Start with bismillah.

Hold up a book upside down and pretend to read it. Ask: "What's wrong? How did you learn to read the right way up?"

Watch the BBC World Service video about how reading changes the way our brains work.

Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What is the very first thing this ayah tells us to do?"

Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why does Allah begin with reading?" Younger children can draw theirs.

Find it in the mushaf: Surah Al-'Alaq is surah 96, and it has nineteen ayat. Find ayah 1. Many teachers explain that these opening ayat were among the very first to come down. Ask your teacher to tell you that story.

Fact: Which parts of the brain work together when we read a word?

Ages 5–8: Letter hunt. Choose one letter and count how many times you can find it on one page of a picture book.

Ages 9–12: Reading log. Time how long it takes to read one page aloud, then again after practising it twice. Draw a small graph.

Finish with: "I found that when I read, my brain ___."

Talk together:

• Why do you think reading comes with the name of our Lord?
• Which name of Allah does this remind you of?
• What is your favourite thing you have ever learned from a book?
• How could reading help you get closer to Allah?
• Who taught you to read? How can you thank them?

Make a small plan: "This week, I will read ___ for ten minutes every day, starting with bismillah."

• Read a short story to a younger brother, sister or cousin.
• Ask an adult at home which book they loved as a child.
• Next time: the next ayah (96:2) is about how Allah created people. Explore it together!

Action: Say bismillah before you open a book this week.