Writer Frank Cotrell-Boyce warns of “happiness recession” amongst young children

Catholic writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce has described the dramatic decline in parents reading and playing with their children as “catastrophic”.

Speaking to Times Radio on Wednesday (23 October) the UK Waterstones Children’s Laureate warned that we are “looking at a kind of happiness recession among our children” which he blamed on a “perfect storm” of social circumstances.

“It’s loads of things. The pandemic obviously accelerated everyone’s relationship with screens; parents are very, very busy, the cost-of-living crisis has meant that everyone’s much less inclined to prioritise books – and we have to do something about this!”

In conversation with presenter Rosie Wright, Mr Cotrrell-Boyce said that children who arrive at school on their first day having already had the experience of enjoying books are at a “massive advantage” over children who haven’t.

“Normally when people talk about books they think of libraries and schools but we’ve got to start talking about early years – if you read a book to a child you are giving it a ‘hug’ that will last for the rest of its life.

“But I think a lot of parents just don’t have the confidence any more, you can lose sight of the fact that your kids love you and want to be near you.”

Asked which book he would regard as ‘must haves’ for reading to younger children Mr Cotrell-Boyce said The Gruffalo, “because it’s such a joining-in book. When you’re young a book isn’t just a book, it’s a recipe for joining and exploring the pages.”

The 65-year-old’s work is informed by and, on occasion, infused with references to his devout Catholic faith. There are saints in his children’s book Millions (Pan Macmillan) and hymns and Christian imagery aplenty in his critically acclaimed London 2012 Olympic ceremony. His latest screenplay, the animated film version of Michael Morpurgo’s Kensuke’s Kingdom (Heinemann) features a Christ figure and a story of redemption.

“Our culture is marinaded in biblical texts,” he said in a recent interview with Premier Christian Radio, “so they enrich us but also become invisible. They’re the salt in the meat that you don’t appreciate. Every time you go back to them, they just flare up at you.”

He laso says that forgiveness is one of the most important lessons you learn as a writer.

“Stories need endings. The murder is avenged. The mystery is solved. Love is requited, or tragically unrequited. We think that forgiveness is the end of the story, but it is just the beginning.”

Earlier this month Macmillan Publishers announced a new deal with the writer and the publication next May of a ‘Major new middle-grade novel’ to be titled Year 6 goes to Hollywood.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce lives in Liverpool with his wife, Denise, a theologian, and they have seven children.