X Factor boss Simon Cowell backs our Books for Schools campaign with bookworm son Eric

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X FACTOR boss Simon Cowell is backing our brilliant Books For Schools campaign and reveals he loves reading to his son Eric.

The workaholic music mogul and his partner Lauren Silverman adore bonding with their five-year-old over a book.

Simon, 60, revealed son Eric is a big fan of reading, but he joked he refuses to buy books by his fellow BGT judge David Walliams

Praising HOARs huge drive to dish out 12million-worth of books to schools FREE, Simon said: This is a great thing to get behind.

Lauren and I read all of the time together with Eric. Its a great way to spend time together.

Ive seen the Books For Schools campaign and am totally supportive. Hopefully it will lead to lots more books for many more children.

You can start collecting tokens for our giveaway TODAY and the first, worth a BONUS FIVE towards your total, is printed on page 35 of today’s Sun newspaper.

Simon, 60, revealed Eric is a big fan of top childrens author Julia Donaldson. But he joked he refuses to buy books by his fellow BGT judge David Walliams, who is also a bestselling kids author.

He said: We read lots of different books with Eric. His favourite is The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson. He has quite a few of her others, too.

TREASURE TROVE

Im more than happy to get hold of as many books as Eric wants because reading is so good for kids. But obviously I cant have anything in the house written by David Walliams. Theyre all banned.

Erics mum Lauren, 42, said: Reading is so important with kids. This is a great idea.

Earlier this year Simon hinted that little Eric was a bookworm. He posted a snap of his lad with his nose buried in Come Find Me by Simons pal Terry Crews, who is an actor and former NFL player.

One in four primary schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have signed up to collect tokens for our giveaway.

Schools that collect 3,500 TOKENS will be sent a box of more than 100 BOOKS from the Collins Big Cat reading scheme. Pupils, parents and teachers are all urged to help collect.

Eric enjoying hide-and-seek tale Come Find Me by Terry Crews

BGT judges Simon and children’s author David Walliams

Simon will be thrilled to hear a Julia Donaldson title is included in the set but he may be less pleased Walliams book Theres A Snake In My School is in there as a bonus.

Our campaign has been backed by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

He said: These book boxes, worth hundreds of pounds each, are a treasure trove for children, from stories by household favourites to books about making pizza and autobiographies.

Our campaign is also supported by reading charity the National Literacy Trust. Recent research carried out by the organisation showed a five per cent drop in the number of primary school children reading compared to last year.

A quarter of primary-aged children said they dont enjoy reading and only 53 per cent read outside school.

BACKED BY THE STARS

Stars have flocked to back our reading drive and revealed the childrens books they love.

Model Penny Lancaster said: This campaign is fantastic. Childrens books evoke wonderful memories. I still have six books my mother bought me, including Timmy Tiptoes by Beatrix Potter.

TV presenter Fearne Cotton said: I love reading books to my kids. We have tons of favourites. The Snail And The Whale by Julia Donaldson is one, and Oi Frog by Kes Grant is great too.

Newsreader Kate Silverton said: It is vital children have great books. Both my childrens favourite book is The Tiger Who Came To Tea, by Judith Kerr. My son was very tickled by the idea of a tiger coming into your house.

David Baddiel, a bestselling childrens author, said: Access to different types of books is vital for youngsters. My childhood was typical lower-middle-class and Roald Dahls books transported me somewhere else.

Charles Venn, Casualtys Jacob Masters, said: My favourite childhood book is Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl. Mr Fox is sharp, clever and a family man. What more can you ask for?

McFly singer Tom Fletcher, who has become a bestselling childrens author, said: HOARs campaign is fantastic. My parents made reading fun for me as a kid. I still love Dr Seusss Green Eggs And Ham.

Love Islands Curtis Pritchard said: This drive is so very important. As a child, my favourite books were always the Mr Men ones.

Schools can start collecting tokens now. See thesun.co.uk/booksforschools.

Curtis Pritchard, dancer & Love Island star: ‘Mr Men were my No1…this is so important’

David Baddiel: ‘Access to books is vital for children’

Fearne Cotton: ‘I love reading to kids…theyve tons of faves’

Tom Fletcher, McFly singer: ‘HOARs campaign is fantastic’

Penny Lancaster, model & TV presenter, said: ‘Children’s books evoke wonderful memories’

Charles Venn, actor: ‘What more can you ask than Mr Fox?’

Kate Silverton, News reader: ‘Our children need to read great books’

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