Free at point of access
No child left behind, no matter their background
100% return rate
No school has ever done BookTastic just once
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.
A love of reading is the single biggest predictor of life satisfaction and success. It’s more influential than family background, more powerful than economic circumstance. But right now, that love isn’t equally distributed.
Children in areas of disadvantage have fewer books at home, fewer visits to bookshops, and rarely meet the authors creating the stories on their screens. Professional book festivals? Those are for wealthy schools with big budgets.
When children have agency, engagement soars. This isn’t reading prescribed by adults—it’s discovery driven by their own curiosity.
We bring together schools from areas of disadvantage, creating a shared experience and a wider community of readers.
We use our publishing industry connections and trusted brand to bring bestselling authors to communities that could never attract them alone. Local partners deliver with our support, making it truly community-owned.
Professional excellence meets local knowledge. The magic belongs to the community.
Local partners succeed from their first festival because we’ve done this before.
Our publisher and distributor relationships mean huge discounts on books – sometimes 50% off retail.
Teachers maintain momentum throughout the year, with a ‘soft launch’ that prepares children who might find festivals intimidating.
We leverage central funding to unlock local funding. Communities own their festival while benefiting from our track record.
Compare your outcomes against other BookTastic festivals. Evidence-based improvement. Real accountability.
Over a decade of annual festivals. Consistent impact. Deep community roots. Sustainable change.
Whether you fund education, arts and culture, or work to alleviate poverty, BookTastic can show you exactly what your investment delivers – and for whom.
Founder and CEO of BookTastic, a not-for-profit inspiring children at risk of illiteracy to discover a love of reading. Over 10 years in the children’s literature industry, an experienced founder, community activist and social entrepreneur.
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.