A Day in the Life of Educational Publishing: Inspiring Children to Read for Pleasure

A Day in the Life of Educational Publishing: Inspiring Children to Read for Pleasure

A Guest Post by Adam Morris

(click here for other articles by Adam)

It’s an old cliche, but no day is ever the same in my job. I work in marketing for a publishing company. I joined because I love to write. And I get to do plenty of it. The task varies spectacularly. From writing interview scripts to campaign strategies, blogs and beyond. 

Unsurprisingly I love books too. From the old tomes to the fresh paper smell of opening the cover of a new story. I have heaps of books from all walks of life on both my bedside tables. Yes, both of them. I’d like to think there’s some kind of category to these, but it’s pure chaos. A chaos which is an absolute joy to me. 

These two loves often come together. And before that, I used to work in education too. So I find myself suggesting books to children and younger readers. Is it easy? Nope. But is it worth it? Definitely! 

When you suggest a book for children…

Suggesting a book is more than repeating the name of it. You need to know your audience too. Think of it as selling the story to a new reader. Does it mean you need a sales pitch with a call to action? Luckily, no. But most books are a commitment. Readers want to know a book is worth their time. 

The same goes double for children. So you need a little more intrigue and creativity. 

Create low stakes for reading:

When I started suggesting books, I would play it safe. Guinness World Book of Records, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and encyclopaedias were safe bets. Children could dip in and out of the books as they please. 

Even now, you can find these books hook their readers really well. Factual books which focus on the unbelievable. And show a part of the world usually unseen. Like Antarctica, or the Congo. 

The books are non-commital so there’s no pressure either. You can read extracts, snippets, and navigate around the chapters and segments in lots of different ways. You’re not expected to read it front to back.

Build up the reputation:

There was one story I’d read to my classes every year. Sort of a tradition. It was called Hide and Seek by Catherine McAdams. And with every year I read it, I got better at pitching this story. This is because I get more social proof every time I read it.

Social proof was my evidence. Testimonies of my classes beforehand who had read the story and loved it. There was even one pupil who loved the book so much, they’d read it in one sitting. True story!

As an educator, my opinion wasn’t always the most important to them sometimes. But if another kid, class, or even friend had read this book and enjoyed it, they were more tempted to try it.

Read together:

It’s a classic, but no words can describe the sheer impact this will have on getting children to read for pleasure. From a variety of books like Horrid Henry, Featherlight, and darker stories such as Once and Trash, reading together had a profound effect on those reading alongside me.

Sometimes I read the whole book. Other times, it took just one chapter. But a lot of my pupils followed the book a lot more when I read aloud with them. 

Nurture a connection between the reader and the book:

The best characters are relatable. If you went through the same obstacles as them, you connect to them. At a deeper level.

I once read a book with a group called Jessica’s Ghost. It dealt with a lot of themes around mental health, and the anxieties of dealing with school. Despite the fact it was a longer novel, the group were keen to finish the book. They had invested in the characters. They wanted to know more.

I’ve also had similar success with books like Brock, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Skullduggery Pleasant.

Tell a story about the story:

All it takes is one great narrative. But why stop there? Some of the best books have other stories operating behind the scenes.

It might be that the book is based on a local legend. It might be that you read a book and it changed your life somehow. 

The Book Thief for me was a game changer. And Mrs Dalloway’s last line changed the way I read books. I can also recall a young version of myself staring at a wall for ten minutes after reading The Graveyard Book from the sheer awe of it. 

If you have those experiences with a book you suggest, share them. If you know how it made someone else feel, share that instead. It builds excitement. 

And when all else fails…

I remember the first time my neighbour’s child asked if I had any books to borrow. They gazed at the shelves, shocked at the choice, but unsure where to start. So I took a leap of faith. And lent them Q&A. 

A few days later, they gave me the book back. Said it wasn’t for them. But I asked them to try another and gave them Inkheart. And I knew I’d struck gold when about a month later they came back and asked to borrow the sequel.

Not every bookish interaction will be simple. Suggestions are hard. Especially for children. Books are like shapeshifters. They can look fantastic to you, but less so for others. That’s the beauty of books though. You could have one that’s perfect. And it’s living right on your shelf. 

So if you’ve been wondering how to win younger readers over, you’re on the right track. Keep suggesting books. Even if one out of every hundred readers discovered their love for books, it’s worth it. 

They are a window to a world of adventure. And what an exciting world it is!