Reading is ‘invisible privilege’, says new Children’s Laureate

Reading is an “invisible privilege” which many children in Britain are being denied, according to Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the new Children’s Laureate.

Studies show that children who have not been read to when they were young face “massive barriers” as they go through life.

“For too long, the life-changing benefits of children’s reading have not been taken seriously. And now – as our children face an unknown future – we risk losing a generation unless we act,” Cottrell-Boyce said in his inaugural speech, warning that there is “an epidemic of childhood unhappiness” post-pandemic.

“Reading is an invisible privilege that those who have don’t think about. It’s harder to see than other outward signs of poverty, but it’s just as real.”

Having access to books as a young child offers “the keys to the kingdom”, he said. “And if one child is locked out, the whole kingdom is diminished.”

Research from BookTrust found that only half of children aged 1-2 from low-income families are read to daily. Furthermore, children from low-income families who do well at the end of primary school are twice as likely to have been read to early in their lives.

“Reading isn’t a silver bullet to solve world poverty, I know that. But it is a major way to improve equality and bring fairness. To dramatically improve the quality of family life and open up possibilities, opportunities. We know children who read have tools for life at their disposal,” Cottrell-Boyce said.

“It is not right and not fair that children who could benefit the most are deprived of a life that is rich in reading.”

Referring to the pandemic, Cottrell-Boyce said that “the last time children faced disruption on this scale was during the mass evacuation of World War Two”.

He added: “Our children are living through the aftermath of a series of crises – the pandemic, a series of wars and an unfolding environmental crisis. The only public conversation is about how we can make our children ‘catch up’ – which seems to me a kind of code for forgetting this ever happened.

“None of us has the slightest idea about what the future now holds for them – but the one thing we do know is that they will need to know how to be happy.”

Cottrell-Boyce’s books for children include Millions, Cosmic and sequels to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He is also a screenwriter, whose credits include 24 Hour Party People – and, along with Danny Boyle, he devised the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics.

He succeeds Joseph Coelho as the Waterstones Children’s Laureate. The post was set up 25 years ago by Ted Hughes, then Poet Laureate, and Michael Morpurgo, and is held for two years. Previous holders include Quentin Blake, Jacqueline Wilson and Malorie Blackman.

Inequality has risen since the laureateship was created, Cottrell-Boyce said: “We’ve lost a thousand libraries. In the meantime, sales of super yachts have risen by 42 per cent.”

The father-of-seven called for national provision so that every child, from their earliest years, has access to books.

He said that his tenure “will be about campaigning for a visible sign that this country values its children – to show them they are important.

“I’m going to do everything in my power to get reading as a right for all into the national conversation.”

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