Cornwall Pupils Could Bag £4,000 of Books in TGJones Contest

Got a bookworm at home who can sum up their favourite read in a single tweet? There’s £17,000 in prizes on the table, and Cornish primary schools could be in for a serious haul.

TGJones, the high street name formerly known as WHSmith, has launched a UK-wide competition called Bitesize Bookworms, asking primary school pupils to write a 25 word review of the book they love most. Three winners will each pocket a £200 TGJones gift card, with their school landing £4,000 worth of books and stationery. Nine runners-up will take home a £50 gift card each, plus £500 of equipment for their school.

Tied to the National Year of Reading

The contest forms part of the National Year of Reading 2026, described as the biggest reading campaign in a generation. It’s a Department for Education project supported by the National Literacy Trust, with TGJones on board as one of the major partners. The campaign wants the country to “Go All In” on reading in 2026, encouraging people to read into the things they already enjoy, whether that’s football, gaming, music, baking or sci-fi.

Entries are split into three age groups, with one winner and three runners-up picked from each:

• Reception to Year Two
• Year Three to Year Four
• Year Five to Year Six

Judging the entries is a panel that includes primary school teacher turned rapper MC Grammar, alongside Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan.

Kids reading more than they’re gaming

Polling of 1,500 schoolchildren aged five to 12 found they’re spending more than 6.8 hours a week with a book, including 3.8 hours reading for pleasure and three hours on homework reading. That’s more time than they spend gaming (5.5 hours), playing outside (6.2 hours) or chatting with mates (5.8 hours).

When asked what makes them want to read, 52% said learning new things, 40% admitted they judge a book by its cover, and 33% want to keep up with what their friends are reading.

Harry Potter still on top

JK Rowling’s boy wizard remains the favourite character among primary-aged kids, picking up 36% of the vote. The Gruffalo came second on 20%, with Matilda third on 18%. Paddington Bear and Peter Rabbit rounded out the top five.

JK Rowling also topped the favourite authors list with 28%, ahead of Roald Dahl on 23% and Julia Donaldson on 18%.

What the panel says

MC Grammar, real name Jacob Mitchell, said: “I can’t wait to hear of the adventures and wonders that kids have discovered within the pages of the books they’ve loved. The knowledge they have gained will help shape their lives, and now they have the chance to share that magic with the world, inspiring more readers, everywhere, to open a book and dream.”

David Hayman, Director of the National Year of Reading 2026, said: “Reading has the power to open doors, spark imagination and build confidence in every child. Through the National Year of Reading 2026, we’re encouraging families, schools and communities to rediscover the joy of books and inspire a lifelong love of reading. We’re incredibly grateful to TG Jones and all of our partners for their support and their shared commitment to making reading a relevant and rewarding part of everyday life.”

Alex Willson, CEO of TGJones and head judge of the competition, said: “Nothing is more creative than a child’s imagination and we want to celebrate that unfiltered, accidental comedy that comes from a child giving their honest opinion about their favourite book. Reading is so important for a child’s development, and as partners of the National Year of Reading 2026 we hope this campaign encourages more children to pick up their favourite book.”

How to enter

The entry form is open online and closes at 23:59 on Friday 5th June 2026. Enter here – https://www.tgjonesonline.co.uk/help/policies/competitions-terms/bitesize-bookworms