Children’s laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce has called for national action to tackle a growing reading crisis, as new research shows daily shared reading among families with young children has fallen.
Children’s laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce has urged national action to address the children’s “reading crisis” as fresh research indicates families are finding it increasingly difficult to incorporate reading into everyday routines.
During a lecture at London’s Royal Institution, hosted by children’s reading charity BookTrust, he maintained that evidence demonstrates children’s enthusiasm for reading remains strong, but families require greater support.
He suggested the UK is confronting a serious crisis in children’s development, linking this to broader pressures including poverty, housing instability, social isolation and the decline of local services such as libraries and youth facilities.
Part of this difficulty is that far too many children are beginning school without regularly experiencing the comfort of shared stories and books, he said.
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To accompany his address, BookTrust has published findings from its most recent family survey, which revealed that between 2021 and 2025 daily shared reading among families with children aged up to eight dropped from 60% to 49%.
By contrast, the proportion of children aged up to eight reported to like or love reading increased from 66% to 80%. The research found that more than a third (36%) of parents or carers express concern about their child’s screen usage, including roughly a quarter (27%) of those with children under one.
Nearly half (48%) say that shared reading helps their child to reduce time spent on screens, indicating it can assist families in reconnecting. Cottrell-Boyce’s address, delivered during the National Year of Reading and marking the conclusion of his two-year stint as children’s laureate, also saw him look back on the achievements of his reading rights campaign, which seeks to ensure shared reading forms part of every childhood and that all children can access books.
He announced his new position as reading rights ambassador for BookTrust and urged more people to get involved with the reading rights movement. Cottrell-Boyce said: “Working with BookTrust over the last two years as children’s laureate has been a hugely rewarding experience.
“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.
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“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.”
Annie Crombie, co-chief executive of BookTrust, said: “Frank has spent the last two years making an extraordinary case for reading as a right, not a privilege. 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.”
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