March 2021

In a month that saw schools re-opening to all children and we marked the anniversary of the first lockdown, we wanted to do something a little bit different with our regular 'Book of the Month' feature and celebrate children’s own reading choices.

We asked some of the children in our own lives what they had enjoyed reading recently and why.

Their answers can be seen below and we hope they will inspire you not only to check out some of these recommendations but also to have the same conversation with the children in your life.

We all feel differently about something we have chosen to pick up ourselves compared to how we feel when we are being ‘made’ to do it so giving children choice is incredibly important when encouraging them to read.

We hope you find the reasons why children find particular books “brilliant” illuminating… it’s part of the joy of sharing reading that we can all sometimes be surprised!

Danny, aged 13, has been reading 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry, he says:

“I like this book because it makes me think of what it would be like to live in a different society. It makes me realise that I am lucky to have quite a lot of freedom.”

Seth is 10. He has picked 'Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse' by Rick Riordan.

He likes it because it is really funny and tense. He likes the descriptions, the situations and it is part of a series he is reading. It has Greek gods in and he says he finds that very interesting. Two of the characters have died, Bianca and Zoe... “Bianca sacrificed her life to save someone else, so that was really sad, and Zoe was killed by her father and that was also sad.”

Emma, aged 8, loves all the Harry Potter books by JK Rowling.

At the moment she’s also loving Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl because she and Adam (her brother) can read it together. They read paragraphs in turn. She loves reading and rereading chapter books, like Charlotte’s Web and Heidi, and hopes she’ll get more books for her birthday!

Aiden, who is seven, is reading 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' by Jeff Kinney “because it has over 200 pages and I can read that now.”

'Peanut Butter and Jelly' (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #3) is the choice of 6 year old Adam.

He told us he is really enjoying reading these books (he has a set of four) because he loves narwhals and they have great jokes.

“Why is 6 afraid of 7? Do you give up Grandma? Because 7, 8, 9.”

Alex, aged 4, chose 'Jeremy Worried about the Wind' by Pamela Butchart.

Why? “Because he flies off and leaves his shoes behind and that's funny.” Indeed it is, Alex!

Cormac, aged 11 is reading Pamela Butchard books because they're funny and cheer me up when I'm sad. My favourite is 'There's A Werewolf In My Tent'. 

Darcy-Mae, aged 10 years is reading 'The Beast of Buckingham Palace' by David Walliams.

“I am really enjoying this book and it is quite scary in parts which makes me want to read more. I like that the main character is named after the author's son, Alfred, as well.”

Archie, aged 6yrs has been enjoying 'Chicken Licken' by Jeremy Strong & Tony Blundell.

“I like the names of the animals and that fox is a real meanie!”

Samuel, aged 10 years is reading 'Tom's Midnight Garden' by Philippa Pearce.

He told us he is reading it because 'it increases my vocabulary and gives me ideas for my own story writing!".