AN education centre in Morpeth is encouraging children to grow a love of reading by handing out copies of a winning short story alongside packets of sunflower seeds.
The initiative aims to inspire young readers by combining storytelling with a simple activity they can nurture at home. Children are being given copies of the story called The Seed Who Wanted To Sprout – written by the winner of a recent competition – along with sunflower seeds they can plant and watch grow.
The project highlights how stories and creativity can flourish when young people are given the opportunity to explore their imagination.
By linking reading with a hands-on activity, Maximize Education, which provides educational support to students from pre-school to undergraduate and adult learners across Northumberland, hopes to make the experience even more memorable and engaging.
Love of reading grows like a seed
The idea is to show that, just like a sunflower seed, a love of reading can grow with a little encouragement and care.
The winning story was written by Fiona Powell, from Hampshire, who entered the competition run by Maximize Education as part of Morpeth Book Festival to write a 500-word children’s story.
Christine Jamieson, CEO of Maximize Education, pictured left, said: “Reading opens the door to imagination and learning. By giving children both a story and something they can plant and nurture, we’re hoping to spark curiosity and create a positive connection with books.”
Fiona’s winning entry will be read by well-known Northumberland storyteller and former schoolteacher Chris Hudson during Morpeth Book Festival on Saturday 21 March at Morpeth Library at 10am. Children and their parents are invited along to listen to Chris who will also sing.
A video of Chris reading The Seed Who Wanted To Sprout has also been produced by Maximize Education and distributed alongside copies of the story and the packets of sunflower seeds to schools across the Morpeth area.
Encouraging creativity among young people
The initiative forms part of Maximize Education’s wider work to encourage literacy and creativity among young people in the local community.
The organisation, which is based in Loansdean, Morpeth, is proudly supporting the National Literacy Trust’s National Year of Reading 2026 — a UK-wide campaign designed to inspire children to start reading early and make it part of their everyday lives.
Christine, who is one of the main sponsors of Morpeth Book Festival, added: “Reading has incredible benefits for children. It builds language skills, expands vocabulary, fuels imagination, enhances attention and cognitive ability, and helps them succeed at school.
“Phones and games can be a huge distraction for children but encouraging them to read has so many advantages and can open doors for them throughout life. We hope lots of youngster and their parents will come along to Morpeth Library to hear Chris reading the story.”