NEW research has shown that reading for pleasure could significantly enhance the academic success of children.

According to the National Literacy Trust Young Readers Programme, 77.6 per cent of children are now reading for pleasure.

Studies by the trust have shown that 10-year-olds who read for pleasure have an average reading age 1.3 years higher than their peers.

Twelve-year-olds are 2.1 years higher than their classmates and 14-year-olds are 3.3 years higher.

Research has found the young bookworms make more progress in maths, vocabulary and spelling between the ages of 10 and 16 than those who rarely read.

Jane Mcfie, librarian at Barrow Library, said:"There is nothing more important than children reading for pleasure. It can have such a positive impact on their self-esteem and gives them a really good head start in life."

The Institute of Education study also found children whose parents read them bedtime stories do better.

Mrs Mcfie backed this point up. She said:"It is a great way to bond with parents.

"Reading for pleasure really does help children to share with friends, family and others around them."

Reading for pleasure at secondary school has shown to make the biggest impact on the success of a child.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Young Readers Programme; to celebrate this they have published a new book list - 20 Years of Children's Choices.

The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon was chosen as the most inspirational children's read of 2011. Pichon said: "I'm often contacted by parents who tell me how their kids were reluctant readers and how seeing them with their noses in a book - sometimes for the first time - makes them both happy.

"Helping children find the books they enjoy is so important, as reading should be a pleasure that will hopefully stay with them for life."

Here are the choices from 1997-2016:

1997 - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - JK Rowling

1998 - Skellig - David Almond

1999 - The Gruffalo - Julia Donaldson

2000 - Alex Rider - Anthony Horowitz

2001 - The Sleep-over Club - Jacqueline Wilson

2002 - Utterly Me - Lauren Child

2003 - How to Train Your Dragon - Cressida Cowell

2004 - Mixed Up Fairy Tales - Hilary Robinson

2005 - The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips - Michael Morpurgo

2006 - You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum - Andy Stanton

2007 - The Wimpy Kid - Do it yourself - Jeff Kinney

2008 - The Boy in the Dress - David Walliams

2009 - Horrid Henry's Birthday Party - Francesca Simon

2010 - Samantha the Swimming Fairy - Daisy Meadows

2011 - The Brilliant World of Tom Gates - Liz Pichon

2012 - Secret Agents v Giant Slugs in the Jungle - Nikalas Catlow, Tim Wesson

2013 - Minecraft - Matthew Needler, Phil Southam

2014 - Goth Girl - Chris Riddell

2015 - Robot Girl - Malorie Blackman

2016 - Nadiya's Bake Me a Story - Nadiya Hussain

Mrs Mcfie said:"Reading for pleasure is great for a child's confidence, and learning about emotions. They can learn to empathise more. They learn from the characters emotions in books and convey this in their lives.

"It helps with their concentration skills and prepares them for school. It is so easy to lose yourself in a book and great to see children doing the same."

When she was younger, Edith Blyton's books would be her choice, but if this librarian was asked to suggest a book to a child now she would recommend anything.

Mrs Mcfie said:"I would literally say anything, as long as the child is reading then it is helping. So anything as long as it is a book."

NINE TIPS FOR ENCOURAGING YOUR CHILD TO READ

1. Make time to read: Read a bedtime story with your child every night or set a regular time to read together during the day.

2. Let your child choose what to read: They're more likely to develop a love of reading if they can choose books with you.

3. Join your local library: Your child can pick from a wide selection of books.

4. Explore different reading materials and formats: As well as fiction, there's a world of comics, magazines, ebooks, read-along audio books and non-fiction to discover.

5. Get the whole family involved: Encourage your child to read with other family members like grandparents and brothers and sisters.

6. Bring stories to life: When reading stories aloud with your child, give characters different voices that match their personalities. You could pause the story and ask your child what happens next, or even try acting out parts of the story together.

7. Create fun reading challenges at home: Organise a treasure hunt around the house; give your child a list of things to find and see how quickly they can read the list and collect all the items.

8. Be positive: Praise your child for trying hard at reading and let them know it's alright to make mistakes.

9. Be a reading role model: Your child learns from you, so seeing you enjoying and valuing books can be a great inspiration.

The literacy trust have also found that the promotion of reading for pleasure can promote and enhance social skills in children.

Paediatricians are also recommending that parents routinely read aloud to their children as this can have a positive impact on their brain function.

Well Known south Cumbrian author Gill Jepson feels adults should be a role model for their children, if a child see's their parents reading it stays with them and they are more likely to mimic these actions.

She said:"Expose children to lots of books, and lots of different types of books.

"Encourage them to share and learn things. The enjoyment and love people get from reading is something children should be able to experience early on."