Children's laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce has issued a passionate plea for national action to address what he describes as a children's 'reading crisis,' as new research indicates that families are increasingly struggling to incorporate reading into their daily routines. Speaking at London's Royal Institution during an event hosted by the children's reading charity BookTrust, Cottrell-Boyce emphasised that evidence shows children possess a genuine appetite for reading, but families require greater support to foster this habit. He argued that the UK is confronting a severe crisis in children's development, linking it to broader societal pressures such as poverty, housing insecurity, isolation, and the decline of local services like libraries and youth programmes. A key aspect of this challenge, he noted, is that too many children begin school without having consistently experienced the warmth and bonding that come from shared stories and books.
Decline in Daily Shared Reading
To coincide with his speech, BookTrust released findings from its latest family survey, which revealed a significant drop in daily shared reading among families with children aged up to eight years. Between 2021 and 2025, the percentage of families engaging in daily shared reading fell from 60% to 49%. Interestingly, the proportion of children aged up to eight who reportedly like or love reading rose from 66% to 80% during the same period. The survey also found that over a third (36%) of parents or carers worry about their child's screen use, including 27% of those with children under one year old. Nearly half (48%) of respondents said that shared reading encourages their child to spend less time on screens, suggesting that it can help families reconnect in an increasingly digital world.
Cottrell-Boyce's Reading Rights Campaign
Cottrell-Boyce's speech, delivered during the National Year of Reading and marking the end of his two-year tenure as children's laureate, also reflected on the progress made through his reading rights campaign. This initiative aims to ensure that shared reading becomes a fundamental part of childhood and that every child has access to books. He announced his new role as reading rights ambassador for BookTrust and called on more individuals to join the reading rights movement. 'Working with BookTrust over the last two years as children's laureate has been a hugely rewarding experience,' Cottrell-Boyce said. 'Launching the reading rights campaign is something very close to my heart as I'm truly passionate about making sure the transformative gift of reading is shared with every single child.'
He added: 'We've worked with early learning centres, nurseries, schools and family hubs and the UK Government to make sure children have the best start in life with guidance from midwives, health visitors, early years professionals, families and communities. I urge everyone to join our movement to ensure that every child has daily access to books and shared reading in their first seven years of life. It's so important for their happiness, mental health, empathy and future opportunity.'
Expert and Charity Support
Professor Sam Wass, director of the Institute for the Science of Early Years and Youth at the University of East London, highlighted the scientific evidence supporting shared reading. 'There's a huge body of scientific evidence to show how shared reading supports children's language development, attention and wellbeing,' he said. 'It shows that the act of reading itself, that warm back-and-forth between an adult and a child, can matter as much as the words on the page. That's why it's vital we keep working to ensure every child has access to books and stories to give them the very best start of life. I fully support Frank's reading rights movement to make reading a right for every child.'
Annie Crombie, co-chief executive of BookTrust, praised Cottrell-Boyce's efforts. 'Frank has spent the last two years making an extraordinary case for reading as a right, not a privilege,' she said. 'Reading rights sets out what national action should look like so that every child can access books and shared reading in their earliest years. Our research shows why this matters now. Families value reading and children still love it, but daily shared reading is slipping because life is getting harder. Without support, inequalities will only grow. With Frank as our reading rights ambassador for BookTrust, we'll be bringing partners together so that shared reading is built into the support families receive. Our children's futures will only improve if we act collectively and early.'
