Reading Rights: Books Build a Brighter Future
“For too long, the life-changing benefits of children’s reading have not been taken seriously. And now – as our children face an unknown future – we risk losing a generation unless we act.” – Frank Cottrell-Boyce
Patrice Lawrence, Diana Gerald, and Frank Cottrell-Boyce outside the House of Lords
About Reading Rights
When Frank Cottrell-Boyce began his tenure as Waterstones Children’s Laureate, he had a simple vision: that growing up with reading should be a right for every child. That being read to from birth should not be an invisible privilege, but a universal part of childhood.
Reading Rights is a campaign led by BookTrust and Frank. Over the last two years, Reading Rights has helped bring shared reading to the forefront of new conversations across early years policy, health, education, culture, and local government. People are beginning to cohere around a simple, powerful idea: that reading belongs at the heart of a child’s early life, because it creates the foundation for wellbeing, connection, and happiness.
Reading Rights has taken on a life of its own, inspiring classroom practice and local library strategies. We have begun to move systems, influence national guidance, prompt inquiries, and spark debate.
Join the Reading Rights movement
As the pressure on families continues to build and services remain overstretched, we must continue to work together to make sure that reading stays in the spotlight. This mission is urgent. We have in our hands one of the most powerful tools for building the apparatus of happiness that humans have ever invented – books. We are a species of rhythm, of storytelling, of connection. It is fundamental to who we are
Sign up to the Reading Rights movement, and get the latest news, updates, and exclusive content direct from Frank and BookTrust straight to your in box. Together lets ensure that reading is a universal right for all children under 7.
How your support makes a difference
Did you know that 58% of children in the UK don’t have a bedtime story?
Through our Bookstart Baby programme, over 500,000 families received their baby’s first book
We support 1.4 million children and families each year
Donate: Your donations fund our vital work to support families to read together. Donate to bring the life-changing benefits of reading to every child.
Latest news
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Discover the findings from our latest survey of families with children in their early years. Our research shows that children and families value reading, but rising pressures on family life means early shared reading is declining.
Highlights of the Reading Rights campaign
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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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BookTrust at parliament: 'Sharing stories changes children’s lives'
15 November 2024
In November 2024, BookTrust hosted a parliamentary reception at the House of Lords to talk about reading and sharing stories as a powerful protective factor for children in kinship, foster care and adoption. Here’s what happened.
Frank’s learning tour
Read more about Frank’s learning tour to discover more about how shared reading from the earliest years is changing lives.
Health
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In November 2024, Frank Cottrell-Boyce visited Riverside Community Health Project in Benwell, in the West End of Newcastle. He met with 10 specialist health visitors who are involved in collaborative projects that support the health and wellbeing of families in their area – and who use books as an essential tool.
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Frank Cottrell-Boyce visited a family hub in Southport to understand how books and stories are a vital part of Early Years speech and language support.
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Frank joined Professor Sam Wass at the Baby Development Lab in Stratford, East London to see what happens to a baby’s brain when their parent reads them a story – and why these shared moments are essential to a child’s development.
Education
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Frank Cottrell-Boyce visited a school in Liverpool – the one nearest to where he grew up – to see how they are supporting families to share books and stories together, and what a difference this can make.
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In collaboration with BookTrust, Frank Cottrell-Boyce visited a school nursery in Liverpool to see why story-sharing interventions during the Early Years are so vital for children and how they are having an impact on families.
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Here’s what Frank took away from his visit to Meadows Nursery in Sheffield, which is situated on the Sheffield Hallam University campus and is also a space for research and developing best practice in early years and childcare.
Community
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Frank wanted to learn about the work that’s happening on the front line to get children exposed to books and stories from an early age, the challenges the Early Years sector is facing, and what opportunities there are for change.
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Frank's visit to HMP Featherstone
16 December 2024
Frank visited HMP Featherstone with the charity PACT to see how prisoner-dads are sharing books and stories to build bonds with their children during family visits – and what an impact it’s having on everyone.