Why it matters

Reading can open doors - but first, children need access to books.

A love of reading cannot be imposed. It grows when children have the freedom to explore, choose books that interest them and discover stories in which they can see themselves and the wider world.

Yet those opportunities are not shared equally. For many children, the school library or classroom bookshelf is where that discovery must begin. Too often, the schools with the greatest need have the fewest resources to make it possible.