By James Powell | 6 March 2025
Councillor Nadia Cenci, Suffolk Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities has pledged her support for the National Year of Reading and spoken of her passion for encouraging parents to read to their children from a young age.
Cllr Cenci visited Chantry Library in her electoral division to join the weekly Wordplay session on World Book Day (Thursday 5 March). Wordplay sessions invite parents to bring their babies and toddlers along to enjoy stories, songs and rhymes.
Wordplay is one of many ways Suffolk Community Libraries can help children begin their reading journey and a love of libraries from an early age. It’s been proven that visiting a library from an early age can make a difference to your educational attainment and achievement later in life.
Nadia has pledged her support for The National Year of Reading and has been speaking about her passion for reading and the importance of encouraging more people to join the library and to enjoy the benefits of reading regularly.
She said:
“The National Year of Reading is an exciting and needed project to increase the joy of reading to what it was in my childhood.
“Reading being at the correct standard at the age of 11 is a proven indication of success for that child in the future so this is important for children’s achievements as well as their joy. Adults too who enjoy reading understand how important this year is for encouraging more to use their library.
“My favourite book as a child was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I have too many favourite books now depending on genre, but I absolutely love Yuval Harari – Sapiens, Homo Deus – mind blowing!
“I have also written a novel which is on Amazon and reading other authors aided that process.
“Suffolk Community Libraries is an essential hub of activity for connection, events, hobbies and much more! I’d strongly encourage everyone to get behind the National Year of Reading and get a free library card for you and your family. Let’s get Suffolk reading!”
A dedicated page has been set up on the Suffolk Community Libraries website to promote the National Year of Reading which is already packed with recommendations and reading ideas.
Suffolk Community Libraries has also launched a new Book Bingo activity to encourage children and families to explore their local library and discover and read more of the books on offer.
You can sign up for a free library card at any library or via the website suffolkcommunitylibraries.co.uk/join