Okay, that might sound dramatic, but the book area really does make my heart sink at times. Books scattered across the floor, covers bent back on themselves, pages torn or trampled, and shelves so overcrowded that nothing feels inviting. And yet, we all know how important books and stories are for children. They are a gateway into another world. I still love charlottes web and the very hungry caterpillar.
What makes this hard is that the intention is always there. Educators value books deeply. We talk about literacy, storytelling, oral language, and shared reading. But the way the book area is set up often works against these intentions.
So what works, and what does not?
What does not work is too many books crammed into tight spaces, spines hidden, covers unseen, and books stored in ways that make it hard for children to choose and return them independently. When books are treated as clutter, children learn that they are not something to be cared for. And when they encounter books that aren’t set up on the way we aspire them to be set then it’s hard to provide children with the baseline of how to respect books.
What does work is books thoughtfully displayed. Soft furnishings that invite bodies to slow down. Clear expectations that are modelled, not lectured, about how books are handled. Spaces that communicate calm, respect, and purpose.
The book area is not just a corner of the room. It a library of ideas and wonder. When we care for books, children learn to care too.
Let’s be clear where I teach, we still have work to do (lots of work).
I would love for you to share what has worked for you and how you have both set up your library for children and how you have worked with children to care for books.
