There’s something really special about reading a good book with our children, isn’t there? It’s one of those cosy moments we get to share on our home education journey—getting lost in stories, exploring new worlds, and meeting characters who seem to come alive as we turn the pages. But one thing I’ve discovered along the way is that when we take those stories and turn them into visual projects, something magical happens.
I’m not talking about anything complicated, either.
Sometimes, we simply sketch a favourite scene or create a collage that represents the mood of a chapter we’ve just read. It might sound small, but I’ve seen how it transforms the way my children engage with the story. It’s like their imagination takes the lead, and suddenly, the characters and settings feel more real to them. We did this recently with a book that had a big forest as one of its main settings, and before I knew it, our living room had been turned into their version of the woods—complete with painted trees and little paper animals. That’s the kind of creative energy I love to see, and it sticks with them long after we’ve finished reading.
I think that’s what’s so beautiful about combining art with literature.
It helps the children (and, let’s be honest, even us grown-ups!) understand the story on a deeper level. When they draw or paint a character, for example, they’re thinking about how that character feels, how they move through the story, and what makes them tick. My daughter once drew an entire "emotion wheel" for a character going through a tough time, and it opened up such a great conversation about empathy and understanding. I couldn’t have gotten that same response just by asking questions about the book.
Another thing I love is how it sparks their creativity in ways I didn’t always expect. You’d think we were just having a bit of fun with art supplies, but it’s so much more than that. The children start putting their own spin on things, reimagining parts of the story, and sometimes even creating their own. My son, who was completely drawn into a novel about explorers, turned a simple drawing exercise into a full-blown comic strip! It’s such a joy to see them connect with the story in their own unique way, using their own voice.
That’s something I treasure about home educating—the chance to encourage those sparks of creativity when they appear.
But I think what I cherish most about these moments isn’t just the learning (though that’s important, of course!)—it’s the memories we make. The way we all get a little messy, maybe some paint splatters on the table, but the room is filled with laughter as we work together. We’ve had afternoons where we’ve spent hours crafting a project inspired by a book, and when it’s all done, it’s not just the art we’re left with—it’s the shared experience, the bonding over something we’ve created together. I’ll never forget the time we recreated an entire book cover using every kind of material imaginable—there was glue everywhere, and at one point, we were all covered in glitter—but it’s one of those moments we still laugh about, and it turned out to be one of our most cherished projects.
I also love how these art projects naturally introduce the children to different forms of artistic expression. We’ve had conversations about illustrators, art styles, and even how certain colours or shapes can represent emotions. It’s a subtle way to bring a bit of art appreciation into their lives without making it feel like another lesson. And to see them start to notice the beauty in both the stories we read and the art they create—it’s such a rewarding feeling as a parent.
So if you haven’t yet explored visual representations in your own novel studies, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a wonderful way to bring stories to life, encourage creativity, and, most importantly, make some beautiful memories along the way. Grab those pencils, paints, or whatever you’ve got to hand, and dive into your next story. You might be surprised at how much it opens up new conversations, deepens understanding, and, best of all, adds a little more joy to your home education journey.
Happy creating, and happy reading!
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