Life-changing Libraries
‘Life-changing Libraries’ is Cressida Cowell’s flagship project as the prestigious Waterstones Children’s Laureate.
Over the course of a year, six primary schools across England will be helped to develop a reading for pleasure culture, with the support of BookTrust and Cressida. This page will tell you everything you need to know about the campaign for life-changing libraries and Cressida Cowell’s call for the government to fund primary school libraries so all children across the country don’t miss out on the opportunity to read for pleasure and all the vital benefits this chance brings.
The Life-changing Libraries campaign report
The key findings in the ‘Life-changing Libraries’ report describe a transformation in attitudes towards reading, with an enthusiasm and passion for books ignited amongst the students of the six pilot schools and a considerable uptake in the time spent engaged in reading for pleasure both at school and at home.
Download the Life-changing Libraries report
Millions of children - particularly those from the poorest communities - are missing out on the opportunity to read for pleasure, and all the vital benefits this chance brings. The project is inspired by Cressida’s twenty-year experience visiting schools across the UK, where 1 in 8 primary schools has no library space at all, and grounded in the most recent research into the benefits of reading for pleasure and the challenging financial reality facing primary school libraries.
"We believe that this project will have a significant impact on the lives of the whole school community. It will allow us to immerse our children and families in the enjoyment and escapism that reading can bring."
- Julie Davies, Deputy Head Teacher of Woodchurch CE Primary School
The top 1,000 books for Primary Schools
At BookTrust, we want to get children excited about books, stories and rhymes - because if reading is fun, children will want to do it. As part of the Life-changing Libraries campaign, the six schools have received a specially curated booklist of 1,000 titles chosen by BookTrust’s expert team and Waterstones Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell, with guidance from the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education.
This is our list of the 1,000 best books to stock in a primary school library, broken down into Key Stages. These titles have been chosen to entertain, inform and inspire children into a life-long journey with reading.
Download the list of 1,000 books
Share your reviews
To go with the book list, we have review displays specially designed by Cressida Cowell for the pupils and staff to use to recommend their favourite book in the library!
Download and print out the review displays
With special thanks to all the publishers that kindly donated books to the Life-changing Libraries campaign.
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Three top tips for creating a culture of reading for pleasure in your school
Earlier this year, Farshore ran a Reading for Pleasure award for teachers. Six schools were chosen as worthy winners - and here are three of the inspiring projects the teachers used to create a culture of reading in their schools. Watch out for the next three in December!
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Getting the school library ready for the new year
Alison Tarrant, CEO of the School Library Association, knows exactly what to prioritise when planning for the new school year. She shares her top tips for getting your school library up to date and ready to inspire new readers.
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Creating inclusive bookshelves: Why diversity matters
Do your school library shelves represent all the children who use them? Esther Brown at Reading for Pleasure UK explains why it's so important for all children to see themselves positively represented in books.
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Storytime is sacred: Why reading aloud is the most non-negotiable of non-negotiables
Esther Brown for Reading for Pleasure UK shares some top tips for Primary School teachers on making story time the best part of the day.
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Five games for children to play in their school library
The library is for everyone - even for children who aren't interested in books! Education consultant Sarah Pavey highlights some of the ways that playing games in the school library can encourage reading and improve self-esteem and confidence in primary school children.
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Life-changing Libraries Report Press Release.docx
Waterstones Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell MBE has revealed the transformative impact on the pilot primary schools taking part in her ‘Life-changing Libraries’ initiative, with an increase in a love of reading, motivation towards learning, well-being and feelings of self-worth.
Life-changing Libraries Report Press Release.docx (184.5 KB)
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Cressida Cowell End of Tenure Press Release
‘Life-changing Libraries’ has been Cressida Cowell’s flagship campaign as Waterstones Children’s Laureate, and the culmination of this project marks the end of her three-year tenure in this prestigious role.
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Life-changing Libraries report
The Life-changing Libraries report reveals the transformative impact on the pilot primary schools taking part in the initiative.
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Cressida Cowell MBE announces end of tenure as Waterstones Children's Laureate
Alongside the 'Life-changing Libraries report’, Cowell has reflected on her time as Children’s Laureate during the pandemic, and bringing to life her magical to-do list – the Laureate Reading Charter – to ensure all children have access to books.
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Waterstones Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell MBE reveals transformative 'Life-changing Libraries' research
Waterstones Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell MBE has revealed the transformative impact on the pilot primary schools taking part in her ‘Life-changing Libraries’ initiative, with an increase in a love of reading, motivation towards learning, well-being and feelings of self-worth.
