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...

Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Olivia Bailey MP standing either side of a Reading Rights banner in Westminster Abbey

Our #ReadingRights Early Years Summit at @westminsterabbey.bsky.social brought together leaders and professionals to discuss how to make shared reading a reality for every child in every community.

Our Policy and Public Affairs Lead @mercsam.bsky.social reflects on the day:

https://bit.ly/474acA6

A highlight this week was joining early years experts at @westminsterabbey.bsky.social for our #ReadingRights summit.

It was such an inspiring day, but just one step on our Reading Rights journey.

We need everyone to join in so we can make a difference together!

Here's what we want to see next...

We've had a great day at @westminsterabbey.bsky.social, convening leaders across the early years as part of our #ReadingRights campaign!

@oliviabailey.bsky.social & @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social joined practitioners to discuss how we can drive system change.

Stay tuned for more info soon!

A photo of a woman and a child looking at a book in a library

Thank you to @local.gov.uk for featuring our pilot with @barnsleycouncil.bsky.social on their website during their Public Health Conference with @adphuk.bsky.social.

We're working with local services to integrate shared reading into public health pathways:

https://bit.ly/3MKp67B #ReadingRights

"Books are the only time when children... particularly young babies... get the chance to experience this very slowed down pace of reality where they're in control."

@profsamwass.bsky.social explains what happens to babies’ brains when they’re read to by the people who care for them.

#ReadingRights

A toddler smiles into the camera. There is a stack of colourful picture books on her lap and on the floor beside her.

The #ReadingRights campaign calls for national provision so that every child has access to books and reading from their earliest years.

Find out more here: www.booktrust.org.uk/about-us/rea...

Frank Cottrell-Boyce smiles in a meeting with partners at a library in Barnsley.

Earlier this week, @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social and BookTrust met with Barnsley #ReadingRights pilot partners at Goldthorpe Library to discuss updates on the work that’s been happening, and next steps for taking learning forwards.

@barnsleycouncil.bsky.social

A woman reads a picture book to a young child in a library.

For the next stage of the #ReadingRights campaign, we’ve been collaborating with partners including @barnsleycouncil.bsky.social to explore ways to increase support for practitioners and families, so more children can access shared reading and the advantages it brings from their earliest years.

"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.

Our submissions to the Committee’s inquiries into early years & reading for pleasure highlight our #ReadingRights vision for putting shared reading & reading for pleasure at the heart of the govt's plans to give every child the #BestStartInLife.

We'll keep engaging with & supporting the Committee!

This fantastic piece from Anna highlights our place-based work in Barnsley as part of our #ReadingRights campaign.

We're working with experts and practitioners across sectors and across the country to reach families where they are with support to enjoy the benefits of reading.

What a year for #ReadingRights!

It's been amazing to work with @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social on the Reading Rights campaign, his flagship project as @waterstones.bsky.social Children’s Laureate.

See what we've been up to together, and find out more about the campaign👇

https://bit.ly/4sg1AiJ

Frank Cottrell-Boyce reads a story to a class. He is smiling with his hands up on his head, like animal ears.

"If they're missing out on stories, they're missing out on opening up their world"

@waterstones.bsky.social Children’s Laureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social visited Trinity Catholic Academy to see how staff are supporting parents to share books at home. https://bit.ly/47YTdjl #ReadingRights

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 about our #ReadingRights campaign, which aims to ensure that every child can grow up with the invisible privilege of reading from their earliest days 👇

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

At this age shared reading plays a foundational role in supporting educational, cognitive and emotional outcomes and overcoming inequalities.

Experiencing these benefits must be considered the right of all children.

www.booktrust.org.uk/resources/re... #ReadingRights

How bedtime stories synchronise your child’s brain with yours When parents read to young children their neural patterns begins to align, an experience no screen can match

Thanks to @thetimes.com for joining us, @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social & @profsamwass.bsky.social to explore the neuroscience of early shared reading.

This is why it’s key we #GetBritainReading & why our #ReadingRights report explores how to make that happen 👇

www.thetimes.com/uk/get-brita...

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

An illustration of a child absorbed in a book as magical creatures are created in clouds behind him. Plus the words: "How reading can support children in kinship care", the URL booktrust.org.uk/readingrights and logos for Waterstones Children's Laureate, Arts Council England, and BookTrust

#KinshipCareWeek is a vital reminder of the work we can do together to support carers and children.

Our #ReadingRights report includes information about the experiences of kinship carers and the role shared reading can play for them.

Read it here:

https://bit.ly/42z0jbi

We're delighted to share that for the next stage of our #ReadingRights campaign with @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social, we're teaming up with Barnsley Council for a pilot that brings services together to get families reading.

Find out how we kicked off the project 👇

https://bit.ly/4mNTb1P

Today - 09/10/2025 - BBC Sounds News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.

We loved listening to @profsamwass.bsky.social on Today this morning sharing why books are the perfect form of connection for very young children.

That's why our #ReadingRights campaign highlights the importance of early shared reading.

Listen from 2h25m 🎧

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

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…

You can read the #ReadingRights report here:

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

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

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…

The government’s renewed focus on delivering change is a fantastic opportunity to bring the proposals in our #ReadingRights report to life, ensuring every child has the best start in life.

Read the report here:

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

Looking at books together, following the baby's pace and interest, is a wonderful start to the shared reading experience. Early picture books can be discussed in any/all languages,setting the scene for children's multilingual literacy!
#SlowReading #ReadingRights #multilingual #literacy #books