Blaise Tapp: Reading crisis needs to be top of Prime Minister's agenda

Blaise Tapp writes: Some people make their bookshelves the centrepiece of the living room - leaving visitors in little doubt that theirs is a highly literate household and, if you are particularly paranoid, like me, you could be forgiven for thinking they were simply showing off.

In our gaff it is the works of authors such as David Walliams, Julia Donaldson and JK Rowling that take pride of place in our children’s bedrooms, although I would be lying if I were to say that reading is their favourite pastime.

As has been the case for recent generations of parents, encouraging the little darlings of today to choose a hardback over a gadget can feel like involving oneself in Middle East peace talks. It’s tricky.

But, partly thanks to more than a little dogged perseverance during years of sometimes painful bedtime story sessions, our two are, thankfully, reading to the appropriate level for their respective ages. Yes, we would like them to voluntarily pick up a book a little more often, but neither struggle to read.