06/08/2026
I found this book in a hospital playroom when Emmie was at an appointment. It was a book that had been donated, thanks to the wonderful contributions from our supporters.
Why are books in hospitals so vital?
In 2023, the National Literacy Trust published research exploring the relationship between reading and mental wellbeing. It found that three in five children and young people say reading helps them to relax, while many also described reading as a form of escapism from the challenges of everyday life.
It always reminds me of one of my favourite quotes by Mason Cooley:
“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.”
That quote perfectly captures the purpose of Emmie’s Books.
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, life changes in an instant. Hospital rooms become bedrooms, treatment becomes routine, and childhood is interrupted. A book can’t change a diagnosis, but it can transport a child to another world, if only for a little while. It brings moments of comfort, imagination and normality to a situation that is anything but normal.
For our family, story time became so much more than reading. It brought comfort, consistency and precious moments of escape while Emmie was undergoing treatment. As parents, reading together also gave us somewhere else to focus. When you’re confined to a hospital room, watching the clock and waiting for the next test or treatment, a story has the power to free your mind, even for a few minutes.
That’s why Emmie’s Books exists. Through the simple gift of a brand-new book, we’re able to provide comfort, hope and moments of escapism to hundreds of children and families across the UK as they face the unimaginable.
If we can support you, please get in touch 💜
