Who remembers jumping onto mom or dad’s lap for bedtime stories? 

That feeling of safety, comfort, love and the excitement to find out what happened to Augustus Gloop after he ate way too many sweets!

Back then, before we hit double digits, we discovered the gift that reading gave us. The gift that allowed us to experience new journeys, feel an array of emotions, and build our understanding of the world. All this, through ink and paper. 

As Stephen King said, ‘Books are a uniquely portable magic’ and through them we became time-travellers. A combination of written words and our imaginations took over, transporting us to new worlds.  

The Reading Journey

For most of us, our reading chapter started with someone reading to us. We craved our storytime and eventually, through the stages of learning to read, we began to pick up the books ourselves. 

We read storybooks full of pictures, that went onto short chapter books.

When the chapter books became too easy, we picked up novels that would keep us awake at night. Our desire to read and learn more about the world and ourselves took over – we began reading more complex stories. 

And before we knew it, we were absorbing the information in articles and journals. 

Bedtime stories became a thing of the past – but for many, a new stage in life means that we have become the reader to our own little ones, who are eagerly jumping into our laps for their stories. 

Their reading journey is beginning, much like ours did, and the enjoyment of the stories is there found in both the reader and the listener.

Book Village Recommends

Short stories by Julia Donaldson and Eric Carle were always, and are still, treasures in the bookshelf. 

From a cat soaring above the clouds in Room on the Broom to the cunning little mouse tricking a monster in The Gruffalo, Donaldson has been able to capture her audience no matter what age. 

Carle’s books too are page turners that create laughter, curiosity and inspiration. The Hungry Caterpillar and The Mixed-up Chameleon are just two examples of his captivating stories.

Longer Stories for the Not-So-Little Ones

However, if you crave longer stories with twists and turns where your evenings leap from one cliff hanger to the next, Roald Dahl will never disappoint. 

The all-time favourite Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is full of adventure and left its audience with valuable life lessons – as did most of these books. 

The BFG, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach are just a few of Dahl’s books that should be in your bookshelf, along with stories by Julia Donaldson and Eric Carle. 

If these haven’t been added to your bedtime collection already, you should be adding them before you get the chance to finish reading this sentence.

Struggling to find a library or a book shop that’s open during lock down? Visit our Facebook page and view the pinned post to find out how to access free E-books from the comfort of your own home!