The four-a-day book challenge is part of Busy Bees’ national Get the Reading Buzz campaign, which aims to help children enjoy a total of 45 million books in 2026 by embedding reading into their daily routines.
With a record low in children’s enjoyment of reading, nurseries across the country are working to reignite a love for storytelling through daily routines.
Jenny Shaw, academic lead researcher and developer at Busy Bees, said: “Every day in our Welwyn nurseries, we see how a simple story can capture a child’s curiosity.
More than 220 children in Welwyn taking four-a-day book challenge (Image: Supplied)
“Reading is more than just a moment, it’s a spark that ignites imagination, supports early language development, builds confidence, and deepens connections between parent and child.
“These figures highlight a concerning national trend, and we know that to reverse it, we must ignite that reading spark long before a child reaches primary school.
“Our nurseries are dedicated to creating daily opportunities for children to enjoy stories.
“Through our Bee Curious Curriculum, we aim to nurture a love of stories, ensuring literacy isn’t just a skill children acquire but a passion they keep.”
The Get the Reading Buzz pledge unites more than 350 Busy Bees nurseries and over 37,000 children across the UK.
Each child aims to enjoy at least four books a day, with families encouraged to join the challenge by reading together at home.
More than 220 children taking part in new reading challenge (Image: Supplied)
Recent figures show just a third of children enjoy reading in their free time, and less than one in five read daily.
As part of the programme, nurseries are giving parents practical guidance, book recommendations, and resources to establish consistent reading routines.
Busy Bees has also teamed up with Laura Henry-Allain MBE, creator of JoJo and Gran Gran and ambassador for the National Year of Reading.
Ms Henry-Allain said: “It is music to my ears to hear that Busy Bees, as part of their Bee Curious curriculum, have created the four-a-day book challenge, which will have a lasting impact on children’s literacy and help them become readers for life.”