National Young Readers Day is celebrated during National Young Readers Week on the second Tuesday in November every year. The event’s roots come from the “BOOK IT!” program, created by Pizza Hut in 1984 after an initiative created by Ronald Reagan to remind Americans about the importance of reading for children. In 1989, Pizza Hut extended its efforts by launching National Young Readers Week.

It is proven that early reading ignites creativity, sparks curiosity, and stimulates the imagination in young children. Often, this leads to role-play as children grow, which helps to develop other skills such as empathy, problem-solving, and morality.

For my part, I believe reading is a fundamental to every child to learn, enjoy and participate in the world at large, and at home. Being able to read opens doors to new experiences, education and imagination. As Taylor Swift says:

I wrote Ockleberries to the Rescue as a homage to my parents, who gave my siblings and I a love of the natural world, and to incorporate the delight of the magical fairy folk tales I still love.

And Rumble’s First Scare, as my first published book was my twist on the monsters of Halloween. I made Rumble cute and mischievous rather than scary, and that is why he is so popular with young readers. They want to have that kind of fun too.

Can you remember reading in your childhood? Did you have a favourite book?