National Simultaneous Storytime


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.
YearTitleAuthorIllustratorPublisherISBN
2001Edward the EmuSheena KnowlesRod ClementHarperCollins9780064434997
2002Mrs Wilkinson's ChooksLeone PegueroMike SpoorRandom House9780091829360
2003I don't want to go to schoolChristine HarrisCraig SmithRandom House9780091838812
2004Muddled-up FarmMike DumbletonJobi MurphyRandom House9780857989789
2005Wombat StewMarcia K VaughanPamela LoftsScholastic Australia9780868962580
2006Good Night, MeAndrew DaddoEmma QuayHachette9780734415851
2007The Magic HatMem FoxTricia TusaScholastic Australia9780152057152
2008ArthurAmanda GrahamDonna GynellEra Publications9780947212124
2009Pete the SheepJackie FrenchBruce WhatleyHarperCollins9780207199745
2010Little White Dogs Can't JumpBruce Whatley and Rosie SmithBruce WhatleyHarperCollins9780207198830
2011Feathers for PhoebeRod ClementRod ClementHarperCollins9780732289201
2012The Very Cranky BearNick BlandNick BlandScholastic Australia9781741699920
2013The Wrong BookNick BlandNick BlandScholastic Australia9781741693416
2014Too Many Elephants in This HouseUrsula DubosarskyAndrew JoynerPenguin Books Australia9780670075461
2015The Brothers QuibbleAaron BlabeyAaron BlabeyPenguin Books Australia9780670076000
2016I Got This HatKate and Jol TempleJon FoyeABC Books9780733332302
2017The Cow Tripped Over the MoonTony WilsonLaura WoodScholastic9781743623534
2018Hickory Dickory DashTony WilsonLaura WoodScholastic9781743623534
2019Alpacas with MaracasMatt CosgroveMatt CosgroveScholastic Australia9781743816349
2020Whitney and Britney Chicken DivasLucinda GiffordLucinda GiffordScholastic Australia9781760666507
2021Give Me Some Space!Philip BuntingPhilip BuntingScholastic Australia9781338772753
2022Family TreeJosh PykeRonojoy GhoshScholastic Australia9781761126307
2023The Speedy SlothRebecca YoungHeath McKenzieScholastic Australia9781760974893
2024Bowerbird BluesAura ParkerAura ParkerScholastic Australia9781760269609
2025The Truck CatDeborah FrenkelDanny SnellHardie Grant Children’s Publishing9781761440649