What do YOU like to read?

A new survey has found that more children in the UK are enjoying reading in their free time than last year.

It is the first time this has happened in five years.

The survey, carried out by the National Literacy Trust - a UK reading and writing charity - asked more than 125,000 children and young people aged 5 to 18 about their reading habits.

Many young people said reading helps them learn new things, relax, and understand how other people think and feel.

Just over a third of children aged 8 to 18 said they enjoy reading in their free time. More children also said they read every day.

And, even though overall the numbers are lower than ten years ago, the Literacy Trust says it’s a "small but important increase".

Do you read a lot and what do you love reading? An exciting adventure story, a comic or magazine, maybe it’s facts about your favourite animals? Let us know in the comments.

The government has made 2026 the National Year of Reading. One of its goals is to encourage families to read together for 10 minutes each day.

Children's author Rachel Bright, who wrote books including The Lion Inside and The Koala Who Could, has visited schools, libraries and festivals across the country this year. She says children are often excited to talk about books.

"What an event does, I think, is it brings a book to life because a book can be static until it's picked up and engaged with," she said.

Even with the rise in reading, experts say there is still work to do with a gap between the number of boys reading compared to girls.

It also points out that some children have fewer opportunities to enjoy reading than others.

Jonathan Douglas, from the National Literacy Trust, said: "After years of decline in children and young people's relationship with reading, we're starting to see some green shoots of recovery."

So, what about you? What are you reading right now?