War Horse author Sir Michael Morpurgo says technology can’t beat reading to kids as he supports Books For Schools

ENJOYING a book at bedtime is a simple pleasure children have looked forward to for generations.

But now audio books, tablets and smart speakers mean they can get their story fix without the need for Mum or Dad to read to them.

The latest innovations allow absent parents to record a story that can be “read” to kids via bedside speakers.

And that’s a worry, according to prolific writer Sir Michael Morpurgo.

The War Horse author said: “There are always times when parents are away for all sorts of reasons, and then stories told to them “down the line” are a simply wonderful idea because it continues the relationship. The danger comes when technology overwhelms the relationship — or replaces it — so we need to use it wisely.”

The former Children’s laureate, 76, is backing our brilliant Books For Schools campaign that gives primary schools the chance to collect tokens, including the one printed today, and receive free books.

Sir Michael added: “Technology shouldn’t replace the personal connection that reading a story to a child can give but parents and technology can work together to give children a love of stories.

'VITAL TOOL OF EDUCATION'

"Technology can either do us the greatest good or the opposite. We have to use it sensitively and intelligently.

“When it comes to parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles or teachers reading to children, it’s important that it’s personal, that the voice telling the story is part of a relationship of trust.”

The former primary school teacher continued: “The fact that The Sun is giving children from all kinds of backgrounds more books is incredible.

“Books are the most vital tool of education — they are more important than any other fancy resource. Stories give us knowledge and understanding. They teach us about our place in the world and we learn what happened in the past and how we can do better in the future.

“All of those lessons come from books.”

Registered schools that collect 3,500 tokens will be sent a box of books from the Collins Big Cat reading scheme, worth more than £600, which includes A Visit To The Farm by Sir Michael.

In 2018, he was awarded a knighthood for services to literature and charity. He believes it’s through literature that we can talk about sensitive subjects.

He concludes: “The gift of reading is the greatest enabling thing we can give a child.

“But the books, and the opportunities to listen to stories, have to be there in the first place.”

• Boy Giant: Son Of Gulliver by Michael Morpurgo (HarperCollins Children’s Books) is out now