BookTrust's partnership with Adoption Focus
Adoption Focus has played a key role in helping BookTrust co-create Story Explorers
Since launching Story Explorers, we’ve heard from a range of families across fostering, kinship and adoption. In particular, Adoption Focus identified several families to take part in the programme when we first launched in October 2024.
One family tells their story, citing their three-year-old daughter Nora.
Nora sees each kit as a special surprise and is always excited to open it and explore what’s inside
Nora’s family
But really, it’s a shared experience for her and her mother Mona, whether they’re reading together or doing the activities.
Nora has always liked books, but the kits have really shown her Mona’s enjoyment – their shared enjoyment – which has prompted a growing interest in reading.
Mona has also noticed positive changes in Nora’s behaviour since using the kits.
““Nora can feel anxious, but the books and activities offer a calming and focused outlet. Whether it’s reading together quietly or completing activities on her own, the kits help her stay present and settled.”
*All names have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals
The kits have prompted questions, led to meaningful conversations and become a useful tool for discussing emotions in a safe and appropriate way. Like ’There’s a dragon in your book’, which prompted a question about fear, opened up a thoughtful discussion about danger and safety, and triggered a conversation about how stories can help explore and understand their feelings.
The introduction of the kits enriches and prompts new behaviours, both in reading and the relational space this creates. Crucially, the kits are designed to support children’s engagement and agency. We’ve seen this play a key role in creating a shared space through which deeper reading engagement and deeper relational engagement occurs.
Benefits we’ve documented include:
Shared rituals and anticipation: the kits have initiated or enhanced reading routines that have nurtured connections. Amongst children in care, this has also helped build trust and a sense of belonging.
Child-initiated engagement: the kits have led children to seek out books and reading by choice, showing growing confidence and emotional expression.
Flexible reading experiences and enjoyable shared moments: the kits have allowed for flexibility in styles of reading and the discovery of new ways of enjoying time together.
Speech development and communication skills: the kits have supported children’s speech and communication skills by encouraging interactive dialogue, enhancing interactions.