Katherine Rundell and Claire Wilson sign open letter on children's reading

Author Katherine Rundell and Claire Wilson, president of the Association of Authors’ Agents (AAA), have signed the open letter launched by the book industry, calling on the Prime Minister to address the decline in reading for pleasure among children.

The letter was introduced by Bloombsury children’s books publishing director Rebecca McNally during her keynote speech at The Bookseller’s Children’s Conference. It has been signed by publishers, editors, agents and authors, including Rundell, who said that if "we cut children off from reading, we are a generation of thieves".

The author of Impossible Creatures (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) urged the government to "pay attention to the urgent needs of children" and "mandate funding for libraries in every primary school in England".

Rundell added: "If we don’t do everything we can to put books in children’s hands, we steal from them access to the great record of the very best of mankind—because it’s in books that we have put down our best jokes, our most radical ideas, our most complex and nuanced visions of the future. We need a government that will [...] show they believe, truly, in the rights of our children to access the joy, and the sense of autonomy and possibility, that comes with reading."

Meanwhile, Wilson, who was appointed president of the AAA earlier this year, highlighted the statistics underpinning the need for urgent action. "One in seven schools have no library, and one in five children do not own a single book of their own," she said. "Without decisive action to reinstate libraries at the heart of our schools and communities, we will not be able to turn the tide on inequality."

Dan Conway, c.e.o. of the Publishers Association (PA), Liz Cross, m.d. of David Fickling Books, and Jon Wood, director and literary agent at RCW, have also signed the letter. 

“Ensuring children can access and enjoy reading is one of the most impactful things we can do for children and our society as a whole," Conway added. "Publishers stand ready to work with the Prime Minister and his new government to act on reading for pleasure. I have signed this letter on behalf of the Publishers Association and encourage people across the industry to add their names too.”