Many ways to share a book

Sharing stories is a great way to enjoy time together as a family and help children build a love of reading for pleasure. Reading and storytelling with babies and children promotes brain development and imagination, develops language and emotions, and is a great way to strengthen your relationship. 

World Book and Copyright Day 23 April   

Children love books with rhyme and repetition and there are lots to choose from. You can also try making funny faces or using different voices to make books fun and engaging. Ask other family members to join in and take their turn at reading.  

You can involve even very young children in reading by pointing to the pictures, talking about the story or engaging their senses with tactile books or touching their fingers and toes and tickling them!   

Encourage children to choose their own books and to retell stories in their own words. Don’t let the end of the story be the end of the book. Talk about the book throughout the week by pointing to things you read about. Look at that cow, that’s like the one in Cuddly Cow. She’s a black and white cow too! 

Explore and enjoy books 

You can access books and stories in so many ways: 

• Choose diverse stories or a book from a different genre or subject 

• Read an ebook or an audiobook and listen in the car or while waiting for the bus!  

• Visit Story Box Library online and hear an Australian book read out loud 

• Read a book in a language other than English. Your local public library may have some or ask them to order in some books in the language of your choice. Borrow one or visit LOTE Online for Kids available via your local public library  

• Choose a book without words and make up your own story from the pictures 

• Ask your children to make their own book by drawing the pictures and telling their own story. Make book making an annual event. 

• Read a book that challenges you. Choose a book about a different culture or about baby yoga or anything else you’ve been meaning to try! 

Bedtime, bath time, in the garden, on the floor, in the stroller, it is always a good time to read and share stories with your little ones. Set aside a special time each day for reading or include books on the go.  

This World Book Day why not visit your local public library to borrow some books or join in a Story Time session and see how others read your favourite titles? It’s never too early to start reading with your baby and joining them as a library member.