How to introduce books to children (The Nursery Way!)
When Jen and I were working in nursery schools, reading was never rushed, and it was never just about the words on the page. For young children, books are an immersive, multi-sensory experience where pictures, repetition, and familiarity play a huge role in building confidence and a love of stories.
If you’ve ever wondered how nurseries help children engage so deeply with books, here’s a little insight into the five-day approach we often use, and how you can easily try it at home too.
Why we read the same book again and again?
Children thrive on repetition. Hearing the same story multiple times helps them:
Understand what’s happening
Build vocabulary naturally
Feel confident and involved
Begin predicting what comes next
Rather than introducing a new book every day, nurseries and us at Little Prodigies often focus on one book per week, allowing children to explore it in different ways.
Day 1: Explore the Cover and Pictures
On the first day, we don’t read the text at all.
Instead, we:
Look closely at the front cover
Talk about the title and illustrations
Slowly turn each page and describe what we can see
This helps children:
Build early comprehension skills
Learn that pictures tell a story
Feel confident sharing their own ideas
💛 At home tip: Ask open questions like,
“What do you think this book might be about?” or
“How does this picture make you feel?”
Day 2: Add Small Parts of the Text
Now we gently introduce small sections of the story, while still focusing heavily on the pictures.
Children begin to:
Link spoken words to visual clues
Recognise repeated phrases
Understand the flow of the story
💛 At home tip: Don’t worry about reading every word; pause, point, and talk just as much as you read.
Day 3: Add More Writing/Vocabulary
By day three, children are already familiar with the storyline.
We:
Read more of the text
Emphasise key words
Encourage children to join in with repeated lines
This stage supports:
Language development
Memory and sequencing
Confidence in “reading along”
💛 At home tip: Let your child finish familiar sentences or repeat favourite phrases, even if it’s not perfect.
Day 4: Read the Whole Story
Now comes the magic moment!
Children can usually:
Follow the story from start to finish
Recognise characters
Anticipate exciting or funny moments
Because the book feels familiar, children are more relaxed, engaged, and excited.
💛 At home tip: Enjoy the story together. This is often when children laugh, react, and fully immerse themselves.
Day 5: Read Again and Ask Questions
On the final day, we read the story again, but this time with simple questions woven in:
“How do you think they feel?”
“What might happen next?”
“Do you remember this part?”
By this stage, many children can:
Recall key events
Predict what’s coming
Show real pride in their knowledge
This is a huge confidence boost and a wonderful foundation for early literacy.
Conclusion
Introducing books “the nursery way” isn’t about teaching children to read, it’s about helping them love stories.
By slowing down, repeating books, and focusing on pictures as much as words, you’re building:
Confidence
Communication skills
A lifelong love of reading 📚✨
Why not choose one favourite book this week and give it a try?