and w Ho D A N E M P I C 19,662,147 1,146,353 books read students 5,603 schools The Book-Reading Behaviours of Pupils in Pandemic Times An independent study by Professor Keith Topping, Professor of Educational and Social Research, University of Dundee, with contributions from Dr. Christina Clark, Head of Research, and Irene Picton, Research Manager, National Literacy Trust What and How Kids Are Reading: The Book-Reading Behaviours of Pupils in Pandemic Times 2021 Pandemic Edition An independent study by: Professor Keith Topping, Professor of Educational and Social Research, School of Education, University of Dundee (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_James_Topping) and Dr Christina Clark, Head of Research, and Irene Picton, Research Manager, National Literacy Trust (https://literacytrust.org.uk). Dr Topping did the analysis for and wrote much of this report, while the National Literacy Trust section involved analysis and writing by Dr Christina Clark and Irene Picton. ©Copyright 2021 by Renaissance Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United Kingdom. All logos, designs, and brand names for Renaissance’s products and services, including but not limited to Accelerated Reader, ATOS, myON, myON News, myON Reader, Star Reading and Renaissance, are trademarks of Renaissance Learning, Inc., and its subsidiaries, registered, common law, or pending registration in the United States. All other product and company names should be considered the property of their respective companies and organisations. Reflections on Reading ©Copyright 2021 by Saadia Faruqi. Reflections on Reading ©Copyright 2021 by Sav Akyüz. Reflections on Reading ©Copyright 2021 by Joseph Elliott. This publication is protected by US and international copyright laws. It is unlawful to duplicate or reproduce any copyrighted material without authorisation from the copyright holder. For more information, contact: RENAISSANCE 14th Floor, South Quay Building 77 Marsh Wall London, E14 9SH +44 (0)20 7184 4000 www.whatkidsarereading.co.uk [email protected] Suggested citation: Renaissance Learning. (2021). What Kids Are Reading: The Book-Reading Behaviours of Pupils in Pandemic Times: 2021 Pandemic edition. London, UK: Author: Professor Keith Topping Contents | What Kids Are Reading | 3 Contents Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................................................4 Foreword ..........................................................................................................................................................................................7 Welcome ..........................................................................................................................................................................................8 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................................9 Part A: How Kids Are Reading ..................................................................................................................................................11 Section One: Implementation Quality and Effectiveness ................................................................................................12 Average Percent Correct .....................................................................................................................................................12 Star Reading Scores ............................................................................................................................................................13 Quizzes Passed ....................................................................................................................................................................13 Engaged Reading Time .......................................................................................................................................................14 Engaged Reading Time and Cumulative Words Read ..................................................................................................14 Zone of Proximal Development .........................................................................................................................................15 Summary ...............................................................................................................................................................................16 Section Two: Children and Young People’s Reading Enjoyment During the First Lockdown (by the National Literacy Trust) ..............................................................................................................................................17 Why More Children Enjoy Reading During Lockdown ..................................................................................................18 What Were Children and Young People Reading During the First Lockdown? .......................................................19 Part B: What Kids Are Reading .................................................................................................................................................22 Section One: Books Kids Are Reading Most Often ............................................................................................................23 Books Kids Are Reading Most Often: Overall Picture ....................................................................................................23 Books Kids Are Reading Most Often: By Year ................................................................................................................24 Section Two: Popularity of Authors ......................................................................................................................................28 Overall popularity of authors ..............................................................................................................................................28 Section Three: Highest New Entrants ...................................................................................................................................29 Highest New Entrants by Year ...........................................................................................................................................29 Most Popular New Entrants ...............................................................................................................................................30 Section Four: Books High-Achieving Kids Read Most Often ..........................................................................................32 Books High-Achieving Kids Read Most Often by Year ..................................................................................................32 Section Five: Books Struggling Readers Read Most Often .............................................................................................35 Books Struggling Readers Read Most Often by Year....................................................................................................35 Section Six: Most Read Non-Fiction Books ........................................................................................................................37 Most Read Non-Fiction Books by Year ............................................................................................................................37 Section Seven: Voting for Favourite Books .........................................................................................................................39 Favourite Books by Year .....................................................................................................................................................39 Favourite Books in Primary and Secondary Schools ....................................................................................................43 Section Eight: Regional Variation in Reading Habits ........................................................................................................44 Regional Variation in Book Choices by Year ...................................................................................................................44 Summary ...............................................................................................................................................................................45 Section Nine: myON and Other Countries ...........................................................................................................................47 Top 20 Books Read with myON .........................................................................................................................................47 Section Ten: AR in Countries Other Than the UK and USA ..............................................................................................49 A: In Countries Where English is the First Language ..............................................................................................49 B: In Countries Where English is Not the First Language .......................................................................................50 Overall Summary ..........................................................................................................................................................................53 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................................................58