Rose Ayling-Ellis Creates Book She Wished for as a Deaf Child
Like countless children across the nation, Rose Ayling-Ellis fondly recalls dressing up as a fairy for World Book Day during her youth. However, the celebrated actress now occupies a uniquely special position, having authored a children's book specifically chosen for this year's World Book Day celebrations on March 5th.
From Strictly Star to Children's Author
The former EastEnders actress, who has been deaf since birth, rose to national prominence in 2021 as the first deaf contestant and subsequent winner of Strictly Come Dancing. Since her dancefloor triumph, Ayling-Ellis has not only starred in ITV's drama Code of Silence but has also embarked on a successful career as a children's author. Her sixth publication, The Big Bang!, has been selected as an official World Book Day 2026 title.
The heartwarming story revolves around a deaf kitten named Casper and his feline companions who become frightened during a thunderstorm. The hearing kittens must discover new methods of communication with their deaf friend, who cannot hear the thunder but is startled by the lightning flashes.
"I wanted to write the book I wished I had when I was a child," confesses the 31-year-old author, who expresses being "thrilled" about the selection. "I love creating. I have an artistic background, so the illustrations are my favourite part."
A Personal and Educational Mission
The book, illustrated by award-winning author and illustrator Paddy Donnelly, aims to teach young readers about the importance of assisting others, particularly those with disabilities. Ayling-Ellis reveals the narrative holds particular significance as Casper is based on her mother's childhood cat, while the other feline characters are inspired by cats from her own upbringing.
Emphasizing World Book Day's core mission of making reading accessible and inspiring imagination for all children, she states: "Books gave me that chance. I write about the truth, adapting, being a team player and education." She further adds: "It's important for children to read so that they can learn new things."
Alarming Decline in Children's Reading Enjoyment
Despite the positive impact of initiatives like World Book Day, concerning data reveals a significant downturn in reading enjoyment among young people. Recent National Literacy Trust research indicates that reading for pleasure has reached its lowest level in two decades, with only one in three children currently reporting that they enjoy reading.
Even more troubling, merely one in five children and young people aged eight to eighteen read daily—the lowest recorded rate since 2005. Fiona Hickley, executive director of World Book Day, describes these statistics as "really worrying," highlighting that "reading is one of the biggest indicators of a child's future wellbeing and success, more important than family circumstances or parents' educational background."
Hickley explains that reading for fun enhances confidence, sparks imagination and creativity, supports curriculum learning, improves cognitive development, and serves as a valuable mental wellbeing skill through relaxation and distraction.
Transforming Reading from Chore to Joy
The fundamental problem, according to Hickley, is that reading is frequently treated as homework or a mandatory task rather than an enjoyable activity. "When children aren't given the freedom to choose what they read, or are limited to certain 'educational' books, it stops being fun, and too many children switch off completely," she elaborates.
Parents play a crucial role in fostering a love of reading, and Hickley offers several practical strategies to make reading feel natural and enjoyable for children:
- Give Choice Without Judgment: Allow children to select books, magazines, or audiobooks that genuinely appeal to them. Hickley emphasizes that the material doesn't need to be educational—comics, joke books, football magazines, fantasy epics, or e-books are all valid choices. "What matters isn't what they read, it's that they're reading for fun," she stresses.
- Make Books Easy to Access: Libraries represent a wonderful and often underutilized resource for integrating books into everyday life. Regular library visits help children perceive reading as a natural leisure activity rather than homework. "Libraries are especially great places to go in the colder months—warm, welcoming, calm, and social," Hickley notes.
- Share Stories and Make Memories: Reading with children extends beyond literacy improvement to creating meaningful connections. Hickley suggests reading aloud, listening to audiobooks together, and discussing stories with simple questions like 'Which character would you be friends with?' or 'Why do you think that happened?' These conversations demonstrate that books are meant to be shared and enjoyed.
- Make Use of World Book Day: This annual initiative focuses on capturing children's imaginations through exciting and accessible book discoveries. The charity collaborates with schools, libraries, bookshops, and families, distributing over 23.5 million £1/€1.50 book tokens throughout the UK and Ireland. "When reading feels like a choice, something to enjoy rather than a task, that's when it really sticks," Hickley concludes.
The Big Bang! by Rose Ayling-Ellis, published by DK and priced at £1 with illustrations by Paddy Donnelly, is available now. World Book Day tokens can be redeemed in participating bookshops, supermarkets, and online until March 15th.
