books and Storytelling - EYFS/Early Years activities, Displays and ideas
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‘BOOKs and Storytelling’ RESOURCES…
On this page we have compiled all of the resources from our website (‘Little Owls Resources’) which you may find useful for learning about ‘Books and Storytelling’ with your EYFS and KS1 children.
SECTIONS ON THIS PAGE:
Featured Role Play Packs
(Free) Book resources
Masks - Great for developing young children’s interest in books and characters through role-play!
General ‘Traditional Fairy Tales’ topic resources
Specific Traditional Fairy Tales
(Free) ‘Traditional Tales’ resources
Display Lettering (Books)
Related Special Dates - World Book Day - National Storytelling Week (Scroll down to find out more)
Related resources and pages you may be interested in - Animals - Dinosaurs - Fairies - People Who Help Us - Pirates - Teddy Bears’ Picnic - Literacy - Letters and Sounds/Phonics
More March Awareness Dates and Festivals
Role-Play Packs
If you are not a member already, become a ‘Free Access’ member here. This will give you access to resources within the ‘Free Sample Resources’ sections at the top of most pages and ‘Special Dates Calendars’. Some whole topics are even free! Find out more about all of our membership options here. If you are already a member… thank-you! x
Please note that both Editable (docx file) and non-editable (pdf file) versions are available for the following resources. (Editable files require Microsoft Word to work at optimum level and Non-Editable files require a pdf viewer.)
Click on the thumbnail images below for further details…
(FREE) ‘WORLD BOOK DAY’ RESOURCES
Masks
- Great for developing young children’s interest in books and characters through role-play!
General Traditional Tales Resources, Story Maps & Book Reviews
Specific TRADITIONAL Fairy TALES
Visit the following pages to find story sequence activities, banners, word mats, word cards, masks, drawing/writing/mark making sheets, snap cards, lollipop puppets, activity movement challenges, colouring sheets, illustration activities, ‘What happens next?’ prompts, daily weather calendars, planning and much more!
In addition, at the top of each page you will find a ‘Free Sample Resources’ section! We hope you find something useful! 😊
(FREE) ‘TRADITIONAL TALE’ RESOURCES
Display Lettering
Related Special Dates
World Book Day
A Celebration of Reading for Pleasure!
In the UK, World Book Day is an exciting charity event held annually on the first Thursday in March. It's a day dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading in children and young people, making books accessible to everyone, and celebrating the wonderful world of authors and illustrators.
The core educational thrust behind World Book Day is to foster "reading for pleasure." Research consistently shows that reading for enjoyment is the single biggest indicator of a child's future success, impacting everything from vocabulary and academic attainment across all subjects to empathy and mental well-being. World Book Day aims to shift the perception of reading from a chore to a joyous activity, empowering children to choose what they want to read and discover the fun it brings.
A key part of the celebration is that every child in full-time education in the UK and Ireland receives a £1 book token. This token can be exchanged for a specially produced World Book Day book or used as a discount on any full-priced book. For many children, this provides their very first opportunity to own a book.
Activities for EYFS and KS1 Practitioners and Parents:
Here are some engaging ideas to celebrate World Book Day and encourage reading for pleasure with young children:
Dress Up as Book Characters: This is a classic for a reason! Encourage children to come to school or nursery dressed as their favourite characters. This sparks excitement and allows for imaginative play and discussion about characters and their stories.
"Drop Everything and Read" (DEAR) Time: Set aside a specific time (or even multiple times throughout the day) where everyone, including adults, stops what they are doing and reads a book of their choice for a few minutes. This models reading for pleasure and creates a calm, shared experience.
Book Swaps: Organise a "book swap" where children bring in a book they've enjoyed and exchange it for a new one. This is a fantastic way to introduce children to different books and authors without cost.
Story Sacks/Bags: Create a "story sack" for a favourite book. Fill a bag with props and objects related to the story. Children can pull out items and retell the story, encouraging language development and comprehension. For example, for "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," include toy fruits and a butterfly.
Create Your Own Storybooks/Bookmarks: Provide children with blank paper, drawing materials, and craft supplies to create their own simple storybooks. They can draw pictures, add stickers, and even make up their own words or squiggles to represent writing. Alternatively, they can design and decorate their own bookmarks, perhaps featuring their favourite characters.
Puppet Shows or Acting Out Stories: Encourage children to act out scenes from their favourite books using puppets or by dressing up. This is excellent for developing communication and language skills, understanding characters, and fostering creativity.
Author/Illustrator Focus: Pick a favourite author or illustrator and explore their works. You could read several of their books, look at their different illustration styles, or even try to draw a character in their style.
"Mystery Book" Selection: Wrap books in plain paper and write a few intriguing clues or a "dating profile" style description on the front. Children can choose a book based on the description, adding an element of surprise and encouraging them to explore new stories.
Visit the Library (or have a 'Library' Corner): Emphasise the importance of libraries as places to discover new books. If a trip isn't possible, create a special "library corner" in the classroom or at home with a wide range of books for children to browse and borrow.
Official World Book Day Website:
For more information, resources, and details about World Book Day in the UK, please visit their official website: www.worldbookday.com
National Storytelling Week
A week to celebrate the power of stories. Storytelling has been a vital part of human history. Stories entertain us, educate us and enthral us! This week is filled with storytelling of all types! A focus on encouraging children to develop their enjoyment of familiar stories and foster a love for creating their own!
