In this blog, you will learn:
- What National Read a Book Day is.
5 reasons to start a book club in your school.
Where the latest Teaching teaching jobs are and how to apply for them.
National Read a Book Day highlights the many benefits of reading and bringing it into the classroom provides the perfect excuse to get children excited about books and stories. Developing a love of reading at a young age is key to a child’s social, academic and cognitive development.
Many children love to read, but some struggle to find the time or resources to read for pleasure. What better way to celebrate National Read a Book Day on 6th September 2025 and foster a love of reading than to start a book club in your school?
Discover how you can increase the number of children reading regularly by starting a book club in your school ready for National Read a Book Day.
What is National Read a Book Day?
Celebrated annually on 6th September, National Read a Book Day raises awareness of both adult and child literacy, encouraging everyone to pick up a book and get lost in a good story.
For schools, National Read a Book Day provides Teachers with the opportunity to foster a love of reading among pupils. It also raises awareness on the impact that reading can have on children’s development and the benefits of reading and being part of a community of avid readers.
Should I start a school book club?
National Read a Book Day is the perfect opportunity to embrace the love for reading and start a book club in your school. It is important to consider how to increase the number of children reading regularly. A visit to the library or an introduction to a new book can help to spark children’s imagination and develop a reading culture in your school.
Starting a book club in school can provide Teachers with multiple opportunities to inspire students and raise awareness of child literacy. It can also foster a love for learning and engage reluctant readers in school.
5 reasons to start a school book club
5 reasons to start a school book club:
- Instils a love for reading.
- Increases opportunities to communicate and socialise.
- Diversify.
- Develops cognitive skills.
- Improve mental health.
Instils a love for reading
The most obvious reason for starting a book club is to encourage and nurture a love of reading in children. According to the National Literacy Trust, 9 in 10 pupils reported increased frequency and enjoyment of reading after taking part in their ‘Our Little Big Book Club’ initiative.
Developing a love of reading at a young age is key to a child’s development and book clubs give students access to reading materials and the opportunity to explore new and exciting stories.
Book clubs in schools provide students with the opportunity to enjoy and understand literature and are a great way to get pupils excited about reading more.
Increase opportunities to communicate and socialise
School book clubs are a great excuse for students of different ages, reading levels and backgrounds to come together and revel in the wonders of a good book. Bringing a group of people together with the same interests and enthusiasm for reading can help foster relationships and create a sense of community.
Book clubs have also been found to improve social skills and increase communication, especially in children and young people. Reading with others that share similar interests make it easier for children to discuss different opinions, make new friends and feel included.
Through book club discussions, pupils can develop life skills and socialise with people outside of their usual friendship groups.
Diversify
Children want to feel seen and valued, and book clubs provide a community of book lovers made up of children of mixed ages, gender and race. A book club with diverse members can recommend stories that others might not be aware of or familiar with. Running a book club in school can diversify the school's selection of books thereby encouraging more conversations about gender, race, disability and different cultures.
If every member of the book club nominates a book for discussion, it is likely that someone will be introduced to a new title, genre or author and discover something new to experience and enjoy.
For those who haven’t found their favourite genre, author or want to widen their search, a school book club can certainly broaden horizons and open students' eyes to more diverse, culturally relevant and inspiring stories.
Cognitive benefits
Another benefit to having a school book club is the cognitive benefits reading can have on students. Reading is invaluable and is known to increase memory and improve creativity and concentration.
Students may find that by analysing books they can recognise and identify new symbols, meaning and vocabulary which enhances their academic and cognitive skills. Discussing stories and authors in a book club can also improve vocabulary, spelling, knowledge of literature and writing skills.
Improves mental health
School books club not only benefits students academically and socially, but it can also enhance their wellness and happiness. Low literacy levels can affect mood and mental health; many studies have found that reading can have a positive impact on children’s wellness and mental health.
According to the National Literacy Trust, 46% of children and young people aged 8-18 said reading made them feel happy and nearly 60% said it helps them relax.
At school, book clubs provide students with a safe space to express themselves and their emotions. Reading has been shown to reduce stress and boost confidence which can make students more open to trying new things.
Book clubs promote empathy and social-emotional growth which can help students forge strong friendships and connections. Students can get passionate about reading while discussing theories and opinions with their peers which can make them feel happier, relaxed and safe.
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