Is your child falling behind with reading?
You’re not alone, and it’s not too late. The right book at the right moment can turn “I hate reading” into “just one more page!”
😟 Children are reading less than ever
Reading for fun has dropped to its lowest level in twenty years. Phones, tablets and games fight for every spare minute, and books are losing.
1 in 3
children aged 8 to 18 say they enjoy reading in their free time. The lowest in 20 years.
Source: National Literacy Trust, 2025
1 in 4
children leave primary school below the expected standard in reading.
Source: FFT Education Datalab
7 million
working-age adults in the UK have very poor literacy skills.
Source: Pro Bono Economics / NLT
What happens when children don’t read
🏫 At school
Reading unlocks every subject. Maths questions, science worksheets and history homework all need it. Children who struggle to read struggle everywhere.
Of children who left primary school below the expected reading level in 2019, only around 3 in 10 went on to pass GCSE English.
And it snowballs: confident readers read more and get better, while struggling readers avoid books and fall further behind.
💼 As adults
Poor reading doesn’t go away after school. An 18-year-old with very poor literacy will earn around £33,000 less over their working life.
It makes everyday life harder too: forms, letters, payslips, medicine labels, and helping their own children with homework.
Many say the same thing: they just never got into reading as a child.
📚 Pick the perfect book for your child
Every book here is an easy starting point: something your child will actually pick up, enjoy and finish. Finishing a book feels amazing, and that feeling is what makes a reader.
Age 3+ · Start with pictures
Friendly characters to point at, name and chat about: the very first steps to reading.
Age 5+ · First comics
Short, funny comic stories with big pictures. The perfect first “proper” books for new readers.
Age 7+ · Hooked on mysteries
Full-colour detective comics where readers follow the clues and solve the case.
Ages 7+
Ivy Quill & Boo: The Midnight Lighthouse
A girl inventor. A ghost dog. A lighthouse that lights itself.
Age 9+ · A real challenge
Intricate pattern colouring books that keep older kids focused and off screens.
Ages 9+ · £7.99
Winter Wonder Patterns
The Christmas colouring book for kids who’ve outgrown easy pictures.
Age 12+ · Teen mysteries
Page-turning novels for teenagers, the books that keep older readers reading. Meet Maya Okoro, the girl who never lets a mystery go.
Start here · Book 1 · Ages 12+
The Last Lesson
A beloved teacher. Sixty-three steps. One student who won’t let it go.
Book 2 · Ages 12+
The Hollowmere Hours
A flooded valley. A locked library. A secret fifteen years old.
5 easy ways to help your child start reading today
- Let them choose. Comics, jokes, dinosaurs, football: all reading counts.
- Ten minutes a day beats an hour once a week.
- Read together, even with older kids. Take turns reading a page each.
- Talk about the pictures and ask, “What do you think happens next?”
- Never make reading a punishment. Keep it fun, cosy and screen-free.
🧘 Something for the grown-ups
Kids copy what they see. Sit down together with our calm, ADHD-friendly Mindful Colouring books while they read.
Don’t wait for the school report
Every child can become a reader. Start with one great book, today.
Frequently asked questions
How can I get my child interested in reading?
Find books that match what they already love (funny stories, mysteries, comics), let them choose, read together, and keep a next book ready. A series that hooks them is often the turning point.
What books do you have for different ages?
Colouring books for ages 3+, 7+ and 9+; picture books for ages 5+; mystery comics for ages 7+; and the Maya Okoro teen mystery novels for ages 12+.
Can I buy books directly from Getting Kids Reading?
Yes. The Maya Okoro Mysteries are available direct as £8.99 paperbacks printed in the UK (free UK delivery over £25) and £3.99 instant-download ebooks.
How long does delivery take?
Paperbacks are printed to order and usually arrive in 4–7 working days in the UK, 7–12 in Europe and 10–20 for the rest of the world.