Trying to convince our students to read can be tricky. We have to compete with the many activities and distractions that take up time in their lives. Sharing the research about why reading is good for them and tips on how to get back into reading can be one way to assist this process. There is plenty of research and information around the benefits of reading, how to select a good book, or make reading a habit, but we need it in easily digestible formats with which students can engage. So, I’ve started to create a range of graphics that do just that – capture the information and present it in easy-to-understand formats. I created and shared was on the benefits of reading, the second was finding a good book, the third graphic covered how to make reading a habit. Now we return to the benefits of reading with this series of graphics that present each benefit of reading separately.
The benefits of reading
There are so many benefits of reading. From increasing knowledge and improving memory, to reducing stress and improving wellbeing. Across physical, mental, emotional, psychological and social domains, the benefits are numerous, as is the research evidence to prove it.
The graphics
I’ve created a range of graphics about the benefits of reading based on the research, presenting one benefit on each graphic. There are 15 graphics in total in this series. They are also animated, allowing you to use them as a video or gif.
How to use the graphics
There are lots of ways you can use these graphics. You could print as posters to put up around the library or school or give to teachers to put up in their classroom. The graphics can be added to a presentation, bookmark or shared on social media. You are free to use, edit and share the graphics so long as they are not sold for commercial purposes.
How to access the graphics
You can download the graphics below to use in their original format, in both png and pdf format. PDFs are great for printing, while pngs are suitable for adding to presentations or sharing on social media.
You can also access the editable graphics on Canva. These links will allow you to completely edit the graphics, change the font and colours, add your school branding or change which benefits of reading you want to highlight. Make them your own. The graphics are animated, so you can download them as a video.
The Benefits of Reading series
- Download the pngs
- Download the pdf
- Canva editable template link
References
Australia Reads. (n.d.). Research review. Retrieved February 22, 2025, from https://australiareads.org.au/research-review/
Evans, M. D. R., Kelley, J., Sikora, J., & Treiman, D. J. (2018). Scholarly culture: How books in adolescence enhance adult literacy, numeracy, and technology skills in 31 societies. Social Science Research, 77, 1-15. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328034646_Scholarly_culture_How_books_in_adolescence_enhance_adult_literacy_numeracy_and_technology_skills_in_31_societies
Locher, F., & Pfost, M. (2020). The relation between time spent reading and reading comprehension throughout the life course. Journal of Research in Reading, 43(1), 57-77. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9817.12289
Main, S. (2019). Reading for pleasure and reading attainment: Reviewing the evidence. The Curriculum Journal, 30(3), 247–263. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9817.12289
Merga, M. K. (2023). School libraries supporting literacy and wellbeing. Facet Publishing. Retrieved from https://facetpublishing.co.uk/page/detail/school-libraries-supporting-literacy-and-wellbeing/?K=9781783305841
National Library of New Zealand. (n.d.). Reading for pleasure: A door to success. Retrieved February 22, 2025, from https://natlib.govt.nz/schools/reading-engagement/understanding-reading-engagement/reading-for-pleasure-a-door-to-success
University College London. (n.d.). Reading for pleasure. Retrieved from https://cls.ucl.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Readingforpleasurestoppress.pdf
Whitten, C., Labby, S., & Sullivan, S. (2016). The impact of pleasure reading on academic success. Journal of Multidisciplinary Graduate Research, 2(1), 48-64. Retrieved from https://www.shsu.edu/academics/education/journal-of-multidisciplinary-graduate-research/documents/2016/WhittenJournalFinal.pdf
These are great – thanks for sharing via Canva especially!