Feedback From Parents (and Readers!)

Feeling the love?

Our parents and readers have had lots of kind things to say over the years. We'd love you to help you on your reading journey too!

Jill

January 7, 2020

Thank you so much for such a fantastic service! It's both a great idea and excellent implementation - website is easy to use, the books arrive really promptly, and the customer service is super responsive. The little extras like the reading charts and stickers are also great additions. We have now cancelled the service, because my son has become a free reader, but I will definitely recommend your site to anyone with kids learning to read.

Imogen

November 16, 2019

Reading Chest has been seriously excellent for all four of our (home-educated) children, and I can’t thank you enough. Imogen

Kate

October 22, 2019

Thank you so much for the great service, the variety of books has been amazing.

Marta B

October 19, 2019

I would like to thank you for your kind services during our membership, we thoroughly enjoyed receiving your books. It was always moment of anticipation and surprise when the new envelope arrived and was finally opened. The kids loved it.

Debbie

September 28, 2019

Amazing service - I only joined at 3pm yesterday afternoon and the first books were delivered at 9.30am today. Thank you!

Brenda

September 14, 2019

I have just ended our membership as my child is finally fluently reading. I just wanted to thank all at reading chest. What a superb service! Going back a few years ago, when my son was struggling with reading, I found it very difficult to get books at his level at the library, and was certainly buying a lot of books online. Reading chest made it so easy. Books were delivered so efficiently and the books we received always were the perfect subject choice for him. After 3.5 years of reading and almost 500 books, I think we are finally through the learning to read process! Fabulous company! Many Thanks Brenda

Rhona

August 1, 2019

As a home schooling family, your service has been invaluable. I would not hesitate to recommend Reading Chest to any other family.

Lucy Heighton

July 21, 2019

My son was not overly confident at reading despite being able. It has been wonderful to witness his progress and the range of books has certainly helped to engage him. He grows more confident daily and the convenience of Reading Chest has been invaluable for our family. My eldest daughter loved the books coming through the postbox with her name on the envelope and my son is enjoying that same thrill now. All we wanted was for him to enjoy reading and not see it as a chore and I think we have finally achieved that so we are elated. Long may it continue. Thank you

Sharon

July 5, 2019

Our 4 children have learnt to read well and love books due to the wealth of reading material they’ve had access to through Reading Chest over the last 6 years or so. Best wishes Sharon

Mum of two boys

June 23, 2019

After using Reading Chest for 6 years, I would like to thank Reading Chest for their excellent and invaluable service in assisting my sons to achieve a reading level way beyond that expected of a child of their age. I hope that their love of books continues for many years to come and thank Reading Chest for their support in making this happen. I will continue to recommend Reading Chest's wonderful service to friends.

Kirsty Armstrong

June 6, 2019

I’m just cancelling our subscription for my son as he’s reached a point where he doesn’t need the levels - but this is a wonderful, wonderful service and I’ve used it for both my older two... you will hear from me again when the baby (10 months) starts school!!

Emma from Buckinghamshire

April 9, 2019

As a teacher and parent, I think the service provided by Reading Chest is invaluable for building confident and happy readers. I’ve recommended it to many people!

Ann Knox

January 8, 2019

I am cancelling my current subscription since my granddaughter is now a free reader aged six and a half years. She scored 37 in her year one phonics test at the age of six years and one month, much helped by her involvement with Reading Chest. She started receiving books from Reading Chest when she was in reception class and she looked forward to her regular envelopes filled with interesting stories. She read 200 books whilst with Reading Chest, each one beautifully illustrated and up to date. Her confidence improved as she could clearly see how quickly she moved through the bands. I found it extremely helpful to know that each book was aimed at her current level of ability, something which I would not have been confident at achieving on my own. Being able to read excerpts online of the next band , helped me to make accurate judgments as to when it was appropriate to move on. I can not recommend this scheme enough and I will be back when my grandsons are ready. Thank you.

J. Browne

January 6, 2019

We have just cancelled our subscription after several years of using the excellent Reading Chest scheme as our son is now reading lengthy chapter books. In that time, our son has read over 500 books from Reading Chest and was always excited to receive his next envelope in the post. Thank you for offering this fantastic scheme, it has made such a difference and our son has moved from being a reluctant reader in Y1 to a voracious reader in Y4! We would definitely recommend Reading Chest to other parents.

Jane Bernhardt

December 7, 2018

Dear Reading Chest I've just cancelled my subscription because my son is now a free reader and we are able to get books from the library now. Reading Chest has been an absolutely brilliant service: in Year 1 at school my son's teacher wouldn't put him up to a higher reading level even though he was reading harder books at home and we were running out of early reader books in the library. Someone told me about Reading Chest and my son was thrilled with the books, always in excellent condition, and more importantly we could set the level to where he was truly at. He zoomed up the levels and the reading schemes were far more interesting than the one school was using. Thank you so much for helping my son stay a keen reader.

Mum of two

November 13, 2018

Dear Reading Chest, I wanted to let you know that I have cancelled my membership today. I returned the books yesterday so you should receive them tomorrow. This is the second time I have used reading chest, the last time around five years ago for my eldest daughter. But we have come to the point where my son does not get the chance to read his reading chest books as he has so many long books from school. I credit reading chest as having fostered my children's love for books and their enthusiasm to learn to read. My daughter still talks about the time she won a reading chest competition to review a book when she was five and she is now eleven. Both my children have responded so well to your certificates, charts and stickers, and I have been blown away by the standard of your customer service, truly one of the best I have seen. I will be back for short subscriptions during the holiday periods and in the meantime I will continue to recommend you to everyone! You are a super company. All the very best.

SHK

October 26, 2018

Excellent service, great variety of books. So happy with how the Reading Chest has helped improved my sons reading and given him access to a wide range of age appropriate books. Would highly recommend!

Claire Jewson

October 20, 2018

Thank you so much for helping both of my children progress in their reading. The service was really invaluable in providing reading material at the right level.

Sinead Hewitt

October 14, 2018

An absolutely brilliant scheme, efficiently run, with a lovely selection of books in great condition. It's ideal for the summer holidays when there are no books from school, if you wish to maintain your child's reading practice.

Mother of two from Lincolnshire

October 3, 2018

I have just cancelled my membership but I just wanted to say I love this scheme! It's just that my oldest daughter is now reading more advanced books and my younger daughter is bringing more books than we can get through from school. Thanks for your help over the last two years

Catharina Buonora Holgado

September 28, 2018

I just want to say once again how much we love Reading Chest and to say thank you for the wonderful moments we had together reading your fantastic books since when she was in Nursery. Your charts, stars, red bag, certificates, your envelope with her name, were magical moments that we will treasure forever. From the start to finish you have been great and we wish you all the best to you and your lovely team. It's been a beautiful journey and we will always have Reading Chest in our hearts. Kind regards, Catharina

Sallly R

September 26, 2018

I just wanted to say what a lovely service you offer, how simple it is to use and how efficient you are at sending out fresh books. I suspect we will be back for December when the school break for Christmas!

Michelle H.

September 12, 2018

I have been so impressed with Reading chest over the last 4 years. As my son is now reading above the highest level with regret we have applied to cancel our subscription. It has been a truly wonderful and rewarding experience. Thank you so very very much!

Karen Taylor

July 3, 2018

My son was a member for 2 years. He was a reluctant reader and I decided to join during the summer school holidays to keep him reading throughout the 6 weeks when he didn't bring any books home from school. I was always buying lots of books but once they've read them, they were redundant (and very expensive). The books from Reading Chest are in excellent condition - lots off them looked brand new. There is a large selection and the delivery is very quick. In 2 years my son went from a complete non-reader to reading Secret Seven and Roald Dahl books. I would highly recommend this service to everyone.

Hari

June 27, 2018

My daughter was a member of Reading Chest for over 3 years, she gained her love of books by reading the varied stories sent to her by Reading Chest. As parents we liked the variety of fiction & non-fiction books, so not only was our daughter learning to read but she was gaining knowledge. My daughter of Year 3 is now at such an advanced level she is reading books for persons aged 11. I know Reading Chest helped her achieve this level and one of my best decisions for my daughter's education was to sign up to Reading Chest.

JH – Norfolk

May 22, 2018

I have to say that Isla’s really enjoyed the variety etc. of the various schemes etc. & I have to say I have been very impressed - have told a good few folks about the service so hopefully a few have taken note & signed up !

Grateful Mum!

April 20, 2018

I'd like to take this opportunity though to say thank you for the help Reading Chest had given to both my children. I think it is an excellent and great value service and I have recommended it to lots of people. My son was quite reluctant to learn to read at first, and the excitement of receiving books in the post really helped motivate him. My daughter was the complete opposite- she took to reading straight away and Reading Chest provided her with a much greater range of books and enabled her to make great progress. We decided to cancel our membership as they both quite suddenly seem to have outgrown it. Whilst neither have finished the reading scheme yet, they have both become very keen on reading chapter books at home, and so aren't really keen to do extra reading band books in addition to the ones they receive at school. This really is testament to how much Reading Chest had helped us though. At one point I honestly thought I would never see the day my son would read for pleasure.

Kati Debretzeni

March 15, 2018

Thank you for a brilliant service! We're stopping as my daughter has outgrown the book bands now... All the books were in great condition, a fantastic selection oven the years, much enjoyed. Recommended to all parents!!!

H Preece

January 20, 2018

I subscribed to the reading chest after my daughter was struggling with reading. It has been invaluable and her progress has been amazing. I am only stopping it now as she no longer needs them. The service has been fast and efficient. The books she received were always in excellent condition. Thankyou so much.

Vicky Smith

January 15, 2018

Thank you for everything Reading Chest, my daughter is flying with her reading and doing well at school. I highly recommend Reading Chest.

Emma Blackman

January 6, 2018

It would be great if there was a way to stop receiving books that my daughter has read from school, so if we could tick from a list of books to stop them being sent out that would be great. Many thanks. Reading Chest Response: Thank you for your feedback. If you send us a list of books that your daughter has read from school, we can easily add this to her history which would prevent Reading Chest from sending the books out. We are undergoing some website changes at the moment which will allow you to tick off books you don't want to receive, but we don't yet have a date when this will be going live.

Mum of James

December 8, 2017

Dear Reading Chest, Although I have cancelled my son's membership as he is now ready to move on to longer chapter books, I would just like to express my appreciation of this service. There is no doubt that the Reading Chest is responsible for both my son's love of reading and his progression to becoming an enthusiastic and proficient reader. We started subscribing in the Spring term of Reception and now in the Autumn Term of year 2, we are sad to leave. There is nothing else like the Reading Chest and as a parent I would like to thank you for providing a range of interesting and engaging books. We may yet be back, but if not, thank you!!! I would not hesitate to recommend this service to any parent who considers giving a child the love of reading, a gift.

Jenny Trusty

November 9, 2017

Thank you for providing an excellent service over the last five years. My children are now enthusiastic, fluent readers. Reading Chest has met a very specific need perfectly. You have been efficient and provided a wide variety of reading scheme books to borrow at a reasonable price. Terrific!

Vicki McIntyre

October 26, 2017

I have used the Reading Chest service for two of my children and only wish I had been aware of it for the first. The service has been fantastic, never a cause for complaint and I could not recommend it more highly. All children are different and my youngest took to reading like a duck to water, thanks to Reading Chest I could access brilliant books at the right stage for her and she now has a keen love of books and reading for such a young child. Thank you.

Kate Jackson

September 6, 2017

Reading Chest has been BRILLIANT over the summer to keep my son's reading progressing. It has been so easy to choose books, send back and change levels. Thank you so much - it's a fantastic idea!

Libby

March 1, 2017

Just wanted to say thank you again to the great people at Reading Chest for the service you provide. And also to encourage any parents of children with special needs or who are struggling or reluctant readers to give it a go. My son has a learning disability and we started 7 yrs ago on red level. Together we have slowly and patiently worked our way up to Gold level and are aiming for level 12/13. He loves getting his envelope and certificates and I love the variety of books- which we desperately need given that he stays on the same level for up to a year. School just couldn't give us enough books and enough variety at the same level so Reading Chest has filled that gap. Brilliant!

Sam

February 2, 2017

We've just cancelled our membership of Reading Chest because our little girl is about to be made a 'free(ish) reader' at school. We joined about 9 months ago when she was still on red books at school, because her reception teacher had a policy of having to read all the books in each band before moving up. We found this a bit restricting, and joined Reading Chest so that we could access books that were more appropriate to our little girl's reading level. We have been so pleased with the service. I joined one afternoon, and the first set of books arrived the next morning - addressed to our daughter who was thrilled to be receiving her own parcel. She whipped through the bands (at home at least) and when she entered year one, with a more flexible teacher, she shot through them there too. She is now on Gold band and reading really independently. Thank you Reading Chest. I have been recommending you all over the place!

Nazlee Sinclair

January 31, 2017

I am overjoyed with Reading Chest. I am a Deputy head teacher of a large primary school, however I have a reluctant summer born boy of my own, who is 5! Your books have helped him to become an independent reader! I think you have a great scheme, with a broad tailored choice!

Jill

November 19, 2016

My children attend an outstanding school. It does have limited resources though. Reading Chest was an inexpensive way of engaging them in reading they enjoyed. It launched them into reading independently.

Polly Smith

November 11, 2016

Thank you so much for the service you have provided us up to now. A fantastic company and a great idea, my daughter loved all the books! Many thanks

Jacqueline Simon

October 22, 2016

Reading Chest has provided a great resource of books for my children which has helped them develop their reading skills over the past 3 years.Prompt exchange within 48hrs, great quality and condition. A big thank you to the team.

Steve

September 30, 2016

The service has been great and has been instrumental in giving Miles and Sophia a great start to reading (Sophia isn’t yet 6 and is reading Gold easily, Miles is just 7 and flying through Lime books). Many thanks

Val

September 29, 2016

So grateful to the reading chest as Sorcha is now a fab reader following a tricky start. Thanks so much.

Jane

July 27, 2016

We love Reading Chest books. My son is 6 and picked up reading very quickly at school. He moved up quickly through the bands in Reception but in Year 1 stayed on one band for a long time - school wanted him to get the breadth" of reading (even though he was reading everything he could get his hands on at home

Elena

June 27, 2016

Just want to say thank you. My daughter has gone from stage 1 to stage 14 in just over a year, and is now a voracious reader who cannot get her head out of any book she manages to get hold of! Reading Chest has helped us support her progress even when her class teacher didn't seem to recognise it, and my little girl is now a confident, independent reader at only 5 years old. (Also: your customer service has always been great and the whole process of signing up and now closing the account couldn't have been easier!). Thoroughly recommended!

Zoe

May 23, 2016

Reading Chest has been brilliant for my son especially over the summer holidays. He loves the wide selection of books which he does not get at school. Deliveries are quick and staff have been great. Thank you.

Nisa Isa

May 18, 2016

Just wanted to thank you for your fantastic service. And thank you for turning my son from a reluctant reader to enthusiastic bookworm! Reading Chest - the best investment I have made in a while.

Mrs S

April 22, 2016

Thanks for your support over the last year or so. My son has progressed from band 2 to band 11 while on reading chest so it has been a great journey (and he's still only 5!)

Anna Acland

April 13, 2016

Hi, I have just cancelled my account (I'll be sending the books we have at home back today). I am only cancelling because me eldest has moved on to being a free Reader, and my youngest isn't quite old enough yet. We will be back as soon as he is ready to start on the reading scheme - just taking a short break! The service has been fantastic for us - we are brits living abroad and without the weekly delivery of books there is no way my 7-year old would be reading and loving it! My 4 year can't wait to be like his big brother so we will be back soon! We also love the functionality of your website and have always had great customer service from you.

Rachel Perry

March 25, 2016

Thank you so much, I was really worried that my daughter was so hard to get engaged in reading & was often not interested in her school books, she is still not overly keen but reading is less of a chore & she loves the variety of books you provide, could not recommend Reading Chest enough !!

Karen from Hampshire

February 25, 2016

Just wanted to say a huge thank you for the fantastic service you have provided since we joined. The only reason for cancelling our membership is because since moving house, the school that my son now attends runs it's own book club as well as it's usual class books and library and therefore we no longer need to top up his reading as before. I shall be returning the books we still have tomorrow. Many thanks again and we will definitely return to Reading Chest in the future should we need to.

Katie Lonsdale

January 26, 2016

It is with mixed feelings that I have just closed our account with you. Both my children have really enjoyed being part of reading chest. I have no doubt that the speed in which they have whizzed through the different colours and their love of books has been helped hugely by having plenty to read. We have never had to worry about how many books the children have brought home from school as we have always had a good supply from you. Oliver has now been moved up to Brown books from Lime and so we feel we have plenty of books he can read at home. Thanks so much, you have a unique and great service and we are very grateful for the part you have played in helping our children learn to read.

Jo Greenidge

January 20, 2016

May I tell you how much we are loving Reading Chest and the never-ending supply of stimulating books. Marcus particularly enjoys non-fiction and the range of subjects to which you have given him access, is fantastic. The balance between fiction and non-fiction has always been beautifully handled too. Finally I must tell you that it is uncanny how often the books we have received, have been completely apt to something we have just done or something Marcus has just begun to cover at school. All in all, an excellent service - thank you.

Kate

January 20, 2016

I am sorry to say we are leaving you, as my son has recently become a free reader who loves books. This process has been helped considerably by all the lovely books you have provided so promptly to us over the last year and a half. He has gone up from Blue level to free reader in that time. Again many thanks.

Marsha Edinburgh

January 13, 2016

I just wanted to say thank you for a terrific service. My son Christian has been using reading chest for a year. He is not quite six but has gone up 6 levels and is now on stripey" (for 8-9 year olds). We will carry on until we run out of books!"

Zoe Bolt

January 13, 2016

Thank you Reading Chest, you have empowered me to fully support my 6 year old son to become a proficient reader who can read anything he likes. He is now enjoying loads of books and takes time to read silently by himself especially after bath and stories with us, before he goes to sleep. I was told by his old school by his year 1 teacher that she 'couldn't keep up with us and the books we required to support him at that stage, so we turned to Reading Chest and used the bronze package successfully to fill the gap - we moved him up book bands usually months before the school did and I fully believe that this was crucial to retain his interest in reading, stimulate his learning and allow him to progress at a speed that was right for him and avoid frustration. He is on ruby band at his new school but is free reading so we no longer require the books but a massive thank you to Reading Chest for your service over the last year and all the amazing books.

Mum of 2 1 with autisum

January 12, 2016

I home educate both my children my son has autisum and is very much still behind in reading its very hard to get him to read even still with your books but my daughter loves them especialy the fact books

Gael

October 23, 2015

Love your site and what it provides. Daniel would never be the reader he is today with out it. Thank you, Gael.

Joanne

October 23, 2015

My daughter was behind with reading and since joining Reading Chest she is now 13 months ahead of the expected national requirement. Thank you so much.