Book bus puts children on road to reading

One in 12 households in the region don't have any books at home

One in 12 families across Yorkshire say they do not have a single book of their own at home, according to the National Literacy Trust.

That is why the charity is campaigning to get more books into the hands of Bradford schoolchildren.

One of the ways it does this is by using a converted yellow American school bus to visit some of the city's most deprived areas to give away free books.

Ahead of World Book Day on 7 March, the BBC discovers that the scheme seems to be working.

The book bus tours some of the city's most deprived areas

Nabeelah Hafeez is a project manager with the National Literacy Trust and travels on the Bradford Stories Bus from school to school.

"I absolutely love the work that we do and this bus is such a great feature of that," she said.

"We are able to go into communities where we are recognised for our yellow bus so people come to us.

"And what we see is that even the reluctant readers are able to take so much away from this.

"That they are able to go away with a book in their hands and read with their families and have some joy in that is what we love to do; share the joy of reading."

Reading at an early age means the habit can often stay with someone for life

Laura Lee is the English lead at Knowleswood Primary School in Holmewood.

"Children are into their tablets, into their technology and sometimes when you get 'wowed' it just gives you that push that they think I could do this, I could get into books.

"It's the wow factor of that bus. I saw it and thought our children would absolutely love that.

"The love of books starting early really helps children continue that into adulthood.

"When they go to high school, go to college and university it's a skill they can use to learn but it's also a skill that's nice to have to relax and enjoy yourself."

Hundreds of free books are given away using the bus to schools across Bradford

Novayah, 10, a pupil at the school and keen footballer, said: "I like to read at home when I go to sleep because it makes me relax and I read things about football and how to step out of my comfort zone."

Hubert, 10, is in the same year and a big fan of the bus.

"Honestly, my favourite part is just seeing all the different books," he said.

"Just to know that all those books came from somebody's imagination is just shocking!"

Truck driver Dale Reynolds is behind the wheel of the bus, a left-hand drive 2009 Blue Bird All American.

"Smiles, smiles, smiles all the way," he said.

"From seeing it, before they get on to it, all the time they're on and when they get off. It's all smiles.

"And they love books. That is what's amazing. The kids still love books."