Celebrating World Book Day at The Early Years Academy: Inspiring a Love of Reading at Nursery and at Home
Bringing Stories to Life for Our Little Readers
At The Early Years Academy, we believe in creating awe and wonder in every moment, and World Book Day is a fantastic opportunity to do just that! It’s a day dedicated to celebrating the magic of books, storytelling, and the incredible world of imagination that reading unlocks for children.
We understand that fostering a love for books starts early, which is why reading and storytelling are woven into everything we do not just on World Book Day, but every day.
In this blog, we’ll share how we celebrate World Book Day in our nurseries and offer ideas for how you can bring the magic of reading into your home.
How We Celebrate World Book Day at The Early Years Academy
In our nurseries, we use World Book Day to immerse children in stories, bringing books to life through exciting activities that encourage imagination, curiosity, and early literacy.
1. Dressing Up as Favourite Book Characters 🎭
We encourage children (and staff!) to dress as their favourite book characters. Dressing up helps children connect with stories, boosting their confidence and creativity.
Ideas from previous years:
- The Gruffalo
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- Harry Potter
- Peter Rabbit
- Room on the Broom
For those who don’t have costumes, we create a dress-up box with props so every child can get involved.
2. Interactive Storytelling & Sensory Play 🎤
Books come alive when children see, hear, and feel the story!
What we do at nursery:- Use story baskets filled with items from a book (e.g., a teddy bear and picnic blanket for “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”).
- Sensory storytelling—letting children feel leaves while reading The Gruffalo, or pretend to splash in water for The Rainbow Fish.
- Act out parts of the story using puppets and role-play.
At home, you can bring stories to life by acting out books with your child. Ask them questions like:
- What do you think happens next?
- Can you pretend to be the Gruffalo?
3. Cosy Reading Corners 📚
We transform spaces into magical reading nooks, soft cushions, fairy lights, and shelves filled with exciting books.
Top Tip for Home:
Create a cosy reading space where your child can curl up with a book. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just a snuggly corner with their favourite stories will do!
4. Book-Themed Arts & Crafts 🎨
Getting creative helps children connect with the stories they love!
Examples from nursery:
- Making Gruffalo masks
- Creating a rainbow fish with shiny scales
- Painting their own storybook covers
Try This at Home:
- Help your child draw their favourite character and tell you why they love them.
- Use an old cereal box to create a mini book where your child tells their own story!
5. Mealtimes with a Story Twist 🍽️
Even lunchtime becomes a book-inspired adventure at EYA!
We’ve tried:- Making Gruffalo crumble (fruit crumble with a fun name).
- Reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar while eating the same fruits from the story.
Try This at Home:- Read a food-themed book at mealtime (Handa’s Surprise, The Tiger Who Came to Tea).
- Let your child help make a snack inspired by a story—banana wands for Room on the Broom!
How You Can Encourage a Love of Reading at Home
Parents play the biggest role in making reading a joyful experience. Here are some simple, everyday ways to support your child’s love for books:
Join Us in Making Every Day a Book Day!
At The Early Years Academy, we believe that books:
Boost language & communication
Spark imagination & creativity
Strengthen bonds between children & parents
This World Book Day, let’s work together to make books a magical part of childhood—both at nursery and at home.
Happy reading! 📖✨
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