By Lucy Neill | 19 May 2026
There are so many benefits to reading for pleasure, especially for children. Reading for pleasure can reduce the symptoms of depression and improve wellbeing throughout life.
It can make people feel more connected to the wider community, increase their understanding of their own identity, improve empathy and it gives readers an insight into the world view of others.
Also, it lets them explore new worlds and delve into exciting adventures!
For the National Year of Reading, we’re highlighting five different ways you can help your children discover the joys of reading at your local library!
Sign them up for a library card
It might seem an obvious place to start, but a library card can open up endless reading possibilities for your child!
There’s no minimum age to get a library card, and it’s free to sign up! A library card lets you borrow books from any of our 45 libraries across Suffolk, and also unlocks online learning resources such as Britannica for Children.
Don’t forget that our libraries across Suffolk don’t charge for overdue children’s books!
You can sign up for a card at any library. Find out more about joining the library.
Take part in the Reading Quest
The Reading Quest is our annual summer reading programme, open to children aged 2-12 of all reading abilities.
You don’t need to read a set number of books – our summer reading programme is designed to encourage children to enjoy reading at their own pace in a fun, interactive way.
There are plenty of ideas and challenges to choose from and we hope families will actively engage with reading for pleasure together!
Reading Quest starts on 18 July and you can sign up at any time over the summer holidays. Find out more about Reading Quest.
Explore manga, comic books and visual novels
Reading doesn’t have to mean traditional books! Our libraries stock a huge variety of manga, comic books and visual novels that offer a fun and engaging reading experience.
You can browse collections in-person at your local library, or if you’re after something specific you can search our online catalogue and reserve the volumes you want to read.
We also stock dyslexia-friendly titles which are super readable and visually accessible, so readers of all abilities can enjoy them. Check out the latest collection from dyslexia specialist publisher Barrington Stoke!
Build a routine of reading together
Reading with your child is a wonderful way to help them grow and learn. Creating a daily routine of sharing stories and rhymes helps your child to develop their communication skills and begin to understand the world around them. It’s also a great bonding time for you and your little one!
Our libraries stock free Forest of Stories packs which have everything a family needs to begin their reading journey at home and build reading into their daily routine, whether by reading at bedtime or just finding some quiet moments each day to share a story together.
You can pick up a free Forest of Stories pack from any of our libraries.
Visit a storytime activity at the library
Many of our libraries run free storytime sessions for little ones! Enjoy a vivid storytelling session where each time you’ll get to experience a new and exciting story to engage your little one’s imagination with words and pictures.
It’s also a great way to help your little one socialise with others, and they get to explore the library afterwards and pick out their own books to enjoy at home!
Visit our What’s On page to find a storytime session near you, or see what else is happening at your local library!
For more information and ideas, read our top tips on learning to read or browse our other literacy resources for children.