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ECEC services gear up for National Simultaneous Storytime with The Speedy Sloth
Freya Lucas
May 19, 2023
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Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are gearing up for National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) next week on 24 May at 11 am.
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, early childhood 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.
For services who register before the event, a variety of electronic downloads to support your NSS event will be sent on the Monday before NSS.
As well as an enjoyable experience for the children, through NSS ALIA aims 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.
2022 was the biggest and most successful NSS to date with over 2.18 million participants at over 59 thousand locations.
In 2023, NSS will be live streamed from The Sydney Zoo where the book’s author Rebecca Young will read her story, accompanied by the book's illustrator, Heath McKenzie who will lead a lesson on how to draw lead character Spike. There will also be a special appearance from some of the residents of the zoo.
Services will need to be registered in order to access exclusive videos and live streams of the event.
As well as the resources made available through registration, ALIA has a merchandise range to promote the event including stickers, posters, bookmarks, badges and bunting which can be purchased here. Downloadable resources include flyers, letterheads, a web graphic, the book cover, banners, an email signature, social media tiles, an NSS sloth adoption certificate and Nacho biography.
Partner resources include a colouring-in sheet, mask template, labyrinth activity sheet, drawing activity sheet, Learn from Play resources, Clever Patch resources, Cleverbean resources, Key Word Sign links and an information sheet.
All artworks, downloads and digital presentations are licensed for use only in conjunction with NSS events and activities. Publishing permissions appear below.
NSS 2023 is made possible by the generous support of ALIA’s publishing partner Scholastic Australia. For more information about NSS,, contact the ALIA team or view the website.
Scholastic Australia and the author Rebecca Young have given the below permissions for NSS 2023. On all occasions the below permissions will be limited to only the date of the event and to publicity surrounding the event:
- Registered participants may use the provided PDF of the book on whiteboards and/or projection screens.
- Registered participants may present a reader's theatre dramatisation of the book with the condition that the presentation occurs only in connection with the event. The dramatisation may be live streamed and/or downloaded to YouTube or school intranet sites or via podcast.
- Registered participants may present the book as a puppet show with the condition that the presentation occurs only in connection with the event. The dramatisation may be live streamed and/or downloaded to YouTube or school intranet sites or via podcast.
- Registered participants may present the book as a storytelling with the condition that the presentation occurs only in connection with the event. The dramatisation may be live streamed and/or downloaded to YouTube or school intranet sites or via podcast.
- Registered participants may have an interpreter translate and read the book in another language with the condition that the presentation occurs only in connection with the event.
- Registered participants may use an image of the book cover for NSS promotion.Registered participants may use the printed or electronic materials provided by ALIA for promotion provided materials are not altered. All promotions should reference ALIA as the event organiser.
- Permission for participating organisations to use the digital presentations of the book provided by ALIA for NSS storytelling.
All permissions and resources apply for the period of Monday 22 May 2023 until and including Friday 26 May 2023 only.
For any other use of the book in conjunction with NSS 2023 please contact ALIA's Events team.
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