Storytime sessions encouraging children to read

Libraries in Cornwall are hosting storytelling sessions for children as a literacy charity said it had recorded its lowest ever number of young people that choose to read for pleasure.

The National Literacy Trust survey found only one-in-three children in the UK said they enjoyed reading for pleasure said it was the lowest level of reading recorded in the past 20 years.

Manager of Falmouth Library Jayne Cardew said Storytime events at libraries were encouraging children to become involved with books.

"If you don't expose children to books, they're missing out," she said.

Polly, a mother and teacher in Falmouth who attended a recent Storytime event, said: "It's really important for children to see books being modelled, so children really need to see their parents reading and enjoying books."

Ms Cardew said she valued the physical nature of books.

She said: "It's about making children used to coming into the library, holding books, listening to stories and getting them familiar with the whole feel of it, because that lays a great foundation for them for when they're starting to read themselves."

Liz Kessler, an author of children's books who has lived in St Ives for 12 years, has heard some children say they were worried about being seen reading.

She said: "I've had two girls come up to me at the end of an event and they said, almost whispering: 'We just wanted to say we really love your books'."

When the author asked why they had not put their hands up when she had asked the class who enjoyed reading, she said they replied: "We didn't want to be bullied."

However, Jo Knuckey, a project manager at the National Literacy Trust, said all types of engagement with books was valuable and "it's cool to be seen with a book".

She said: "For children and young people, it's important that they feel reading is part of their image and we're delighted if they're reading from a tablet, a smartphone or listening to audio books."

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