Will they convince your child to pick up a book?
Nook got a TV and film stars to give their reading advice to get kids excited about books! Celebs such as Stephen Fry, Lily Cole and Barbara Windsor put forwards their inspiring reasons to get your kids to pick up a book over the summer as part of the Get Reading Campaign.
- Stephen Fry is an actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television and radio presenter and film director so is no stranger to reading scripts, reading drafts for his books and articles as well as reading books to gin inspiration for his own work:
“Do try reading out loud to them every night and when you think the time is right, get to a passage and as they breathlessly ask, “What happens next?” hand them the book and say “read for yourself!!!”
Much like Fry, the celebs listed below each have their own reasons for reading, whether it be as part of their job, to gain ideas for their own novels or simply because of the love of it!
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Harry Enfield is an actor, comedian writer and director:
“If you read to children at bed time they look forward to it. If the stories are fun enough they are motivated to read to themselves.”
- Eastenders actress Barbara Windsor said:
“When I was 10, my mother bought me a novel called Golden Pavements written by a lady called Pamela Brown and it was about a group of young people who were getting ready to attend their first day at The British Actors Guild Dramatic School. Of course, my early fascination with the theatre had already started, so this was perfect reading for me.”
- Doctor Who’s Nicholas Briggs said:
“Just make sure there are lots of books around children all the time. They naturally show interest in them, even if it's to try and rip pages out to start with. You gently point out that's not a good idea, then they just get used to turning the pages. You should read to children every night, if they'll let you - sometimes, my son just wants to do games and quizzes in books. And if you see them looking at a book, and you have a moment free, offer to read them some of it.”
- Children’s author Steve Cole:
“When reading aloud, make each character sound like a different person - it helps the child understand who's talking and helps them follow the action easily and with more attention.”
- Horrid Henry author Francesca Simon said:
“My top tip is to get a library card, and browse the shelves… My brother learned to read through coin catalogues. My son was inspired to read by the Chance cards in Monopoly, because he was always convinced we were cheating him and wanted to check for himself.”
Tagged in Barbara Windsor Doctor Who Harry Enfield Stephen Fry