Laura Henry-Allain MBE is an award-winning international producer, storyteller and educationalist who has spent her career championing children’s literacy and creativity. This year, she wrote the lyrics to ‘Pick Up A Book‘, bringing together music and reading to celebrate the National Year of Reading.
We caught up with Laura to hear why libraries and the Summer Reading Challenge have always been such an important part of her family’s life. We also spoke to her son, Rohan, about his memories of taking part as a child, and how the Challenge helped shape the confident reader he is today.
As a parent, why was the Summer Reading Challenge something you encouraged your children to take part in?
Laura: Libraries have always been super important to me throughout my life – my childhood library, Kensal Library in North Kensington, was my oasis. My siblings and I would either visit the local adventure playground, Hornimans, which I based my book series Maya and Marley on, or visit the library. In those days it was paper tickets and we were able to borrow up to four books. At home my siblings and I would swap the books among ourselves.
When my children were little, I ensured that libraries were also central to their lives, and taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge was a no-brainer. The Summer Reading Challenge was a fun and supportive way to keep them reading books during the summer holidays.
What did your children gain from participating in the Challenge?
Laura: Taking part in the various themed Summer Reading Challenge activities in the library meant interacting with other children from different primary schools and making new friends. It meant reading new books that may not have previously been on their radar.
How important are libraries in helping children discover reading for pleasure?
Laura: Libraries are super important in supporting children reading for pleasure. For example, my eldest son is autistic and his passions were trains, planes and football; he was able to discover fiction and non-fiction books that matched his interests. It was important for him to be able to select his own books, not to have them chosen by me or by his school.
This year’s theme is Read to the Beat! What inspired you to write Pick Up a Book, and why do music and reading work so well together?
Laura: As a child I always loved books, despite being dyslexic. I have fond memories of regular visits to my childhood library in North Kensington, where I would transport myself into the world in the book. I love music too and writing the lyrics for Pick up a Book brings together both of my passions.
The song is truly intergenerational: a 17-year-old from the Rhythm Studio composed the music, it was recorded by the choir from Wendell Park primary school, MC Grammar – rapping teacher, bestselling author and social media sensation, and DJ AG – ‘the people’s DJ’. The Latymer Upper School kindly gifted their theatre for the launch and provided the refreshments for the guests.
I believe we need to reflect more on how music helps children to develop a love of books. Chris Hodges, the founder of The Rhythm Studio Foundation, where we recorded Pick Up a Book said: “Making a link between reading and music, it is something we don’t necessarily think about.”
Laura’s reflections show the impact the Summer Reading Challenge can have from a parent’s perspective. But what does it feel like as a child taking part? We spoke to Laura’s son, Rohan, about his memories of the Challenge and how it helped him discover a love of reading that has stayed with him into adulthood.
What are your strongest memories of taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge?
Rohan: I remember it well. South Norwood Library has this brutalist architecture that’s quite unique for the area – to this day I’m still not sure if I like it, so it definitely got the brain going before you’d even opened a book.
What did you enjoy most about taking part each summer?
Rohan: You’d get stickers for completing books, which was a nice bit of gamification to keep you going. It made the whole thing feel like a bit of a challenge rather than just reading for reading’s sake.
Did the Challenge encourage you to try books or genres you might not otherwise have picked up?
Rohan: Definitely. Like most kids I was reading a lot of Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but the Summer Reading Challenge pushed me towards more ambitious books; the Alex Rider series was a big one for me. I don’t think I’d have picked those up on my own at that age.
What role did your local library play in your childhood?
Rohan: My brother and I were quite sporty growing up, but being taken to the library by our parents and childminder really helped with our development. I was diagnosed as dyslexic, so reading wasn’t always a strong skill for me – there were times I’d hide books I needed to read for school homework from my parents because I found the whole experience so frustrating. But going to the library and having the freedom to read things I was actually interested in helped break through the glass ceiling I’d put on myself.
How did the Summer Reading Challenge change the way you felt about reading?
Rohan: When reading feels like a chore it’s very easy to switch off from it entirely, but the Challenge made it feel fun, which for a kid who found it difficult made a real difference. It showed me that reading could be something I chose to do, not something done to me.
“When reading feels like a chore it’s very easy to switch off from it entirely, but the Challenge made it feel fun, which for a kid who found it difficult made a real difference. It showed me that reading could be something I chose to do”
Looking back now, do you think the Challenge helped you become a more confident or enthusiastic reader?
Rohan: Yes, without a doubt. I struggled with reading as a child and it knocked my confidence. The fact that I now do a lot of copywriting working in marketing is something I genuinely wouldn’t have predicted, and I think schemes like the Summer Reading Challenge played a quiet but real part in getting me there.
What would you say to a child who is thinking about signing up for the Summer Reading Challenge this year?
Rohan: Just give it a go. You don’t have to love reading already, that’s almost the point. Pick books or topics you’re curious about, collect your stickers, and see where it takes you.
Rohan’s experience is a powerful reminder that reading journeys look different for every child, and that having the freedom to choose books can make all the difference. We asked Laura to reflect on why initiatives like the Summer Reading Challenge continue to matter today.
As a National Year of Reading Ambassador, why do initiatives like the Summer Reading Challenge matter?
Laura: The Summer Reading Challenge is a great way to amplify the importance of reading all year round, and as an ambassador for the National Year of Reading, this is an aspect that I promote on my travels, sharing how we can ‘Go All In’ on a book.
Having seen your own children take part, what would you say to parents who are considering encouraging their children to join this summer?
Laura: I would suggest they visit their local library and speak to the librarian who can share information on the Summer Reading Challenge and discuss their child’s Early Years setting or school, as many of them are promoting the Challenge.
I’d also add that there will almost always be a book that their child would love to read. Remember to go at their child’s pace and, above all, to enjoy taking part in the Challenge with their child.
Why do you think reading for pleasure is so important for children?
Laura: I believe that every child has the ability to find a book that they love. This is why I am not a fan of the term ‘reluctant reader’; labelling a child does not help and can become a self-fulling prophecy that a child may internalise.
Adults should sensitively guide and support children to explore a range of reading materials.
These lyrics in a Pick up a Book amplify my point:
“Reading your favourite comic
is reading
Listening to books with your headphones
is reading
Reading a newspaper
is reading
Reading signs all day
is reading
Reading all day at different times
Picture books or lots of rhymes
Chapter books and magazines
There’s so many things for you to read.”
Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the National Year of Reading and for the next generation of readers?
Laura: My hope as an ambassador for the National Year of Reading is that children do indeed read more, and find books that they love, and that as a nation the love of reading continues to touch hearts and minds.
Laura and Rohan’s story shows that reading isn’t about finishing the biggest books or reading the fastest, it’s about discovering stories that spark curiosity, build confidence and stay with you long after the summer ends.
This year’s Summer Reading Challenge, Read to the Beat!, is free to join at your local library. However your child chooses to read, picture books, poetry, comics, audiobooks or chapter books, it all counts.
This National Year of Reading, Go All In with your interests and pick up a book! Find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge here.
Find your local library here.
Looking for a fun end-of-term activity?
We’ve created two free colouring resources inspired by Laura’s Pick Up a Book song. Children can colour and display the song title or design their own book cover, perfect for celebrating reading in the classroom before the summer holidays and getting excited for the Summer Reading Challenge.
This summer, Laura will be hosting a library event in her childhood neighbourhood of North Kensington, London. The session will be based around her book, Maya and Marley and the New Friend, and in the spirit of the 60th anniversary of the Notting Hill Carnival, children will be invited to decorate their own piece of bunting. Find out more about Laura on her website.
