The president of BookTrust, along with every children’s laureate for the past 25 years, have called on the prime minister and the leader of the opposition to commit to a long-term investment in books and reading for young children.
President of BookTrust, former Waterstones children’s laureate and author, Sir Michael Morpurgo, together with the current children’s laureate, Joseph Coelho, and every children’s laureate from the past 25 years, have called on the prime minister and the leader of the opposition to commit to a long-term investment in books and reading for children under seven.
In an open letter published today (17 January 2024) they ask Rishi Sunak’s government and Sir Keir Starmer to commit to helping every low-income family become a family which reads together because ‘it is not right that children from poorer backgrounds are deprived of a life that is rich in reading’, said Sir Michael.
The authors and illustrators - who represent some of Britain's best-loved creators of books for children - highlight evidence for the wide-ranging benefits given to children who are read to early on, citing a profound impact on educational success, language development, mental well-being and relationships.
