By Stacey Riley

As a die hard fan with unshakeable love, I’ve been aware of the series ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ for a few years now. However, the rest of the world has only just caught up. I’m no longer met with blank faces when I drop my coffee and complain, “Oh Seven hells!” or when I answer the phone to my friend Matthew with the greeting, “Morning, Blood of my Blood”.

The series’ new publicity is partly down to the fact that HBO acquired television rights to the books and is now shamelessly plugging the third series, Mondays, Sky Atlantic. 9pm. Sham

elessly plugging. However, the television series has been a huge success. With a fantastic cast (particularly great performances by Peter Dinklage [Tyrion Lannister], earning him the Emmy and the Golden Globe Award for Supporting Actor), stunning backdrops and a great script (obviously – great books) it wasn’t ever going to be any other way.

The publisher of A Game of Thrones in the UK is HarperCollins Voyager.

Although I did give my Grandad the first book to read the other day,
Me: “Read this Grandad, you might like it. It’s really good.”
80-year old Grandad: “Yeah? What’s it like?”
Me: “It’s like.. Lord of the Rings meets -”
80-year old Grandad: “-what’s Lord of the Rings?”
Me: Facepalm.

Seven hells. Apparently not everyone in the world has caught up.

By Hannah Goodman.

An OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) study in 2011 found that parental involvement through reading to young children in their first year of schooling leads to a lasting impact upon their literacy skills into their teenage years. Not only does reading as a child have an academic benefit, but it also develops the relationship between parent and child. However, the majority of reading that does occur within households is between mothers and children, with only 13% of fathers identified as the main reader.

The Booktrust launched in February their ‘Get Dads Reading’ campaign to encourage involvement in this essential activity. The hashtag #dadsreading is spreading across twitter to call up a new generation ‘Dad’s Army’, complete with tips and ideas to emphasise how important this quality time is. The eternal problem of boys limited reading habits may be improved through recognition at a young age that reading is for all genders, and not just ‘for girls’. Top tips for Dads include; sit close together somewhere quiet, let your child choose the book and use funny voices (who can resist the opportunity to be the real life Gruffalo?!).

Let’s get using the #dadsreading hashtag to suggest our favourite books as children, and support the Booktrust’s campaign.

By Hannah Goodman, hoping to work in children’s publishing.