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Children's Literature: Reading for Pleasure

A Library Services Subject Guide

Reading for Pleasure and the Teaching Resources Collection

If you are hoping to become a teacher your knowledge of children's books is well worth developing and is key to helping you recommend the right book to the right child at the right time.  The Library has an excellent collection for you to draw from and learn with, including classic and contemporary novels, picture books by a wide range of authors and illustrators, and a comprehensive poetry collection.   Click below for our guide to Resources for Reading for Pleasure.

Reading for Pleasure and the CLPE

The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education  (CLPE) provides a wealth of information to promote reading and the enjoyment of reading. Here are links to three of their publications. Their website is well worth checking out for ideas, activities and resources.

Research and Reports on Reading for Pleasure

In 2012 the Department for Education published Research Evidence on Reading for Pleasure. The first section highlights research evidence on reading for pleasure from domestic and international literature, exploring evidence on why children read as well as trends and benefits of independent reading amongst primary and secondary-aged children. The second section covers evidence supporting what works in promoting reading for pleasure.

In November 2022 the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education published Reflecting Realities: a Survey of Ethnic Representations within UK Children's Literature.  The fifth Reflecting Realities report in the Reflecting Realities series, the report identifies ethnic representation within picture books, fiction and non-fiction for ages 3–11. It provides a benchmark to track and understand progress and a toolkit to support producers and consumers of children’s literature to be more critically reflective. Key findings in the UK in the 2020 show that:

  • there was a positive increase in children’s books featuring a minority ethnic character, from 10% in 2019 to 20% in 2021; up significantly from the 4% reported in the 2017 inaugural report*;

  • there was an increase in representation in picturebooks and non-fiction; representation in fiction books remained the same;
  • The Reflecting Realities reports have inspired initiatives by a variety of organisations, implying positive change in the industry. The CLPE intend to publish a new book about Reflecting Realities in 2023.

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* The 2017 report detailed that only 1% of children's books published in 2017 for 3-11 year-olds included a main character from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) background.