Reading is a Right for Children
Introduction
Frank Cottrell-Boyce says all children in the UK have a right to read books. He thinks reading is not just a job for parents.
Main Body
More children like reading now. But fewer parents read with their children every day. In 2021, 60% of families read together. In 2025, only 49% did this. Some families are very poor. They do not have good homes or furniture. Also, children spend too much time on phones and tablets. This stops them from reading books. Now, a new group wants to help. Doctors and health workers will help families read. The government is also giving 72,000 free books to poor people.
Conclusion
Children want to read, but many families have problems at home.
Learning
📉 Comparing Numbers
Look at these two facts from the text:
- 2021 → 60% of families read.
- 2025 → 49% of families read.
The Pattern: When we talk about things changing over time, we use words like 'more' and 'fewer'.
- More = a bigger number (⬆️)
- Fewer = a smaller number (⬇️)
Example from text:
- "More children like reading now" (The number is going up).
- "Fewer parents read with their children" (The number is going down).
🛠️ How to say 'No' in a sentence
Beginners often forget how to make a sentence negative. The text shows us the simple way:
Do not / Does not → Action
- "They do not have good homes" (Plural/They)
- "This stops them" → "This does not stop them" (Singular/It)
Quick Tip: Use 'do not' for a group of people and 'does not' for one person or one thing.