Parents Share Stories From Their Home Countries to Celebrate Book Week 2025

As part of our annual Book Week celebrations, learners from Nursery – Year 4 had the chance to hear stories from some very special visitors – our parent volunteers. Representing over 15 different nationalities, we had mums, dads, and even visiting grandparents join us to share some of their favourite stories from their home languages. 

Learners were treated to well-known stories like Hairy Maclary, Charlie’s Whale and Where the Wild Things Are, myths and legends like How Maui Slowed the Sun, and hysterical retellings of classic fairy tales like Three Kangaroos Gruff, Cindy-Ella and Goldilocks and the Three Koalas. Learners also heard stories in different languages including Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, Portuguese, Hindi and French. It was a true celebration of the diverse types of books our families enjoy at home. 

Anna Shaw, Primary Librarian, explains how impactful it can be for learners to have parents come into school and share their love of reading. “Parent storytelling events like this are invaluable as they strengthen the bond between home and school.” She adds, “when parents share diverse stories, it enriches learners’ perspectives, fostering empathy and a broader understanding of the world around them.”

Our parents also enjoyed the experience of being able to share stories with their children and classmates. One parent explained, “Being able to come in and read with my child and their friends was a lovely experience. My child was so surprised to see me here this morning as I hadn’t told him I’d be coming in.” Another parent added, “Seeing how carefully the children listened to a story being read aloud, demonstrated how powerful spoken language is and what a wonderful world is hidden within the covers of a book.” It was clear that our learners were able to enjoy the stories, whether it was being read in their mother tongue or an exciting new language. 

By embracing this year’s Book Week theme, “It Begins With a Thought…”, we celebrated so much more than just reading  — we embraced diversity, connected cultures, and showed our learners how stories can transcend language and borders. The opportunity to hear tales from across the world was a real highlight in the week, creating an atmosphere of curiosity and excitement among the learners.

We’re already looking forward to next year’s Book Week and all the stories it will bring us.