Author: Jen Appleyard

Halloween is such a thrilling time of year for children — full of imagination, creativity, and just the right amount of spooky fun! Between the costumes, pumpkin carving, and trick-or-treating, it’s also the perfect chance to add a sprinkle of magic to your child’s reading routine. By weaving Halloween themes into storytime, you can make reading even more exciting while helping to build key literacy skills.

From spooky storytimes to themed reading corners, there are loads of fun ways to keep children engaged with books this October. Here are some simple ideas to help your family enjoy Halloween through reading!

World Teachers’ Day (5 October) is the perfect time to celebrate the incredible teachers who help shape young minds — and hearts. Among the many things they teach, one of the greatest gifts they give is a love of reading. That spark they light in the classroom can grow into a lifelong passion for books, stories, and learning.

Teachers and parents share a common goal: helping children fall in love with reading. When we work together, we can make reading part of everyday life — in classrooms, living rooms, and everywhere in between. Here’s how to celebrate World Teachers’ Day by championing reading and strengthening the bond between home and school.

Black History Month is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate, learn, and reflect. It’s a time to shine a light on the stories, achievements, and history of Black individuals and communities — and to help children understand the importance of diversity, identity, and inclusion through the power of books.

Reading is one of the best ways to open up these conversations with children. Through stories, we can explore history, build empathy, and show young readers that everyone’s voice and experience matters. Here’s how you can use books to celebrate Black History Month at home or school — and inspire a lifelong love of learning and curiosity.

It’s Libraries Week – the perfect excuse (as if we needed one!) to celebrate one of the best inventions ever: the library.

Whether it’s the smell of well-loved pages, the excitement of finding a new story, or the quiet magic of a shared storytime, libraries are where reading adventures begin.

Ahoy there! Every September 19th it’s time to dust off your best “Arrr!” because Talk Like a Pirate Day is here. It’s a brilliant excuse to add a splash of silliness to your child’s reading and spark their imagination. Whether your little one is obsessed with treasure maps or just loves a good sea shanty, pirate-themed reading is a playful way to boost literacy skills while keeping things fun.

From treasure hunts to storytelling with a pirate twist, there are loads of ways to bring books to life. Here are some simple ideas to help your family set sail on a reading adventure this Pirate Day.

Every year on September 13th, families everywhere celebrate Roald Dahl Day. It’s the perfect excuse to dive into the whiz-popping worlds of one of the greatest children’s authors of all time. Dahl’s books have been making kids laugh, gasp, and fall in love with reading for generations—and they’re still just as magical today.

With his mischievous humour, unforgettable characters, and sneaky life lessons tucked between the pages, Roald Dahl’s stories are the kind you’ll want to share out loud. So, how can you celebrate Roald Dahl Day at home and spark that same lifelong love of books in your child? Let’s take a look.

Children’s Art Week is the perfect excuse to get out the crayons, splash a bit of paint around (hopefully not on the cat), and let creativity run wild. But it’s also a brilliant time to weave in some reading — because books and art? They’re best friends.

When children draw what they’ve read, imagine new endings, or turn their favourite characters into felt-tip masterpieces, something clicks. They don’t just *hear* a story — they feel it, see it, and make it their own.

Here are some fun, low-pressure ways to bring books and art together this Children’s Art Week — no glitter explosions required (unless you’re into that sort of thing).

National Writing Day is the perfect excuse to grab a pencil (or a glittery gel pen) and let your child’s imagination run wild. It’s all about celebrating the magic of storytelling — and showing kids just how powerful their words can be.

Reading and writing go hand in hand. When children read lots of books, they become better writers. And when they write, they make deeper sense of what they’ve read. It’s like a literacy double-whammy.

Sure, you could wrap up another bottle of aftershave or a novelty mug. But if you’re looking to give Dad something truly special this Father’s Day — something that actually sticks — try stories. Reading together isn’t just lovely in the moment, it’s the kind of tradition that echoes for years.

Whether it’s sharing a favourite book from childhood or discovering a new one together, a Father’s Day reading ritual helps build memories and a love of reading. Win-win.