Momo celebrating time to read: National Simultaneous Storytime

Thursday, April 20, 2023

National Simultaneous Storytime

National Simultaneous Storytime began here in Australia in 2000. The Australian Library and Information Association select a picture book, by an Australian children's author and illustrator to be read simultaneously in libraries, schools, Pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes and bookshops around Australia.

NSS aims:

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.

Here are the books from past years:

2001 Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowle illustrated by Rod Clement

2002 Mrs Wilkinson's Chooks by Leone Peguero illustrated by Mike Spoor

2003 I don't want to go to school by Christine Harris illustrated by Craig Smith

2004 Muddled-up Farm by Mike Dumbleton illustrated by Jobi Murphy

2005 Wombat Stew by Marcia K Vaughan illustrated by Pamela Lofts

2006 Good Night, Me by Andrew Daddo illustrated by Emma Quay

2007 The Magic Hat by Mem Fox illustrated by Tricia Tusa

2008 Arthur by Amanda Graham illustrated by Donna Gynell

2009 Pete the Sheep by Jackie French illustrated by Bruce Whatley

2010 Little White Dogs Can't Jump by Bruce Whatley and Rosie Smith

2011 Feathers for Phoebe by Rod Clement

2012 The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland

2013 The Wrong Book by Nick Bland

2014 Too Many Elephants in This House by Ursula Dubosarsky illus Andrew Joyner

2015 The Brothers Quibble by Aaron Blabey

2016 I Got This Hat by Kate and Jol Temple illustrated by Jon Foye

2017 The Cow Tripped Over the Moon by Tony Wilson illustrated by Laura Wood

2018 Hickory Dickory Dash by Tony Wilson illustrated by Laura Wood

2019 Alpacas with Maracas by Matt Cosgrove

2020 Whitney and Britney Chicken Divas by Lucinda Gifford

2021 Give Me Some Space! by Philip Bunting

2022 Family Tree by Josh Pyke illustrated by Ronojoy Ghosh

If you work in a preschool or with a Kindergarten class you could plan to read each of these books in the lead up to the 2023 NSS event. This year the book will be:

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!

The joke in this book begins on the front cover. Clearly sloths are not speedy. I do like his dorky pants and his brand-new shoes which show he is keen to do his very best in the race. He so clearly has huge optimism about the possibility of success - he WILL win the race or will he?

It might be timely to explore other books about sloths! I found this one in a school library - Sparky! by Jenny Offill and Chris Appelhans. Sparky was published in 2014 so sadly it will be difficult to source but it might be in your school library along with these other books about sloths.

A little girl wants a pet. She's not fussy, any will do. Her mother said no to a bird and bunny and trained seal. Then she agrees to the sloth, Sparky! Sloths don't know how to fetch. Or roll over. But they sure know how to play dead. What's an eager pet owner to do?

Sparky won the Charlotte Zolotow award in 2015. Here is the Kirkus Star review.

I also recommend these two:

In the US this has a different cover and title - The Sloth who Slowed us Down

Read this glorious sentence from this book: I am lackadaisical, I dawdle and I dillydally. I am also unflappable, languid, stoic, impassive, sluggish, lethargic, placid, calm, mellow, laid-back and, well, slothful! I am relaxed and tranquil, ...

Here are some other books about sloths - sadly nearly all of these are out of print or extremely expensive here in Australia but you might be lucky and find one or two in a well stocked school library.