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Authors snapped in their favourite summer reading spots as new research reveals the wonderful and wacky places kids love to read
New Children’s Laureate, Cressida Cowell, joins top children’s authors to reveal favourite reading spots in photos to inspire kids to get reading this summer
· New research reveals kids’ favourite summer reading spaces – including in bed, up a tree and on a trampoline!
· Exciting activities launched to inspire children to #getlost in a book this summer
Captions: Authors Greg James & Chris Smith (reading outdoors) / Ruby (aged 4, reading upside down) / Will (aged 8, reading up a tree) / Author Cressida Cowell (reading in her writing shed)
New research by the National Literacy Trust has revealed that the place kids most love to read is in bed – with other top contenders including on the sofa, in the library and when travelling on a bus, train or plane. Kids also revealed the strangest places they enjoying escaping with a book, such as on the toilet, up a tree and on a trampoline [1].
In the spirit of the findings, new Children’s Laureate, Cressida Cowell, has joined top children’s authors to reveal their favourite reading spots in a series of fantastic photos to inspire kids to find new and exciting places to read this summer [2]:
· Cressida Cowell (How to Train Your Dragon and The Wizards of Once) enjoys reading in her marvellous writing shed
· Former Children’s Laureate, Lauren Child (Charlie and Lola, Clarice Bean and Ruby Redfort), loves escaping to read on the roof
· Greg James and Chris Smith (Kid Normal) take every opportunity to read together outdoors
· Liz Pichon (Tom Gates) delves into her favourite stories on the sofa
· Patrice Lawrence (Orangeboy) can be found reading in the garden
· Ben Lyttleton (Football School) likes to catch up on reading while waiting for the bus
· Katherine Rundell (Rooftoppers) loves reading in the park in the summer
While school might be the last thing on kids’ minds during the summer holidays, helping them to find or visit interesting places in which to read is one of the ways to prevent learning loss over the break.
The charity’s research shows that seven in ten (68%) children read in bed – making it the most popular place children of all ages like to read. Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust, said: “Coming together as a family to read before bedtime, or encouraging independent readers to explore new adventures before they fall asleep, is a great way to feed children’s imaginations and send them off into their wildest dreams, while also developing their literacy skills.”
The research also found that more children and young people who read when they are travelling on a bus, train or plane enjoy reading (68%) and read more often (34% daily) than their peers who read at home or out and about [3]. Jonathan Douglas added: “As families travel to the library, the park or the beach this summer, fuelling children’s adventures with news books and stories on the journey can elevate their imaginations from train ride to dragon ride! You might see that they want to continue their literary journey, even after they’ve alighted.”
In support of the campaign, Cressida Cowell, author of the How to Train Your Dragon and The Wizards of Once series, and the newly appointed Children’s Laureate, shared a photo of her reading in her iconic writing shed.
Children’s Laureate, Cressida Cowell, said: “Books can take children on incredible adventures – opening up new worlds, feeding their imaginations and giving them big ideas! The summer holidays are a great time for families to explore stories together and to do so in places they might not usually get the chance to. I spent most of my childhood devouring books on a remote Scottish Island – and it turned me into the writer I am today. Children and young people have revealed that they love to read in some truly inspired places, so let’s follow their lead!”
The National Literacy Trust has published a new book list to help children and young people of all ages to find the best book to read in a whole variety of fun places this summer: in bed, while travelling, outdoors and by the pool. The charity has also created a step-by-step guide to help families build their very own reading dens with things found around the house. Both can be found at: wordsforlife.org.uk
Over the summer, the National Literacy Trust is also encouraging everyone to share a photo on social media of the place they most love to #getlost in a story. To get involved, use the hashtag #getlost and follow @Literacy_Trust on Twitter, @literacy_trust on Instagram and on Facebook.
