Oberon families are being encouraged to grab their green and gold, dust off their favourite football gear and head to the library later this month as the town joins one of Australia’s biggest literacy celebrations.
The Oberon Library & Community Centre will take part in National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) on Wednesday, 27 May at 11:45 am, with local children and families set to read the same book at exactly the same time as millions of people across the country.
This year’s featured story is Luna Roo: the Kangaroo Baller, written by Adam Jackson and Adrian Lloyd and illustrated by Jake Minton. The story follows Luna and her friends as they chase their football dreams across the outback, combining teamwork, determination and fun in a uniquely Australian setting.
The Oberon event will begin at midday, with families encouraged to dress in Australian green and gold or wear their favourite soccer attire to celebrate the occasion.
While the event stretches right across the nation, organisers say there is something special about seeing regional communities like Oberon come together through books, storytelling and shared experiences.
National Simultaneous Storytime is coordinated annually by the Australian Library and Information Association and has become one of the country’s largest collective reading events. Last year alone, more than 2.2 million participants joined in from over 16,600 locations.
ALIA CEO Cathie Warburton said the event continued to play an important role in encouraging literacy and connection.
“We are so proud of the role NSS plays in the Australian community, bringing millions of people together to celebrate the joys of reading and storytelling,” she said.
“With declining literacy rates and the known benefits of recreational reading, NSS is an event that is needed now more than ever.”
The 2026 title was selected from 84 submissions from publishers around the country.
Kellie John, from ALIA’s Children and Youth Services Special Interest Group, said the selection panel believed Luna Roo captured themes many young readers could relate to.
“We chose Luna Roo for NSS because it captures the spirit of rising to a challenge with heart and grit,” she said.
For Oberon, the event is expected to provide a fun and community-focused afternoon for children, parents and grandparents alike, while also reinforcing the important role libraries continue to play in regional towns.
Participation in National Simultaneous Storytime is free, and registrations are now open nationwide.
