There is something genuinely magical about a room full of tiny book characters — a Very Hungry Caterpillar here, a Cat in the Hat there — proudly telling their educators why that character is their favourite. Book Week at Redfern Cottage is one of the highlights of our year, and not just because of the costumes. It’s because for one full week, books become the very heartbeat of everything we do.
Why Book Week Matters Beyond the Dress-Up
Book Week is about far more than costumes and fun, though we love both of those things. It’s an annual reminder of why stories matter — for language, imagination, connection, and confidence. When children dress as a character they love, they’re also telling us something important: this story spoke to me. And that relationship between a child and a book is exactly what we want to nurture every day of the year.
Books and storytelling support children to develop:
Vocabulary and language — rich picture books introduce words and ideas children rarely encounter elsewhere
Imagination and creativity — stories transport children into other worlds, building the kind of flexible thinking that underpins problem-solving and play
Comprehension and listening skills — following a plot, anticipating what comes next, and retelling a story all build focused attention
Confidence — sharing a favourite character, retelling a story, or acting out a scene in front of friends builds the courage to speak, share, and be seen
A sense of community — shared stories give children common ground, something to talk about, reference, and build on together
How We Celebrated at Redfern Cottage
This year’s Book Week celebrations were a joyful, full-week experience. Children and educators came together dressed as their favourite characters, bringing stories and imagination to life throughout the cottage. The energy of seeing everyone — children and educators alike — in costume created a wonderful sense of belonging and shared enthusiasm, as everyone was part of the celebration together.
Throughout the week, children explored familiar stories and discovered new ones. They looked at illustrations, retold stories in their own words, acted out scenes, and engaged in rich conversations about the characters they had chosen and why those characters felt special to them. The creativity and imagination children brought to these experiences was something to see.
When Educators Join In
One of the things that makes Book Week at Redfern Cottage so special is that our educators embrace the spirit of the week fully, dressing alongside the children and bringing the same enthusiasm to every activity. This sends a powerful message: stories are for everyone, not just for children. When the adults in a child’s life model a genuine love of books and reading, children absorb that love themselves.
Keeping Stories Alive at Home
The enthusiasm of Book Week deserves to carry on well past August. Reading together at home, talking about characters, letting children choose their own books, and visiting your local library regularly all reinforce the love of stories we nurture every day at Redfern Cottage. Even retelling a favourite story at bedtime without a book, from memory and imagination, is a rich literacy experience.
Come and Read With Us
We’d love to share our favourite titles with your family. Get in touch with our team to find out more about how we build a love of reading at Redfern Cottage.
