Thank you to everyone who participated in NSS 2023. You can take a look at some of the highlights on our 'wrap-up' page and we would love to see your photos and stories from the day at [email protected]
On Monday 22 May 2023 we will send you a variety of electronic downloads to support your NSS event. Please note, digital presentations of the book will only be available until Friday 26 May 2023.
National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, family day cares, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. Now in its 23rd successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.
By facilitating NSS we aim to:
- promote the value of reading and literacy,
- promote the value and fun of books,
- promote an Australian writer and publisher,
- promote storytime activities in libraries and communities around the country,
- and provide opportunities to involve parents, grandparents, the media and others to participate in and enjoy the occasion.
NSS receives positive media coverage and generates a great deal of community interest. 2022 was our biggest and most successful NSS to date with over 2.18 million participants at over 59 thousand locations!
What do we look for in the National Simultaneous Storytime book?
Each year, interested publishers send in possible titles. From a practical perspective, the publisher has to be able and willing to provide copyright release for use of the illustrations, book projection, translation into other languages and performance. The publisher also needs to commit to a special print run of several thousand copies. This narrows down the options. The criteria for choosing from the remaining books include: a positive storyline; appeal to a modern and diverse audience; suitability for read-aloud (language and length); how well the book lends itself to craft and other activities.
Joined again by LIANZA for the sixth year of bringing NSS to our friends in New Zealand.
We are extremely excited to announce that the 23rd annual storytime event will be live streamed from The Sydney Zoo!
Join us as Rebecca Young reads her book The Speedy Sloth accompanied by Heath McKenzie who will teach us how to draw Spike, there may even be a special appearance from some of the residents at The Sydney Zoo!
Don't forget you need to be registered to access all of these exclusive videos and the live stream event.
Want to stay up-to-date with the latest NSS 2023 developments?
Subscribe to our NSS newsletter (link removed).
It was finally time for the event of the year,
Spike couldn’t believe it—
THE GREAT RACE was here!
The other sloths said it couldn’t be done,
but Spike didn’t care, she was ready to run!
About the author
Rebecca Young is an award-winning author from Sydney. Her first book, Button Boy, illustrated by Sue deGennaro, was a Notable Book for the 2012 CBCA Awards and has been published internationally. In 2016, Teacup, illustrated by Matt Ottley, won the Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children’s Literature in the NSW Premier’s Literacy Awards.
About the illustrator
Heath McKenzie is an award-winning children’s book illustrator who has written and illustrated countless books for children. Heath lives in Melbourne with his wife, two kids, dog, and a fish that he considers more of a lodger than a family member.