A READING MP has welcomed a new campaign to get more children to read for pleasure on World Book Day.
Olivia Bailey, Labour MP for Reading West and Mid Berkshire, has met with organisers of World Book Day in Parliament ahead of the annual charity event.
The day is marked in the United Kingdom on the first Thursday of March each year and sees school children across the country given book vouchers.
Reading for fun is the single biggest indicator that a child will grow up to enjoy a happier and more successful life, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
It is also more of an indicator than their parents’ education backgrounds or their income.
But reading enjoyment is currently at an all-time low, with just 1 in 3 (35%) children saying they enjoy reading–the lowest level since 2005–according to figures collected by the National Literacy Trust last year.
This year, WBD has announced the creation of an oracy-based classroom resource that encourages your pupils to explore the characters they enjoy reading about in a way that celebrates the joy of reading for pleasure as well as sharing beloved books.
More than 4,000 booksellers will be participating in the campaign this year.
Ms Bailey said following the meeting: “It was really great to meet with the World Book Day team and hear about the work that they are doing to unlock the fun of reading for more children and young people.
“I am really pleased that so many schools in Reading West and Berkshire will be marking the day and supporting young people to enjoy reading.”
More information about World Book Day is available via: worldbookday.com
