The search is on for the UK’s Favourite Children’s Book Character

Renaissance Learning, has launched a search for the Nation’s Favourite Children’s Book Character in the run up to the launch of the 2012 What Kids Are Reading report on World Book Day on 1st March.

To coincide with the launch of the competition, initial research has been released that identifies the ‘most read’ children’s characters in a study of almost half a million schoolchildren since 2009. The top three positions are dominated by Roald Dahl characters, with Mr. and Mrs. Twit from The Twits in first place, followed by Charlie Bucket from Charlie and The Chocolate Factory in second, and George Henry Kranky from George’s Marvellous Medicine in third.

Dirk Foch, Managing Director of Renaissance Learning comments: “Reading is at the heart of every child’s education, and it is something that provides enjoyment throughout our lives. Our search for the Nation’s favourite children’s book character has been undertaken to encourage children to discover the pleasure provided by reading. Sharing their best-loved literary characters provides the first step in enabling them to think about what it is that they enjoy about reading.”

“However, the search is not restricted to children. We’d like parents and teachers to nominate their own favourites so that whether it's the Gruffalo, the Hungry Caterpillar or another figure remembered from childhood reading, we’d like to know which your most popular children’s book characters are or were.”

To enter, simply go to the website: http://www.readforpleasure.co.uk/. The nomination form can be found within the ‘Nation’s Favourite Book Character’ section by simply clicking on the orange box “Let us know your 3 favourites’. The closing date for the search is 24th February and all entrants will be put forward for a prize draw to win an Amazon Kindle.

The final results will be announced on the website and will coincide with World Book Day on 1st March 2012 and the release of the annual What Kids Are Reading report.

Dirk Foch concludes, “A key component of the Accelerated Reader Advantage software is engaging pupils and in so doing motivating them to read more suitably challenging books. Our search for the Nation’s favourite children’s book character provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the books available and encourage pupils to have confidence to try new titles.”