I sometimes think I might have been born with a book in my hand. I certainly have vivid memories of books almost being an addiction. When my mother took a book out of my hand at breakfast and told me not to read at the table, I would read the back of the Cornflakes packet because I was so obsessed with words. Many parents, however, tell me they have the opposite problem. No matter how hard they try, they can’t get their children to pick up a book.

The secret is to start early – in the first few months – and find wonderful sounds that will attract any child. Nursery rhymes and the poems of Roald Dahl (there’s a taste below), Doctor Seuss and A.A. Milne are a good start. Many of these poems are quite scary but children love them.

The Crocodile

No animal is half as vile
As Crocky-Wock, the crocodile
On Saturdays he likes to crunch
Six juicy children for his lunch
And he especially enjoys
Just three of each, three girls, three boys.
He smears the boys (to make them hot)
With mustard from the mustard pot.
But mustard doesn’t go with girls,
It tastes all wrong with plaits and curls.
With them, what goes extremely well
Is butterscotch and caramel…

Roald Dahl

Here are some more hints about turning your kids onto books.