3.8 million children in UK do not own a book

Today I learnt that 3.8 million children in the UK do not own a book.

A report from the National Literacy Trust's has revealed that "the number of children who do not own a book is increasing. Seven years ago 1 child in 10 did not have a book of their own while today the figure stands at a startling 1 child in 3."*

The report has also found that boys are more likely to be without books than girls, and children who are eligible for free school meals are less likely to own a book than their peers. The Trust is inviting the public to donate to its Gift of Reading appeal this Christmas, to help give a disadvantaged child a book of their own for the very first time. Further information is available on the National Literacy Trust website.

*National Literacy Trust Press Release:
http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/news/4161_3_8_million_children_in_the_uk_do_not_own_a_book

Read the full report (PDF):
http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/assets/0001/1303/The_Gift_of_Reading_in_2011.pdf

National Literacy Trust's Gift of Reading Appeal:
http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/christmas

I read about this on the Daily Telegraph website:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8934429/4m-children-in-UK-do-not-own-a-single-book-study-finds.html