We marked International Read Together Day in a special way.
Even though the weather was cold, nothing stopped us enjoying our reading out in nature. The children discovered wonderful stories, found out how a book comes into being and, most importantly, learned how precious trees are — the friends that give us the pages we leaf through so fondly.
The journey from tree to book is exactly the kind of chain children learn about with amazement. To them, a book turns up ready-made, from a bookshop. Once they understand that it has a raw material, a route and a cost, the way they hold it changes too.
Reading together, out loud, plays a particular role. A child still sounding out syllables cannot reach a good story on their own — by the time they finish the sentence, they have forgotten how it started. By listening, they gain access to stories more complex than the ones they can read, and that keeps their appetite for books alive until their technique catches up.
Through play and interactive discussion, we helped them understand how important it is to protect nature, so that future generations can enjoy books too.
For us, reading is not just words on paper but an experience that inspires, educates and shapes values. That day we learned together that a love of books goes hand in hand with respect for nature.