Two photos of Frank Cottrell-Boyce sharing a story with families in a room decorated with balloons, rugs, lamps, books, and other cosy things. In one photo he's standing up with a book in one hand and a giraffe puppet in the other; in the other photo, he's sitting cross-legged on the floor. In both photos, young children and families watch on.

We're in Knowsley today, enjoying story time with our Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social!

He is such a brilliant advocate for the magic of sharing stories and has certainly brought that to life today ✨

Stay tuned for more about our #ReadingRights work in Knowsley soon!

💡 What's the one thing people should know about early shared reading?

That's what we asked Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social and our Co-CEO @anniecrombie.bsky.social at our #ReadingRights Early Years Summit at Westminster Abbey earlier this month...

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" plus a circle reading "One week to go"

📢 There's just one week to go until our #NationalYearOfReading webinar with Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce!

Join us to find out more about how we can work together to support families to share stories in the early years:

https://bit.ly/4l68Nyv #NationalYearOfReading2026

Join us at the ASCL Annual Conference this week!

We're looking forward to hearing from some inspiring speakers, including Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate.

We'll be at Stand 11, see you there! 👋

www.ascl.org.uk/annualconference

@ascl-uk.bsky.social #ASCL2026

"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 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

"If you've been read to from an early age, you've been given an enormous invisible privilege"

As part of the #ReadingRights campaign, Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social visited a nursery in Liverpool to see why story-sharing interventions are so vital.

Helen Hayes MP, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, and BookTrust Co-CEO Annie Crombie

This week our Co-CEO @anniecrombie.bsky.social & #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social were delighted to meet with @helenhayes.bsky.social, chair of the Education Select Committee!

It was great to discuss how sharing books & stories in the early years has immediate & lifelong benefits.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce sitting on the floor of a nursery smiling and sharing a book with a young girl who is standing next to him and pointing at something on one of the pages

Our Co-CEO @anniecrombie.bsky.social & Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social were pleased to meet with Early Education Minister @oliviabailey.bsky.social this week to discuss how sharing stories in the early years is fundamental to giving every child the best start in life.

This will be a wonderful addition to the world of children’s books, and we're thrilled our Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social will be the first chair of judges!

This prize will help to raise the profile of children’s books and inspire a lifelong love of reading.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce with a group of health visitors in Newcastle plus a quote from him: "This Reading Rights campaign is about families' wellbeing and health, mental health and love"

We're proud to work with fantastic health visitors across the country to deliver our programmes to families!

Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social was inspired when he discovered how health visitors in Newcastle use our resources 👇

https://bit.ly/49eqbgD #ReadingRights

The words "Reading Rights: The Early Years ecosystem" above a hive-style design displaying the different early years services covering Best Start In Life (antenatal to 5 years old); Nurseries and Schools (3-5 years old); and Vulnerable Children (antenatal to 7 years old). Plus the URL booktrust.org.uk/readingrights and logos for Waterstones Children's Laureate, Arts Council England, and BookTrust

We celebrated #StorySharerWeek this week - and it was a welcome reminder of what we can achieve when we work together across sectors.

Our #ReadingRights report with Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social shares our vision for a City of Stories:

https://bit.ly/494JSY3

"Honestly, you are magicians."

It's #StorySharerWeek, our annual celebration of our Early Years partners - and who better to kick things off than Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social?

Stay tuned for tips and tricks, research, and some very exciting news...

The panel (Johanna Thomas-Corr, Tracy Jackson, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Annie Crombie) on stage at Cheltenham Festival - with a screen titled 'The Reading Revolution' and a photo of Frank Cottrell-Boyce.

The panel (Johanna Thomas-Corr, Tracy Jackson, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Annie Crombie) on stage at Cheltenham Festival - with a screen titled 'The Reading Revolution' and a photo of Frank Cottrell-Boyce.

Today at #CheltLitFest our Co-CEO @anniecrombie.bsky.social and Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social appeared on a panel to discuss the Reading Revolution!

They explored the importance of daily rituals, bonding through reading, and how to make story sharing child-led 📚

The Reading Revolution | Cheltenham Festivals Reading aloud to little ones really matters. Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, BookTrust’s Annie Crombie and early years expert Tracy Jackson explo

📅 EVENT: If you'll be at Cheltenham Literature Festival this weekend, don't miss this session featuring Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social and our Co-CEO @anniecrombie.bsky.social!

They'll explore the power of shared reading in the early years:

https://bit.ly/3KLLU5k

Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips Sky News' flagship Sunday morning programme each week at 8:30am

"Being read to when you’re very young is such a great boost."

Great to see our Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social @ #LabourConference2025 talking the importance of shared reading & our #ReadingRights report on @news.sky.com.

📺 From 52 mins:

news.sky.com/sunday-morni...

A photo of Frank Cottrell-Boyce and a quote from him: "Why can't we roll this out wider? Why can't we share this best practice? Why can't everyone have a piece of this joy?" Plus the URL booktrust.org.uk/readingrights and logos for Waterstones Children's Laureate, Arts Council England, and BookTrust

The #ReadingRights campaign is about making sure every child has access to the lifelong benefits of reading.

Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social visited a family hub to find out how they're using reading to support speech and language:

https://bit.ly/482ou5u

A photo of Frank Cottrell-Boyce sharing a book with an excited-looking girl, plus the URL booktrust.org.uk/readingrights and the logos for Waterstones Children's Laureate, Arts Council England, and BookTrust

Today we are wishing a big happy birthday to our Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social 🎈

Thank you so much Frank - for constantly inspiring children, and for advocating for them too.

Find out what Frank's been doing with the #ReadingRights campaign:

https://bit.ly/4pFxWSO

An illustration by Chris Riddell of a bear and bear cub enjoying a book together - the cub is laughing and the bear is smiling. Plus a quote from Vicki Shutt, Reading and Parental Engagement Lead at The Trinity Catholic Academy: "If families are missing out on reading stories every night, they're missing out on opening up their child's world, on quiet time together, and bonding". Plus the URL booktrust.org.uk/readingrights and logos for Waterstones Children's Laureate, Arts Council England, and BookTrust

As part of the #ReadingRights campaign, Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social visited the school closest to where he grew up to find out how they are engaging families with books and reading.

Find out more:

https://bit.ly/48lvUAN

An illustration of Children's Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza by Chris Riddell, plus a quote from her: "The right of every child to read is something so fundamental, yet so often undervalued and overlooked." And the words: "Support Reading Rights so every child has access to the transformational benefits of reading." Plus the URL booktrust.org.uk/readingrights and logos for Waterstones Children's Laureate, Arts Council England, and BookTrust

Thank you so much to Dame Rachel de Souza for supporting our #ReadingRights campaign with Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social.

Books build a brighter future for children. But we need support to make this happen.

Find out more 👇

www.booktrust.org.uk/about-us/rea...

It's great to see @stephenmorganmp.bsky.social opening the #BestStartInLife debate here.

Our Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social and Co-CEO @dianajgerald.bsky.social enjoyed meeting Stephen this week to discuss the Best Start in Life and our #ReadingRights campaign.

Waterstones Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce and BookTrust Co-CEO Diana Gerald outside the Department for Education

Our Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social and Co-CEO @dianajgerald.bsky.social were delighted to meet @cmckinnellmp.bsky.social this week.

It was fantastic talking to her about our #ReadingRights campaign and hearing about all of her great plans!

A photo of a baby wearing a cap with wires attached being read to, plus the words: "The science behind the benefits of reading for babies"

We loved joining @profsamwass.bsky.social & Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social at a Baby Lab to discover what happens to babies' brains when they're read to.

Discover the neuroscience behind shared reading & how it enables children to flourish and thrive:

bit.ly/44YCeMu

Thanks so much to @helenhayes.bsky.social for highlighting our #ReadingRights campaign with Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social in the House of Commons yesterday.

The words: "Reading Rights: Building a City of Stories. Support Reading Rights so every child has access to the benefits of reading." Plus illustrations of buildings on either side, the URL booktrust.org.uk/readingrights, and logos for Waterstones Children's Laureate, Arts Council England, and BookTrust

A City of Stories is a place where early childhood reading and storytelling is part of everyday life for every family.

Our #ReadingRights report with Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social explores how we can join up services across the community:

bit.ly/3IC9SPm

One year ago today, @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social became our Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate.

Since then, he hasn't stopped fighting passionately for all children to experience the transformative benefits of reading.

Find out more about the #ReadingRights campaign:

bit.ly/4evFTo7

An illustration by Chris Riddell of a child reading with clouds and magical creatures - a giant, dragon, queen, robot and UFO - appearing behind them. Plus the words: "Reading for children in contact with the Social Care system", URL booktrust.org.uk/readingrights and logos for Waterstones Children's Laureate, Arts Council England, and BookTrust

We know that shared reading can be particularly transformative for children in contact with the social care system.

Our #ReadingRights report with Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social sets out our vision for how we can work together to support these children with reading 🧵

Reading Rights: Books Build a Brighter Future "For too long, the life-changing benefits of children’s reading have not been taken seriously. And now – as our children face an unknown future – we risk…

Find out more about our vision for reading in nurseries and schools - including research, case studies, and more - in our #ReadingRights report with Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social:

www.booktrust.org.uk/about-us/rea...

Reading Rights: Books Build a Brighter Future "For too long, the life-changing benefits of children’s reading have not been taken seriously. And now – as our children face an unknown future – we risk…

Discover more about reading for the best start in life - including the research, the barriers, case studies, and more - in our #ReadingRights report with Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social 👇

www.booktrust.org.uk/about-us/rea...

First time @kidslitfest in #BeckTheatre #Hayes .
#PaddingtonMovie script co-writer, #childrenslaureate and all round kindest #NationalTreasure
@frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social encouraged, engaged and motivated our young readers with complete ease. What an event!
#readingforpleasure
#BCLF