Reflect

Last year, last minute Amazon purchases (yes, their World Book Day dress up became more polyester than Pinterest-worthy as the primary years wore on) were taken out of my hands when my daughter took the unprecedented step of deciding to hand make her costume - Legolas from Lord of the Rings, which had become a firm favourite book and film. She embarked on her project around Christmastime and steadily made arrows, capes and brooches over the next few months. Disaster loomed when two weeks before the day itself, in an attempt to make things easier for frazzled parents, her school announced that everyone was to dress in red and white stripes in tribute to Where’s Wally (something that they later made optional, much to my daughter’s relief)!

Her determination to bring a beloved book character to life is a great example of how stories can spark creativity and passion, something at the heart of this year’s World Book Day theme, Read Your Way. This theme encourages children to embrace reading in ways that resonate with them personally. It’s not just about reading the “right” books or following set rules. It’s about discovering the joy and adventure that books can bring, in whatever form that takes. Whether it’s fantasy, adventure, mystery, or non-fiction, reading should be a journey of choice, excitement and imagination.

Despite the global celebrations around World Book Day, recent research paints a concerning picture for reading for pleasure. In 2024, just 1 in 3 (34.6%) UK children and young people aged 8 to 18 said they enjoyed reading in their free time - an almost 9% decrease from the previous year. Moreover, only 1 in 5 children reported reading daily for pleasure, the lowest level since the National Literacy Trust began tracking the data in 2005.

In addition, a survey conducted by Beano Brain revealed that many children feel judged for what they read, and that a quarter are made to read things they don’t want to. Lack of choice and autonomy seems to be a huge barrier to reading for pleasure; a significant number of children report that they aren’t given the freedom to choose their reading materials, either at home or at school. As the CEO of World Book Day, points out, “Children have told us that they think that reading choices are judged by the adults around them. It discourages them, it puts them off reading for pleasure and by choice.”

While reading for pleasure is widely promoted in schools as a valuable activity, and is associated with a vast number of positive outcomes for children’s futures, there’s often an underlying expectation that children “challenge themselves” by reading more complex books or those with unfamiliar vocabulary. This idea of compulsory pleasure can be difficult to sell. Children are unlikely to gravitate toward any activity purely because it's supposed to be beneficial in the long run. They need to find joy in it first.

Motivate

The World Book Day website suggests that there are six building elements that support children to read for pleasure, which are all drawn from a large research project called Love to Read. These are being read to regularly by an adult, having books at home and at school, having a choice in what to read, finding time to read, having trusted help to find a book, and making reading fun.

So firstly, let’s ask our children what might help them to feel more enthused and engaged. They are likely to have very clear responses. World Book Day data suggests that autonomy and control are by far the most important factors in reading for pleasure. Children want to choose what they read, where they read and when they read. A quarter also believed that they would enjoy reading more if they had more freedom to read in other ways, such as graphic novels or audiobooks.

Leaning into our children’s existing interests, preferences and experiences can help to ensure that the books that they have access to are interesting and accessible to them. We could try to take them to places where they will be around books. If we stroll into the local library (which I have to say, I’m not very good at making time for), they might see a whole rack of magazines about their favourite hobby, or spend some time looking through the young adult section and wonder what other tweens and teens are reading. Let them choose, rather than putting pressure on them to select certain things. Let’s not forget though, choosing the right book is a skill in itself and even experienced readers often rely on familiar series or authors. We can help to scaffold good choices by encouraging children to reflect on why and what they want to read, and then together finding books aligned with this. As the Love to Read study notes, choosing a book aligned with our mood and interests has the potential to lead to greater connection.

Let’s face it, carving out time to read can be tricky - for both children and adults. Whilst some might pick up a book at any free moment, many won’t. Lots of our children will have other commitments after school, plus other hobbies and interests that they want to spend time on. I know that my son wouldn’t take kindly to the suggestion that he closes down his PC mid-game and reads a book instead. Let’s avoid making value judgements about reading being "better" than gaming, watching TV or being online. Reading is its own activity with its own distinct benefits. Encourage children to balance reading with their other interests.

Here, routines can help. Books at bedtime is a good habit to embed in family life from an early age. Young children will look forward not just to the stories, but also to that time spent in our arms listening to our voices. Hopefully, the custom will continue even once we’ve stopped reading aloud. To make reading more engaging at home, we could also consider creating a dedicated reading space that’s cozy and inviting. Even a small nook with pillows and blankets can turn reading into a special experience.

It’s also vital that we consider what we are modelling. The Beano Brain survey asked children about their parents’ hobbies. Tellingly, only 25% of children said their parents relax by reading at home, while 56% said their parents scroll on their phones and 52% watch TV. “Adults usually tell you to read, but then they go on their phones,” one 11-year-old “non-reader” told researchers. “My teachers and my dad do that!” If we tend to read at times when our children might not be aware of it - in bed or on our daily commutes perhaps, why not try talking to them about what we are reading? Maybe we could even read the same book as them and chat about our favourite bits? If possible, why not let them see us on the sofa with a book rather than phone in hand?

Making reading a shared family activity can also help to foster a reading culture. This year, my kids and I are all using StoryGraph. It’s an app where you can log your reading, and it creates little pie charts and stats about the types, moods and genres of books that you are engaging with. It can also provide recommendations based on what you like. For us, it’s been a nice way to spark conversations about our reading habits and talk about things we’ve enjoyed (or not). You could even try creating a family book club, where everyone reads the same book (or different ones, depending on age) and comes together to chat about it afterward. Trips to the library, or themed nights based on the book everyone is reading (think a Harry Potter dinner with themed foods and a bit of book chat) might add interest, engagement and connection. If you have an older teen on social media, they might be interested in peeking at #BookTok, and its close relation #BookTube to provide them with ideas about what to read. The Book Trust’s Bookfinder also contains recommendations for every age and taste.

We know that many children do already appreciate the opportunities that reading can offer them. In the Beano Brain survey, over a third felt that reading for fun makes them feel calmer and said that they enjoy reading in their spare time, whilst 30% felt that reading allows them to go to different worlds and learn about different places and things. Let’s encourage these reflections by making time to talk about books, and exploring how our children feel when they do find a book that resonates with them. My daughter is still waiting patiently for the next Skandar book to be published. It’s a series that’s made her laugh, think about friendships and desperately want to know what exciting thing is happening next. It’s even inspired her to make a whole new world in Minecraft.

Support

This year, World Book Day falls in the same week as International Women’s Day. Taken together, the celebrations remind us of the importance of strong female voices in literature, as well as broader conversations about equality. From a non-scientific perspective, it seems that the representation of strong and inspiring female characters in books is improving. More stories now feature girls as adventurers, leaders and innovators, challenging the traditional tropes of passive or secondary roles. However, it's still a work in progress.

As recently as 2017, a study of the top 100 picture books revealed significant gender bias. Lead characters and those who spoke in the stories were 50% more likely to be male than female. Even non-human characters ascribed gender roles often followed traditional stereotypes - powerful, wild creatures like dragons and tigers were often male, while more vulnerable, delicate animals like birds and cats were depicted as female. Female adults, meanwhile, were portrayed more frequently as caregivers, teachers or mothers, whereas male adults were depicted in a wider variety of roles. Furthermore, only two books in the top 100 featured girls from ethnic minorities in leading roles. This stark disparity was powerfully highlighted in this video from the creators of Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls, a collection of stories about extraordinary women from history.

The growing presence of diverse, empowering female characters in children's literature is encouraging, but there’s still much to be done to create an even playing field. Fortunately, there are many fantastic resources available to help parents, educators and children find books that feature a broad range of voices. Gender equality organisation, Lifting Limits, has a great selection of books along with talking points to spark conversation around gender roles and stereotypes. You might also like to look at the A Mighty Girl website, which features over 4000 books featuring confident and courageous girls. You Be You highlights books (and also films and TV shows) that combat stereotypes and the Book Trust provides numerous lists of books that celebrate women’s achievements and challenging gender stereotypes.

By actively seeking out books that reflect a more diverse range of characters, we can help children to engage with stories that challenge stereotypes and expand their horizons. Strong female role models, whether they’re from history, real life or fiction, play an integral role in shaping children’s understanding of what’s possible. Reading for pleasure means offering children the freedom to discover stories and non-fiction that resonate with their unique interests and values. By encouraging them to explore books that reflect their own experiences, dreams and challenges, we empower them to approach reading with passion, autonomy and curiosity. The beauty of reading lies in the choices it offers, and when children are given access to diverse, empowering stories, they’re more likely to connect with books in a meaningful and enjoyable way.