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The Power of a Book

The Power of a Book

By: The Children's Book Project
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About this listen

Welcome to The Power of a Book podcast. The only podcast with the power to eradicate book poverty in children. It's a podcast with purpose.


Join our host, BAFTA-nominated comedian and author Rachel Parris (The Late Night Mash), as she talks with some much-loved public figures about the children's books that have been powerful enough to shape their lives.


A kind of desert-island-children's-book show - so who better to kick us off than the lovely Lauren Laverne?


Over the series, Rachel Parris brings listeners into intimate conversations where guests explore their literary inheritance and celebrate the universal power of stories to connect and inspire us all.


Brought to you by The Children's Book Project - the national charity that takes your preloved, unwanted children’s books and gives them to families with few, if any, of their own.


Just by listening, you help us achieve our goal - to eliminate book poverty in children.



Three books, Three stories


Each guest selects three titles that uncover personal revelations:


  • Childhood favourite - the book that shaped who they are today, a little window into their childhood
  • Shared book - an important book, read with someone significant today
  • Gift to the future - a title to donate to The Children's Book Project, inspiring a future generation


Guests include: Lauren Laverne, siblings Anita and Stephen Mangan, Andi Oliver, Ivor and David Baddiel, Clare Balding and Suli Breaks.



Help us eliminate book poverty in children:


Find your local book donation site here - there are hundreds across the country


Subscribe, follow and review The Power of a Book here


Follow us on X


Follow us on Instagram


Explore the upcoming series and get a sneaky look at bonus material here



Written, produced and edited by Rachel Shelley


In collaboration with The Children's Book Project charity.









Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Children's Book Project Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Andi Oliver

    Andi Oliver
    Nov 5 2025

    Andi Oliver is a cook, an author, a TV personality and a mother.


    Together with our host Rachel Parris (BAFTA-nominated comedian, actor, author), Andi reveals (at least) three children's books that have helped make her who she is today.


    Delivering not quite the soundtrack of her life, but the literary yarns that knit it together. A kind of "desert-island-children's-book" show.


    Three books:


    • Childhood favourite - the book that shaped who they are today, a little window into their childhood
    • Shared book - an important book, read with someone significant today
    • Gift to the future - a title to donate to The Children's Book Project, inspiring a future generation


    To discover the recommended books of all our guests, and support your local bookshop, visit the independent bookseller's website here.


    PLUS we hear more from our host Rachel Parris on her fabulous new book Introducing Mrs Collins - a sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.



    Brought to you by The Children's Book Project - the Queen's Award-winning national charity that takes your pre-loved, unwanted children’s books and gives them to families with few, if any, of their own.


    Just by listening, you help us achieve our goal - to eliminate book poverty in children.



    Guests this series:

    • Lauren Laverne
    • Stephen and Anita Mangan
    • Clare Balding
    • David and Ivor Baddiel
    • Andi Oliver
    • Suli Breaks
    • Bonus panel ep hosted by Tracy Chevalier



    To discover the recommended books of all our guests, and support your local bookshop, visit the independent bookseller's website here.


    Written, produced and edited by Rachel Shelley


    In collaboration with The Children's Book Project charity.


    Help us eliminate book poverty in children:


    Find your local book donation site


    Subscribe, follow and review The Power of a Book


    Follow The Children's Book Project on X and Instagram


    Explore bonus material here


    Every time you do, we get one step closer to dramatically transforming a child's life.


    That's the power of a book.





    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • David and Ivor Baddiel

    David and Ivor Baddiel
    Oct 29 2025
    David Baddiel is a comedian, writer, story-teller, football fanatic and father.Ivor Baddiel is also a comedian, writer, story-teller, football fanatic and father.Together with our host Rachel Parris (BAFTA-nominated comedian, actor, author), brothers David and Ivor reveal (at least) three children's books that have helped make them who they are today.Delivering not quite the soundtrack of their lives, but the literary yarns that knit them together. A kind of "desert-island-children's-book" show.Three books:Childhood favourite - the book that shaped who they are today, a little window into their childhoodShared book - an important book, read with someone significant todayGift to the future - a title to donate to The Children's Book Project, inspiring a future generationPLUS Ultimate Football Heroes authors and brothers Matt and Tom Oldfield, along with West London football team QPR, on the power of football books with reluctant readers.To discover the recommended books of all our guests, and support your local bookshop, visit the independent bookseller's website here.Brought to you by The Children's Book Project - the Queen's Award-winning national charity that takes your pre-loved, unwanted children’s books and gives them to families with few, if any, of their own.Just by listening, you help us achieve our goal - to eliminate book poverty in children.Guests this series:Lauren LaverneStephen and Anita ManganClare BaldingDavid and Ivor BaddielAndi OliverSuli BreaksBonus panel ep hosted by Tracy ChevalierTo discover the recommended books of all our guests, and support your local bookshop, visit the independent bookseller's website here.Written, produced and edited by Rachel ShelleyIn collaboration with The Children's Book Project charity.Help us eliminate book poverty in children:Find your local book donation site Subscribe, follow and review The Power of a BookFollow The Children's Book Project on X and InstagramExplore bonus material hereEvery time you do, we get one step closer to dramatically transforming a child's life. That's the power of a book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • Clare Balding

    Clare Balding
    Oct 22 2025

    Fresh from Traitor's Castle is Clare Balding - sports commentator, author and radio presenter (BBC R4's Ramblings).


    Together with our host Rachel Parris (BAFTA-nominated comedian, actor, author), Clare reveals (at least) three children's books that have helped make her who she is today.


    Delivering not quite the soundtrack of her life, but the literary yarns that knit it together. A kind of "desert-island-children's-book" show.


    Three books:


    • Childhood favourite - the book that shaped who they are today, a little window into their childhood
    • Shared book - an important book, read with someone significant today
    • Gift to the future - a title to donate to The Children's Book Project, inspiring a future generation


    PLUS - we hear from Book Detectives Mariam Da Haan and Zoë Miller at the British Library, via The Children's Book Project unit in Leeds.



    Brought to you by The Children's Book Project - the Queen's Award-winning national charity that takes your pre-loved, unwanted children’s books and gives them to families with few, if any, of their own.


    Just by listening, you help us achieve our goal - to eliminate book poverty in children.



    Guests this series:

    • Lauren Laverne
    • Stephen and Anita Mangan
    • Clare Balding
    • David and Ivor Baddiel
    • Andi Oliver
    • Suli Breaks
    • Bonus panel ep hosted by Tracy Chevalier


    To discover the recommended books of all our guests, and support your local bookshop, visit the independent bookseller's website here.



    Written, produced and edited by Rachel Shelley


    In collaboration with The Children's Book Project charity.


    Image: Owen James Vincent


    Help us eliminate book poverty in children:


    Find your local book donation site


    Subscribe, follow and review The Power of a Book


    Follow The Children's Book Project on X and Instagram


    Explore bonus material here


    Every time you do, we get one step closer to dramatically transforming a child's life.


    That's the power of a book.





    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
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