South Yorkshire's Mayor, Oliver Coppard, has launched The Mayor’s Little Big Book Club.
This new initiative is designed to help more children discover the joy of reading and develop a lifelong love of stories, with 4,000 free books to be given away to children across the region.
The Little Big Book Club forms part of the Mayor's wider South Yorkshire Reading Network ambition, a programme focused on creating memorable experiences around books, language, creativity and storytelling, particularly for children and families who are currently less likely to engage. The ambition is to create opportunities for children to experience the magic of stories, building a culture where reading for pleasure is embedded across South Yorkshire.
The launch comes as partners across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield prepare for the South Yorkshire Festival of Reading, part of a summer-long celebration which brings stories to life through storytelling sessions, creative activities and community events across the region. The festival marks the first major flagship moment for the Little Big Book Club on Saturday August 22 and the wider ambition to inspire more children to fall in love with reading.
At the Festival of Reading, families will be able to enjoy story times and reading trails, live music, crafts and creative workshops, and performances from street entertainers. The celebrations will also include the giveaway of 4,000 free story sacks, each containing a book, helping thousands more children across South Yorkshire take home a story of their own.
Rotherham Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Cllr Victoria Cusworth said: "Reading with children from an early age is one of the most powerful ways we can support their learning, wellbeing and future success. We're delighted to be part of this initiative, which will help more families across Rotherham discover the joy of stories and develop a lifelong love of reading. We look forward to welcoming families to Clifton Park, where children can enjoy storytelling, creative activities and the chance to meet author and illustrator Lydia Monks."
South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: "If you were lucky enough to have books around you as a kid, you’ll probably remember the first one you fell in love with.
"Most of us can remember it. We can remember the characters. We can remember where we read it. We can remember the person who shared it with us.
"That's because stories stay with us. They spark our imagination. They make us laugh. They help us explore new worlds and see things differently.
“And we know reading brings so many benefits for young people. It helps build confidence, creativity and communication skills. It opens up opportunities and can shape a child's future in ways they might not even realise at the time.
"I want every child growing up in South Yorkshire to have the chance to discover that joy for themselves.
"Not because somebody tells them reading is good for them, but because they find a story they can't put down. Because they get excited about turning the page. Because reading becomes something they love, something they share, something that's part of everyday life.
"That's what the Little Big Book Club is all about.
"We're starting that journey through the Festival of Reading this summer, bringing stories to life for thousands of children and families across South Yorkshire. But our ambition goes much further than one summer or one event.
"We want every kid in our region to know that books, stories and reading are for them. Because every child deserves the chance to fall in love with reading."
Reading can spark imagination, build confidence, strengthen family bonds and open up new worlds. The Little Big Book Club is built on a simple idea: when reading feels joyful, shared and achievable, families are more likely to make it part of everyday life.
Through the Festival of Reading and future Little Big Book Club activity, families across South Yorkshire will have more opportunities to discover stories together, connect with local libraries and community organisations, and make reading a bigger part of family life.
