Rose Ayling-Ellis: ‘I wanted to write the book I wished I had when I was a child’

Like many of today’s young people, Rose Ayling-Ellis remembers dressing up as a fairy for World Book Day as a child.

But, unlike nearly all the others who’ve dressed up as book characters for World Book Day, Ayling-Ellis is now delighted to have written a children’s book that’s been specially selected for the day, on March 5.

The former EastEnders actress, who’s been deaf since birth, became a household name in 2021 when she was Strictly Come Dancing’s first deaf contestant, and subsequent winner. But since then, as well as starring in the ITV drama Code of Silence, she’s started writing children’s books, and her sixth, The Big Bang!, has been chosen as a World Book Day 2026 choice.

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The book is about a deaf kitten and his kitten friends who get scared by a storm. The kittens that can hear have to learn a new way to communicate with their deaf friend, who can’t hear the thunder but is scared by the lightning.

Ayling-Ellis, 31, admits she’s “thrilled” her book has been selected for World Book Day, and says: “I wanted to write book that I wished I had when I was a child.

“I love creating. I have an artistic background, so the illustrations are my favourite part.”

The book, which aims to teach the importance of helping others, especially those with disabilities, has been illustrated by Paddy Donnelly, an award-winning author and illustrator.

“I’m lucky to have such an experienced team around me to help me realise my ideas,” says Ayling-Ellis, who explains the book is “close to my heart” because the deaf cat, Casper, is based on her mum’s childhood cat, and the other cats in the book are based on the cats Ayling-Ellis grew up with.

Stressing that World Book Day is about making reading accessible to all children and helping inspire their imagination, she says: “Books gave me that chance.

“I write about the truth, adapting, being a team player and education.”

And she adds: “It’s important for children to read so that they can learn new things.”

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However, although research shows reading for fun is one of the strongest predictors of a child’s future success, National Literacy Trust data from last year has found reading enjoyment is now at its lowest level in 20 years, with only one in three children saying they enjoy reading.

And only one in five (18.7%) of children and young people aged eight to 18 said they read daily – the lowest level since 2005.

The data suggesting just one in three children now enjoy reading is “really worrying”, says Fiona Hickley, executive director of World Book Day, a reading charity that aims to help children love reading.

“Reading is one of the biggest indicators of a child’s future wellbeing and success, more important than family circumstances or parents’ educational background,” she points out.

“Reading for fun boosts confidence, sparks imagination and creativity, supports learning across the curriculum, and improves cognitive development. Plus, reading is a great mental wellbeing skill for young people – relaxation, quiet time and distraction for busy minds.”

Hickley says the problem is that reading is often treated as homework or a task, rather than something enjoyable.

“When children aren’t given the freedom to choose what they read, or are limited to certain ‘educational’ books, it stops being fun, and too many children switch off completely,” she explains.

Parents play a huge role in helping children enjoy reading, of course, and Hickley suggests these ways to make reading feel natural and fun to kids…

1. Give choice without judgment

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Let children pick the books, magazines, or audiobooks that appeal to them – Hickley stresses that what they read doesn’t have to be at all educational, so it could be, for example, a comic, joke book, football magazine, fantasy epic, or an e-book.

“What matters isn’t what they read, it’s that they’re reading for fun,” she stresses. “Children, like adults, enjoy different types of reading depending on their mood, so giving them freedom builds a genuine love of books.”

2.  Make books easy to access

Hickley points out that libraries are a wonderful and often overlooked resource for making books a normal part of everyday life, and children are far more likely to read when they see books around them.

“Spending time in your local library gives children access to a wide range of books without cost or commitment, and allows them to explore freely until something catches their interest,” she says.

“Libraries are especially great places to go in the colder months – warm, welcoming, calm, and social. They offer a reason to get out of the house, a change of scenery and a shared family routine built around books.”

She explains that regular library visits help children see reading not as homework, but as something people do naturally in their free time, and adds: “Libraries are truly special spaces, providing an affordable way for children to develop a love of reading for fun.”

3.  Share stories and make memories

Although parents reading with or to their children does, of course, help improve their literacy, Hickley stresses that it’s about much more than that.

“It’s about connection,” she says, suggesting that parents read aloud to their children, listen to audiobooks together, and chat about the stories, asking easy questions like ‘Which character would you be friends with?’ or ‘Why do you think that happened?’.

“These talks help children feel their thoughts matter and show books are fun and meant to be shared,” she says.

“We often hear about the importance of making memories and having meaningful experiences with our children, and many adults, when asked, recall being read to by a parent, grandparent or teacher as a cherished, lifelong memory.

“By sharing stories with your children now, you’re creating those same moments for them. And it’s free!”

4.  Make use of World Book Day

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Hickley stresses that World Book Day is about capturing children’s imaginations and making reading fun, so the charity works with schools, libraries, bookshops and families to help children discover books in ways that feel exciting and accessible.

As well as a variety of World Book Day events held throughout the UK and Ireland, the initiative includes the distribution of more than 23.5 million £1/€1.50 book tokens through schools, nurseries, libraries, prisons and other charities in the UK and Ireland. Tokens can be redeemed in bookshops, supermarkets and online until March 15 (see participating retailers here).

Hickley adds: “Through book tokens, £1/€1.50 books, and fun activities – from book breakfasts to bedtime stories – we give children the chance to choose what they read, explore new stories, and enjoy them on their own terms.

“When reading feels like a choice, something to enjoy rather than a task, that’s when it really sticks, and that’s the magic we try to create every year.”

The Big Bang! by Rose Ayling-Ellis is published by DK, priced £1. Illustrations by Paddy Donnelly. Available now.