“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” Dr Seuss
Welcome parents, caregivers and educators!
Reading and sharing stories together with children is a wonderful bonding experience and the best way to encourage a love of books, to establish early literacy skills and to prepare children for reading.
Here you will find information and tips to enjoy sharing stories with children at home and online.
Story Time Fun
Enjoy Story Time anytime! Explore information and links for storytelling tips, story time videos and craft activities inspired by children’s books.
Story Time at Home
Story Time is a fun and special sharing time where children and caregivers can share books and tell stories together. You can have your own story time any time of day!
Sharing books
Sharing books establishes a love of books and reading, sparks imagination and creativity, develops language and literacy skills.
Choose a book together with your child, get comfortable and start exploring one page at a time. Be playful, curious and follow your child’s interest.
When sharing a book you can:
- Read the story word for word or tell the story from the pictures.
- Use different voices, make sound effects and actions.
- Look at the pictures, name and count the things you see.
- Ask your child what they think will happen next or let them make up the story.
- Speak in whatever language you and your child feel most comfortable speaking.
Check out adored Australian author Mem Fox’s Ten Read-aloud commandments
Storytelling
Storytelling promotes literacy, language, imagination and gets children ready to start reading.
Telling stories about family and culture gives children a sense of their place in the world.
You can tell imaginary stories or stories based on the everyday activities and special occasions from your family life. Be playful, curious and follow your child’s interest.
When telling a story you can:
- Use actions, sound effects and rhymes
- Use toys, photos and objects
- Share your favourite childhood stories
- Include your child as a character in the story
- Speak in whatever language you and your child feel most comfortable speaking.
Check out storyteller Anne E. Stewart’s video on Telling stories with children
Online Auslan Story Times
Auslan (Australian Sign Language) is the language of the deaf community in Australia. Experience Auslan storytelling of some popular Australian stories in these videos.
To watch the videos, simply click on the link below each book cover.
Visit the Auslan Signbank if you would like to learn Auslan signs to use with your child.
Visit the Library Catalogue to discover Auslan books and DVDs.
The City of Sydney Library runs a regular Auslan and English storytime online as well; you can see all their videos on Youtube.
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Reading with Children
Discover information about the benefits of reading with children and tips about how you can share books together.
Reading with babies
Reading with your baby is all about sharing special time together, having fun and modelling a love of books.
Sharing stories, talking and singing helps your baby learn about sounds, words and language. This supports your baby’s development, builds early literacy skills, sparks imagination and helps them learn about the world around them.
Watch our Baby Time Online sessions for reading tips. Find them on the Library YouTube channel where you can continue to enjoy them at a time that suits you.
Explore these links for information and tips.
Department of Education and Early Childhood
Let’s Read
Raising Children
Reading with toddlers
Reading with your toddler is all about sharing special time together, having fun and modelling a love of books.
Sharing stories, talking and singing helps your child’s development, builds literacy skills, sparks imagination and helps them learn about the world around them.
Explore these links for information and tips.
Department of Education and Early Childhood
Let’s Read
- Reading Tip Sheet from 12 months
- Reading Tip Sheet from 18 months
- Reading Tip Sheets in community languages
Raising Children
Reading with preschoolers
Reading with your child is all about sharing special time together, having fun and modelling a love of books.
Sharing stories, talking and singing helps your child’s development, builds early literacy skills, sparks imagination and helps them learn about the world around them.
Explore these links for information and tips.
Department of Education and Early Childhood
Let’s Read
Raising Children
Reading Challenges
Engage with your child and establish their love of books and reading by participating in these challenges.
1000 Books Before School
This state-wide program encourages families to read together with their children to develop a love of books and the literacy skills essential for school.
The program is a great way to track your child's reading progress. You can join the program at any time and participate until your child starts school.
For more information and to register visit our 1000 Books Before School page
Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge
The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge runs every year. Children in Early Childhood are encouraged to read 40 books during the year, to establish a love of reading from a young age.
Our libraries have hundreds of books for the Early Childhood level. You can also enjoy a range of VPRC picture books available on Story Box Library.