National Simultaneous Storytime 2025: Fun Activities to Bring the Story to Life!

This year’s National Simultaneous Storytime book is The Truck Cat, written by Deborah Frenkel and beautifully illustrated by Danny Snell. 

This heartwarming story follows Tinka, a cat who doesn’t belong to a single home but instead travels far and wide in a truck with his human, Yacoub. 

As they navigate a new country together, both Tinka and Yacoub grapple with feelings of longing and belonging.

 But when an unexpected separation forces them apart, their journey to reunite leads to something even greater than they imagined. 

With themes of immigration, identity, and home, The Truck Cat is a touching tale of resilience, connection, and the power of finding where you truly belong. 

Perfect for sparking discussions about kindness and empathy, this story is a wonderful pick for classrooms and families alike.

Help students connect with The Truck Cat on a deeper level by exploring the talented creators behind the story. Author Deborah Frenkel and illustrator Danny Snell bring Tinka’s journey to life through heartfelt storytelling and stunning artwork.

Take some time to learn about their backgrounds, other works, and what inspired them to create this beautiful book. 

You can visit their websites, watch interviews, or even reach out to see if a virtual Q&A is possible!

Check out this interview with Deborah Frenkel to learn more about her writing journey.

Bring Yacoub and Tinka’s adventure to life by mapping out their travels across Australia. Using a map, have students trace possible routes the duo might have taken, exploring different landscapes, cities, and landmarks along the way. 

This activity allows students to engage with the geography of the story, helping them connect with the journey on a visual level.

 They can research key locations and discuss how these places might have influenced the characters’ experiences and emotions throughout the book.

Encourage students to reflect on The Truck Cat by writing their own book reviews. This activity gives them the chance to share their thoughts, summarise the story, and highlight their favourite parts.

Students can also discuss what they learned from the book, especially the themes of immigration, identity, and belonging.

Younger students can provide a simple star rating, while older students could take it a step further by comparing The Truck Cat to another book with similar themes or settings, sparking deeper conversations about the story’s messages.

Need a simple printable book review template? Click here to get a copy

Bring Tinka’s adventurous spirit to life with a fun craft activity! 

Let students create their own ‘truck cat’ by drawing, painting, or even making a 3D paper truck with a cat inside. 

This hands-on project encourages creativity while allowing students to explore the story in a unique way. After the craft, they can write a profile about a pet—whether real or imagined—that would make a great travel companion.

 This is a wonderful opportunity for students to use their imagination and consider the special qualities that make a pet a perfect travel buddy.

Let your students get creative by curating a playlist for Tinka and Yacoub’s journey across Australia! 

Have them choose songs that they think would perfectly accompany the duo’s travels, matching the emotions and moments in the story. 

Students can explain why they picked each song, tying it to specific events or feelings from the book.

 For an added fun twist, they can even create a “Truck Cat Road Trip” playlist and share it with the class, taking the adventure to a whole new level!

Ask students to imagine their own version of The Truck Cat. 

Where would their truck cat travel, and who would they meet along the way? 

This activity sparks creativity and storytelling skills as students craft their own adventures. Whether it’s a short story, comic strip, or even a mini picture book, students can bring their version of the ‘truck cat’ to life by imagining new characters, places, and experiences. 

This fun activity can also help them explore themes of belonging, identity, and the power of home.

Let students put their artistic skills to the test by designing their own version of a truck for Tinka and Yacoub’s travels. 

With art supplies in hand, students can create a truck that would be the ultimate travelling home for both a human and a cat. 

They can think about special features like comfy spaces, a safe place for Tinka to nap, or practical elements for Yacoub’s journey.

 After designing their trucks, students can describe their creations, explaining how their features meet the characters’ needs on their travels.

Incorporate the theme of "home" into a creative project by having students make collages that represent what home feels like to them. 

Using magazines, cut-outs, or their own drawings, students can build a visual representation of their personal idea of home.

 Once completed, students can share their collages with the class, reflecting on how Tinka and Yacoub’s search for home mirrors their own sense of belonging.

 This activity invites deep discussion about the universal idea of home and what makes it special.

Encourage students to connect with the characters of The Truck Cat by writing a heartfelt letter to Tinka. 

In their letters, students can offer advice, encouragement, or simply share some kind words as Tinka and Yacoub search for a place to belong. 

This writing activity not only practices letter-writing skills but also allows students to reflect on the deeper themes of friendship, compassion, and adventure. 

It’s a wonderful way for students to express their thoughts while engaging with the emotional journey of the story.

National Simultaneous Storytime 2025 is a wonderful way to celebrate reading and inspire students to engage with stories in meaningful ways.

By incorporating these fun and creative activities into your lesson plans, you’ll be able to deepen students’ connection with The Truck Cat and its themes of travel, home, and friendship.

Whether it’s designing a truck, writing letters to Tinka, or exploring Australian geography, these activities will not only bring the story to life but also spark important discussions about belonging and adventure. Let the journey begin!

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