The National Year Of Reading

by Sue Abbott

Throughout my childhood, reading and drawing were my two main passions. I can remember learning to read at Primary school and the joy and pride I felt when I could read a book aloud to my parents for the first time. As an adult I have enjoyed reading a lot more non-fiction books as well, although I was mostly an avid fan of fiction as a child. Certain books hold special places in my heart and memories; A large, thin green hard back Sleeping Beauty, because it was the one I remember reading to my parents and also knocking my sisters tooth out with (accidently!), Dodie Smith’s Dalmatians  series, Ballet Shoes and The Secret Garden. I had a limited book collection as a child and read each one many times. We used to visit our local library regularly and I would sometimes choose favourites over and over again. It was often the pictures as well as the words and stories that intrigued me. Illustrators such as E. H. Shepherd, whose beautifully detailed trees and landscapes gave such a powerful setting for Pooh, Piglet and Eeyore, and likewise Pauline Baynes for Lucy Pevensey and Mr Tumnus. I also read a lot of Enid Blyton- some better than others.

   

When I visit Primary Schools as part of my work for Energy Heroes, I am inspired by the richness and diversity of literature now available for children. As well as a vast range of stories presented in varied and easily accessible formats, there are many non-fiction series which are appealing and enticingly produced.

I wish I could wave a magic wand and allow every person to appreciate books as much as I do. Sadly, it’s not that simple. However, The National Year of Reading launched by National Literacy Trust and the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, aims to urge all ages to discover or rediscover reading for pleasure. This year’s theme is ‘Go All In’.

According to the Gov.UK Press release Premier League and literary greats back National Year of Reading, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/premier-league-and-literary-greats-back-national-year-of-reading ;

“The campaign ‘Go All In’ aims to tackle the worrying decline in reading for pleasure, especially among young people which has dropped to its lowest level since 2005, with just one in three 8- to 18-year-olds saying they enjoy reading in their spare time and teenage boys affected the most – in 2025, just 25% of boys aged 8-18 said they enjoy reading, compared to 39% of girls.“

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

I’m asking families across the country to read together for just 10 minutes a day. It’s a simple step that can lay the foundations for strong literacy skills, helping kids to be school ready and on track to achieve and thrive.

Jonathan Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust, said:

“Whether it’s a baby experiencing the magic of a picture book for the first time, a family listening to an audiobook on the school run, a teenager immersed in fan fiction or an adult reading the football pages on their commute, reading is for everyone.”

Author, producer and television presenter Richard Osman said:

“I am proud to support the National Year of Reading 2026. New thoughts, new worlds, new friends, peace, imagination, and, above all, joy. These are just some of the gifts that books give us. In an increasingly noisy, complicated world, reading is our quiet superpower.”

The Gov.UK press release stated that millions would be invested to “support the teaching of reading and writing, and open up access to a wider range of books in schools, “  and went on to say;

“From national moments to local reading activities, the year will offer events and celebrations reaching into every corner of society. Highlights include national storytelling week, creative writing competitions, parent and baby community sessions, and ‘In conversation’ events with bestselling authors like Celia Rees, with more to be announced throughout the year. “  Read more

In support of the National Year of Reading, The Literacy Trust offers many resources and CPD opportunities for teachers. Head to their Primary page for all things Primary school reading related;

They also offer teaching resources, school improvement tools, and professional insights to support literacy throughout school and other education settings. For a small fee schools can become members of the Literacy Trust. This what they say;

“Are you a school leader driving whole-school literacy improvement? For just £100 a year premium membership will help you embed high-quality literacy practice across all year groups, with exclusive resources and expertly developed tools to support strategic planning.” Read more about membership

Role Models and Reading Displays

It is recognised within the Primary school setting that good reading role models make a positive difference and most schools encourage reading aloud, shared and paired reading and interesting reading displays, both in individual classrooms and in shared areas. As a child I was lucky in that my older sister read both fiction and non-fiction, as did my parents, my Nana read novels, my granddad read detective fiction and my grandma read non-fiction books. I am sure all these role models contributed to my joy in reading as a regular activity and as a teacher I have always thoroughly enjoyed reading to pupils in my care and sharing books with them. At one inner city Primary school I worked in, I created an Extreme Reading display, where teachers and pupils brought in photos of themselves reading in unusual places, with the hope that it would encourage and normalise the activity of reading for pleasure. Here are a few ideas to help teachers to vary their book and literacy displays:

Teacher Feature

I asked Julia West, a Primary teacher, who I know loves books, to share with us some of her experiences of great children’s literature.

Books were always part of the fabric of my childhood. I remember my sister and I sleeping with piles of books tucked under our pillows, read avidly before bed, as if we might absorb the stories overnight. My best year at primary school wasn’t defined by what we were taught, but by a teacher who read to us every single day. I don’t remember the spelling rules or maths objectives, but I vividly remember being transported to the eerie world of The Owl Service by Alan Garner, and to wartime Britain as an evacuee in Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden. Stories took us to places that stayed with us long after the lesson ended.

Love of reading

That love of reading has permeated both my teaching and my parenting. I make a point of taking my own children to free author events at local libraries, because those encounters matter. This year alone we were lucky enough to meet Laura Ellen Anderson, Piers Torday, and local author-illustrator Kate Pankhurst, and to take part in workshops that brought stories off the page and into our hands.

Current favourite…

My current favourite children’s author is Katherine Rundell. The Explorer vividly brings the Amazon to life, and Impossible Creatures is utterly gripping. I’m also currently reading Making It Up by Penelope Lively — and only recently realised she has written for adults as well as children. It’s a fascinating book in which she draws on her own life experiences, using them as prompts to write alternative stories: taking moments from her life and asking, what if? I was drawn to it because I loved reading Penelope Lively as a child — The Whispering Knights and A Stitch in Time stayed with me for years.

In the classroom, shared reading has always felt especially powerful. I still remember reading The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas with a Year 6 class, and how deeply moved we were together — the collective stillness as we tried to make sense of something huge and painful. Helping children find their way into reading is a real passion of mine, whether that’s a reluctant reader becoming gripped by Horrible Histories through conversation and curiosity, or using picture books to explore complex ideas.

Picture books

Picture books in particular have developed enormously over the past decade. They are extraordinary tools for helping children process big emotions, scientific concepts, and climate change. In my role at Energy Heroes, I always carry a stock of them in my bag — because stories stick. They explain, they connect, and they capture imaginations in ways few other tools can.

Every child should have the chance to read books

Don’t forget World Book Day which not only creates inspiration for young readers, but also provides books so that every child can get involved in reading for fun.

We champion reading for fun. That’s because it seriously improves lives. 

World Book day is a charity whose website states; “Our mission is to promote reading for fun, offering every child and young person the opportunity to own a book.”

I was recently reminded of World Book Day, when one of my children, now in his early twenties, attended a Lord of the Rings student fancy dress event and needed a Gandalf costume (He is 6 foot 5, so the casting was appropriate!). I set to, helping him create a detailed outfit, which included a huge cloak with a leather and metal buckle, a very long tunic, and a leather belt with a leather pouch. This took me right back to those Primary School days when I made costumes for him and his siblings for World Book Day; Willy Wonka and Lee Scoresby (His Dark Materials) being particular favourites. Working in Primary schools I always loved World Book Day- seeing all the children dressing up as their favourite book characters.  One year in particular I remember dressing up as a lion with 2 other teachers as the Witch and the Wardrobe- or the lion, the ghost and the cupboard, as one child guessed!  World Book Day never failed to create excitement and inspire discussion about story characters.

Here are some World Book Day ideas for teachers:

 

 

• Check out the World Book Day website for posters, certificates and great activity ideas such Book Recommendation Bingo! https://www.worldbookday.com/resources/

 

• Design a book mark for your favourite book and give it to a friend
• Design a Book Token and submit it to the World Book Day competition –

Here’s what they say about it:

“It’s time to GO ALL IN on reading and get creative!

To celebrate World Book Day and the UK’s National Year of Reading 2026, our sponsors National Book Tokens are inviting children of all ages to DESIGN A NATIONAL BOOK TOKEN for their annual competition. This year’s winners will be selected by three very special guest judges: bestselling authors and illustrators Paddy Donnelly, Nadia Shireen and Sonia Leong!”

Read more and find out about some great prizes!

Children as authors

‘ I read for pleasure and that is the moment I learn the most. ’ Margaret Atwood

 

We can nurture childrens’ identities as authors in many ways. However, the constraints of fitting in the whole Primary Literacy curriculum can sometimes feel like we are making pupils jump through certain grammatical hoops rather than encouraging creativity and enthusiasm for writing.

Teresa Cremin, Professor of Literacy in Education at The Open University said in an article called Do children have agency as authors?

(Updated Wednesday, 15 April 2020);

“Young people can feel distanced from the act of writing, particularly if teachers retain too strong a grasp on the curriculum reins and construct writing as a technical exercise in compliance at the expense of developing children’s desire and agency as authors.”

Encourage children to write for a range of audiences and read their work aloud.

Writing competitions

Use inter- and intra- school competitions to encourage output. If there are  none in your area, you could initiate some. There is also a wealth of national writing competitions for pupils to take part in. Click here for a comprehensive list of Writing competitions for children and teens aged 5-18.

 

Microclimate books

Micro Climate Books are an eco-bookshop and supplier for schools, climate cafes and learning hubs, who specialise in story and information books to help children and young adults learn about the climate and nature crisis. The can provide Eco Book Packages for Primary or Secondary schools, as well.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Energy Heroes team and our award-winning programme, visit our website https://energy-heroes.org.uk/

To find out how to book your FREE visit from the Energy Heroes Team, including a whole school assembly about energy, climate change and the natural world and how they are all connected, as well as a Year 5 Maths workshop and a pupil led energy audit of your school (Yes- it’s ALL free) check out this blog https://energy-heroes.org.uk/how-do-i-book-a-visit-from-energy-heroes/