Reading changes lives... and we’re here for it.

Did you know that children who read for pleasure don’t just do better in English – they tend to excel across all subjects, even maths? That’s the incredible power of reading.

Back in 2016, beloved author Michael Morpurgo delivered a powerful message in his Book Trust lecture. He described the heartbreaking divide between children who read and those who don’t – a gap that often mirrors social inequality. He urged us to help every child fall in love with books:

“All that matters [at] an early age is that [children] learn to love it, that they want to listen to more stories, read them, tell them, write them, act them out, sing them, dance them. All the rest will come later.” [1]

At Mrs Wordsmith, that’s our mission: make reading joyful, playful, and accessible for every child. Let’s dig into why reading matters so much – and how it transforms lives from the inside out.

Reading supercharges vocabulary

Words are the building blocks of everything – school, friendships, and understanding the world. And while spoken language is important, it only gets us so far. Day-to-day conversation just doesn’t pack the same punch as story-rich books.

Isabel Beck’s “Three Tiers of Vocabulary” [2] shows us that it’s through books – especially the ones kids choose themselves – that they encounter rare and wonderful words. In fact, a study by Jessica Logan revealed that by age five, children who are read to daily at home will have heard 1.4 million more words than those who weren’t [3]. That’s a million-word head start in life! The takeaway? Reading aloud and encouraging reading for pleasure builds a child’s world – word by word.

Reading unlocks the whole curriculum

Imagine sitting in a classroom and struggling to read what’s on the board, in the textbook, or on the worksheet. That’s the daily reality for many children reading below their age level. And it’s not just English – reading is the key to every subject, even maths.

Without that key, lessons can become frustrating, alienating, and painful. The National Literacy Trust reports that 70% of permanently excluded children struggle with basic literacy [4]. If school becomes a place of struggle, no wonder some kids would rather be anywhere else. Reading ability is the golden thread that helps children access the full richness of school life.

Reading boosts brain health and happiness

Books don’t just make us smarter – they make us healthier, too. The Alzheimer’s Society notes that reading helps keep our brains active and may even reduce the risk of dementia [5]. And a Yale study found that people who read regularly live nearly two years longer than those who don’t [6]. Talk about a life-enhancing habit!

But that’s not all. The Reading Agency’s 2015 report found that reading improves empathy, reduces symptoms of depression, and boosts overall wellbeing [7]. Reading literally makes us feel better – mentally and emotionally.

Reading connects us to the world

Reading isn’t just for passing tests or scoring grades – it’s essential for life. It’s being able to read a job application, understand a medical leaflet, follow a recipe, or cast a vote. It’s the gateway to full participation in society. Without literacy, millions are left behind – functionally cut off from opportunities.

In fact, over half of UK prisoners have reading levels below that of an 11-year-old [8]. And there are 5.2 million adults in the UK who are functionally illiterate. Literacy gaps are linked to health problems, unemployment, and even crime. But reading can also bring us together. Dr. Josie Billington’s research at the University of Liverpool showed that books help create a more empathetic, tolerant society. Stories connect us to people we might never meet and lives we might never live – and that builds understanding.

So what now?

Michael Morpurgo didn’t mince his words when he said:

“If we have failed to engage and enthuse generations of children… then for all of us… it is mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.” [1]

But here’s the good news: we can change that. Right now.

Let’s teach every child to read and fill their worlds with words – so they can understand, enjoy, and truly love what they’re reading. Let’s read aloud with flair. Let’s help children see that books are for them. Because reading is play. It’s imagination in action.

 At Mrs Wordsmith, we believe reading is one of the greatest gifts we can give. It empowers. It enlightens. It opens doors. And above all – it matters.