How it all began

When it comes to reading, school is only part of the story. Home is where the magic happens when parents, carers, and family members, give children the quiet space to practise the literacy skills they are learning in school.

Research shows that setting aside just 10-15 minutes a day to support reading at home will have the biggest impact on children’s academic performance (not just in English but in maths too!) and their mental health.

I knew this all too well as an educational publisher for over 10 years, where I spent my time creating learn-to-read books for children and talking to teachers about literacy. However, it was only when my own daughter started to struggle with learning to read, and I saw how quickly this also impact her confidence, did I realise the importance of making it easier for families to support reading at home. The Bear Can Read launched in April 2020 with the mission of helping to create confident readers by giving children the right support for their age and stage.

A year later, Lindsay Fleming joined as Chief Operating Officer, bringing her considerable business and logistics expertise to help The Bear Can Read reach more families. Together we are mothers to five children in total ranging from 3-13 years old, and we are proud to send thousands of deliveries to families every month in association with Oxford University Press.

Thank you for trusting us. It is an honour to be a part of your child’s reading journey.

Camilla and Lindsay

Founder and COO