A CREDITON bookshop has won a national grant to support its work in encouraging children to read.

The Bookery is one of 44 independent bookshops across the country chosen to receive the Penguin Children’s Bookshop Grant of up to £5,000.

“We are so excited to have the opportunity to set up engaging projects to strengthen early literacy and reading confidence amongst young people in our local community,” said a spokesperson for the community-owned Crediton bookshop.

“We will be delivering book bingo events and pop-up marketplaces to reignite reading enjoyment as part of our support for the National Year of Reading 2026. Watch this space for more details as we launch and share more about these exciting projects!

“Thank you to Penguin Random House and thank you to all our wonderful community for your ongoing support.”

The Bookbag Bookshop in Exeter also won the grant, which was launched in February to help young people “develop a positive, lasting relationship with reading”.

Penguin Random House Children’s Managing Director Francesca Dow said: “It has been uplifting and exciting to see the enthusiastic response to the Penguin Children’s Bookshop Grant and we thank every single bookshop that entered.

“The ingenuity of our independent booksellers and their steadfast commitment to supporting their local communities and the young readers within them is truly inspiring and was evidenced in all the applications submitted.

“I feel sure that the work set to be delivered by the grant recipients will not only have a lasting impact on children, families and communities but also help to spark further innovation and ideas across the country, helping even more young people discover the joy of reading for pleasure.

“That is our hope and our aim for this grant and we are excited to see the ideas come to life in their communities.”