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NZ Children's Book Week: National Read Along

At exactly 11.00am on Monday 17 August 2026, Aotearoa will read together.

Welcome to our very first National Read Along

Led by Read NZ Te Pou Muramura as part of NZ Children's Book Week, the National Read Along is a celebration of books, storytelling and the joy of reading around Aotearoa.

Join us to read together at exactly 11.00am on Monday 17 August 2026.

This is more than a book being read aloud! It's an opportunity for communities across the country to pause, connect and share the magic of a New Zealand story at exactly the same time.

Whether you're a parent, grandparent, caregiver, early childhood kaiako, librarian, bookseller or teacher, we'd love you to be part of it.

Let's create something special together. Haere mai!

This year's book

Dazzlehands / Ringakōreko

We're delighted to launch Aotearoa's inaugural National Read-Along with Dazzlehands / Ringakōreko – a wonderfully interactive story that celebrates imagination, individuality and the joy of reading together.

Farmer wants Pig to oink, just like a good pig should.
But Pig has other ideas.
    Outlandish, rhyming, dancing, grooving, totally dazzling ideas!

Written by Sacha Cotter, illustrated by Josh Morgan, and translated into te reo Māori by Kawata Teepa.

Join Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador Kate de Goldi, author Sacha Cotter, illustrator Josh Morgan and translator Kawata Teepa at publishing home Huia, for a joyful National Read-Along as they bring this wonderful New Zealand story to life.

Recommended for ages 3–5, but guaranteed to delight every age.

Why take part?

Because reading is even more magical when it's shared.

The National Read-Along celebrates the stories created right here in Aotearoa and inspires tamariki to discover the joy of books, language and imagination.

It's a chance to:

  • celebrate New Zealand books and creators
  • inspire a lifelong love of reading
  • bring your community together through story
  • be part of a nationwide event that children will remember.


Most importantly, it's fun.

How to join in

Taking part couldn't be easier.

Register for free and join Aotearoa's very first National Read-Along.

We'll send you everything you need ahead of the event, including your National Read-Along Host Pack and details on how to join us here at 11.00am on Monday 17 August 2026.

Join us from your library, classroom, early learning centre, bookshop, workplace, marae or your living room.

You can watch the reading together, or make it an event. Dress up, decorate your space, invite whānau, practise your dazzlehands and celebrate the joy of reading.

Wherever you are, you'll be joining thousands of others across the country sharing the same story at exactly the same time.

How special is that?

Register to take part now!

We run campaigns to encourage New Zealanders to read, research our reading habits and barriers to reading, and advocate for the importance of reading.

  • 55K+
    School students reached
  • 13
    Regions throughout Aotearoa New Zealand
  • 100
    Writers engaged
  • 55K+
    School students reached
  • 13
    Regions throughout Aotearoa New Zealand
  • 100
    Writers engaged

Read NZ Te Pou Muramura Help fund our amazing programmes

Read NZ Te Pou Muramura

Every cent goes towards us growing generations of readers in Aotearoa New Zealand, running engagement programmes such as Writers in Schools or Writers in Communities, researching our reading habits and incentives for reading, and advocating for the importance of reading.