Cultivating The Next Generation of Readers

Every child deserves to discover a book they love, in whatever form it takes. In this session, Alexandra Maramenides, Hannah Kettle, Wendy Meddour and Ollie Grant discuss how to inspire children to become lifelong readers. They will explore the evolving landscape of young audiences, the importance of diverse representation, and the joy of reading for pleasure, while also addressing the challenges of navigating cultural and political debates in children’s publishing. With screens increasingly shaping young people’s lives, the panel considers how publishers can adapt storytelling, formats, and engagement strategies to connect with digital-native readers and the part that audio books can play in engaging reluctant readers.