Cressida Cowell warns of ‘vast inequality’ in provision of primary school libraries

Often it’s the children who need books most that are in schools unable to provide them, Sam Hancock finds

Boris Johnson speaks to a primary school student onboard a bus library during a visit to St Mary’s CE Primary School last month in Stoke-on-Trent (Getty)

There is “vast inequality” in Britain’s primary school library system, children’s laureate Cressida Cowell has said.

The author, known for books including the hugely popular How to Train Your Dragon series, wrote in an open letter to the government that the lack of access to libraries means millions of children – particularly those from the poorest communities, worst-hit by Covid – are missing out on the opportunity to become a “reader for pleasure”.

Co-signed by former Laureates, including Sir Quentin Blake, the letter asks Boris Johnson to consider ring-fencing a yearly investment of £100m to help children whose future “lies in the balance”.