A tender moment has been captured in the artwork "Young Girl Reading," an American impressionist painting from Mary Cassatt, whose brush strokes beautifully evoke a feeling of being fully immersed in a book. The girl's hands hold the book at her heart, with one hand resting on her flushed cheeks - conveying an all-consuming passion for reading that dissolves the world around us. For this journalist, "Young Girl Reading" is more than just a captivating image; it has rekindled memories of beloved books from their formative years.
As I ponder the artwork, I find myself reminiscing about my favorite childhood stories and the enduring impact they have had on my life. Today, though, there's an increasing concern that these same pleasures might be lost to younger generations due to the growing obsession with social media. According to recent data from the UK National Literacy Trust, a significant decline in children's reading habits has been reported, with fewer than one in five 8-18-year-olds enjoying daily reading and a notable drop since 2005.
In response, an initiative is being launched in 2026 to encourage more people of all ages to rediscover the joy of reading. Focusing on books that interest young readers - such as history, sports, film, or art - rather than simply recommending a few classic novels might help bridge this gap. For instance, "The Story of Art Without Men: An Illustrated Guide to Amazing Women Artists" by Katy Hessel is an engaging book about women artists whose lives and works were previously overlooked in traditional art history accounts.
This guidebook brings together an array of fascinating stories through stunning illustrations, making it accessible for children as well as adults. Chapters dedicated to famous female artists include Clara Peeters, a 17th-century painter known for concealing self-portraits within her paintings, or the modern artists whose work has inspired popular songs and films.
Hessel hopes that this publication can not only introduce readers to more women in art but also provide tools for teachers seeking to incorporate art into their curricula. The result is a resource that invites young people of all backgrounds to explore museums, read about art history, and ultimately find themselves immersed in the world of books - just as Mary Cassatt so vividly depicted her subject in "Young Girl Reading."
As I ponder the artwork, I find myself reminiscing about my favorite childhood stories and the enduring impact they have had on my life. Today, though, there's an increasing concern that these same pleasures might be lost to younger generations due to the growing obsession with social media. According to recent data from the UK National Literacy Trust, a significant decline in children's reading habits has been reported, with fewer than one in five 8-18-year-olds enjoying daily reading and a notable drop since 2005.
In response, an initiative is being launched in 2026 to encourage more people of all ages to rediscover the joy of reading. Focusing on books that interest young readers - such as history, sports, film, or art - rather than simply recommending a few classic novels might help bridge this gap. For instance, "The Story of Art Without Men: An Illustrated Guide to Amazing Women Artists" by Katy Hessel is an engaging book about women artists whose lives and works were previously overlooked in traditional art history accounts.
This guidebook brings together an array of fascinating stories through stunning illustrations, making it accessible for children as well as adults. Chapters dedicated to famous female artists include Clara Peeters, a 17th-century painter known for concealing self-portraits within her paintings, or the modern artists whose work has inspired popular songs and films.
Hessel hopes that this publication can not only introduce readers to more women in art but also provide tools for teachers seeking to incorporate art into their curricula. The result is a resource that invites young people of all backgrounds to explore museums, read about art history, and ultimately find themselves immersed in the world of books - just as Mary Cassatt so vividly depicted her subject in "Young Girl Reading."
. Nowadays it's all about social media and screen time, and I'm worried that kids are missing out on the magic of getting lost in a good story... or even just learning something new about art, you know? 
This "Story of Art Without Men" book sounds like just what we need to help 'em find their way back to reading. It's awesome that it's got stunning illustrations and some really inspiring stories about women artists who didn't get the recognition they deserved... might just inspire a new generation of readers! 
. It's heartbreaking to think that social media is replacing reading habits in younger generations. We need more initiatives like this one, where we're encouraging people of all ages to explore the world of books. Focusing on topics that interest young readers like history, sports, film, and art can really make a difference. Books like "The Story of Art Without Men" are exactly what we need - engaging stories, stunning illustrations, and fascinating female artists that will capture their imagination. 
It's time to get kids (and adults!) excited about reading again 
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. And the fact that it's got stunning illustrations will surely make it a hit with kids and adults alike 
. Can't wait to check out more books like this in 2026 
I mean, who doesn't love a good ol' fashioned nostalgia trip? Reminds me of when I was stuck in the loop of rewatching the same anime for like 20 times and thinking it was the most epic thing ever. 
Anyways, reading habits are def taking a hit with these kids. Social media is just so... social 
, I guess. But, on the bright side, there's this super cool book about female artists that's supposed to be fire 
. Katy Hessel seems like a total boss for making it happen 
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. And now I have two adorable kids of my own, and it breaks my heart to see them spending more time staring at screens than reading actual books 
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I mean, I'm all for diversity and inclusion, but let's not pretend like kids are just gonna magically start loving art history books because they're illustrated with cool pictures... 
but then I saw that they're focusing on books that interest young readers - history, sports, film, art... like that illustrated guide to women artists? 
and I'm so hyped for this initiative to encourage more people to rediscover the joy of reading 
let's get those kids (and adults alike) back into books ASAP 
. My grandkids are always glued to their screens, but I'm trying to get them into books too - they love graphic novels & comics! Maybe if we can find ways to make reading more relatable to them, like with art or history books, they'll be more interested in picking up a book instead of their phone 
, but I try to balance it out by getting lost in a good book every now and then. Maybe we can make time for both? 
My fave childhood stories still hold a special place in my heart, and that's the thing - books can be so relatable & enjoyable 
. Maybe this new initiative will help reignite that love for reading? 
I'm not saying that reading is going to be less cool or whatever, but maybe we should stop trying to dictate what's 'cool' and just let kids discover their own interests. And yeah, books about women artists are awesome, don't get me wrong! But can't we also encourage people to explore art history on their own terms? 
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. They need books that'll capture their interest, not just some old classics. I mean, who doesn't love a good story about women artists? 
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. Like, what's wrong with getting lost in a good book, right? 
And it's not just about the individual, but also about shaping our culture & values as a society 
. We need more initiatives like this one to encourage people of all ages to rediscover reading 
, and it's awesome that there are resources like "The Story of Art Without Men" being created