Growing up as the third child in a literary family, I was surrounded by books from an early age. With Appa being a writer and Amma an avid reader, it naturally encouraged me to dive into reading. To nurture our love for books, Amma would read to us every night, picking stories that ranged from children's tales to more grown-up novels, as she had to balance the interests of me and my two older siblings. Listening to these stories created vivid images in my mind, bringing to life the places, characters, their faces, costumes, and expressions. It was like seeing a whole world unfold in my imagination. My sister and I would often carry these stories into our pretend play, dressing up and becoming the characters ourselves. We'd add our own twists to the tales and play for hours, lost in our little world. Now, being around children and seeing the influence of books on them, I understand even more deeply how stories shaped my own childhood.
We all recognize the importance of books for children, extending beyond learning to read and write to understanding different people, familiarizing them with the world they're just beginning to explore. Books nurture love and empathy. Early exposure to books helps develop key skills, like holding a book, turning pages, and following text, all of which lay the foundation for reading and writing later on.
At Papagoya, books and stories are integral throughout the day. Even one-year-olds enjoy time with books, which serve many purposes and are used in various ways. Reading to the little ones before their afternoon nap, while they wait for their turn for a diaper change, or during a water party where they’re encouraged to drink water as they enjoy a story are some of the wonderful ways we share books with them.
Circle time: During circle time the Playmakers introduce a story in different formats, which often ties into the day’s theme or conversation. Sometimes it is a storybook, a wordless picture book, or, on most days, a story box. Story boxes are an integral and cherished part of Kindergartens in Norway, offering a special way to share a wide variety of stories. The abundance of story boxes allows us to bring stories to life, and the children eagerly anticipate circle time when these magical boxes are unveiled. The story box brings the setting—whether it's a forest, house, or lake—to life, allowing the children to visualize the scene and characters using little props. Sometimes, they even get to hold on to each character and narrate the story themselves. We see a lot of imaginations and word usage as they become the narrators.
Quiet time: At Papagoya, children play all day. Play of any form- physical play, pretend play, engaging with the Play resources or even exploring the space on their own. However, quiet time is also an essential part of their day, helping them appreciate the value of rest.
Books bring them all together on a mat outside on the grass, under our beloved Mango tree. Children spend the first few minutes independently reading a book of their choosing. Some recite the lines they've heard, while others read aloud to their friends who gather around. Afterward, the Playmakers take a moment to read a book aloud to the group before they settle down for quiet time.
During quiet time also, the children love listening to our collection of audio books narrated by our Playmakers as they close their eyes and imagine what they are listening to, disengaged from physical activities.
Skill Building: At Papagoya, children engage in daily literacy and numeracy sessions, ranging from half an hour to two hours, tailored to their age and abilities. Books play a central role in fostering both literacy and numeracy skills. Each week, the children focus on a specific sound, and a book is chosen to reinforce that sound. The children find it easier to connect the sound and the story and it embeds deep in their mind.
Rather than doing a craft based on the sound, if you read a story where the sound of the week is the main focus and do a craft relating to the story, it makes learning more meaningful and engaging. For instance, if the letter of the week is ‘t’, the children might read a book like ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea’ by Judith Kerr and then make a tiger craft. This combination of story and hands-on activity not only makes learning fun but also helps them remember better.
Theme based activity: Every 3 to 4 months, we introduce a new theme in the Kindergarten, such as "My Incredible India," "Land of the Dinosaurs," or "Under the Sea." These themes immerse children in rich learning experiences in various ways. One of the best ways we see children remember and hold onto information is by using books that relate to the theme.These stories often lay a strong foundation for further learning and stimulate curiosity as children try to guess what activities might come next. Each time we move to a new theme, we bring in a fresh set of books to our bookshelves. These books are accessible to the children throughout the day, and they are free to read them whenever they like.
If you think using books is just a part of the routine, that’s not quite true. We use books whenever the opportunity presents itself. Need the children to gather in one place, settle into a room, or bring some calm to a chaotic moment? A book works perfectly! On days when a child is having a difficult drop-off, we take the time to read them a story to help them feel more comfortable. During free play, we often see children choosing books over toys, taking one from the shelf—at their height—and sitting on the cozy bean bags, flipping through the pages.
At Papagoya, even in an age dominated by screen time, books continue to hold a significantly more important role, helping to reconnect children with the joy of reading. The wonder that books bring is irreplaceable, allowing children to see the world through words. Even newborns can enjoy books, and by the age of 5 to 6, when children begin to read, you can see the spark in their eyes. Their curiosity grows, and their thirst for reading becomes unstoppable. By sharing stories, we can inspire a lasting love for books and knowledge in children.
Below is a collection of some of our favourite books. Here’s to many happy reading adventures together!
About the Author:
Shreya John is a passionate educator who finds joy in surrounding herself with children, especially exploring how they learn through play. With an MA in Education, specializing in Early Childhood from Azim Premji University, Shreya is dedicated to her role as a Playmaker at Papagoya. She spends her days with the inquisitive 3-6 year-olds, diving into the liveliest and most profound conversations with them. Shreya especially loves gathering with her children to immerse themselves in stories, bringing each book to life with playful voices and her expressive storytelling.