BookTrust

A photo of Frank Cottrell Boyce giving a speech at the NAVSH conference. A quote from him reads "There is a story for every one of these children that will help break down the identities imposed on them by the outside world"

We had a great time at the #NAVSH Annual Conference today, where @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social spoke about the power of shared reading for small, regular moments of connection.

We'll be here again tomorrow! Come and talk to us on stand 9.

We've been having lots of conversations at #NAVSH today about the power of shared reading for children in care.

It's something we heard about from Eddie and his foster dad, Luke, who helped to shape our recent short film #StoriesThatConnectUs.

Read their full story 📚

https://bit.ly/4rWTPxq

Thanks so much for spreading the word!

Calling all secondary schools! Get your Year 7 & 8 students excited about #readingforpleasure with @booktrust.org.uk Bookbuzz Secondary. Give your KS3 students the chance to keep a book they’ll love & you’ll get copies of 16 books for your school library too! bit.ly/4sB6INH 📚

📢 NEWS: We're thrilled to announce that the brilliant Tom Percival is our brand new #WriterInResidence!

Over the next six months, Tom will be exploring the link between reading and wellbeing.

Find out more 👇

https://bit.ly/4aWCYEY

The words "Books that celebrate inspirational women" and the front covers of books we recommend

Happy #InternationalWomensDay! 🎈

To help you celebrate, we've put together a booklist featuring stories of inspirational women.

Find it here, and let us know which books you would recommend 👇

https://www.booktrust.org.uk/book-recommendations/booklists/celebrating-inspirational-women/

The logo for Club Together, stars and sparkly lines, and the words: "Could your book club make a difference?"

📢 Could your book club do something amazing and help get children reading?

#ClubTogether for BookTrust by getting your free fundraising pack and hosting a bookish bonanza!

What will you choose to do?

Get more info here 👇

https://bit.ly/4rWA2hL

What works to get families reading together?

At the Education Committee's #ReadingForPleasure inquiry this week, our Co-CEO @anniecrombie.bsky.social shared the features of books that can help families to discover the joy of sharing stories in the early years!

More info:

https://bit.ly/4cYnbqu

A photo of a woman reading a book out loud, the Bookstart logo, and the words: "BookTrust Partner Survey 2026 - have your say!"

Did you know?

We use our BookTrust Partner Survey results when we’re speaking to government – and your thoughts have been shared with the First 1000 Days inquiry, the Early Years inquiry, and in our responses to government consultations.

Shape what we tell them next 👇

https://bit.ly/4l7JEUd

The Waterstones Children's Book Prize shortlists. Illustrated Books: My Rice is Best, Sleep Tight Disgusting Blob, Milo and the Mountain, and The Great Green Island. Younger Readers shortlist: Spirit Warriors, Wildlands, Evie and Maryam's Family Tree, and Unfairies

✨ Fancy winning one of the @waterstones.bsky.social Children's Book Prize shortlists?

We're giving you the chance to get your hands on either the Illustrated Books nominees or the books in the running for the Younger Readers award 👇

https://bit.ly/47g5dMr @waterstoneskids.bsky.social #WCBP26

📺 Watch the debate in full: bit.ly/4rTNWB7
📚 Find out more about the benefits of reading: bit.ly/4lm7coA
❤️ Discover how shared reading supports bonding and attachment: bit.ly/4rg63jE (4/4)

Shared reading has so many immediate and lifelong benefits for children.

We're grateful to all the MPs who attended this debate for recognising just how important it is that we support families to share stories together. (3/4)

Another highlight was @carolinevoadenmp.bsky.social drawing from our benefits of reading research overview to share how reading can drive social mobility.

And we loved hearing that @oliviabailey.bsky.social enjoyed meeting Her Majesty The Queen and Peter Rabbit at our centenary event! (2/4)

Thank you so much to @helenhayes.bsky.social for hosting a #WorldBookDay debate in Westminster Hall yesterday!

She brilliantly outlined the benefits of reading for pleasure and how it can support bonding and attachment between a child and their caregiver. (1/4)

Join us on 6 May for the 2026 iHV EBP Conference: "From Evidence to Action: Getting it right from the start".
Hear about the latest developments, research & innovations in #HealthVisiting & network with colleagues from across the UK to share best practice.
Book: sites.google.com/view/ebp-con...

An illustration of a woman and child cuddling inside a book. Dark blue text on a yellow background says stories that connect us - the power of shared reading for children in foster care, kinship care and adoption.

It's #WorldBookDay, but did you know that reading can make a particular difference to children in kinship care, foster care and adoption?

Find out how in our new film #StoriesThatConnectUs, which features the words of real families.

Watch now: https://bit.ly/3MKWKtY

"It's a book about magic, and for me it is magic, because I literally just have to pick it up and I'm a child again" ✨

Happy #WorldBookDay! Here's our Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social telling us about his favourite children's book.

Which book have you loved to bits? 💕

A photo of a teacher and child sharing a book. Text with a large quotation mark says Schools and nurseries and other settings are really, really important, because they are the place in which children are going to encounter texts, encounter books. Matthew Courtney, Director of Wandle Learning Partnership

On #WorldBookDay, we're sending a huge THANK YOU to all the teachers, school librarians and other educators helping to foster a love of reading!

Check out our Impact Report to discover how we support schools to make a difference: https://bit.ly/4sj2EkY

A photo of a woman and a child looking at a book together plus the words: "78,630 - the number of World Book Day early years vouchers we have distributed to our partners this year"

Happy #WorldBookDay! 🥳

Did you know? This year we've distributed 78,630 @worldbookdayuk.bsky.social vouchers through our network of early years partners!

Happy reading, everyone 📚

A graphic with a photo of Chante Timothy. Text says BookTrust Represents virtual author workshop for years 3 and 4. 11am Wednesday 18 March. Submit your questions!

We're so excited that @heychante.bsky.social is hosting our next #BookTrustRepresents virtual author workshop for Years 3 and 4.

She'll be telling us all about her book Supa Nova, winner of the recent #IBCAwards2026! 🏆

Sign up and send in your questions for Chanté now 👇

https://bit.ly/4aODt3T

A graphic promoting the ASCL annual conference 2026 with a photo of Frank Cottrell-Boyce, children's laureate.

Join us at the ASCL Annual Conference on 13 and 14 March!

Hear from the amazing Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate, and then come say hello to us at stand 11 👋

www.ascl.org.uk/annualconference

#ASCL2026 @ascl-uk.bsky.social

Wonderful! Huge congratulations to all the nominees!

We're so glad you find it useful! Do let us know if you have any questions for the Book Doctors 😊

We had a great comment recently asking for recommendations of books with a younger reading age, but where children still want to read similar themes and topics to their peers.

Do you have a question for our Book Doctors? Drop it in the comments! 📚

💡 What actions could government take to reverse the decline in reading for pleasure?

This is how our Co-CEO @anniecrombie.bsky.social responded when she was giving evidence at the Education Committee's #ReadingForPleasure inquiry today.

📺 Watch the full session here: https://bit.ly/4cpynwm

Annie Crombie giving evidence to the Education Committee

🚨Happening now!

Our Co-CEO Annie Crombie is currently giving evidence to the Education Committee's #ReadingForPleasure inquiry.

Watch live here 👇

parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/... @helenhayes.bsky.social

A photo of Frank Cottrell-Boyce and a young child making hand symbols while enjoying a book together plus the BookTrust Bookstart logo and the words: "Webinar: Celebrating the National Year of Reading - join BookTrust and Frank Cottrell-Boyce - 10.30am, Monday 23 March"

🗓️ We have an exciting webinar coming up to celebrate the National Year of Reading!

@frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social will join us to share the inspiration he has drawn from meeting early years practitioners and we'll be launching our new #ShareYourStory campaign, too 👇

https://bit.ly/4b4ikS9

Photos of school children excitedly looking at books. Dark blue text says Bookbuzz registration is now open!

#Bookbuzz registration is now open... and we have some very exciting news!

Not only is Bookbuzz Secondary back for another year, but today we're also launching Bookbuzz Primary for Key Stage 2!

Order now to give children the chance to choose and keep a book they'll love 👇

https://bit.ly/40zuCNw

We've just spotted that the AMAZING @helentamblyn.bsky.social - who is running the #LondonMarathon for us - has hit her £2k target.

Well done Helen, we're so proud of you, so grateful... and cheering you on every step of the way! 🥳

A colourful collage of book covers. Dark blue text on a green background says books we love in March.

Books we love in March 💙

Every month, we review dozens of books for children and teenagers.

Here are our top picks this month 👇

https://bit.ly/487zIVT