What is the purpose of Book Week for young children?

Book Week is an opportunity to celebrate books, stories and reading. In early learning, stories can also spark conversations, imagination, creativity and play.

What can children learn from stories?

Stories can create opportunities for children to explore language, ideas, emotions, imagination and different perspectives. What children take from a story will vary depending on their age, interests and experiences.

Why do child care centres celebrate Book Week?

Celebrating Book Week can help create positive experiences around books and storytelling while giving Educators opportunities to follow children's interests into further conversations and play.

Does my child need to dress up for Book Week?

No. Dressing up can be fun, but there are many ways to participate. Reading, storytelling, drawing, imaginative play and sharing favourite books can all be part of the experience.

How can parents encourage a love of books?

Make books easy to access, share stories together and follow your child's interests. Reading doesn't need to feel like a lesson – enjoying a story together is valuable in itself.

How does Sanctuary use stories in early learning?

Our Educators can use children's interests, including interests sparked by stories, as opportunities for further exploration, conversation, creativity and play.

Can I visit Sanctuary to learn more about its approach?

Yes. We encourage families to visit their local Sanctuary centre, meet the team and experience the learning environment.

Where can I learn more?

Book Week reminds us that a simple story can open the door to so many possibilities. At Sanctuary, we want children to feel curious, connected and confident to explore those possibilities in their own way. Discover your local Sanctuary Early Learning Adventure centre or book a tour to experience our approach to early learning.

What do children really learn during Book Week?

Reading with young children can create many opportunities for learning and connection.

As children listen to stories, they can begin to explore language and communication, notice patterns and pictures and share their own thoughts about what's happening.

Stories also invite questions.

What might happen next? How is the character feeling? What would you do? Have you ever experienced something similar?

These conversations give children opportunities to express their ideas and listen to the ideas of others.

Importantly, sharing a book can also simply be a lovely moment of connection between a child and someone important to them.

A book can introduce an idea without deciding where that idea needs to go next.

A story about animals might inspire children to create their own animal world. A character travelling on an adventure might lead to maps, building or imaginative journeys outdoors. A book about gardens could prompt children to investigate what's growing outside.

Children can take an idea from a story and make it their own.

That's one of the wonderful things about early learning. We don't always know where children's curiosity will lead.

Our role is to notice those interests, listen and look for meaningful opportunities to extend them.

For many children, dressing up is an opportunity to step into an imaginary world.

A costume can become the starting point for dramatic play, conversations and storytelling. Children may recreate something they've read or invent a completely new story with their friends.

And not every child needs to dress up to participate.

Book Week can be celebrated in many ways – sharing a favourite book, drawing a character, telling a story, creating something or simply enjoying time reading together.

The important part is creating positive experiences around books, stories and imagination.

Sometimes, finishing the book is only the beginning.

Children may take characters, places or ideas from a story into their play. They might build a home for a character, recreate an adventure outdoors, paint something they've imagined or tell their own version of the story.

When this happens, the child isn't simply repeating what they've heard. They're exploring the idea in their own way.

This is why stories and play can work so beautifully together in early learning.

Read next: From stories to play – how stories inspire play in early learning.

At Sanctuary, we see stories as another opportunity to connect with children’s interests, ideas and curiosity.

A story might spark a conversation, inspire imaginative play or encourage children to investigate something completely new. What begins with a book can move into the art space, outdoors, into construction or dramatic play – sometimes in ways we never expected.

A story could lead to:

painting, drawing, music or movement
imaginative and dramatic play
exploring plants, animals or the natural world
conversations about feelings, friendships and belonging
building, making and problem-solving
children creating and sharing stories of their own.

The direction depends on the children, their ideas and the opportunities that emerge.

That’s where the learning becomes meaningful – when children can take an idea, make connections and explore it in their own way.

Stories can help children see experiences that are familiar to them while also introducing experiences that may be different from their own.

They can prompt conversations about families, friendships, feelings, communities and the world children see around them.

We can also invite children to become storytellers themselves.

Their ideas and experiences matter. When children have opportunities to share them, we can listen, respond and create an environment where every child feels valued and connected.

When choosing an early learning centre, look beyond the activities listed on a website.

Ask how Educators respond to children's interests. Look at whether children have opportunities to explore ideas through different types of play and whether their questions and curiosity are valued.

Most importantly, consider how the environment feels.

Do children appear comfortable and connected? Do Educators engage with them warmly? Can you imagine your child developing a genuine sense of belonging there?

For families looking for childcare in Ashmore or near Benowa, visiting the centre is one of the best ways to experience this for yourself.

At Sanctuary Ashmore, our goal is to create a nurturing, home-like environment where children can connect, explore and enjoy learning.

Explore Sanctuary Ashmore and book a tour with our team.

What is the purpose of Book Week for young children?
Book Week is an opportunity to celebrate books, stories and reading. In early learning, stories can also spark conversations, imagination, creativity and play.
What can children learn from stories?
Stories can create opportunities for children to explore language, ideas, emotions, imagination and different perspectives. What children take from a story will vary depending on their age, interests and experiences.
Why do child care centres celebrate Book Week?
Celebrating Book Week can help create positive experiences around books and storytelling while giving Educators opportunities to follow children's interests into further conversations and play.
Does my child need to dress up for Book Week?
No. Dressing up can be fun, but there are many ways to participate. Reading, storytelling, drawing, imaginative play and sharing favourite books can all be part of the experience.
How can parents encourage a love of books?
Make books easy to access, share stories together and follow your child's interests. Reading doesn't need to feel like a lesson – enjoying a story together is valuable in itself.
How does Sanctuary use stories in early learning?
Our Educators can use children's interests, including interests sparked by stories, as opportunities for further exploration, conversation, creativity and play.
Can I visit Sanctuary to learn more about its approach?
Yes. We encourage families to visit their local Sanctuary centre, meet the team and experience the learning environment.
Where can I learn more?
Book Week reminds us that a simple story can open the door to so many possibilities.

At Sanctuary, we want children to feel curious, connected and confident to explore those possibilities in their own way.

Discover your local Sanctuary Early Learning Adventure centre or book a tour to experience our approach to early learning.

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Recent Articles From Sanctuary

Bottling the Moments at Sanctuary Buderim

By Lauren Hall • August 20, 2026

Welcome back to Bottling the Moments, where I take you behind the scenes of my centre visits and share some of the moments that make me smile, make me laugh and remind me why early childhood education is such a special place to be. My recent visit to our beautiful Buderim centre was all about connection. Connection with our children, our team and many of our families during pick up. Families who trust us with their children every single day. When I arrived, Cody was waiting to take me on a tour of the centre, popping into every room to say good morning to the team, and to the children. I love starting a visit this way. It gives me the chance to say hello to everyone and get a feel for what is happening across the centre before I settle in and spend time with the children. Most of my morning was spent with our littlies in Starfish and Jellyfish. I was greeted by our Jellyfish toddlers with the most beautiful smiles. Mateo and Lenny could not have been more excited to see me, and honestly, it filled my heart with joy. Being welcomed like that by our little ones is pretty special, and it was the perfect way to start my morning with them. Lunch in Jellyfish was chicken curry, and I will admit, I did not expect to be quite so impressed watching a room full of toddlers tackle it. Spoons loaded, little hands determined, they fed themselves with a level of focus and independence that had me completely captivated. I loved watching how confidently they were feeding themselves. It was another one of those everyday moments that reminds me how much learning happens throughout the entire day. I then spent some time in Starfish with our littlest ones. With only four babies there that day, I was very lucky to get plenty of smiles, cuddles and playtime with Mauve, Lola, Ayla and Oliver. Oliver is still settling into his new environment, so I was more than happy to sneak in a few extra cuddles to help him feel safe and secure. Starting care is such a big transition for our babies, and for their families too. It is such a privileged position we are in. Our families trust us with their most precious little people, and in those early days, our babies are learning to trust us too. To learn that when they need comfort, we will be there. That they are safe. That they are cared for. And eventually, that Sanctuary is a place where they belong. Being part of building that trust is pretty special. After rest time, I found myself with Turtles and Dolphins for a treasure hunt. My group was Remi, Ella, Charlie and a couple of their friends, and off we went in search of treasure. We found an ant. We found a leaf. We found some bark on a tree. And apparently, according to every single member of my group, we also saw a bird. I did not see the bird. But they were absolutely adamant it was there, and despite my best efforts to tell them I couldn't see it, I was very clearly outnumbered! It was so much fun following their excitement as they discovered each new piece of "treasure" along the way. Over in Coral, it was story time, and this one was a little bit special for me. I had brought along a couple of books from my own son Austin's collection, and the group chose A Hero Like You and Boogie Bear. They loved them. Genuinely, properly loved them, calling out, pointing, joining in with the parts they already knew by heart. I absolutely loved being able to share a couple of Austin's favourite books with the children, and seeing how much they enjoyed them made this moment extra special for me. Over in Seagulls with our kindy children, everyone was outside enjoying the beautiful sunshine and there was plenty of energy to burn, so naturally, a game of tag was the perfect choice! Before long we were running around the playground, with everyone very determined not to be caught (and equally determined to make sure Miss Lauren was!). Very quickly I had about ten children chasing me, and at one point I somehow ended up on the ground being tickled, with a few of our team looking over to make sure I was okay! There was lots of laughter, lots of running and I think it's fair to say the children had a little more energy left in the tank than I did. After all that excitement, I found a quieter spot with Austin and a few of the children who were drawing. Austin and I have shared lots of special little moments since he first started with us as a baby in Starfish, so it was lovely to sit together drawing pictures and having a chat. It was one of those beautiful little moments that reminded me just how special it is to watch our children grow. From those early nursery days to now sitting beside me in Seagulls, these are the connections I feel incredibly lucky to have. Some of my favourite moments from a visit are also connecting 1:1 with our team members, either while they are in their element in their environment with the children, where they share the exciting activities from the week, or over a cuppa or lunch in the staff retreat. I had a beautiful conversation with Josie, one of our educators, who was so curious about our other Sanctuary centres. We chatted about what makes each of them different, what they are like and some of the wonderful things happening across our wider Sanctuary community. I loved her genuine interest and curiosity. I also spent some time with Chloe for one of our Future Leaders mentoring sessions. These are conversations I absolutely love. Creating opportunities for our future leaders to reflect, grow in confidence and discover what they are capable of is one of the most rewarding parts of my role. Cody, Laura and Annie had organised a special lunch in the lunchroom so I could sit with the team on their break, away from the busyness of the rooms. We talked about everything and nothing. Everyone was buzzing about the upcoming Long Lunch, and somewhere along the way the conversation turned to what everyone was currently watching, which, if you have ever sat in a staff room, you will know is a very serious topic of debate. Moments like these matter just as much as anything that happens in the rooms. Our educators give so much of themselves every day, and getting the opportunity to sit, laugh, chat and simply connect with them is something I really treasure. As I drove home that afternoon, I found myself smiling again, not because of one big moment, but because of dozens of little ones. The excitement on Mateo and Lenny's faces. A room full of toddlers proudly feeding themselves. A bird I apparently missed. Sharing two of Austin's books with a new little audience. A beautiful conversation with Josie. Time spent with Chloe talking about her leadership journey. And a lunchroom full of laughter and excitement about our upcoming Long Lunch. These are the moments that remind me why creating the right environment matters so much. They are the moments that make Sanctuary what it is. Until next time… Lauren x