Book sales revenue from children's books in the United Kingdom (UK) 2009-2023

In 2023, the revenue generated from children's books in the United Kingdom amounted to 412 million British pounds. The revenue of children's books generally grew steadily from 2017 onwards, although gains between 2019 and 2021 were small, with the figure rising by only one or two percent year over year. The source suggested that the drop in 2023 could be due to cost-of-living factors as well as the publication cycles of bigger authors and the categories they are published into.

Children’s book access

Children’s access to books in the UK differs according to several factors. For example, children and teens with access to free school meals were the least likely group to be encouraged to read by parents or carers, or to talk about what they were reading with their family. Boys were overall less likely to read than girls, regardless of family income, and only around 18 percent said their friends helped them find things to read, compared to 30 percent of girls. Demographics also affect the likelihood of children having a book of their own at home. Whilst over 80 percent of all children aged five to eight years old owned a book, again, boys of this age were the least likely group to have one.

Getting kids reading

Encouragement from parents, carers, and teachers at a young age could help young children to engage with reading materials, as well as a diverse and relatable selection of books in key areas like the home, the classroom, after-school clubs, and libraries. An awareness of the amount of time spent on screens or on social media, as well as potential reduction of this, could also be worth exploring. Data shows that children and teens aged four to 18 years old in the UK spend more than two hours with TikTok each day – and whilst social media use among young people is now the norm, reduced screen time could help when attempting to encourage kids to engage with books and other reading material.