In a digital age, helping children fall in love with books could be less about switching off screens and more about making stories part of everyday life. Samantha Coleman discovers how.
From bedtime stories read by celebrities on TV to recommendations shared on BookTok, the way children and young people are discovering books is changing. Yet research by the National Literacy Trust shows that only one in three eight to 18-year-olds enjoys reading in their free time.
As the UK marks the National Year of Reading 2026 – a year-long campaign designed to inspire more people to make reading a regular part of their lives, ending with every child in year 6 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and P6 in Scotland, being given the bestselling book Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell this Christmas thanks to The Queen’s Christmas Present initiative – the question is a timely one: with screens competing for children’s attention, how do we nurture a lifelong love of reading?
Many parents and educators are discovering that the answer may not be about prising them away from screens, but more about weaving stories into the fabric of everyday life. Showing children that they can be relevant, shared, exciting, and as enticing, social and connected to the world around them as everything else competing for their attention.
Renowned children’s author Michael Rosen recognises this challenge too. “I can fully understand what people mean when they say that it’s hard to convince children to read books, when there’s so much fun to be gained by watching shows online or on TV or playing computer games,” he says. “I’ve said before that our reaction as writers, parents, carers and teachers should ideally be to find ways to make the ‘reading situation’ as attractive as possible. That might mean the kinds of things already happening – like the book festivals and events that I’m very much part of. I’m talking about anything that can make reading ‘alive’. But also, as parents and carers, it might be thinking about how we can make books and reading part of our lives.
If we go on a visit or to see a show, what books and reading might support those visits and shows?
Biographies? Non-fiction? Fiction set in the time or place of the show?” Rosen’s point feels especially true in Bristol, where inspiration is everywhere.
In a city rich with history, culture and creativity, every street, building and park can become a treasure hunt for stories and can offer opportunities for children to see that reading can be a way of understanding the world around them.
Spotting blue plaques, absorbing information boards, following trail leaflets around historic buildings or discovering the inspiration behind local landmarks makes reading feel alive and encourages children to see it as a tool for exploration rather than something confined to a classroom.
Visiting the RWA or The Bristol Museum can spark an interest in stories about the lives of famous artists. A walk around Old Market might prompt questions about the people who lived there centuries ago, or joining a ghost tour adds a little mystery and imagination to the streets children already know – and enough excitement to send everyone home wanting to find out more.
None of this feels like “reading practice” – but perhaps that’s the point.There’s also something to be said for making reading a social, shared experience rather than a solitary one. Across the country this is supported by charities such as BookTrust and Coram Beanstalk, as well as bookshops, libraries, theatres and festivals which create opportunities for children to encounter stories with other people – and meet the people who created them.
Waterstones and independent bookshops like Gloucester Road Books, The Small City Bookshop, Storysmith, Max Minerva’s Marvellous Books, Heron Books, and Bookhaus Bristol offer regular author events and storytelling sessions where children can meet writers and illustrators, ask questions and discover new books alongside other young readers.
For a child who has lost their way with reading, a conversation with one of their knowledgeable booksellers can also make all the difference – they often know exactly which title will capture the imagination of a dinosaur nthusiast, an aspiring detective or a child fascinated by space.
There are the children’s book subscriptions too, which can build excitement for their next read: a new title arriving through the letterbox is like a little present to look forward to.
Libraries offer another route in. These vibrant community spaces do far more than lend books. Many host baby rhyme times, story sessions, craft activities and clubs for families, that are accessible to all. And the freedom to browse and borrow without having to buy a book gives families the chance to experiment with unfamiliar authors, genres and subjects.
The annual Summer Reading Challenge adds another incentive during the school holidays – encouraging children to read and celebrating their progress along the way. It allows children to choose books based on curiosity rather than curriculum, and that freedom matters.
Then there are the moments when books step completely off the page. The Storytale Festival brings a varied programme of events to the city which celebrates all that is wonderful about stories and books, with something to capture almost every child’s imagination. It gives children the chance to meet authors, illustrators and storytellers from their community, with the aim of inspiring them to love stories, be creative and follow their dreams.
Hearing a story brought to life can send young readers back to the page with renewed curiosity and hunger for more, and with the addition of performances, workshops and craft activities, it helps bring the world of books off the page with a sense of fun and enjoyment.
Theatre too, offers a similar invitation. Children’s productions and family performances at the Hippodrome, Bristol Old Vic, The Tobacco Factory Theatre, The Wardrobe Theatre and The Redgrave Theatre bring books vividly to life, allowing young audiences to experience stories in new ways. A play based on a favourite book can encourage reluctant readers to revisit the original, while seeing live storytelling reminds children that books are experiences rather than static words on a page.
The small moments also matter – reading a recipe, joke book or football match programme; a chapter before bedtime, listening to an audiobook in the car. Together, they can shape how children think about reading, helping them to notice the stories in the places they live, to ask questions, to follow their curiosity and discover books that connect with the things they already love.
This year’s Storytale Festival takes place over the weekend of 24-25 October. To see what’s on and book tickets, visit storytalefestival.com
Meet Storytale Festival founder Ellie Freeman
What inspired you to create Storytale Festival, and what did you hope it would give children that they might not get from simply picking up a book at home?
“It was a combination of things that sparked off the idea – my own love of reading, discovering there were so many talented illustrators and writers on my doorstep and my experience meeting families and community organisations all over the city in my previous job.
“ I think there is something special about meeting the people who create stories in all their forms – plays, poems, comics, non-fiction, picture books and novels as well as more traditional storytellers or performers. Reading rates are not great, and yet reading for pleasure has a huge impact on a child’s progress in life. I wanted to create a welcoming space, featuring a variety of literature which would appeal to a range of children and was affordable for families.”
What do you think makes a child fall in love with reading in the first place?
“I think escapism and imagination is a big part of it – seeing different worlds but also perhaps meeting characters that help you understand your own world. Learning about the world, history and culture through books is powerful.”
Why do you think festivals and literary events can be so powerful in helping children connect with books and stories?
“I think discovering books outside school is very important and being in a room of fellow book enthusiasts can be so inspiring. Part of our hope for Storytale is that children meet authors and illustrators that they can relate to – people that know their city, look like them and sound like them.
“Meeting a writer or illustrator, hearing about how they create their stories, perhaps a bit about their journey and giving children a chance to try things out for themselves will hopefully inspire some of the next generation of storytellers. And just having fun! If children can associate reading, writing, drawing and storytelling with joy and delight, we have done our job. “
How can storytelling help children develop a lifelong relationship with reading?
“Discovering the joy of reading when you are young is a gift for life. But your tastes change and I think it is important to recognise the full range of storytelling there is. Reading can help you learn about myths from other cultures, discover dangerous animals, hang out with pirates and solve mysteries. Children develop their sense of empathy through stories, can travel the world from their bedroom and discover new ways of thinking. Hearing stories and telling stories is a huge part of how we navigate our lives. Early experiences of being read-to have a long-lasting impact and help children to learn about books and reading before they can read themselves. “
