From mid-May, the bookseller draws attention to the importance of storytelling
Reading and telling stories enriches children’s vocabulary, improves listening comprehension, develops imagination and emotional intelligence, relieves tension, and also strengthens the bond between children and adults — the beneficial developmental effects of storytelling have now been confirmed by numerous Hungarian and international studies. Libri Mini’s 30-day challenge also aims to highlight these positive effects: starting in mid-May, the bookseller will support parents, grandparents, and professionals working with children by recommending a story for shared reading every day.
“Story hunger is an innate human trait,” says Lilla Takács-Babicz, psychologist, story therapist, and expert of the Libri Mini Shelf. Libri Mini is now taking part in “satisfying” this need through a challenge launching in mid-May: for 30 consecutive days, it will recommend fairy tales and other children’s stories and reading materials day by day. The goal of the challenge is to make storytelling part of everyday life and to encourage families to spend a little time reading together every day — with both younger and older children.
As part of the newly launched challenge, Libri encourages parents, grandparents, and educators to read as much and as diversely as possible to children. The dedicated webpage offers a taste of books by Hungarian and international authors — thanks to the uploaded preview excerpts, adults and children alike can discover classic and contemporary fairy tales as well as many recent releases.
“We learn through stories; they help our socialization and support us in understanding ourselves and the world around us. Storytelling can never begin too early: some mothers already read stories, recite nursery rhymes, or sing to their unborn child during pregnancy in order to soothe them, connect with them, and make not only the mother’s heartbeat but also her voice familiar and comforting to the child,” says Lilla Takács-Babicz.
According to the psychologist, very young children should first be introduced to short nursery rhymes that build body awareness, either read aloud or recited from memory. Even if there is not always time for storytelling during the day, it is important that reading a story becomes part of the bedtime routine. The expert adds that while for toddlers and preschoolers storytelling can help them unwind from an overstimulating outside world, for preteens and teenagers shared reading with a parent — for example discussing a young adult novel together — can deepen the parent-child relationship, while also contributing to raising children who later become adult readers themselves.
Alongside the launch of the 30-day challenge, Libri Mini is also introducing a closed Facebook group called the Libri Mini Book Club. Here, members can find book recommendations and articles tailored to children’s ages and interests, while also being the first to hear about Libri Mini programs for children and selected children’s book promotions.
