The Joy of Reading

The only answer to this is, how long have you got? I have been an avid reader for most of my life and to ask me to pick one book that has completely surprised me is impossible. I have been reduced to tears, helpless with laughter, struck with anger and filled with hope.

I genuinely can’t understand an adult who is literate and isn’t an avid reader. Why would you deny yourself the pleasure of discovering new worlds, new adventures and new friends? What is stopping you from indulging in the pleasure of this amazing pastime? The second question is the question at the heart of my new volunteering role. I am going to be a reading helper for a charity called Coram Beanstalk and my job is to work with primary school children on a weekly one to one basis and unlock that joy that I have found in the written word. I have to locate that block, remove it as far as possible and give them the tools and enthusiasm to make reading central to their school and home lives. How I do this will vary from child to child but the fact that I potentially have 15 minutes reading with them most weeks of the school year means I am actually really confident that I can reach them and give them the joy of reading I first found when I picked up Paddington, The Chronicles of Narnia and the Target Dr Who books.