National Simultaneous Storytime is an annual event held since 2000 by the Australian Library and Information Association. Every year a picture book, by an Australian children's author and illustrator is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes and bookshops around Australia, as part of Australia's Library and Information Week. In 2018 over 1,062,230 participants at over 8,255 locations across Australia took part in National Simultaneous Storytime.
History The idea for a national simultaneous event followed a successful Statewide Storytime programme in Victoria in 2000. From 2002 – 2007 NSS took place during National Literacy and Numeracy Week in September. In 2008 it returned to being celebrated on the Wednesday of Australia's Library and Information Week at the end of May. In 2015 over 500,000 children at over 3,100 locations across Australia took part in National Simultaneous Storytime. In 2021 the NSS featured book Give Me Some Space! was read live to 1.98 million children across Australia and New Zealand, from the International Space Station by Shannon Walker, a NASA astronaut.
Titles This table lists the titles, authors and publishers of the selected picture book for each year of National Simultaneous Storytime. +YearTitleAuthorIllustratorPublisherISBN2001Edward the EmuSheena KnowlesRod ClementHarperCollins97800644349972002Mrs Wilkinson's ChooksLeone PegueroMike SpoorRandom House97800918293602003I don't want to go to schoolChristine HarrisCraig SmithRandom House97800918388122004Muddled-up FarmMike DumbletonJobi MurphyRandom House97808579897892005Wombat StewMarcia K VaughanPamela LoftsScholastic Australia97808689625802006Good Night, MeAndrew DaddoEmma QuayHachette97807344158512007The Magic HatMem FoxTricia TusaScholastic Australia97801520571522008ArthurAmanda GrahamDonna GynellEra Publications97809472121242009Pete the SheepJackie FrenchBruce WhatleyHarperCollins97802071997452010Little White Dogs Can't JumpBruce Whatley and Rosie SmithBruce WhatleyHarperCollins97802071988302011Feathers for PhoebeRod ClementRod ClementHarperCollins97807322892012012The Very Cranky BearNick BlandNick BlandScholastic Australia97817416999202013The Wrong BookNick BlandNick BlandScholastic Australia97817416934162014Too Many Elephants in This HouseUrsula DubosarskyAndrew JoynerPenguin Books Australia97806700754612015The Brothers QuibbleAaron BlabeyAaron BlabeyPenguin Books Australia97806700760002016I Got This HatKate and Jol TempleJon FoyeABC Books97807333323022017The Cow Tripped Over the MoonTony WilsonLaura WoodScholastic97817436235342018Hickory Dickory DashTony WilsonLaura WoodScholastic97817436235342019Alpacas with MaracasMatt CosgroveMatt CosgroveScholastic Australia97817438163492020Whitney and Britney Chicken DivasLucinda GiffordLucinda GiffordScholastic Australia97817606665072021Give Me Some Space!Philip BuntingPhilip BuntingScholastic Australia97813387727532022Family TreeJosh PykeRonojoy GhoshScholastic Australia97817611263072023The Speedy SlothRebecca YoungHeath McKenzieScholastic Australia97817609748932024Bowerbird BluesAura ParkerAura ParkerScholastic Australia97817602696092025The Truck CatDeborah FrenkelDanny SnellHardie Grant Children’s Publishing9781761440649
References
External links Official Website