On Wednesday, May 27, our students joined over two million children across Australia and New Zealand for National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) 2026. At exactly 12:00 noon, the school fell beautifully quiet (a rare feat!) as we all dove into the exact same book at the exact same time.
National Simultaneous Storytime is a brilliant annual initiative by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). It’s designed to celebrate the joy of reading, promote the value of literacy, and showcase premium Australian children’s books.
This Year’s Book: Luna Roo the Kangaroo Baller 🦘⚽
This year’s selected book brought an incredible wave of giggles, gasps, and absolute engagement across all year levels. We read Luna Roo the Kangaroo Baller, written by football veterans Adam Jackson and Adrian Lloyd, and beautifully illustrated by Jake A. Minton.
Did you know? The book panel chose Luna Roo because it captures the spirit of rising to a challenge with heart and grit. Navigating nerves and unexpected hurdles reflects the exact kind of determination kids practice in the classroom every single day.
The story follows a spirited rookie kangaroo captain, Luna, as she leads her team, FC Outback, in a thrilling face-off against Bush United. Along the way, she has to navigate major pre-game nerves, face down a huntsman spider goalkeeper, and outmaneuver tricky snake attackers!
Ultimately, it’s a high-energy underdog story about finding inner strength, believing in yourself, and trusting your teammates.
