The Reading Crisis - Why children aren't reading and what we can do about it - Part 2 episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 23, 2026 · 32 MIN

The Reading Crisis - Why children aren't reading and what we can do about it - Part 2

from Mostly Book Talk · host Katy Donnelly and Alison Palmer

In part two of our mini series about The Reading Crisis, we look at how testing, technology and access to books are affecting reading for pleasure.For this series we interviewed the following people (not all feature in every episode):Dapo Adeola - Author and the illustrator of many books including Look Up!, Clean Up!and My Dad is a Grizzly Bear.Sita Brahmachari - Author of many books including Artichoke Hearts, When Shadows Falland Phoenix BrothersDr Darren Chetty - Lecturer at UCL Institute of Education and author, with Professor Karen Sands O'Connor, of Beyond the Secret Garden Professor Teresa Cremin - Professor of Education and Co-Director of the Literacy and Social Justice Centre at The Open UniversityCharlotte Hacking - Teacher Engagement Lead at the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy and Research and Curriculum Lead at Herne Hill School Jenny Hawke - Children's Librarian and Chair of the Youth Library GroupTom Palmer - Author of many books including Angel of Grasmere, Resist and War Dog Glynn Palmer–Bell - Assistant Director of English at Castle View Enterprise Academy, SunderlandLouie Stowell - Author of many books including the Loki series, Otherland and the Dragon in the LibrarySabrina Sulliman - English teacher at Southfields Academy, South West London At the end of the series we will invite comments and ideas from listeners so look out for how you can contribute to the discussion.Many thanks to everyone we interviewed and to our Co Producer Belinda Naylor.Send us a message

In part two of our mini series about The Reading Crisis, we look at how testing, technology and access to books are affecting reading for pleasure. For this series we interviewed the following people (not all feature in every episode): Dapo Adeola - Author and the illustrator of many books including Look Up!, Clean Up!and My Dad is a Grizzly Bear. Sita Brahmachari - Author of many books including Artichoke Hearts, When Shadows Falland Phoenix Brothers Dr Darren Chetty - Lecturer at UCL Instit...

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The Reading Crisis - Why children aren't reading and what we can do about it - Part 2

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This episode is 32 minutes long.

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This episode was published on January 23, 2026.

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In part two of our mini series about The Reading Crisis, we look at how testing, technology and access to books are affecting reading for pleasure.For this series we interviewed the following people (not all feature in every episode):Dapo Adeola -...

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