How Children Develop a Love of Books

A love of books rarely arrives fully formed; it grows slowly, like a friendship. For most children, the first encounter with reading is not solitary but shared - a parent or teacher turning pages aloud, a familiar voice bringing pictures and words to life. From those early moments of togetherness, a quiet affection for books begins to take root.

Children’s first books are often colourful, rhythmic, and full of repetition. The pattern of words, the bright pictures, and the gentle humour of stories such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar or We’re Going on a Bear Hunt invite the young reader to join in. There is a sense of participation - of being part of something - rather than merely watching from the outside.

These early encounters matter deeply. When stories are shared with warmth, books become associated with comfort, safety, and pleasure. The rustle of a page, the weight of a book in the hands, the smell of paper - all these small sensations form part of a lasting memory.

As children grow, curiosity becomes the driving force. They begin to choose their own books - first by picture, then by theme, and eventually by voice. A child drawn to adventure might lose themselves in Swallows and Amazons; another might prefer the quiet charm of Winnie-the-Pooh or the magic of Harry Potter.

The key is freedom. When children are allowed to follow their interests - whether dinosaurs, detectives, or dragons - they discover that reading is not a duty but a doorway. Encouraging this autonomy helps them see books not as schoolwork but as personal treasures.

Children are natural imitators. When they see adults reading for pleasure - with a cup of tea, on the train, before bed - they learn that reading is not just something you do to learn, but something you choose to enjoy. A home where books are visible and valued quietly teaches that stories and ideas matter.

Even brief, shared reading moments - ten minutes before bed, a story on a rainy afternoon - send a powerful message: that time spent with books is time well spent.

Books also help children to understand themselves. Through stories, they encounter characters who are brave, silly, curious, frightened, or kind - all the shades of human feeling. In recognising parts of themselves in those pages, children learn empathy and develop a sense of identity.

For many, a favourite book becomes a lifelong companion - one that offers new meanings each time it is revisited. The story that once entertained begins, over the years, to comfort, to challenge, and to inspire.

I reckon a love of books grows quietly - nurtured by warmth, curiosity, and freedom. It's not taught so much as shared - a gentle inheritance passed from one generation to the next. And once it takes hold, it becomes a lifelong source of solace and joy - a reminder that, within the pages of a book, the world is always waiting to be discovered anew!!