Portsmouth schoolchildren come together for Big Read event at College Park with author Gareth P Jones
Around 500 children had a read-along with popular author
Hundreds of children from schools across Portsmouth celebrated the joy of reading as they sat in the sun for a read-along with a popular children’s author.
Around 500 Year 1 children sat in the cool grass at College Park in Copnor on Friday, July 10 to listen to and join in with Gareth P Jones as he read his book The Lion on the Bus. It was the second big read event to take place in the city after pupils attended Victoria Park on Thursday (July 9).
The Big Read event was open to all subscribing schools in Portsmouth with 24 signing up to the free event, meaning over 1,200 pupils took part over the two days
The occasion was a celebration of a number of key moments, coinciding with Portsmouth100 and the National Year of Reading 2026 campaign which aims to inspire more people to read. The fun outdoors reading event also fell just before the 50 year birthday celebrations of the Central Library.
Dave Percival, the library and archive service manager at Portsmouth City Council said: “It is great timing as it is all part of Portsmouth100, it ties in with The National Year of Reading, and it is a great way to get pupils out in the sunshine enjoying books and reading and celebrating libraries.
“It is really positive, all of the pupils that attend to today will get a signed copy of the book to take away with them. They won’t forget this event and they will get a great book to take home with them.”