Press Statement - 15thJuly 2020
Prize-winning children's author available for comment and interview on the latest Literacy Trust report about children's lockdown reading habits
Abiola Bello is a publishing entrepreneur and author of the Carnegie-nominated middle grade/YA fantasy fiction series, Emily Knight. Her third book, Emily Knight I Am... Becoming, is due for release on September 17 2020. Abiola lives and works in London and is available for media interviews, comment, editorial commissions, and we can arrange for pre-proof digital ARCS of the third book, and paperbacks of books one and two, to be sent to journalists' homes should they wish to review/consider.
Stand-out points from the report, which outlines findings from our tenth Annual Literacy Survey relating to children and young people's reading in 2020, in addition to findings from our survey of children and young people's reading during the COVID-19 lockdown include:
Children are reading and enjoying reading more during lockdown
A third (34.5%) of children and young people say they are reading more during lockdown
Abiola Bello says: "I think that once kids find a book or an author they like, they will want to read more books that are similar... or every book from that author. This is a good thing, as I think kids will keep reading more. They need to be stimulated and sometimes with phones and other technology, books go out the window in terms of entertainment. Also, books are linked to school and when you're off school it can feel like ‘woo hoo!' But just like the six-week summer holidays, at some point you want to go back into that routine, and that's usually when kids will pick up a book again.
"It makes sense that books have gone up because if a parent is homeschooling a great way to teach English is by reading a book. I think if parents kept that same energy and used that as a way to bond with their child, kids would read more."
Children's enjoyment of reading has increased during lockdown (from 47.8% pre-lockdown to 55.9% post-lockdown), having reached a 15-year low before lockdown
Abiola Bello says: "A 15 year low? Come on kids! There are so many shiny new things to distract them but I think books are becoming cool again especially with the adaptions Netflix have been doing. I know lots of kids who are loving The Babysitters Club and are floored when I tell them that's what I read in primary school. Now they want to read the books. It's so important that books come in different formats to reach children, whether it's an interactive App or an adaption for TV/film."
Reading gives feel good vibes
3 in 5 (59.3%) children and young people told us during lockdown that reading makes them feel better
Abiola Bello says: "I'm not surprised. There are only so many video games you can play before you start to lose interest. When you're stuck at home and not allowed to play outside, picking up a book is pretty common."
Notes to editors
Media enquiries tohelenlewis@literallypr.com/info@literallypr.com
Online press folder for photos, press releases and more info:http://bit.ly/EmilyKnight
Connect with Abiola Bello online:
http://www.literallypr.com/public_relations/file/Abiola-Bello---Emily-Knight-I-Am-Becoming.php
https://twitter.com/ABelloWrites