A NEW initiative in Cumbria creates school events to encourage children and families to read for pleasure.

Cumbria Great Big Read, founded by Marie Wynn, started three years ago to promote reading and listening for pleasure at home and school.

For World Book Day, on Thursday, March 2, Cumbria Great Big Read will host another 'great' big read for primary school children and a 'great' big listen for nursery children between February 1 and April 30 next year.

The Mail: Marie Wynn, organiser of Cumbria Great Big ReadMarie Wynn, organiser of Cumbria Great Big Read (Image: Submitted)

Each school or nursery in Cumbria, no matter how large or small, has the opportunity to join in and will get to spend its funds on Usborne Books. 
Schools taking part can also schedule a book fair - raising even more credit for Usborne Books.

In partnership with Usborne, Skiddaw View Books will top these funds up with an extra 60%. 

The organiser, Marie Wynn, said: "So, for example, if your school raises £100.00 of funds, you get to select £160.00 worth to spend on books or any Usborne products."

The Mail: All Bookfairs will be run by Marie and will be tailored to the schools.All Bookfairs will be run by Marie and will be tailored to the schools. (Image: Submitted)

"So you get brand new books into children's hands, and the knock-on effect is absolutely amazing."

"This event also helps schools and nurseries improve their libraries because a lot of them have no money in their funding to upgrade them, so this really does help with putting new books on their shelves."

"Some books are 25 or 30 years old in school libraries, and they are so out of date, especially technology and sports books from the 80s. There are so many areas that haven't been updated, for example, diversity books, because they just don't have the funding."

The organiser has also highlighted that reading for pleasure "has fallen off the radar" with children being exposed to much screen time.

Marie's Usborne Books' primary focus is promoting positive mental health in schools with Usborne's mental health books and raising awareness of book poverty in the community, schools, and nurseries.

Any schools and nurseries can now book and organise their World Book Day event with Cumbria Great Big Read.

For more information, visit Marie Wynn's page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100023082082474

Alternatively, email her at marie@skiddawviewbooks.co.uk.