How can we get children hooked on reading?

IT’S tragic that so many children grow up in non-reading homes and don’t even have bedtime stories. As children, my siblings and I loved going to the public library. I enjoyed Enid Blyton, fairy tales by Andrew Lang and illustrated books about history. By secondary school, I had moved on past the much-loved tales of Narnia to novels and biographies. Too much of today’s children’s literature is poor quality, such as so-called poetry that doesn’t make any attempt to rhyme. The popular Wimpy Kid books are OK in primary schools to tempt reluctant readers, but they are hardly going to enhance the education of senior school pupils. l. WINSTANlEY, Runcorn, Cheshire.

I CAN still remember the moment the magic of reading for pleasure started. I was seven years old in my grandparents’ house one Sunday afternoon when I picked up a Famous Five book by Enid Blyton. It unlocked the door to the wonderful world of the written word. Often when I see the film or TV adaptation of a book I’ve read, I’m disappointed because the actors are nothing like I envisaged. Give yourself a chance to lose yourself in a good story. Set up a story group — there are many people, young and old, who like to be read to. Share a book and encourage young friends and family to use their imagination. I know it can be a struggle to encourage youngsters, so stick to reading for pleasure, however easy or childish it may be for them, and hope they take the bait.

J. SIMNER, Birmingham.

I TAUGHT myself to read before starting school, so I was soon disillusioned having to spend hour after hour in English classes not operating at my level of comprehension. Sadly, the head of the National Literacy Trust expressed her concern at the number of children afraid of being seen reading a book for fear of being labelled ‘nerds’.

PETER DAvEY, Bournemouth, Dorset.

I REMEMBER children being chided for reading comics, yet those who did went on to read Enid Blyton books and eventually graduated to the classics of English literature. The message is simple: get children reading the simple stuff early! ANDREW PETTIGREW,

Haslingden, lancs.