An award-winning children’s author has visited a nursery in Perivale to encourage young children to discover the joy of reading, as national figures suggest enthusiasm for books among children has fallen sharply.
Laura Henry-Allain MBE, creator of the popular JoJo and Gran Gran series, spent time with children at Busy Bees nursery, leading a storytelling session and speaking about the importance of sharing books from an early age.
The visit comes amid concern about declining reading habits among children. Research from the National Literacy Trust indicates that children’s enjoyment of reading is at its lowest level in two decades. Only around one in three children say they enjoy reading in their free time, while the proportion of parents who read with their child every day has fallen from about two-thirds in 2019 to just over half.
At the nursery, children gathered to hear Ms Henry-Allain read from some of her books, including Lulu Loves the Library and Maya and Marley – and the Great Big Tidy Up, before taking part in discussions about stories and imagination.
The event formed part of Busy Bees’ “Get the Reading Buzz” campaign, a nationwide initiative that aims to share 45 million books with children by 2026.
Sian Forbes-White, centre director at Busy Bees Perivale, said: “Storytelling is at the heart of our Bee Curious curriculum and we were delighted to welcome Laura, who shares our passion for fostering a love of reading from an early age.
“This visit reflects our pledge to nurture early literacy skills through playful, engaging experiences that spark imagination and inspire a lifelong love of books.”
Ms Henry-Allain, who is also an ambassador for the National Year of Reading, said: “Stories have a unique power to bring us closer together. When we read with children, we’re not just sharing a book, we’re building confidence, curiosity and connection.
“I’m delighted to be working with Busy Bees to help families rediscover the joy of reading together.”
