World Book Day: Why shared stories matter in the first 1,001 days

This week was World Book Day, a moment to celebrate the joy that books can bring to babies and their families. It is also a reminder of something simple but powerful. Sharing stories with a baby can help shape the foundations of their future.

During the first 1,001 days, from pregnancy to age two, babies’ brains develop at an extraordinary pace. Neural connections are forming faster than at any other point in life. Every smile, every word and every shared moment helps build the architecture of a baby’s developing brain.

Reading with babies is about far more than words and pictures on a page. When a parent points to pictures, responds to a baby’s sounds and shares the rhythm of a story, they are engaging in what is known as “serve and return” interactions. These back-and-forth interactions help babies develop language, build emotional bonds and form strong early attachments.

In a world of constant notifications and endless scrolling, those quiet moments of connection can easily be crowded out.

That is why initiatives such as the National Year of Reading matter. Reading together is not just about learning words. It is about relationships, curiosity and shared attention.

It is also why the 1001 Critical Days Foundation is proud to support Literacy Volunteers, one of the charities funded through our first £1 million grants round. Through their Learning to Love Books programme in Nottingham Family Hubs, parents and carers are rediscovering just how joyful and powerful reading with their babies can be.

The impact can be remarkable. Babies who were once quiet begin to babble and sing along to nursery rhymes. Families gain confidence in sharing books together and discover that reading is not a task to complete but a moment to connect and enjoy.

Let’s make more time for stories and for the simple shared moments that help babies grow, learn and thrive.