OVER the last two weeks the schools team at The Bookery, Crediton’s award-winning community-owned bookshop, has been busy inspiring 4,000 primary school children to read for pleasure.

An after-school book fair at St Leonard's Primary School
An after-school book fair at St Leonard's Primary School (The Bookery)

The team visited 15 schools, from large schools of 600 pupils right down to one with only 26!

Morchard Bishop Primary School children with their book choices
Morchard Bishop Primary School children with their book choices (The Bookery)

In two new initiatives, the team held a session for home-educated children at The Bookery and on World Book Day held an online event, beaming out to pupils on the Isles of Scilly, Isle of Wight, Sark in the Channel Islands and a rural Devon school.

Pupils at Yeoford Community Primary School dressed for Hogwarts
Pupils at Yeoford Community Primary School dressed for Hogwarts (Yeoford Community Primary School)

The team introduced its 24 “Top Titles for 2025”, reading extracts and giving children time to discuss, browse and buy. Each school bought a collection for their library so that every child can access the books.

Five Islands Academy on the Isles of Scilly joined the Bookery's online event
Five Islands Academy on the Isles of Scilly joined The Bookery's online event (The Bookery)

One girl in year four said she enjoyed The Bookery’s visit to her school as she was able to see “new books I might not have read”.

Pupils with their chosen books including a non-fiction title along with some adventure books
Pupils from Morchard Bishop Primary School with their chosen books including a non-fiction title along with some adventure stories (The Bookery)

A boy in year five said: “I like the way you describe books and give us a mini-review. Because we hear you, it helps us decide.”

Yeoford Community Primary School children choosing titles
Yeoford Community Primary School children choosing from among the Top Titles for 2025 (The Bookery)

Another girl in year five added: “I like that you have a range and a choice.”

And a boy in year three said: “Once you’ve learnt to read, it opens up a whole new world. Why would you not want to read books?”

A six-year-old selecting from the Bookery's Top Titles
A six-year-old selecting from The Bookery's Top Titles for 2025 (The Bookery)

Comments from teachers included: “As a teacher I really enjoyed hearing about the range of stories and look forward to sharing them with my class”; “I have seen an impact from previous visits on children’s enthusiasm for books and it’s been good to witness them sharing with friends”; “It’s really important that children get the chance to choose their own book”.

Children put a lot of effort into their World Book Day costumes at Yeoford Community Primary School
Children put a lot of effort into their World Book Day costumes at Yeoford Community Primary School (Yeoford Community Primary School)

There will be a special offer on Saturday, March 15 when customers can purchase two of the Top Titles collection from The Bookery for £10.