National Share a Story Month: Every Family Has a Once Upon a Story
- belle906
- May 19
- 3 min read
Sharing Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhyme, Little Red Riding Hood, with a bit of acting and voices. See below for other ideas for your family.
May is a magical month for little imaginations because it’s National Share a Story Month — a celebration of books, storytelling, and the wonderful worlds that open up when families read together.
For children aged 3–8, stories are more than just bedtime fun. They are rocket ships to adventure, secret doors to new ideas, and cosy moments shared with the people they love most.
And this year, there’s even more excitement in the air thanks to the Once Upon a Story competition theme — a playful invitation for children and families to dream up their own unforgettable tales.
Why Stories Matter So Much
Have you ever noticed how children light up when they hear the words:
“Once upon a time…”
Suddenly, dragons appear under the kitchen table, teddy bears become explorers, and rainy afternoons transform into enchanted forests.
Stories help children:
Build confidence with words and language
Grow their imagination
Learn about feelings and friendships
Develop listening skills
Discover a lifelong love of reading
Most importantly, storytelling creates special family moments that children remember for years.
The Magic of the Once Upon a Story Competition
The Once Upon a Story theme is all about encouraging children to become storytellers themselves.
There are no limits.
A pirate penguin searching for pancakes? Perfect.
A superhero sausage dog who saves bedtime? Brilliant.
A flying castle made of jellybeans? Absolutely.
The beauty of storytelling at this age is that creativity matters far more than perfection. Children don’t need complicated plots or perfect spelling — they simply need encouragement to let their imagination run wild.
Easy Ways Families Can Celebrate at Home
You don’t need fancy costumes or a huge library to join in the fun. Here are some simple ways to celebrate National Share a Story Month together.
1. Create a Family Story Jar
Write silly characters, places, and objects on scraps of paper.
For example:
A dancing dinosaur
A moon made of cheese
A grumpy wizard
A rainbow scooter
Pop them into a jar and let children pick three at random to inspire a brand-new story.
Expect giggles.
2. Turn Story Time Into Play Time
After reading a favourite book, encourage children to act it out.
Blankets can become castles.
Cushions can become mountains.
Tea towels can become superhero capes.
The more dramatic the voices, the better.
3. Make Your Own Mini Book
Fold a few sheets of paper together and let children create their own book.
They can:
Draw pictures
Dictate the story for an adult to write
Add stickers and colours
Create a front cover with their name as the author
Nothing makes a child prouder than seeing their very own storybook.
4. Read Together Every Day
Even just 10 minutes a day can make a huge difference.
Bedtime stories, afternoon cuddles with books, or even reading signs while out walking all help build literacy skills in fun and natural ways.
Story Questions to Spark Big Imaginations
If your child gets stuck, try asking:
What if animals could talk?
What would happen if your toys came alive at night?
Where would you go on a magic carpet?
Who lives at the top of the clouds?
What would your perfect adventure look like?
Children often come up with the most wonderfully unexpected answers.
The Real Happily Ever After
National Share a Story Month isn’t about reading perfectly or writing the next bestseller.
It’s about laughter on the sofa.
It’s about bedtime cuddles with favourite books.
It’s about children discovering that their ideas matter.
Most of all, it’s about showing little ones that stories belong to everyone.
So this month, gather the teddies, fluff the cushions, open a book, and begin your own family adventure.
Because every great story starts the same way:
Once upon a time…
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