The Bookseller - News - Children's reading remains a top priority for UK public despite challenges, new PA survey shows

Last month, the annual "What Kids Are Reading Report" - which has tracked the reading habits of children over the past 16 years - showed a 4.4% drop in the number of books being read by young people, and showed that this is particularly a problem among secondary school pupils. This year and the first year of the pandemic were the only times that the results have shown a decline since 2008.

The PA's c.e.o Dan Conway said the body is "ready to work with the new government" to address the barriers that prevent children from reading books for enjoyment, which the research suggests remains a priority for parents and caregivers across the country.

The researchers from the consultancy Savanta interviewed 2,867 adults across the UK from 29th June to 1st July 2024, asking them how they feel about children's access to books and the significance of this issue. According to the PA, 92% thought that it is important for children to have access to books to read for fun, while 68% said this is "very important" to them.