Macksville Public, Alphabet Long Day Care and Macksville Preschool kids gathered around the story chair at Macksville Library as Lissa Argue read the popular picture book, with a crew of enthusiastic young helpers.

While at Nambucca Heads Library, Sue Hughes took the readers’ chair while children from the Nambucca Heads Preschool and Teddy Bears Kindy followed along.

“We had two lovely preschools join us here today and Giiguy Gamambi was simultaneously reading along with us from their preschool,” Sue said.

“It’s been great, it’s just fantastic.”

This year marks the 18th National Simultaneous Storytime event, an annual advocacy campaign hosted by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA).

WATCH: Storytime at Macksville Library

Each year, a picture book is selected for a simultaneous reading event in libraries, schools, pre-schools, family homes, childcare centres, bookshops, children’s hospitals and communities across Australia.

This year for the first time, children in New Zealand will join in and two nations read together simultaneously.

Last year The Cow Tripped over the Moon, was read by author Tony Wilson and streamed live over Facebook, as over 680,000 readers in more than 6000 event locations across the country read along.

This year Tony was in the Royal Childrens Hospital Melbourne to read the sequel, Hickory Dickory Dash, written by Tony and illustrated by Laura Wood.

“If the theme for last year’s book was perseverance and resilience, the message in this story is love, determination, courage and togetherness,” explains Tony.

“I couldn’t be more delighted that we have again been selected for National Simultaneous Storytime. Last year was a very special moment and one of the greatest achievements in my creative life, and I can’t wait to see if we can nudge our target of a million registered storytimers.”

Other well-known readers included Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel, at the National Library of Australia; veterinarian and author Dr Lisa Chimes; the Hon Simon Birmingham, Minister for Education and Training; Matthew Bowen from the North Queensland Cowboys at City Libraries Townsville; and personal trainer, best-selling fitness, nutrition and mindset author and busy working mum Michelle Bridges was reading at SDN Woolloomooloo.