Every night across the country, parents and carers tuck children into bed, open a book, and begin a story. It’s a quiet, familiar ritual - but for children in care, it can be so much more.
A bedtime story isn’t just about words on a page; it’s about connection, comfort, and giving a child a sense of belonging. For a child who has experienced instability or trauma, the simple act of sharing a book can provide a moment of safety, trust, and reassurance.
Why reading matters
Research has long shown that reading to children from an early age has profound and lasting benefits. Studies indicate that children from disadvantaged backgrounds who achieve highly at the end of primary school are twice as likely to have been read to at home in their early years compared to their peers. Shared reading at home has also been found to have a greater impact on academic success than parental supervision or school involvement, highlighting its crucial role in a child’s development.
Yet despite its significance, only about half of those who care for young children read to them daily. The reasons are varied – time pressures, lack of confidence reading aloud, or uncertainty about what books to choose. For foster carers, these challenges can be even greater, especially if past experiences have impacted on a child’s emotional and behavioral development or their confidence and attitude towards reading.
The role of stories in healing and identity
For children who have experienced loss, neglect, or upheaval, books offer more than just education. Stories provide a safe space to process emotions, make sense of the world, and even see themselves reflected in a way that validates their experiences. Seeing a character navigate adversity and find hope can be life-affirming for a child who has felt unseen or unheard.
A recent study by BookTrust found that shared reading strengthens the bond between carers and children, fostering trust and attachment. A simple, predictable reading routine can provide much-needed stability. As one fostering practitioner involved in the research put it: “If they’ve had a really difficult or challenging day, just sitting down for 10 minutes and reading a book together before bed could improve, restore, or repair relationships.”
Books also help shape identity. When children see characters who look like them, share similar experiences, or come from diverse family structures, it affirms their sense of self-worth. For children in care, stories about adoption, fostering, or different types of families can help them understand their own journey in a way that feels empowering rather than isolating.
Making reading accessible: Story Explorers
Recognising the specific challenges faced by foster, kinship, and adoptive families, BookTrust launched Story Explorers, a programme designed to make reading more accessible and enjoyable for children in care. Aimed at children aged 0 - 7, the initiative provides carefully selected books, online resources, and monthly activity kits tailored to help carers and children build positive reading habits together.
Developed in collaboration with The Fostering Wellbeing Pioneers in Wales, the programme was shaped by the insights of foster carers and professionals to meet the specific needs of children in care. The goal? To make reading feel natural and playful rather than a chore. The selected books reflect children’s interests and developmental stages, supporting learning while ensuring that stories feel relevant and engaging.
BookTrust CEO Diana Gerald MBE explains: “Every child deserves the magic of stories, but we know that for foster carers, making reading a regular and enjoyable part of daily life can come with unique challenges. Story Explorers was created to support foster families by providing carefully chosen books and resources that help build trust, spark imagination, and offer comfort to children who may have experienced instability. More than that, we want to instill a love of reading that children can carry with them as they grow - so that stories continue to inspire, empower, and provide joy long into the future.”
From child in care to award-winning author: Patrice Lawrence’s story
For Patrice Lawrence MBE, an award-winning children’s author, and BookTrust’s current Writer in Residence, books were more than just stories - they were a lifeline. Fostered at an early age, she credits her foster carer, Aunty Phyllis, with instilling a lifelong love of reading. Phyllis ensured she had access to books, took her to the library, and nurtured her curiosity through stories.
“I’ve never lived in a typical family,” Lawrence reflects. “My parents split up before I was born. They weren’t married, and in the 1960s, children ‘born out of wedlock’ were often adopted due to stigma. My mother was training to be a nurse, and though she was part of a large family, her relatives all lived in Trinidad. I was privately fostered by a white family in Brighton. Aunty Phyllis made sure I could read before I started school. I consumed every book that came my way - and it made me who I am today.”
Now, as a celebrated author, Lawrence champions books as a tool for healing, self-discovery, and empowerment - especially for children in care. “We, as adults, must remember how our childhood books made us feel. The books that told us a child just like us could save the world. The books that mirrored our anxieties and made us feel seen, even while we hid our fears from others.”
For children navigating uncertain circumstances, reading can be an anchor. Whether it’s a story that brings joy, helps them feel understood, or inspires them to dream, books have the power to change lives.
As Lawrence puts it, “Every child deserves books that make them gasp with laughter, thrill with adventure and widen their horizons so they can gaze at the world from new perspectives. Books take us out of ourselves; books can be our buffer during tough times”.
To find out more, contact BookTrust for details on Story Explorers and other resources designed to support foster families and the professionals who work with them.
Get in touch at: [email protected] or visit booktrust.org.uk/story-explorers
