First they said they needed data about the children to find out what they’re learning. Then they said they needed data about the children to make sure they are learning. Then the children only learnt what could be turned into data. Then the children became data. -Michael Rosen

Children's books are not a luxury. Libraries & librarians are not a luxury. The teachers who inspire kids to read are not a luxury. If you cut or undermine or lose these things – #literacy will cease to be a basic human right, and will become a luxury, available only to a few.

If you want to share a really special gift this #ValentinesDay, read to a child. It's an expression of love that will last a lifetime ❤️ Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Did you know that in the UK, we spend £12 per capita on our public libraries, while the European average is £25 and in Finland, they spend £50 per capita? We insist that there are libraries in our prisons, but not in our schools and public libraries are constantly under threat.

I've never understood how institutions that are in the business of teaching children to read and learn and acquire numerous skills and qualifications do not consider a library to be an essential part of this process.

"I always hesitate to bring my political beliefs into this space. I don’t think my listeners would expect that from me and some of you will find it disappointing: not what you were looking for... " [1 of 2]

Stop scrolling! This is the perfect book for children in years 1&2 The Last Wolf by Mini Grey, published by Red Fox Picture Books. ✨

Another Open University Reading for Pleasure Conference complete, this time in Doncaster ✅ Taking our pop-up bookshop to these events is always a joy, for the brilliant authors, teachers, librarians and reading advocates we meet. #OURfPConference Reading for Pleasure 🧶

We are very sad to hear of the death of Aidan Chambers. A full obituary will be published shortly, in the meantime, here's a link to our 2001 Authorgraph in which he discusses his writing with Geoff Fox #KidLit #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/author…

Oh goodness me! That is such a loss his work both in writing publishing and academia was absolutely groundbreaking. We owe the whole concept of YA literature to him

EVERY CHILD CAN BE A READER. Give them the widest possible range of books; then let them choose freely & read for pleasure, with no strings attached. The books we love are the ones that make us readers – choice is a right all readers should have! #literacy (Art: Quentin Blake)

This is absolutely crucial from Jonathan Douglas. Libraries and librarians create the readers of the future, ensuring access for all. They are vital, and need to be fully supported and funded!

michaelrosenblog.blogspot.com/2025/07/how-do…

READING FOR PLEASURE has the biggest positive impact of any factor on children’s life chances. So whatever else you do, please never stop helping kids find books to read & love. Never stop sharing books, talking about books, celebrating books. It'll change their lives! #literacy

Always make time to take your kids to libraries & bookshops. Always let them browse freely. These are places of magic & wonder - the places where we find the books that make us readers, and stay with us forever. These places change our lives! #literacy

The books we love when we're young change our lives forever - and so do the people who help us find those books. So here's an everlasting THANK YOU to all the amazing teachers, librarians, booksellers & everyone else out there who's helping kids find books they love! #literacy

I remember one of the Ahlberg's saying "we decided to put as much work into a picture book as Tolstoy put into War and Peace". And they did. And the world was better for it.

Steve Lawrence Yes indeed. Imagine if the money that has been and will be spent on 'delivering' this new test could be spent on supporting Reading for Pleasure! (I made this point to Ed Balls when he was Education Minister in around 2008)

This is such great news, not least because the prize is for books for 8-12 year olds, a category regularly sidelined by the Carnegie Awards - and yet primary school is the place where life-long readers begin. theguardian.com/books/2025/oct…

Everything about the new Booker Prize Children's Award is brilliant news! The equal status with adult literature, the involvement of children themselves, the judging led by Frank Cottrell-Boyce and the age group being 8-12. theguardian.com/books/2025/oct…