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Help your child book binge this Easter
Encouraging reading for enjoyment from an early age can help children on their reading journeys, inspiring a lifelong love of sharing stories and books. Research shows reading for pleasure has a dramatic effect on many life outcomes for children such as their well- being, confidence and educational achievements.
To celebrate Easter this year BookTrust, the UK’s largest children’s reading charity, has curated a picture booklist of Easter-themed reads to share with your children, to help them along their reading journey, encourage shared reading and distract them from the chocolate eggs.
- Hooray for Hoppy by Tim Hopgood (Reading age 5+, Interest level 3-6)
- WANTED: The Chocolate Monster by Pip Jones and illustrated by Laura Hughes (Reading age 5-7, Interest level 3-7)
- Higgly Hen by Axel Scheffler (Reading age 4+, Interest level 0-3)
- Rabbits Don’t Lay Eggs by Paula Metcalf and Cally Johnson- Isaacs (Reading age 4+, Interest level 0-3)
- Too Many Carrots by Katy Hudson (Reading age 5+, Interest level 4-6)
BookTrust knows from our work with parents and carers that reading with your little-ones and keeping them engaged with a book is not always easy, especially during school holidays when they would rather play or watch TV than pick up a book. We’ve created a list of tips and ideas to help you get your child reading this Easter, encouraging a positive reading habit and making books as enjoyable as possible.
We’re going on a Book hunt
Everyone enjoys the fun of an Easter Egg Hunt, why not add an alternative twist to the activity and include some books to find as well as well as the eggs.
Books in the garden
Give your children books, alongside their footballs and kites, to enjoy when they are outside in the garden playing during the holidays. Then they can look at a book as a break from playing, encouraging them to read for enjoyment and keeping them entertained for longer.
Local Library fun
Over the Easter holidays why not check out your local library or bookshop, there will be lots of special activities on for you and your family to enjoy.
Books, cuddles and chocolate
Chose some books to read together whilst you eat your Easter Eggs. Story time is the perfect time to snuggle down with a delicious treat and a lovely book away from noise, television and mobile phones.
Animal noises
Making noises or sound effects when reading with your children helps bring the story to life. Pick an Easter-themed book and ask your children to make a bunny sound every time they see a bunny, this should make you both laugh.
BookTrust Chief Executive Diana Gerald said: “Encouraging reading enjoyment from a young age helps children on their reading journeys. Research shows reading for pleasure can have many positive impacts on a child’s life. We appreciate that sometimes keeping your children entertained over the Easter holidays can be a challenge, we hope parents and carers find the book recommendations and fun reading ideas helpful when encouraging their children to read for pleasure this Easter.”