A young girl sits enthralled, her left hand resting against her cheeks as she clutches a book, ready to dive into the world of words. The artist Mary Cassatt has captured perfectly the all-consuming sensation of being submerged in a story, as if the whole world is dissolving around her. For a moment, only that story matters.
Cassatt's portrait of a young girl reading is a striking image, one that makes us think about the countless works that have helped shape our own experiences. But it also feels particularly pertinent today, where social media addiction is chipping away at young minds and reducing them to mere scrolling devices. In 2025, research revealed that fewer than one in five children and young people in the UK read daily, marking a 36% decrease in enjoyment levels since 2005.
To address this issue, the National Literacy Trust has launched the National Year of Reading, with 2026 being its inaugural year. The campaign aims to distribute 72,000 new books to those who need them most and promote reading as an enjoyable activity for all children. Unlike Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, which may appeal primarily to some, the initiative seeks to find books that every child can enjoy – starting with their passions.
Author Katy Hessel has recently published a book titled The Story of Art Without Men: An Illustrated Guide to Amazing Women Artists. This illustrated guide brings together beautiful artwork and insightful stories about women who made significant contributions to art history. Inspired by her own experiences, Hessel created this book for readers of all ages. Each chapter features an "art task" that encourages young readers to engage with the work on a deeper level.
One such activity involves concealing a self-portrait in a picture of something else, as Clara Peeters did in her still lifes. Young readers are also encouraged to create their own versions of artwork they admire or make drawings inspired by their favourite poems. The book is designed not only for individual enjoyment but also as a resource for teachers looking to integrate art into their classrooms.
As Hessel aims to instill the joy of reading and art in young minds, she seeks to bridge the gap between books and museums. With free museum entry available to UK visitors, families can explore these institutions without breaking the bank. If a child discovers a painting by their favourite author or musician, or an artwork dealing with technology or the environment, they may begin to appreciate the vastness of art history.
In conclusion, reading and art are powerful tools that stimulate our minds, spark imagination, transport us through time, and teach us about ourselves. The National Year of Reading aims to revive this passion in young people and inspire them to explore the incredible world of women artists. With initiatives like these, we can encourage a love for learning that will last a lifetime – one book at a time.
Cassatt's portrait of a young girl reading is a striking image, one that makes us think about the countless works that have helped shape our own experiences. But it also feels particularly pertinent today, where social media addiction is chipping away at young minds and reducing them to mere scrolling devices. In 2025, research revealed that fewer than one in five children and young people in the UK read daily, marking a 36% decrease in enjoyment levels since 2005.
To address this issue, the National Literacy Trust has launched the National Year of Reading, with 2026 being its inaugural year. The campaign aims to distribute 72,000 new books to those who need them most and promote reading as an enjoyable activity for all children. Unlike Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, which may appeal primarily to some, the initiative seeks to find books that every child can enjoy – starting with their passions.
Author Katy Hessel has recently published a book titled The Story of Art Without Men: An Illustrated Guide to Amazing Women Artists. This illustrated guide brings together beautiful artwork and insightful stories about women who made significant contributions to art history. Inspired by her own experiences, Hessel created this book for readers of all ages. Each chapter features an "art task" that encourages young readers to engage with the work on a deeper level.
One such activity involves concealing a self-portrait in a picture of something else, as Clara Peeters did in her still lifes. Young readers are also encouraged to create their own versions of artwork they admire or make drawings inspired by their favourite poems. The book is designed not only for individual enjoyment but also as a resource for teachers looking to integrate art into their classrooms.
As Hessel aims to instill the joy of reading and art in young minds, she seeks to bridge the gap between books and museums. With free museum entry available to UK visitors, families can explore these institutions without breaking the bank. If a child discovers a painting by their favourite author or musician, or an artwork dealing with technology or the environment, they may begin to appreciate the vastness of art history.
In conclusion, reading and art are powerful tools that stimulate our minds, spark imagination, transport us through time, and teach us about ourselves. The National Year of Reading aims to revive this passion in young people and inspire them to explore the incredible world of women artists. With initiatives like these, we can encourage a love for learning that will last a lifetime – one book at a time.
I'm so down with this idea of reviving a love for reading in kids! It's crazy how social media has changed the way they consume info and interact with stories. I mean, who needs to scroll through feeds when you can be transported to another world by a good book? 
it's not just about scrolling mindlessly, it's about exploring new worlds and ideas 
and i love that the National Literacy Trust is stepping up to change this with their National Year of Reading initiative 
especially with author Katy Hessel's book on women artists, it's like a breath of fresh air 
let's get more kids excited about reading and art, shall we? 
. It's like they're missing out on the whole world of stories and art 
I drew a simple diagram to show what I mean:
I think its really concerning that social media addiction is affecting young minds. We need to find ways to get kids off those screens and into books! 
. I'd love to see more resources available for teachers to help them integrate art into their classrooms - it's such an important way to get kids engaged with history and culture 
. It's crazy to think about how it used to be all about reading and stuff, like back in the day when Harry Potter was all the rage 
. I mean, I know social media has its benefits, but can't we make a conscious effort to get our kids off that scrollin' device for a bit? The stats are straight fire - fewer than one in five kids in the UK even read daily?! 
That's wild. It's all about findin' that balance, you know? Gettin' them hooked on books and art might just be the ticket to gettin' our minds right 
. The National Year of Reading campaign is exactly what we need – it's about time someone reminded us that reading and creating can change lives 
. I mean, research says only 1 in 5 kids and young people in the UK read daily? That's super low! And it's not like they're just reading anything - it's like their minds are being chipped away by social media 
. They need books that spark joy and curiosity, you know?
. Fingers crossed it works out! 
gotta say, reading is so underrated nowadays, everyone's stuck on their screens all day 
.
. So yeah, let's get kids hooked on books and art, stat! 
! I mean, 36% decrease in reading habits since 2005 is wild 
. We need more initiatives like this to get kids excited about books again 
The idea of self-portraits in still lifes or creating own artwork inspired by poems is genius 
!
some faceless organization that just happens to be promoting reading and art. but what's the real agenda here? are they trying to distract us from something else?
, I was just thinking about how much reading has fallen by the wayside with all the screen time kiddos are getting nowadays. 36% decrease in enjoyment levels since 2005 is crazy! 
I'm getting worried about our youth's addiction to screens. It's like they're missing out on so much goodness - the magic of words, art, and imagination. I remember when I was young, we'd spend hours reading books, drawing, or playing outside till the streetlights came on. We weren't glued to our devices back then! 
It's about time we brought the joy of learning back into our schools! 
They're stuck on them phones 24/7 & forgettin about the joy of gettin lost in a good book 
We didn't have all these fancy gadgets, but we still had imagination & creativity 