At the beginning of the year we embarked on a family challenge to read one new book a week. We do read a lot (definitely more than one book a day) but I wanted us to make one special book our focus for the week.
Sitting down to read together is one of our favourite times of the day. The house is quiet and that moment is just about us, together, with a book. We sit and we read, we talk, we laugh. The conversations we have shared, the questions that we have discussed, the time we have spent, all because of a book. We read stories every night before bedtime but making the time to share a book during the day is really enjoyable and it has given us some of the most precious time together.
Books are special, magical things.They contain people you have never met, places you have yet to visit and by turning the page you are taken to other worlds: to sail across the sea on the back of a whale; row in an umbrella to the South Pole; go on a Bear Hunt; or fly hand in hand with a snowman. Sharing a book with your child and taking them on that special journey through a story is, in my opinion, one of the greatest ways you can spend time together.
Today, of all days, take the time to sit down and read a book. Enjoy a story. Today is World Book Day a worldwide celebration of books and reading marked in over 100 countries around the globe. Now in its 17th year, World Book Day aims to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading.
If you have time you can also let that story take you on an even greater adventure. Since we started our #kidsbookaweek challenge we have used children’s picture books as our inspiration to do crafts, baking and also to get outdoors. Here’s some ideas:
- Monkey Puzzle Felt Board
- Mr Wolf’s Pancakes
- Alfie Rainbow Indoor Picnic Party
- The Giving Tree Family Tree
- Only One You Painted Stones
- Percy the Park Keeper Woodland Animals
- The Shape of My Heart Shape Walk
There are also fabulous resources on the World Book Day website so make sure you check those out too.
If you have a World Book Day post then why not join in the #loveliteracy linky below?
I’m co-hosting the #loveliteracy linky with some fantastic bloggers passionate about reading and books…
Here Come the Girls
Sun Hats and Wellie Boots
Actually Mummy
My Little 3 and Me
Rainy Day Mum
The Fairy and The Frog
Thinly Spread
So excited for World Book Day. Our school will be celebrating it next week so we get to stretch it out!
Liz Burton recently posted…Chocolate Guinness Cake Pops - Celebrate St Patrick’s Day
Great idea for a linky 🙂 Have added mine x
Kate Williams recently posted…Inappropriate Books To Read With A Toddler (and why I figure it’s ok)
Awww how I love all your book crafts and activities!!!
I love your book activity and craft ideas - our school tell us that doing this like this is the best way to help a child to understand a book and to encourage a love of books x x
Cass recently posted…The Thursday Thrifty Tip round up….
Oh I just love world book day
Becky recently posted…Between the pages of a book.
I love the whole idea of World Book Day and this is the first time our school has actually joined in so decided I would do a post about it!
Rollercoaster Mum recently posted…Memories of a bookworm for World Book Day (and can you guess who we are?)
This is brilliant, our lives are so incredibly hectic and even reading the school books at the moment has become a rushed affair which is awful! Reading time should be treasured so I am inspired by this post. Going to make some quiet time to read xx
We celebrated with #shelfies! http://capturebylucy.com/blog/shelfie-world-book-day
That makes it all worthwhile. Enjoy your reading time together x
I just loved standing in the school playground this morning and seeing all the kids arriving in their fancy dress. It was so special to see so many children excited about their favourite books. Books do that - get user your skin and excite you - no matter how old you are.
Penny Carr recently posted…Ladybird Tuesday: Sounds
I’m a little disappointed by Roo’s school this year, they don’t seem to be doing anything other than handing out the book tokens. It’s a shame really because the children really do enjoy it.
Boo Roo and Tigger Too recently posted…2. Australia {Children’s Artwork)
Not all schools do something and save up their book week for another time as it is so difficult to book authors and drama groups at this time of year.
We love books in our house and my youngest always says “just one last one” before bedtime (usually after the 4th or 5th book).
This is a fabulous idea for a linky.
It is such a shame my eldest daughters school don’t get involved in World Book Day 🙁
Donna recently posted…Children & the fear of swimming
My favourite time of day is sitting down with the boy at night and reading a story. I have loved your crafts in this series and discovered a few new books for the boy too, thank you 🙂
How lovely. I so need to pull my finger out and get reading more new books, they’re the same ones all the time.
Alice Hassall recently posted…Dear Rocky… Please don’t press delete… twice… it hurts me
I agree, some of our best bonding moments happen when we are discussing something we’ve just read together. I think it’s important to keep reading with your child until they’re so old they absolutely refuse!
Actually Mummy… recently posted…World Book Day: 7 tips to get your child reading. #loveliteracy
Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum says
Fantastic activities to bring books alive. I love doing activities like those related to books. - Have you thought about joining in with our Virtual Book Club for Kids on Monday the new author is Marcus Pfister
Cerys recently posted…Supporting a Love of Reading at home - #loveliteracy
We’ve had the World Book Day assembly today - and the best bit, the 2 books for 50p PTA book sale after school. We all ended up snuggled in bed this evening reading the new ones - it was lovely.
You’re so right about the magic of books. I only hope my two grow up to remember their favourite stories as fondly as I do.
Donna recently posted…An Interview With Me
“Books are special, magical things” …I just love that Kirsty…so, so true!
Emma (My Little 3 and Me) recently posted…Reading Tips for Big Kids - for World Book Day or any day!
One of my sons’ schools is celebrating, the other isn’t, yet they did last year! You can’t beat that sitting together reading time, I agree. It’s the only time my maniacal one sits down and he loves them now 🙂
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