Story Zoo and the National Year of Reading 2026: Going All In to Inspire a Nation of Readers

Q&A on The National Year of Reading 2026 with Story Zoo Co-Founder and Primary School Teacher Sophie Hayes

1. The National Year of Reading 2026 encourages everyone to “Go All In” and explore their interests through reading. How does Story Zoo help children connect reading with the topics they already love?

This is huge for Story Zoo. Our approach mirrors the campaign's central theme of “If you're in it, read into it.” We've done this in a couple of ways at Story Zoo by creating books that are linked to what children are interested in and the patterns I’ve seen throughout teaching.

In Years 3 and 4, for example, children start to develop a real love of sports. We’ve created many books covering different genres, sports and activities such as football, gaming and cricket. We also created a wide range of adventure stories because we recognised that some children missed out on experiences during Covid. These stories are designed to capture reluctant readers and provide a natural extension of their personal passions and activities outside of school, encouraging them to read for pleasure.

2. Inclusivity is a key part of the campaign, recognising all types of reading, from audiobooks to digital platforms. How does Story Zoo ensure every child, regardless of background or ability, has access to reading experiences that suit them?

This is really at the heart of Story Zoo. I saw that we needed to bridge the gap between children using devices for digital content and reading. Our digital inclusivity is built around our Story Zoo library, which is accessible anywhere the child is, at school or at home. This brings reading to life, meeting children where they are and allowing them to explore books at their level.

The platform also offers accessibility features so that all children can access the library. We have a wide range of representation in our books, ensuring every child can see themselves reflected in a variety of roles and careers that promote social mobility. Our diverse genres allow children to experience things they might not encounter day to day, broadening their horizons and improving outcomes. By offering digital access for all learners, we remove barriers and make reading truly inclusive.

3. The campaign is built on partnerships across schools, libraries, publishers, and community groups. How is Story Zoo contributing to that same collaborative effort to build a reading culture nationwide?

We partner with schools and teachers directly, which allows us to create and embed a genuine culture of reading for pleasure. The more children see adults reading and enjoying books, the more likely they are to do the same. We work with schools across the country and local authorities to make this possible.

We also provide teachers with curriculum-linked content. Our non-fiction books, which are especially popular with reluctant readers, align with subjects like history, geography and science. This helps teachers find age-appropriate resources and gives children more opportunities to connect with classroom topics through reading.

In addition, we provide toolkits for teachers on how to use Story Zoo effectively to improve outcomes and reduce workload. We also share data insights that help track literacy and identify comprehension gaps. Story Zoo is naturally positioned as an active contributor to the same mission as the National Year of Reading 2026 campaign, in many ways, we were already on that journey before the campaign began.

4. How does Story Zoo’s focus on reluctant readers complement the “Go All In” mission to make reading relevant and exciting for every child?

As a teacher, I know that reluctant readers are often the ones I want to reach first, to help them build confidence and enjoyment in reading. Meeting them where they are is key. Often, that means starting with non-fiction texts that connect to their interests, such as history or geography.

At Story Zoo, we’ve created both non-fiction and fiction series around similar themes, like our Viking stories, to bridge those interests. Once children are hooked by a topic, we can introduce them to related fiction to expand vocabulary and comprehension. We’ve also written books around popular subjects such as space and sports to re-engage learners.

Many of our stories are emotion-led, inspired by my experience working with SEND and reluctant readers. I want every child, regardless of ability, to have access to the best possible start in reading. By blending digital platforms with physical books and comprehension quizzes, we nurture a love of reading that improves both engagement and attainment.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what they read as long as they are reading and enjoying it. Story Zoo provides the tools to engage reluctant readers and challenge advanced ones, helping every child progress and love reading.

5. As a teacher yourself, how do you see campaigns like the National Year of Reading making a difference in schools, and how can digital platforms like Story Zoo help sustain that momentum long-term?

It has been our mission at Story Zoo from the very beginning to inspire children to read more, so it’s wonderful to see that mission reflected in the National Year of Reading campaign. I love seeing reading take centre stage and being celebrated across schools and communities.

What’s vital now is that the changes made this year become embedded and lasting. We want children to leave the Year of Reading with stronger skills, confidence and a genuine love for books that stays with them. The challenge is ensuring that momentum continues and that’s exactly where Story Zoo comes in.

Story Zoo extends the campaign’s legacy by giving teachers, parents and pupils the tools to keep that excitement alive beyond 2026. Our aim is to equip schools to make reading for pleasure an everyday habit, not a one-year focus. By doing so, we’re helping every child reach their full potential through reading.