Every child deserves to meet an author and discover the magic behind books.
BookTastic began as a small family book festival in Bedford, back in 2013.
The team were struck by the disconnect: publishers understood the transformative power of author visits, but most schools – especially those serving disadvantaged communities – couldn’t afford them.
Author visits were becoming the privilege of affluent schools. They witnessed firsthand how meeting an author changed children’s relationship with reading. Suddenly books weren’t mysterious objects – they were created by real, accessible people. They believed author encounters shouldn’t be a luxury reserved for the few.
BookTastic was developed on the principle that every child, regardless of postcode or family income, deserved to experience the thrill of meeting a storyteller, asking an illustrator how they draw, and discovering the magic that exists in stories.
Over the next few years the team trialled various models to make inspirational book festivals accessible for everyone, regardless of background. Over ten years later, we’ve delivered live authors events to over 200 schools, brought authors to tens of thousands of children, and proven that high-quality book festivals create lasting literacy impact when delivered with care, coordination, and commitment to access.
But our work isn’t finished. Hundreds of thousands of children haven’t yet been handed the key to unlocking a love of reading for pleasure. We are working hard to expand our network of partners, reaching children wherever a love of reading can prove transformative.
Noreen is Deputy Headteacher at a vibrant, multicultural primary school, where she also leads English and champions a love of reading across the curriculum. As a BookTastic trustee, she brings a deep understanding of how to engage children and teachers with books, and is passionate about developing meaningful reading experiences in school communities.
Bridget is an entrepreneur, angel investor, and public speaker with a background in tech and government. She co-founded the scheduling platform YouCanBookMe.com (acquired in 2025) and now serves as Strategic Advisor to Capacity.com. A former Special Advisor in both central and local government, Bridget brings strategic insight, startup experience, and a passion for impact-driven innovation to BookTastic’s board.
Lisa is an experienced leader in global operations, content strategy, and organisational development for multinational companies. A lifelong reader and committed advocate for equal opportunities, she joined the BookTastic board to help ensure that all children—regardless of background—have the chance to discover the joy of reading.
Rosamund brings over 15 years of experience in communications and events within the publishing industry. As Head of Campaigns at Penguin General, she leads innovative publicity strategies across multiple imprints. Formerly Head of Publicity at Penguin Random House Children’s, she has worked with many of the UK’s leading authors and illustrators, including on campaigns for Puffin, Ladybird, and Roald Dahl. With a postgraduate degree in education, Rosamund brings both strategic and educational insight to her work—and to her role on the BookTastic board.
Alison is a Registered British Sign Language Interpreter, CODA (child of Deaf adults), and co-founder of Access Bedford—a charity dedicated to improving communication access for Deaf sign language users in Bedfordshire. With deep personal and professional experience in navigating and challenging inaccessibility, Alison brings a practical, people-focused approach to inclusive design. Her work is grounded in the lived experiences of those facing barriers to participation, and she is passionate about making BookTastic accessible to all.
Naomi Rouse has led girls’ education, youth livelihoods and wood industry development programmes in Tanzania for over twenty years. She’s currently exploring improved strategies for forest value chain development for a PhD at the University of Bristol and is excited by sustainable forestry as a sweet spot where commercial, social, and environmental benefits align. She loves getting behind high impact initiatives like Booktastic that are unlocking young people’s enormous potential!
Paul has been part of BookTastic since 2016, initially joining as an on-the-day volunteer before becoming involved in the planning and delivery of the festival each year. Paul’s primary focus has been overseeing volunteer recruitment and management, ensuring the smooth running of the event. Outside of BookTastic, he works as a Business Analyst for an event management software company, delivering tailored solutions for a wide range of events—from conferences and congresses to the Olympic Games.
Headline: Evidence-Based Festivals, Joyful Experiences
Our Theory of Change:
The Challenge: Author encounters are powerful literacy interventions, but access is deeply unequal. Affluent schools regularly host authors; disadvantaged schools rarely can. This “inspiration gap” compounds other literacy inequalities, limiting horizons for children who would benefit most.
Our Intervention: BookTastic delivers free, high-quality book festivals combining:
How Change Happens:
Immediate Effects:
Medium-Term Outcomes:
Long-Term Impact:
What Makes BookTastic Effective:
Quality Over Quantity: We curate outstanding authors, brief them thoroughly, and ensure excellent session delivery. Every encounter must be memorable.
Festival Format: Week-long immersion creates cultural momentum. Reading becomes the talk of the whole school.
Equity-Centered: Free to all schools. No child excluded. Priority to high-deprivation areas. Diverse author selection reflecting all children’s identities.
Coordinated Delivery: MAT partnerships create economies of scale, logistical efficiency, and shared cultural experiences across communities.
Evidence-Led: Continuous evaluation informs author selection, session design, and partnership support to maximize impact.
Headline: Grateful for Incredible Partnerships
Funding Partners: [Logo grid including:]
Publishing Partners: [Logo grid including:]
Educational Partners:
Author Community: [Picture grid including:]
Recognition: