Each year The Children’s Book Council of Australia carefully selects an Australia book which becomes the Theme for Book Week. This special time is a way of bringing the joy of reading to children.

Celebrations during this week allow children to use their imagination, put on a costume to become a loved character and step head first into the pages of their favourite book. 

Books and stories have always been a trusted way to share language, learn about new topics and build trusted relationships between adults and children. Laughter through rhymes, smiles through repetition and feelings of achievement are felt when children notice and then experiment with new words and sounds. Reading and re-reading favourite stories are essential in constructing the foundations for reading and learning throughout a child’s life.

Have you ever noticed how authors cleverly capture visual images within descriptive language and set about drawing children in as a new adventure begins to unfold with each page you turn, allowing the reader and listener to feel what these loveable characters feel and learn through the trial and error methods used when encountering a problem.

These shared moments between the reader and listener are a way of transporting you into another space and time. If this time is valued and unhurried, the opportunity for conversational reading will present the chance to learn about new concepts, and explore content from new perspectives, fostering wellness and supporting the development of creative thought processes.