Did you know that children who read for pleasure achieve better in school than children who don't?

Research shows that reading for pleasure is more important for children's development than their parents' level of education and is a more powerful factor in life achievement than socio-economic background. Helping children to love reading has such an important part to play too in developing children's imaginations, aspirations, empathy and understanding of the world. At Holbrook we work very hard to develop an enthusiasm for books. We read to children every day and make sure they have interesting and engaging books to choose from. We seek their opinions on the books they like and support them in their journey to become book lovers.

Need some ideas for books to try?

Here's our Holbrook Hundred - all the books we think children should read before they move on to Secondary School. There's a variety to suit all tastes and interests. Some are challenging reads, some are just lovely stories to share. Remember that this is all about learning to love books - children can read these themselves, or an adult can read with them, or children can listen to an audiobook. 

Virtual Library

We also have a virtual library which is updated most months. Click on the link and you will be taken to a video of someone reading part of the book. If children like a book, they can usually find a copy at school or in the local library. Our virtual library is linked to different themes, so these books represent our diverse world as well as exploring a variety of issues to build empathy and understanding.

Our video links take you to YouTube - remember that children should always be supervised when using such sites.