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ALIA National Simultaneous Storytime: All Guides

A guide to support Early Learning Centre teachers when celebrating National Simultaneous Storytime

NSS Background

National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) during Library and Information Week each year. NSS has been running since 2001, and in 2020 over 1,297,000 people participated in over 14,000 locations around the world.

Each year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places. NSS is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote reading and literacy and explores age-appropriate themes.

Aims of NSS

  • Promote the value of reading and literacy
  • Promote the value and fun of books
  • Promotes and Australian writer and publisher
  • Promote storytime activities in public libraries and communities around the country
  • Provide opportunities to involve parents, grandparents, the media and others to participate in and enjoy the occasion

#NSS2021 #1millionkidsreading

Image credit: Australian Library and Information Association. (2020). https://www.alia.org.au/nss

Storytime From Space

NSS 2021 takes place on Wednesday 19 May 2021 at 11:00am from the International Space Station. Give Me Some Space, written and illustrated by Philip Bunting and published by Scholastic Australia, will be read by the astronauts on the International Space Station.

Watch Give Me Some Space take off for the International Space Station! The launch took place from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on 3 October 2020. The launch starts about 30 minutes into this video.

NSS 2021 Resources

Resources to make the most of NSS 2021

  • Teacher notes - discussion notes and activity ideas from Scholastic Australia
  • Cleverpatch - NSS partner cleverpatch have wonderful and creative ideas to get you started on your intergalactic NSS 2021 journey
  • The Australian Space Agency - fun and educational resources for primary and secondary students
  • Learn From Play - unique resources that make learning about the solar system fun
  • ALIA NSS 2021 - a variety of resources, ideas and information from the organisers, creators and partners that make NSS happen

NSS Books