International Children’s Book Day | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with International Children’s Book Day. For official information, themes, and resources, please visit the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) website: www.ibby.org.

Understanding International Children’s Book Day in EYFS & KS1

Let's open a book and dive into amazing stories and adventures! 📖✨ International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is celebrated every year on April 2nd. This special day is chosen because it's the birthday of Hans Christian Andersen, a very famous writer of fairy tales. It was started in 1967 by a group called the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). The main idea of this day is to encourage everyone, especially children, to love reading and to highlight how wonderful children's books are. Every year, a different country chosen by IBBY helps organise the day, picks a theme, and asks a famous writer to share a message with children all over the world, and a well-known artist to create a beautiful poster.

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a fantastic and imaginative theme for exploring literacy, language and communication, creative expression, storytelling, and personal, social & emotional development (PSED) through the magic of books. It's about inspiring a lifelong love for reading, exploring different worlds through stories, and encouraging children to become their own storytellers. This day offers wonderful planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about books and narratives both enriching and exciting!

Why Is Learning About Books Important for Young Children?

Integrating International Children’s Book Day and lessons about books and storytelling into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) is incredibly important for fostering literacy development, encouraging imagination, and building a foundation for lifelong learning.

• Fosters Love for Reading: Introduces children to the joy and wonder that books offer, creating positive associations with reading.

• Enhances Literacy Skills: Develops vocabulary, comprehension, phonological awareness (through rhyme and rhythm), and early writing skills.

• Sparks Imagination & Creativity: Encourages imaginative play, creative thinking, and the ability to invent their own stories and worlds.

• Supports Communication & Language: Improves listening skills, speaking abilities, and the capacity to express thoughts and feelings.

• Develops Empathy & Understanding of the World: Through stories, children learn about different emotions, cultures, experiences, and perspectives.

• Builds Knowledge: Books are a gateway to learning about countless subjects, from animals to history to science.

Engaging Book & Story Activities for International Children’s Book Day (0-7 Year Olds)

Let's get cosy with a good book and celebrate International Children’s Book Day with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on inspiring a love for reading, exploring stories, and encouraging creativity! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by our dedicated 'Books and Storytelling', 'Traditional/Fairy Tales', and 'Literacy' resources.

Here's some inspiration for celebrating International Children’s Book Day in your setting: (Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)

• Story Time Extravaganza:

  • Read a variety of children's books, from picture books to simple chapter books.

  • Focus on classic stories like those found in our 'Traditional/Fairy Tales' collection: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, The Enormous Turnip, The Gingerbread Man, The Little Red Hen, and The Three Little Pigs.

  • Use character masks for interactive storytelling: 'The Little Red Hen - Role-Play Headbands - Colouring', 'Goldilocks And The Three Bears - Masks - Colouring', 'The Gingerbread Man - Role-Play Masks', 'The Three Little Pigs - Role-Play Masks'.

  • Use banners and key phrases to immerse children in the stories… we have many on our 'Traditional/Fairy Tales' page.

• Character Exploration & Creation:

  • Have children draw or write about their favourite characters from stories using 'My Favourite Character' sheets.

  • Encourage character descriptions using 'The Little Red Hen - Character Descriptions’ and 'Character Building Description Sheets'.

  • Use 'History - Shakespeare - William Shakespeare Masks' to introduce the idea of famous authors and characters from history (even simplified).

• Book Review & Recommendation:

  • Have children share why they love a particular book using 'A Book I Love - Draw/Write Sheets'.

  • Use 'Book Review - Draw/Write Sheets' for simple reviews.

  • Create a display of 'Our Favourite Books' using 'Banners - 'Our Favourite Books'.

  • Encourage children to use 'My Favourite Book' Differentiated Mark Making/Drawing/Writing Sheets’ to express their love for books.

• Story Mapping & Sequencing:

  • Help children understand story structure with 'Story Maps' and 'Story Maps - Beginning/Middle/End'.

  • Practice sequencing with 'Three Little Pigs - Story Sequence Cards - Large (Free Sample)' or 'Traditional Tales - 2-Piece Puzzles' and 'Traditional Tales - Match Story Element Puzzles'.

• Become a Storyteller/Author:

  • Encourage children to create their own stories using 'World Book Day Story Building Pack - Cut, Stick & Create/Write/Tell Stories'.

  • Provide 'Create Your Own Book Template - Light Blue' and 'Create Your Own Book Template - Purple' for them to write and illustrate their own books.

  • Use 'Traditional Tales - Drawing/Writing/Mark Making Sheets' for creative writing.

• Literacy & Communication Foundations:

  • Reinforce language and comprehension skills with resources like 'Jack And The Beanstalk - Word Mat’, 'The Gingerbread Man - Word Mat', and 'Books - 'Animals In The House' Sheet'.

  • Explore comprehension with 'Holiday - Yr1 Comprehension: Narrative - Aryan's Day At The Beach', 'Holiday - Yr1 Comprehension: Non-Fiction - Seagulls At The Seaside', and 'Holiday - Yr1 Comprehension: Poetry - Going On Holiday'.

  • Use 'My Weather Book - Babies' for very young children.

  • Refer to EYFS Framework support for literacy: 'EYFS Framework - Support Examples - Birth To 3 - Literacy', 'EYFS Framework - Support Examples - 3 And 4 Year Olds - Literacy', and 'EYFS Framework - Support Examples - Reception - Literacy', and also for communication and language: 'EYFS Framework - Support Examples - Reception - Communication And Language (Free)'.

• Role-Play & Dramatic Play:

  • Set up a storytelling corner using 'Traditional Tales - 'What Is A Traditional Tale?' Display Pack' and 'Traditional Tales - 'What Is A Traditional Tale?' Poster', along with 'Traditional Tales - Role-Play/Display Sign Posts' and 'Traditional Tales - Speech Bubbles'.

  • Act out scenes from stories using the character masks.

  • Use themed colouring sheets for quiet activities: 'Jack And The Beanstalk - Colouring Sheets’, 'The Three Little Pigs - Colouring Sheets', 'Wolf Wanted Posters'.

• Explore More: For even more book related resources, please visit our ‘Books and Storytelling’ page! For additional ‘Literacy’ resources, visit the ‘Communication & Language’ and ‘Literacy’ 'Area of Learning' pages. Dedicated KS1 ‘English’ Curriculum pages are coming very soon! You may also like to explore additional pages covering relevant and/or connected themes such as ‘Fairies’, ‘Mermaids and Mermen’, ‘Nursery Rhymes’, and ‘Pirates’.

These activities offer great inspiration for making International Children’s Book Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering literacy skills, imagination, love for reading, and a lifelong journey into the world of books.

To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘International Children’s Book Day’

For even more book related resources, please visit our ‘Books and Storytelling’ page!

For additional ‘Literacy’ resources, visit the following ‘Area of Learning’ pages:

(Dedicated KS1 ‘English’ Curriculum pages coming very soon!)

Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes

More Early Years Event Pages for April

Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children

Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!

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Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'International Children’s Book Day'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), which established this event. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For official information, themes, and to learn more about inspiring a love of reading in children worldwide, please visit the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) website: www.ibby.org.