At Ballarat Library about 50 children listened to librarian Sandy Davey read Tony Wilson’s The Cow Tripped Over the Moon, with Ballarat Miners basketballers Peter Hooley and Sam Short helping enliven proceedings with props.

The reading session was part of the Australian Library and Information Association’s National Simultaneous Storytime where about 4500 classrooms, libraries, child care centres and other services read the story at 11am.

"The book inspires children because it tells a tale of never giving up, practicing a difficult skill and, without giving too much away, finally succeeding - with a little help from your friends," said ALIA’s chief executive officer Sue McKerracher.

Jessica Bemey’s children Marakel, 4, and Theodore, 2, were among about 600,000 around Australia to savour the story.

“The children love it. They love reading and we always borrow books to take home.”