school and at home.

He said he especially liked stories he shared with his mum.

“I like it because I get hugs and sometimes I cuddle mum when I’m reading,” he said.

Olivia Dransfield, 5, said she loved reading and finding the letters she could recognise.

“This book has lots of Os in it — like Olivia,” she said.

The book, about a cow who tripped over the moon and a little dog who “laughed till he barfed”, sent ripples of giggles across the class.