Much-loved author Michael Rosen helped Great Western Railway (GWR) launch its new Adventures in reading campaign inspiring children to keep turning pages during the summer holidays.
Michael joined young book enthusiasts on board a train from London Paddington to Reading for a special storytelling session, officially opening 10 new Little Libraries at stations across the GWR network.
Launched as part of the National Year of Reading, the initiative is designed to help families make reading part of every rail journey after new research commissioned by GWR revealed children’s reading habits and confidence can dip over the long summer break – a phenomenon parents describe as the “September Stumble”.
Key findings from the research include:
- Screen Time v Story Time: The data highlights a shift in summer habits, with children spending an average of 11 hours watching TV, using tablets and phones and gaming per week during the summer holidays, compared to spending an average of just 3 hours per week reading.
- The Freedom Effect: 1 in 2 parents (50%) report that without the daily routine of the classroom, independent reading struggles to compete against the lure of other holiday activities.
- The Confidence Gap: 1 in 5 parents report a noticeable ‘September Stumble,’ noting that their children actively struggle with words in September that they knew perfectly well at the end of the school term in July.
- The Autumn Catch-Up: Over a quarter report that it takes an average of 3-4 weeks of the autumn term just to get their child’s reading confidence back to pre-summer levels.
To combat this decline and remind parents to keep reading with their children while schools are closed, GWR has rolled out 10 beautifully-crafted Little Libraries at key stations across its network, including, of course, at Reading station.
Operating on a “give-and-take” basis, the libraries will be stocked with a diverse mix of books catering to all ages. Families embarking on summer staycations or day trips are invited to pick up a book for their journey, swap an old favourite, or leave a finished story behind for the next passenger.
GWR Head of External Communications, Dan Panes, said:
The summer holidays should be full of adventure, but our research shows that children’s reading levels can take a real hit while they’re away from the classroom. By putting Little Libraries at our stations, we want to make reading a seamless part of the summer travel experience. And honestly, where better to kick off a journey toward better literacy than right here at Reading station?
Children’s author, Michael Rosen, added:
Stories have the power to transport children to completely new worlds, whether they are sitting at home or travelling on a train. It’s vital that we keep that spark alive over the summer months. GWR’s Little Libraries are a wonderful, practical way to put books directly into the hands of young travellers, ensuring the magic of reading doesn’t stop when the school gates close.
The 10 Little Libraries are located at Didcot Parkway, Exeter St Davids, Gloucester, Penzance, Plymouth, Reading, Swindon, Truro, Westbury and Worcestershire Parkway.
Books include We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Barking for Bagels, Rigatoni the Pasta Cat, and Snow White and the Seven Bears, perfect for travelling families to take a few minutes, sit back and get lost in a story with their children.
