Why books matter - Jacqueline Wilson's impassioned plea

Alistair Burtenshaw, Viv Bird, Jacqueline Wilson and Miriam González Durántez at Lancaster House

With the news in the last month that food bills have increased 32% since 2007, we can see there's a squeeze on the disposable income of UK households.

So where are the extra pounds and pennies to buy books? That's why Booktrust's universal bookgifting programmes like Bookstart, Booktime and Bookbuzz are so important, in times where families can barely afford to feed themselves let alone fill their houses with the joy, laughter and pleasure of books.

Indeed, Dame Jacqueline Wilson said this month at an event at Lancaster House celebrating 20 years of Bookstart, that books 'nourish children's imaginations'.

She said: 'When I was a toddler, every child had free orange juice and cod liver oil... This was to nourish our bodies. Now we're caring about nourishing children's imaginations. I think it's equally important... Reading aloud to small children is the very best way of creating keen readers in adult life... We know that a good book is a source of endless pleasure, a way of widening experience and increasing understanding. It can be awe-inspiring, stimulating, comforting, astonishing - a way of travelling around the world - indeed experiencing many fantasy worls - whilst curled up in an armchair. A book is a welcome diversion when we're sad or in pain, waiting in an airport, sleepless at night.'

So let's continue to nourish children's imaginations with a steady diet of books and dedicated time to devour them, digest them and let them create a warm glow in our bellies. To the nourishment of books!

Share with us the books that have nourished your imagination the most