Celebrating World Book Day: Making Reading Fun for Kids

Books open up new worlds for children, sparking their imagination and helping them develop essential literacy skills. However, not every child naturally takes to reading. That’s why World Book Day is such a wonderful opportunity to explore different ways to make books exciting and enjoyable.

Dress Up as Favorite Characters

One of the highlights of World Book Day is dressing up as beloved book characters. It’s a fantastic way to bring stories to life and encourage children to engage with their favorite books in a new way.

Choose a Character

Encourage your child to select a character from a book they love. Popular choices include Matilda, The Gruffalo, Alice in Wonderland, or even a character from their favorite picture book or early reader series.

Make a Costume from Everyday Materials

Costumes don’t have to be expensive or complicated. Use household items to create a simple but effective look. For example:

• A cardboard crown can turn a child into a king or queen from a fairy tale.
• A striped jumper and round glasses can transform them into Wally from Where’s Wally?
• An old sheet and a little face paint can turn them into a ghost from a spooky story.

Act Out Scenes from the Book

Make the day even more exciting by encouraging children to act out their favorite scenes. This can be a fun activity for siblings or friends to do together, helping to deepen their connection with the story.

Host a Reading Marathon

Dedicate a whole day (or a few hours) to a reading marathon where your child can immerse themselves in different stories. This helps build their reading stamina while making reading feel like an event.

Create a Cozy Reading Space

Set up a special reading nook with cushions, blankets, and fairy lights to make it inviting. A designated reading area makes the experience more immersive and enjoyable.

Set Reading Goals

Make the reading marathon fun by setting achievable goals. For example:

• Reading a certain number of pages or chapters.
• Finishing one book together as a family.
• Reading books from different genres (e.g., one adventure book, one funny book, one non-fiction book).

Take Turns Reading Aloud

Encourage family members to take turns reading aloud. This makes the activity feel more interactive and engaging, especially for younger readers who enjoy being read to.

Storytelling Time

Storytelling is a wonderful way to make books come alive. Instead of just reading, try incorporating interactive storytelling elements.

Use Different Voices

Reading in different voices for characters makes stories more engaging. Exaggerate emotions, add sound effects, and bring the book’s world to life.

Invite Friends or Family to Join

Make storytelling a group activity by inviting friends, grandparents, or other family members to join in, either in person or through a video call. Everyone can take turns reading a story or even create a new one together.

Encourage Kids to Create Their Own Story

Have children invent their own stories based on their favorite books. They can write it down, illustrate it, and even act it out as a mini play.

Reading Activities and Challenges

Turn reading into a game with exciting challenges and activities that make books even more enjoyable.

Book Scavenger Hunt

Hide books around the house and create clues leading to each one. With every book they find, they can read a page or a chapter before moving on to the next clue.

Reading Bingo

Create a bingo sheet with different reading tasks such as:

• Read under a blanket.
• Read to a pet or stuffed animal.
• Read a book with a blue cover.
• Read outside.

Children can mark off completed tasks, and a small reward can be given for finishing a row.

Illustration Challenge

Encourage children to draw their favorite scene from a book they’ve read that day. This helps with comprehension and adds a creative element to reading.

Create a Reading Photobook

Document World Book Day by creating a reading photobook that captures the joy of reading.

Take Photos Throughout the Day

Snap pictures of your child reading in different locations, dressed up in their book-themed costumes, or acting out scenes from their stories.

Make a Scrapbook or Digital Album

Compile the photos into a scrapbook or a digital album to create a memory book of the day’s reading adventures.

Make Reading Fun All Year Round

World Book Day is a fantastic opportunity to make reading fun and engaging, but the excitement doesn’t have to end when the day is over!

Keeping a fresh supply of books at home helps children continue their reading journey. If you’re looking for a way to keep your child engaged with reading all year, Reading Chest offers a book-lending service that provides levelled reading books for young readers. With a variety of books to choose from, your child can always have something new and exciting to read.

Let’s make every day a celebration of reading!