Evidence · Books and reading
Are children still reading for fun?
The data on children's reading, and the classic books that taught generations to love history and literature.
The short answer
In 2023 only 14% of 13-year-olds said they read for fun almost every day, down 13 points from 2012. Their reading scores fell over the same decade. Earlier generations grew up on story-driven classics such as the Landmark Books history series. Restore Childhood is working to bring books like these back to young readers.
Fewer children read for pleasure
The federal long-term trend test asks 13-year-olds how often they read for fun. In 2023, 14% said almost every day, 13 points lower than in 2012. Their average reading score fell 4 points from 2020 and 7 points over the decade. For the latest national scores, see our learning loss evidence page.
The books that made history come alive
In 1948 Bennett Cerf of Random House could not find a children's book about the Pilgrims for his son, so he created a series. Random House published about 180 Landmark Books from 1950 to 1970, written by 114 authors including Pearl Buck, Robert Penn Warren, C. S. Forester and Shirley Jackson. Earlier, Charles Herbert Sylvester's anthology Journeys Through Bookland gathered classic literature for children, with a guide for parents and teachers. Its volumes are free to read online.
What Restore Childhood is doing
We are raising funds to bring Landmark-style history books back into print for readers ages 11 to 14, and to build a curated shelf of in-print classics on American history and Western civilization.
What you can do now
- Set a family reading time with phones put away.
- Read aloud together, even with older children.
- Keep a shelf of good books at home and let your child choose from it.
- Ask your school library which classic history books it carries.
Related
We update this page as new data comes out. If you see an error, please contact us.