We’re fast approaching the festive season, and the evenings are darker and chillier. The act of reading while curled up on the sofa only grows more appealing. And whether you’re dropping hints about the books on your wishlist or introducing the children in your life to a classic Christmas story, many of us can’t imagine the festive season without a stack of great books to get through.
But earlier this year, Children’s Books Ireland discovered that more than one in five children under the age of four are never read to here in Ireland. The usual headlines place blame on screens and social media, but the reality may be more nuanced than that. Families are busier than ever and, as a society, are faced with ever-increasing costs of living. Books are deemed a luxury for so many families.
But when it comes to the emotional and imaginative wellbeing of children and young people, as well as their cognitive development in the first three years of life, books are essential, right from the very beginning. If children and young people are supported to read, and especially to read for joy, they are more likely to enjoy school and excel in their learning; they are more likely to develop their capacity for empathy and social engagement, and they are more likely to experience a sense of belonging. So how can we ensure that every child has access to a book?
Our vision is an Ireland where every child can be a reader. A core part of our work at Children’s Books Ireland is book gifting – programmes which help to get books into the hands of as many children and young people as possible. We work in schools, healthcare settings and through fellow children’s charities such as Barnardos and Focus Ireland, where we can reach the children who need us most.
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In 2024 we received 1,054 applications for our book gifting programmes from schools across the island of Ireland, seeking books and support to develop a culture of reading in their school. 92% per cent of applying schools have no current funding for school library books. 58 per cent told us that their book stock includes texts that are over 15 years old, many of which were not reflective of their diverse classrooms.
To nurture the next generation of readers, we must provide them with books where they can see themselves, their experiences and their interests in the pages. We must give them access to high-quality non-fiction to satisfy their curious minds. Despite Paschal Donohoe’s parting words in the Dáil, describing libraries as “beacons of light in a world in which things are changing so much”, Ireland’s Government has failed to invest in school libraries. With no sustained funding since 2008, and only 16 per cent of the population registered as active library users, too many children are being left behind.
In the same year as our record high number of book-gifting applications, we uncovered another worrying statistic in our research: that the number of books that children in Ireland own has dropped dramatically since 2023. Over 18 months, the average number of children’s books in the home dropped from 30 down to 20. For children under the age of four, the average drops even further, to just 15 books. What does this tell us? Evidence shows that children and young people who have books of their own are more likely to enjoy reading very much, to read more frequently and to read above the expected level for their age.
But more than that, it gives us a clear indication that not enough families with very young children are enjoying books together. Children’s preferences when it comes to books develop so early, and the first three years of life are such a crucial time for brain development: a child’s brain develops to 80 per cent of its adult size by age three.
We can stack the statistics up to prove the point, but perhaps more importantly, families are missing out on rare peaceful moments sitting together with a book, on the closeness and comfort of a bedtime story, on the giggles and the pawing of little hands demanding a re-read of a favourite story. Reading can be a bonding experience, as well as a springboard for later life, and it’s never too early – or too late – to start.
Access to books for children and young people is mediated through the adults in their lives. This means that, for various reasons, including adult literacy and socioeconomic factors, many children have no culture of reading at home.
In 2024, we donated 42,707 books to young people through schools and charities with the support of our corporate, philanthropic, government and publishing partners. Each year, in the lead-up to Christmas, we launch our ‘Gift a Book’ appeal and ask the public to help us to bring the gift of reading to children in need across the island of Ireland. The statistics about book ownership and reading from our research are based on a representative sample of hundreds of parents, and we know that for those who are living in poverty, experiencing homelessness or seeking international protection, the situation is significantly worse.
Partnering with fellow charities and community groups, we are gifting books to children and young people who are accessing support services, in Direct Provision centres, in homelessness services and healthcare settings. A donation of €12 can give the life-changing benefits of reading and the joy of a new book to a child who needs it most at Christmastime.
We want to ensure that every child has the chance to fall in love with reading and has a carefully chosen book to call their own. A book can bring comfort and joy over the holiday season, but the impact of reading can be lifelong. This Christmas, you can give a gift that’s not just a book. It’s a constant companion, an escape in times of need, and a stepping stone to opportunity for children who have fewer advantages to boast, and more challenges to overcome.
Our website is jam-packed with reviews and recommendations of brilliant books for the young reader in your life, including many by talented Irish authors and illustrators. As you start – or indeed, finish! – your Christmas shopping, we hope we can share our expertise and enthusiasm for an excellent read with you and yours. And we ask that, if you can, please consider a donation to our ‘Gift a Book’ appeal which will help us to share that same excitement with a child who needs it this Christmas.
Elaina Ryan is CEO of Children’s Books Ireland
