From Roald Dahl to Julia Donaldson - The Quiet Power of Story
- The Wonder Company Team
- 11 hours ago
- 2 min read
Children’s literature rarely makes national headlines — but this week it did!
Stories shape childhood more than we realise.
They sit quietly on bookshelves, travel home in school bags, and become bedtime rituals - but their influence runs far deeper.
With the release of Julia Donaldson's latest book, we’re reminded that storytelling isn’t just entertainment. It’s inheritance.
When a new Julia Donaldson book is released, it isn’t just another publication.
It’s a continuation of a generational thread.
Parents who grew up with Roald Dahl are now reading The Gruffalo to their children.
Different characters.
Same magic.
Same impact.
And that impact is far greater than we often give it credit for.
Why Children Learn Through Story
Story is one of the oldest teaching tools we have.
Long before formal education systems, humans passed on knowledge, values and survival skills through narrative.
And children still learn this way today.
Through story, children:
explore emotions safely
rehearse problem-solving
understand consequences
practise empathy
experiment with bravery
Most importantly, they don’t feel like they’re being taught.
They feel entertained.
When learning feels like play, it embeds more deeply.
Story as Structure — Not Just Theme
It’s easy to treat story as a “nice extra” - something cosy at the end of the day.
But story is structure.
It provides:
beginning, middle and end
challenge and resolution
character and growth
It mirrors the way children make sense of their own lives.
And this matters far beyond books.
Why This Matters for Providers
Story isn’t just entertainment - it’s engagement.
When children step into a narrative, they:
collaborate more naturally
persist longer with challenges
immerse themselves more deeply
build confidence without pressure
For holiday clubs and schools, story can be more than a theme - it can be the framework.
A mission-based week.
A comic-led challenge.
A mystery to solve.
A creative world to build.
When children feel part of something, behaviour improves, confidence grows, and belonging strengthens.
In a world increasingly driven by AI and automation, storytelling remains deeply, irreducibly human.
And human experiences are what children need most.
The Quiet Power of What We Do
At The Wonder Company, we build around this principle.
Whether it’s immersive activity books, themed packs, story-led games or seasonal challenges, we design experiences where narrative carries the learning.
Because the most powerful development rarely feels like development.
It feels like a story you can’t wait to step back into.
The Wonder Company
Creating Wonder Content & WOW Moments that matter
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