Reading is more important than ever (Stock Image) (Image: Getty)
When I was younger, I was enchanted by reading and I am to this day. Everything about it is magical to me. You can be transported to a different world with just words. A world where an author has crafted from scratch themselves. It’s my favourite form of entertainment to this day. I’d much rather read than watch Netflix.
But many children, sadly, do not feel this way. They’d much rather spend time on their iPads, using their imaginations less. This genuinely devastates me, and I’m sure people who are avid readers, too. Reading opens up new worlds and fantastic opportunities, so why are we not focusing on it more?
In an annual survey of primary school staff by early years charity Kindred Squared, nearly one-third of children (28%) starting primary school struggle to use physical books, with many attempting to swipe or tap pages as if they are smartphones. This behaviour is attributed to high exposure to digital devices, rather than holding books and physically turning pages.
National Literacy Trust data shows just one in three children (32.7%) now enjoy reading, the lowest level in 20 years, with daily reading also at record lows. 2026 is also the National Year of Reading, which is where World Book Day can really step in and be a positive influence on kids, and so it’s not just about dressing up, but more about kids’ literacy.
This year’s campaign includes a new line-up of £1 books featuring authors such as Rose Ayling-Ellis, Hannah Gold, Jamie Smart and A.F. Steadman, alongside much-loved characters and stories including Paddington and Peppa Pig.
There are so many different books to choose from, spanning genres and interests. No matter what your child is into, there will be something to entertain them. I also think it’s so important that parents sit down and read to their children, even if it’s just 10 minutes before they go to sleep, as some no-screentime downtime.
I will never forget how much my parents and grandparents invested in my ability to read, sitting with me and ensuring that I was learning all the time. I’d read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by the time I was about five years old. You could always find me with a book in my hand.
And while I fully understand that not every child will be like this, initiatives like World Book Day really help children to understand the importance of reading, and if schools and parents make a big enough deal of it, it’ll be something that they seriously enjoy.
I remember dressing up for World Book Day, loving seeing all my peers dressed as characters from their favourite books, and seeing who was voted third, second, and first place. People went all out and made so much effort.
The theme of World Book Day 2026 is ‘Go All In,’ and World Book Day is a proud delivery partner of the National Year of Reading.
I really hope that children do feel empowered to go all in when it comes to reading, because it’s one of the most useful things you can do. In every single way, it can open up so many opportunities, and I hope children who struggle with these things can get the help they need so they, too, can enjoy reading.
World Book Day helps out by giving every single child a book completely free of charge, and then giving them a book token to empower them to make a choice about the other book they want to read.
This means they get to read something they’re no doubt interested in, because they get to choose it for themselves.
Every single year, two million books are gifted to children, with 23 million tokens distributed across the UK and Ireland. Around 169,000 books are also distributed to children through community projects, which shows what a big impact they’re having.
I hope they continue to do great work and encourage children to read more, and that many children will soon start choosing books over screens, because the benefits are tenfold.
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