A child discovers a book they love. A reluctant reader begins to grow in confidence. A child finds escape and comfort in a story and starts to see new possibilities for themselves. These are small moments with lasting power: stories of change, hope and opportunity that can help transform a child’s life
Many of us grew up knowing the joy of being completely absorbed in a book: the feeling of entering another world, escaping into someone else’s life, and looking forward to the next chapter. We know books are important and wonderful, but we do not always stop to consider how powerfully books and reading can shape children’s lives.
We often speak about the positive impact of reading on literacy, numeracy and academic success. But reading is also about imagination, comfort, equity and empathy. It matters because the challenges children and young people face in life can be encountered, questioned and explored safely in books. There is power in a book, freedom in a story and wonder in a new world.
Our Lady Immaculate – family day end of programme celebration. Julien Behal Photography
That is why Children’s Books Ireland exists: to help more children experience reading for joy. A vast body of research shows that reading for joy positively impacts children’s health, wellbeing and future prospects. Children who are most engaged with reading are three times more likely to have good mental wellbeing than children who are least engaged. Regular readers are more likely to overcome disadvantage caused by inequality.
Yet not every child grows up surrounded by books or has the opportunity to discover reading in a meaningful way. Our research shows that fifty per cent of children on the island of Ireland own 15 books or less. According to Growing Up in Ireland, the national longitudinal study of children and young people, 19% of 13-year-olds say they never read, increasing to 53% at age 17.
Children’s Books Ireland works to change this through book-gifting programmes, school-based reading initiatives, charity partnerships, expert guidance for families and teachers, and support for the artists who create the stories children fall in love with.
Over the last five years, Children’s Books Ireland has gifted more than 300,000 books to children and young people who need them most and reached more than half a million children and young people through our programmes. We know this work matters because children and young people tell us; following our Everyone A Reader programme, 91% of young people said that reading helps their wellbeing.
One school’s experience shows what this can mean in a child’s life:
‘We have one young Ukrainian child who joined our school recently. Her exposure to books has been limited and her language is limited too. She has discovered an absolute love of books since arriving with us and our school library has become a place for her and for other children to come to and regulate themselves on tough days. If they’re finding things tricky or if they’re having a bad morning, special needs assistants are able to bring them to the library for a break and this child comes every day now. She gets to pick out a book to take back to class with her. She can’t read all the words on the pages, but she’s excited by the books. She’s making up her own stories about the animals and the people in the pictures and it’s bringing on her level of English so much. Her excitement around books is so special.’
One of the most meaningful ways you can help children to become readers is to leave a gift in your Will. After providing for the people closest to you, a legacy gift can help future generations of children discover the joy, comfort and possibility that being a reader can bring. When you choose to leave a legacy like this, you support children’s futures and leave behind a gift that reflects who you are, what you value, and the stories you want future generations to inherit.
By choosing to remember Children’s Books Ireland, you leave behind more than a gift — you leave behind stories that can inspire, comfort and change children’s lives for years to come.
To learn more about leaving a legacy to Children’s Books Ireland, please visit www.childrensbooksireland.ie/legacygiving or email development@childrensbooksireland.ie
