There’s something truly special about the moment a child becomes absorbed in a story. The way their eyes widen at a plot twist, their giggles when a favourite character appears, and the proud smile when they remember a line by heart - these are moments that shape their love for learning.
From Saturday, 16 August to Saturday, 23 August 2025, Book Week will be celebrated across Australia. For Affinity Education Group, it’s more than a date on the calendar, it’s an opportunity to shine a light on the joy, connection, and growth that come from reading in the early years.
The Theme for 2025: “Book an Adventure”
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced the theme for Book Week 2025 as "Book an Adventure", a beautiful reminder that every story is a ticket to somewhere new.
For young children, that adventure might be:
- Meeting animals in faraway jungles
- Travelling to the moon without leaving the lounge room
- Exploring everyday life through the eyes of a character just like them
At Affinity Education, this theme captures exactly what we believe about learning in the early years - adventure is everywhere when a child has a story in their hands and an imagination ready to soar.
Why Reading Matters in the Early Years
The benefits of reading to children aged 0-5 are powerful and lasting. Research shows that regular exposure to books can:
- Boost language development - Every story introduces new words, sounds, and sentence patterns.
- Build imagination and creativity - Children learn to picture worlds beyond what they see every day.
- Support social and emotional growth - Stories help children understand feelings, relationships, and different perspectives.
- Lay the foundation for lifelong learning - A love of books in the early years often leads to greater engagement and confidence at school.
For families, sharing books is also a way to connect - slowing down together, talking about the pictures, and letting children’s questions guide the conversation.
How Affinity Education Celebrates Book Week
Across our Affinity Education centres, Book Week is a week of colour, creativity, and shared experiences. While each centre celebrates in its own unique way, you can expect:
- Dress-up days inspired by favourite book characters
- Storytime experiences with both classic and new titles
- Themed learning and play inspired by the Book Week theme
- Opportunities for families to be involved, such as sharing a favourite book from home
It’s a week where stories leap off the page and into children’s play, conversations, and imaginations, creating memories that last long after the costumes are packed away.
Celebrating Together - At the Centre and at Home
While Book Week is a highlight on the calendar, its magic can continue at home all year round. Families can:
- Visit the local library and borrow books together
- Create a cosy reading space with cushions and a small selection of books
- Let children choose books based on their current interests, whether that’s animals, space, or fairy tales
- Talk about the stories, asking questions like “What do you think will happen next?” or “How do you think the character feels?”
These simple moments help children see books not just as something to read, but as something to enjoy, share, and treasure.
A Celebration of Connection, Curiosity, and Creativity
Book Week 2025 is a chance for our educators, families, and communities to come together in celebration of one of the most important gifts we can give children - a love for reading.
At Affinity Education, we know that when children develop a strong connection to books in their earliest years, they are building skills and confidence for life.
Mark your calendar: Saturday, 16 August to Saturday, 23 August 2025.
Whether you’re a parent reading a bedtime story, an educator leading storytime in a bustling classroom, or a child choosing a book for the very first time, you’re part of something extraordinary - helping shape a lifelong love of learning.
Learn more about our Lifelong Learning Curriculum and how literacy is nurtured in our centres from the nursery years through to school readiness.