Getting children reading from their earliest days
Reading and sharing stories brings profound and wide-ranging benefits that can have a lifelong positive impact on the lives of children of all ages and backgrounds.
Find out more about the benefits of readingHow we help
Our programmes and support are designed to help children and families start and continue reading and sharing stories, because we believe it should be a part of childhood for all. We work with thousands of local partners to support children in every community in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Reading Rights: books build a brighter future
Over the next two years, Waterstones Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce has pledged to amplify the national conversation about the role books and reading for pleasure play in transforming children’s lives.
Find out more about Reading RightsWhat we do
Each year we get millions of children reading, with our programmes, support and campaigns.
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Discover the joy of shared reading from birth. Explore our flagship early years programmes today.
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Join free and fun library story sessions for 0 to 5s. Make reading a magical part of family life.
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See how our research shapes real change. Learn what works to build lifelong reading habits.
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Inspire reading and numeracy for 3 to 13s in care. Discover the joy of books sent straight to them.
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Support your primary and secondary students' reading for pleasure. Sign up your school to Bookbuzz today.
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Our current Writer in Residence is Tom Percival. His residency will focus on the theme of ‘reading and wellbeing’.
Who we are
BookTrust is the UK's largest children's reading charity with a history that stretches back over 100 years. Our focus is on helping children in the key developmental years from birth to the first years of primary school. We do this because of the strong evidence base which shows that reading with children from the earliest age and establishing a regular reading habit impacts on a wide range of outcomes both in the short term and later in life.
Find out more about usIf I had never had the lady come over and give me the Bookstart stuff when my son was born, I wouldn't have known... he wouldn't have had that experience from such a young age and to be where he is now.
Mum, talking about receiving Bookstart Baby
Latest updates
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BookTrust and Waterstones Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce brought early years leaders together at a second Reading Rights Summit in Westminster Abbey to continue driving system change and to ensure every child can grow up with books and stories.
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Tom Percival is BookTrust's new Writer in Residence
9 March 2026
Tom Percival will be exploring reading and wellbeing over the next six months as he takes on the role of BookTrust's Writer in Residence.
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Meet our London Marathon runners
9 March 2026
Find out more about the incredible runners taking on the 2026 London Marathon to get children reading.
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For just £3.65 a student you’ll receive a book and bookmark for each participating young person along with a launch pack featuring 32 new, high quality, diverse and inclusive books for your school, a supportive programme guide and grab-and-go resources.
