Today sees the launch of a new pilot programme, Puffin World of Stories, which aims to inspire 13,000 primary school children across the UK to read for pleasure.
The pilot programme, run in partnership with Puffin (part of Penguin Random House), will equip 50 primary schools with the books, materials, training and resources they need to champion reading for pleasure across the whole school, and reinvigorate their school libraries and reading spaces.
Puffin World of Stories is one pillar of our broader partnership with Penguin Random House UK to support both organisations’ commitment to tackling urgent social mobility issues in the UK.
Our Director, Jonathan Douglas, said: “Puffin World of Stories is a fantastic opportunity to help thousands of children discover the joys of reading by making their school libraries and reading spaces fun, exciting and inspiring places to go. Children who enjoy reading are more likely to succeed at school and later in life, so we must continue to do everything we can to help children fall in love with reading for a lifetime.”
Jacqueline Wilson, Penguin Random House Children’s author and ambassador for Puffin World of Stories, said: “Reading for pleasure is the most important gift you can give children. In our schools we teach children to read, but we also need to bring to life the joy of books. Books are not just for learning grammar or comprehension, they are stories to delight and engage.”
Puffin World of Stories is currently being piloted with 50 target primary schools in Middlesbrough and Tyne and Wear, South London and Tendring in Essex.
If you'd like to find out more about the programme and be notified if it rolls out to other schools, please visit: literacytrust.org.uk/puffin-world-of-stories