ABSTRACT

Pleasure in reading is crucial in developing fully rounded readers, but the concept is wide-ranging and involves engagement, motivation, satisfaction, fulfilment and purpose. School leaders and teachers have an important role in promoting pleasure in reading, and this chapter describes strategies that will support children’s developing sense of what it is to be a successful and satisfied reader. Equally as important as the strategies are the resources schools provide, which should reflect children’s interests and experiences, as well as expanding their reading horizons through working together to make sense of challenging texts. These include opportunities for independent reading, using apps to support reading and creating diverse, comfortable, supportive and social environments for reading in the classroom and around the school. In establishing an environment to support reading for pleasure and purpose, teachers’ knowledge of children’s literature and the promotion of children’s agency as readers are central.