Bestselling author Philippa Leathley inspires Hull Guides ahead of World Book Day

To celebrate World Book Day (6 March), bestselling author Philippa Leathley surprised 30 excited Guides from Hull during their weekly meeting.

Former Guide Philippa, whose debut novel Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, was an instant Top 10 Children’s Hardback bestseller in the UK on publication, led the girls through a host of book-tastic activities. The Guides designed magical fate tattoos as featured in the book; competed in a fun quiz; and learned all about life as an author. Each of the Guides was also gifted a copy of Inkbound personally signed by Philippa.

Adding to the excitement, the girls got a sneak peek of the Bookworm badge for Guides (girls aged 10-14) - one of the new reading interest badges set to launch this summer.

Created in collaboration with expert partner, The Children’s Book Project, the Bookworm badge activities will encourage Guides to make their perfect book nook to relax and unwind. To complete the badge girls will book-travel across different genres and create unique reading goals. According to the National Literacy Trust, reading to relax was the top reason for children and young people to feel motivated to pick up a book in 2024¹.

Additional new badges - Book Reviewer for Brownies (aged 7-10) and Booktivist for Rangers (aged 14-17) will also join the current Book Lover badge for Rainbows (aged 4-7) under the ‘Be Well’ and ‘Know Myself’ themes of the Girlguiding programme enabling girls to grow their love for reading through each of the sections.

The reading badges are just a handful of newly co-designed and tested badges set to be launched in the summer after Girlguiding’s programme review, with girls and volunteers leading a resounding call for more book related badges. The announcement of the new badges comes at a time when the reported number of children who enjoy reading in their free time continues to decline across the UK, with just 1 in 3 (34.6%) children and young people saying they enjoyed reading in their free time in 2024².

Author and former Guide Philippa Leathley said: “I loved being a Guide, so it was a huge honour to return as an author and hopefully inspire a new generation about the benefits of reading. It was wonderful to share my debut novel INKBOUND with the Guides, fire up their brilliant imaginations and encourage them to read as widely as they can. The new book badges are a fantastic opportunity to nurture a love of reading for pleasure in young people!”

Katie, 10, from 85^th Hull Guides said: “Doing badges is fun because people get to discover hidden talents that they didn’t know they had. I love reading and I’d like to get the ‘Bookworm’ badge. My favourite thing about today was volunteering to go up during the presentation”

Girlguiding's programme provides young girls and women with the opportunity to learn invaluable skills in the welcoming fun and supportive environment Girlguiding provides. All girls in Girlguiding are encouraged, and empowered to know they can do anything and become future leaders and change-makers in their communities

For more information about how to get involved with Girlguiding, the UK’s largest youth organisation dedicated completely to girls, visit www.girlguiding.org.uk.