World Book Day – A Parent's Guide to Celebrating with Under-5s

World Book Day is one of the most magical dates on the calendar for children and parents alike. Taking place on the first Thursday of March in the UK* (6 March for 2025), this annual celebration is all about inspiring a love of books and storytelling. But how can you make the most of it with your little one? Here’s a handy guide to help you embrace the joy of reading with toddlers and preschoolers!

What is World Book Day?

World Book Day takes place on the first Thursday of March in the UK.World Book Day is a special charitable event, celebrated globally, that encourages children of all ages to discover the joy of reading. Why? Because reading has the power to substantially improve children’s lives. Schools, nurseries, and libraries across the nation make the day extra special for children through storytelling sessions, fancy dress, and book-related activities.

“Reading for fun is the single biggest indicator that a child will grow up to enjoy a happier and more successful life – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational backgrounds or their income.” — World Book Day

As part of the event, children under 18 in the UK can also receive a £1 book token. They can spend this on any one of the special World Book Day books allocated to the event. Alternatively, children can put the £1 token World Book Day £1 book token preview.towards another full-price book or audiobook of their choice, costing £2.99 or more, from participating UK booksellers. By the way, tokens cannot be redeemed against online purchases.

The 2025 closing date for redemption of the book tokens is the 23rd of March. Don’t worry if you are too late or would like additional books for your child without incurring significant costs — you can also organise book swaps with friends, neighbours and family at any time of the year.

The ‘Read Your Way’ Approach to Children’s Reading Success

It’s important that children choose their books. That’s because this has been shown to increase the child’s enjoyment and engagement with the book. Indeed, it’s a key reason for the event’s new ‘Read Your Way’ approach. This allows children to discover and enjoy books and reading on their own terms, without judgement, pressure, or expectation. In this way, it’s reading for pleasure and puts an end to reading being perceived by little ones as ‘work’. Here are the six key ingredients of the ‘Read Your Way’ approach for children’s reading:

  1. Letting children choose their own book results in better engagement.Find time for your little one to read.
  2. Read with them regularly.
  3. Make reading fun!
  4. Let your child choose which book(s) to read.
  5. Ensure there are books at home as well as at nursery/school.
  6. Ensure your child has trusted help to find a suitable book.

The Magic of Books for Under-Fives

For young children, books aren’t just about learning to read — they’re about sparking imagination, building vocabulary, and learning to love stories. Even toddlers who can’t yet read benefit hugely from being read to, pointing at pictures, and engaging with characters in their favourite books.

Reading with your child every day, even for a few minutes, helps develop their language skills and creates a wonderful bonding experience. Plus, it sets the foundation for a lifelong love of books. That is incredibly important. Learn more about the enormous benefits of reading with children here.

How to Celebrate World Book Day with Young Children

Are you looking for ways to make World Book Day extra fun and engaging for your little one? If so, here are some simple ideas:

  • Create a cosy reading and storytelling corner for your child and snuggle up together with a book.Dress up as a favourite character! There’s no need for elaborate costumes; a simple hat, crown, or themed outfit inspired by a beloved book character can bring your child’s favourite stories to life.
  • Create a cosy reading and storytelling corner! It’s easy to make a comfy nook with cushions, blankets, and child-safe fairy lights where you and your child can snuggle up together with a book. We even have a whole post about the wonders of a good storytelling corner or nook.
  • Bring stories to life with some simple ideas like using silly voices, props, or even puppets to make storytelling extra engaging.
  • Visit a library or bookshop with your child. It’s a great way to make choosing a book feel like an adventure and, as per the ‘Read Your Way’ approach for this year’s World Book Day event, ensure your child gets to pick the book.
  • Make reading interactive too by asking your child questions about the pictures, encouraging them to predict what happens next, or letting them turn the pages.
  • Children might also enjoy inventing and telling their own short stories. They can also get creative by designing a book cover or illustrating the unfolding story.
  • If your little one has older siblings, World Book Day is also a great opportunity for them to read to their younger brother or sister. It’s a lovely bonding activity and helps build confidence in early readers.

Make Every Day a Story Day

World Book Day is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate reading, but the love of books doesn’t have to stop there! Try to incorporate stories into your child’s daily routine, whether it’s a bedtime book, a story at lunchtime, or a quick picture book during a break. As we said before, accomplishing a love of reading in a child is the single biggest sign that they will grow up happier and more successful. So, grab a book, find a comfy spot with your child, and let the adventure begin! Happy World Book Day!

Childcare for Under-5s at Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green

A High-Quality Childcare Service for Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers

Little Acorns Nursery & Preschool in Hindley Green, near Wigan, Bolton & ManchesterLittle Acorns Nursery in Hindley Green is rated as a good childcare provider by Ofsted.Interaction with books is something we strongly encourage at Little Acorns Nursery in Hindley Green — we know just how important books and reading are to the success and happiness of the little ones. Put simply, books and reading with children supercharges them for success!

Little Acorns is a good childcare provider as confirmed by Ofsted. It’s a wonderful setting where children are nurtured in every area of their learning and development. With our approach, they become the best versions of themselves, ready to hit the ground running when they leave us to begin school. We support Government-funded childcare funding schemes too, including free childcare for children as young as just 9 months for eligible families. To apply for a place for your child at Little Acorns Nursery in Hindley Green, please get in touch today:

Little Acorns Nursery is in Hindley Green, near Wigan, Bickershaw, Leigh, Atherton, Westhoughton, Ince-in-Makerfield, Platt Bridge, Tyldesley, and Bolton.

* Across the world, many countries celebrate World Book Day on the 23rd of April. However, the UK organisers moved the date to the first Thursday of March each year so as to avoid a clash with the Easter holidays and St George’s Day.

Creating a Winter Storytelling Corner for Your Child

An enchanting children's activity that's a great antidote to winter is storytelling.Once winter arrives in December and cold winds start to breathe the landscape to sleep for a season, little ones will be less inclined to venture outdoors. Parents, too, will no doubt appreciate them avoiding the rain, cold, and inclement conditions that may occur. As such, winter is the perfect time to transform dreary days and dark evenings into a haven of warmth and cosiness indoors. An enchanting children’s activity that goes hand-in-hand with this is that of storytelling. With that in mind, today’s post guides you through the delightful process of creating a Winter Storytelling Corner tailored for the youngest members of the family. A storytelling corner is a wonderful way to make these winter nights cosy, magical, and filled with high-quality shared moments. Shared reading time is also highly beneficial to children‘s overall learning and development.

Setting Up a Winter Storytelling Corner

Select a cosy corner or nook in your home, then make it comfy and inviting for your child.Start by selecting a cosy corner or nook in your home – for example, a secluded and quiet space somewhere that’s away from busy activity, cold draughts and suchlike. It will need to have somewhere comfortable for you and your child(ren) to sit or ‘nest’ once you get to the storytelling part. Once you’ve found somewhere suitable, it could be adorned with soft blankets, plush cushions, and perhaps even a few twinkling fairy lights. The goal is to create an inviting spot that beckons little ones and you, their parent or caregiver, to snuggle up and feel the warmth together as the winter tales unfold.

You could even go so far as to enhance the ambience with winter-themed decorations that will further engage your little one(s) and attract them to this magical new space — so long as they’re safe, of course. For example, perhaps get creative together by making paper snowflakes to dangle from the ceiling or gather images of snowmen and friendly animals to adorn the walls. If you have any stuffed animals or winter-themed ornaments from Christmastime, these will also add to the winter theme. This approach not only adds a personal and engaging touch but also makes the storytelling corner visually appealing and inviting.

A Winter’s Tale or Two

For the tinier tots, perhaps introduce interactive board books with textures to touch and flaps to lift.Curate a collection of timeless winter stories that capture the spirit of the season. Consider classics like “The Snowman” by Raymond Briggs or “The Mitten” by Jan Brett. These stories, with their simple yet captivating narratives, are perfect for engaging young minds and sparking their imagination. These are just a couple of examples, though, and there are lots of winter-themed books to choose from, whether online, in book stores, in charity shops, or swapped amongst family or friends.

For the tinier tots, perhaps introduce interactive board books with textures to touch and flaps to lift. Titles like “That’s Not My Snowman” or “Baby’s First Winter” provide a sensory experience and keep the youngest listeners engaged.

Storytelling Techniques to Engage Your Little One

Books and stories can be brought to life through expressive storytelling. When you’re reading to your little one, try varying your tone and using different voices for characters. Don’t be afraid to add a sprinkle of theatrical flair by fully ‘committing’ to your characterisation — just like an actor might do. Children will love this — little ones are totally captivated by animated storytellers who make the tales come alive.

Creatively Extending Stories

You can even enhance the storytelling experience in a number of ways.

Reading with your child regularly is like giving them superpowers!Perhaps incorporate simple props that relate to the story. If the tale involves animals, have soft toy animals on hand for little ones to interact with as the story unfolds. Other alternatives are hand puppets and finger puppets. Try using them to act out characters from the stories as you read them, or get your child to do so. Adding an interactive and visual element in this way will encourage children to participate actively and immerse themselves in the storytelling process. This approach can be creative, captivating, and sometimes even comical. As such, this is very entertaining for children and will help to make the whole activity enjoyable and fulfilling.

Another example of extending storytelling time is to encourage children to participate in crafting activities inspired by the tales. For example, after reading about snowmen, engage in a hands-on activity of creating snowmen using cotton balls and craft paper, or simply embark on a themed drawing or painting session. This not only reinforces the story but also provides a creative outlet for little hands together with an extra layer of engagement.

A Magical Antidote to Wintery Weather & Dark Evenings

A Winter Storytelling Corner is more than just a cosy nook; it’s a gateway to shared moments, deeper bonding between adult and child, stimulated imaginations, and the joy and escapism of stories. It opens up whole new worlds to children and, as such, is a magical antidote to some of the colder and more dreary days and dark evenings of winter. So, snuggle up and let the winter tales weave their spells this winter — and make the season a time of warmth and wonder for little ones.

Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green

High-quality Childcare & Early Years Education for Babies & Under-Fives

Little Acorns Nursery & Preschool in Hindley Green, near Wigan, Bolton & ManchesterLittle Acorns Nursery in Hindley Green is rated as a good childcare provider by Ofsted.We also love reading with children at Little Acorns Nursery in Hindley Green. It’s not only fun for them but we know how much reading also enriches children’s lives, supercharging both their education and future prospects. So, we encourage parents to read with children too, when at home. Parental involvement in children’s educations is hugely important, accounting for a massive, positive impact on their success.

Little Acorns Nursery is a ‘good’ childcare provider and supports various childcare funding options, making childcare more affordable for eligible families. To apply for a childcare place, arrange a guided tour, ask a question or for anything else, please get in touch:

Our nursery is also close to Wigan, Bickershaw, Leigh, Atherton, Westhoughton, Ince-in-Makerfield, Platt Bridge, Tyldesley, and Bolton, so may also suit families in those locations.

Under-5 to Superchild! The Power of Reading With Your Child

Reading with children is a powerful tool that supercharges learning, imagination and even life outcomes.In the journey of childhood development, there is a simple yet powerful tool that supercharges learning, imagination and even life outcomes: reading with your child. While a magical connection with books is a cherished tradition in many families, it is also a proven way to optimise a child’s cognitive and emotional development — and even to give some a social boost. With that in mind, we explore today the incredible benefits of reading with children in the early years and learn how study after study has proven how transformational it is to their lives.

Enhanced Cognitive Development

Numerous studies have demonstrated the profound impact of reading on cognitive development in young children. The studies found that reading with children between the ages of 3 and 5 results in significantly improved cognitive skills, including attention span, memory, language development, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

This cognitive enrichment is not just confined to early childhood. Long-term studies have revealed that children who are read to regularly during their early years are more likely to perform well academically throughout their school years. We’ll explore more about how reading in the early years prepares children for school later in this article.

Transformed Language, Vocabulary, Spelling & Literacy

Children who are exposed to a diverse range of words in books tend to perform better in language assessments, spelling, and overall literacy development.One of the most notable benefits of early reading is the rapid expansion of a child’s vocabulary. Indeed, research suggests that children who are exposed to a diverse range of words in books tend to perform better in language assessments, spelling, and overall literacy development. With reading to children opening up whole new worlds of information and vocabulary to them, this positive outcome makes total sense.

Academic Preparedness

Early reading provides a substantial head start in academics. A 40-year study by the Nuffield Foundation in the UK tracked the development of children from birth to age 7. Results revealed that children who were read to several times a week at a young age had a significant advantage in literacy skills when they started school.

The language skills of children aged just 3¼ years old were found to receive a 20% boost when they were regularly read to by a parent or carer. That’s an 8-month improvement!

Children who experience shared reading activities with their parents in their early years also tend to have a more positive attitude towards learning. They therefore perform better in school. Indeed, many enter formal education with increased confidence and a love for learning.

Advanced Emotional Intelligence

Reading with children also contributes to the development of enhanced empathy and emotional intelligence.Reading with children also contributes to the development of enhanced empathy and emotional intelligence. Stories often feature characters experiencing a variety of emotions, and by engaging with these stories, children learn to empathise and connect with the feelings of others. That’s because exposure to complex characters and their emotional experiences in books helps children better understand and relate to the emotions of people in their real lives.

Social Mobility

Remarkably, the benefits of reading with young children also have the potential to break the cycle of socio-economic disadvantage. Several studies have found a strong correlation between early reading habits and positive socio-economic outcomes later in life. Specifically, children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds were found to be more likely to surpass the usual limitations of their circumstances when exposed to regular reading sessions with adults at an early age. This positive effect was found to extend well into adulthood. Individuals who were avid readers during their childhood were found to be more likely to achieve higher levels of professional success, with better job prospects, higher incomes, and greater job stability.

Read our tips for effective reading sessions.

Tips for Effective Reading Sessions

Note that, at the start of this article and throughout, we have talked about reading with your child as opposed to simply reading to them. That’s an important differentiation because reading with children means involving them, so they’re fully engaged throughout. That’s another huge factor in unlocking the most potential for the child. So, how do we go about that?

Make it Fun!

Reading in a monotone voice is a sure way to get children to switch off and disengage from your reading sessions. Instead, make it fun by immersing yourself, as the reader, into the different characters and situations, using different volumes, voices, accents, cadences and tones as appropriate. This will naturally captivate your child, bring the story to life, and make it fun!

Encourage Interaction

Engage your child in the reading process. Ask your child questions about the storyline and characters. See if they can guess what happens next and discuss the story generally. This interaction enhances their attention, comprehension and critical thinking skills.

Encourage Questions

When your child asks questions or wants to talk about the story, embrace those moments. It shows their active engagement and curiosity. Encouraging discussions will help to deepen their understanding in so many ways.

Quality Time Spent Together

Reading is also about quality time spent together.Reading is not just about the words on the page; it’s also about the quality time you spend together. The connection you build during reading sessions is priceless, fostering stronger bonds between you and your child.

A Positive Example

Children often mimic their parents’ behaviour. By showing them that you value reading, they are more likely to embrace it as a positive and enjoyable activity. So, why not become a reading role model and let your child see your enthusiasm for books? It’ll not only be fun and engaging for them but is also likely to result in a love for learning and a huge number of profoundly positive benefits.

Quality Childcare & a Good Early Years Education at Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green

Little Acorns Nursery & Preschool in Hindley Green, near Wigan, Bolton & ManchesterLittle Acorns Nursery in Hindley Green is rated as a good childcare provider by Ofsted.As we’ve said before, parental engagement with children’s education is incredibly beneficial to little ones and that’s particularly true in the case of reading with them. So, we take every opportunity to read with children and encourage interaction at Little Acorns Nursery in Hindley Green. Reading with children is not only giving the gift of knowledge but also a key to unlocking future opportunities and even social mobility. As such, it is an incredibly powerful tool that effectively supercharges children’s education and future prospects. And don’t forget, of course — children simply love it!

If you are seeking the best childcare nursery in Hindley Green for your child, please get in touch. We offer a first-class weekday childcare service and early years education for babies and children under five. We also support all Government-funding childcare options, making childcare more affordable for eligible families. Please select an option below to further explore a place for your child at Little Acorns Nursery:

Little Acorns is a nursery near Wigan, Bickershaw, Leigh, Atherton, Westhoughton, Ince-in-Makerfield, Platt Bridge, Tyldesley, Bolton and Greater Manchester.