Welcome to February’s Your Words!

Normally, I’d start by giving you a paragraph, with a sneak peek at what’s coming up (Sarah Surgey’s fabulous storytelling tips, an incredible entry for February’s Your Words! Challenge, and of course, announcing March’s exciting competition!) But today, I want to take a moment to address something big. Something that’s been on my mind. A lot.

THE NATIONAL YEAR OF READING 2026 – Go All In 🔗

It’s a huge campaign. Monumental, really. Everyone in the Children’s Literature industry is talking about it, and for good reason. This campaign is doing so much work with charities and promoting all the joys of reading for pleasure. It has the support of a fantastic line up of children’s authors like Nadia Shireen (Grimwood series…Brilliantly funny!) and Rob Biddulph, (author of howlingly hilarious and adventurous The Last Wolf …out now!) as well as high-profile ambassadors such as Joe Wicks, Leah Williamson, Richard Osmond and Stephen Fry. All of them are very rightly proud to champion #GoAllIn2026 campaign.
And The National Year of Reading kicked off at Arsenal Stadium on January 13th (as a Brentford fan, I still say don’t let that put you off!😜)

But here’s the thing parents and guardians don’t seem to know about it.

In fact, I’ve asked a different parent almost every day since December if they’ve heard of the National Year of Reading. And so far, not a single one has. Not even the most avid readers. Not even up until yesterday.

But why?

I have a few theories (though none of them are scientifically proven!).

First, there’s the echo chamber of social media. If you take a look at the posts around this campaign, you’ll often see that the people sharing and commenting are already part of the conversation…the ones who are passionate about reading, the authors and illustrators behind the books, and the ones already promoting literacy.

Then, there’s the reality of being a parent. Parents often rush through mainstream bookstores or supermarkets, trying to grab something familiar before rushing home for dinner or heading off to the next school pick up/activity/work meeting. We make quick decisions, reaching for the books we recognise, the ones we grew up with, the ones that don’t take another atom of our already depleted energy in that hectic moment.

Let’s face it, when we’ve got tired, grumpy kids trailing behind us, or a toddler in the middle of a meltdown between the aisles of The Gruffalo and Dog Man, the choices are made in a rush. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Those are great books! But it also means that other books and authors often get overlooked.

Another reason, in my experience, is that many parents feel overwhelmed when it comes to finding new books. I get asked for recommendations all the time. I love it! My phone is full of messages from parents asking what their children might enjoy or advice on how to get their kids reading, and I happily send them recommendations. I’ve even set up WhatsApp book groups for my kids’ classes to share ideas. There’s definitely a demand for new reading suggestions. It’s not that parents aren’t interested. It’s that they need information that’s easy to access and digest because let’s face it… it’s one less thing we have to juggle!

If you’re in the Kidlit industry, take a moment and ask yourself: Where did you first hear about the National Year of Reading? If you weren’t already immersed in the world of children’s literature, would you have come across it?

Echo chambers like this aren’t unusual in any industry, and thankfully, we have The National Year of Reading as an opportunity to raise awareness and break out of them. As people in the children’s literature world, we have a fundemental responsibility to ensure that parents and guardians…(who are already juggling a million things) know what’s out there. There’s currently not so much out there in the media highlighting children’s authors (who by the way should be regarded as the rockstars that they are!) So it’s up to us to make it easy for parents and guardians to discover new, exciting books for their kids.

And to all those parents and guardians out there, how can we help?
What has been your experience so far? What would make it easier for you to find great books for your children and to make reading itself accessible? We’d love to hear from you!

📝Author’s Top Tips!

And talking of discovering new books, meet Sarah Surgey, author of The Pythagarous Puzzle, the first in The Subject Society series, (illustrations: Larisa Ivankovic Publisher: Tiny Tree Books out 5th March 2026) and emotional literacy books such as Jumping Hurdles (illustrations: Nathasha Gunathilake Publisher: HB Publishing House) and Greener Grass (Illustrations: Dannii Summerfield Publisher: Brilliant Monsters).
Sarah is also co-director of the children’s literature festival in Bristol, Storytale🔗and her author events are both engaging and fun. The perfect author for National Story Telling Week’s🔗Author Top Tips!

When your story feels a little stuck … try looking somewhere different.
Step outside with one of your grown-ups and let the outside help you begin.

Where are you standing?
A busy street, a quiet park, a playground, a shop on the corner?
Write it down because you’ve just found your setting!

Now listen.
What can you hear? Footsteps, birds singing, cars rushing by, people chatting?
Maybe someone is laughing, maybe someone is in a hurry.
These sounds and conversations can become part of your dialogue.

Look closely.
What is happening around you?
Children walking to school, cafés opening their doors, people waiting for the bus, dogs pulling on their leads?
These moments are full of action which can move your story forward.

Let your surroundings help you decide what kind of story it wants to be.
Is it calm or busy? Funny or thoughtful?

When you’re ready… head back to the page and start writing or recording your story. Play with your words. Use what you see, hear, and feel.

Thank you Sarah for these fantastic tips… Loads of food for thought!

💗February Challenge: L-O-V-E, Mission: in 100-250 words Children had to write or record a story or poem starting with L and finishing with E with reference to love (could be romantic, hobby, pet, minecraft…free rein!)

And now the moment you’ve been waiting for…the result of February’s Your Words! writing challenge.
This month’s FABULOUS entry and winner of the £10 National Book Token Voucher is Urvi, aged 10.
I shared the first line of her story on Instagram earlier in the week and it knocked our kidlit socks off!
It’s stories like Urvi’s that can give us all so much hope for the future of literature.
Quirky, imaginative and a killer first line…. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did!

How the Fork and the Spoon fell in love by Urvi, aged 10

​Love ran down the road tonight, causing the clouds to turn pink. With love on the road our story may begin. One day, a beautiful spoon awoke and got ready for work but she didn’t notice the pink clouds up in the sky. However one boy, called Fork, saw these clouds but when he told his parents the pink somehow wasn’t in the clouds instead it was raining perfume.

​Anyhow Fork and Spoon came out of their house and walked to work. This is where the love bit comes in. It was love at first sight. But whenever Fork proposed and gave her an engagement ring the Spoon had always said no. 

A few months later, the Spoon tried to propose to the Fork but the Fork said that she had to chase him. 

Right after the chase, the Fork said yes and then they started getting ready for their marriage and they all lived happily ever after in their rented home.

Thank you so much Urvi for sharing your brilliant imagination and words!

March’s Your Words! Challenge: Your Words – Your Way!

Up for the next challenge? Our March’s Your Words! challenge is up to you! Your words…your way!
Open to children aged 5–11 in the UK, they can write or record a poem or story, or draw a comic strip story or poem
Written/spoken: Max 350 words
Comic Strip: Max 4 panels

It must be imaginative, original, your own words/pictures
Prompts to help (but all completely optional!):
Something weird happening at school/football/gym club
Your art turns to life
A mini made up autobiography or biography of someone you know

One Star Kids’ Storyworld Storyteller will be chosen to receive a £10 National Book Tokens voucher!

Ready to share your story? We can’t wait to read your entries and see how you interpret the theme!

Send your entries to: kidsstoryworld.abc@gmail.com
Deadline: Sunday, March 2nd 2026 (UK)

Terms & Conditions:

• Only children aged 5–11 living in the UK can enter.
• Entries must be submitted with parent/guardian permission.
• The voucher is not redeemable for cash.
• The Kids’ Storyworld decision is final.

Thanks for reading our first feature and stay tuned!

…Next week we’re featuring the Herrett family in Battle of the Books! Jess and Lilly take on their mum, Sarah!