Love Libraries – Beano characters help to make libraries fun
They are Britain’s most iconic and beloved comic characters, renowned for their love of mischief and pranks. So Dennis and his rascal pals from Beano might seem unlikely advocates for libraries – but that is exactly what they have become. Dennis and Gnasher, The Bash Street Kids and Minnie the Minx regularly crash, bang and wallop into the Beanotown Library, which Dennis tells young readers is “like Netflix for books” and “a billion ‘stories’ high”. Children are encouraged to visit, have fun and discover a world of adventure and excitement within books, just like their favourite characters.
Fun
Mike Stirling, Beano Studios Creative Director and Director of Mischief, said:
In Beano, we’ve moved away from the image of people needing to be quiet in libraries and we make them fun.
Dennis goes to the library, which in Beantown is shaped like a book. It’s got every book and everyone will find a book they love. The atmosphere is very welcoming and we have this really cool character who is the librarian, a Yeti. All Beano characters are avid readers.
The comic books stories featuring libraries highlight them as “awesome” places where “you’re allowed to be as noisy as you want”.
As well as having “every kids’ book, joke book and homework answer”, there is a slide, kids’ yoga zone and an elevator for children with mobility issues.
Beano also launched a pro-library campaign in 2022, called Libraries Aloud, which aimed to bust the myth they are serious, silent places. Children were encouraged to visit their library and read aloud, to show that noise and fun are ‘aloud’ in the library. The campaign, which tied in with World Book Day, also highlighted that libraries have digital offerings, such as online books, audiobooks and even movies.
Positive
Mike said:
We’re showing kids libraries are cool places to be, to help them develop a positive relationship with libraries and reading. That’s so important for improving life chances and for wellbeing. A library offers them a sweet shop choice of books and there’s always something new.
Reading is an active way for children to be entertained but also very relaxing. Books also offer them the opportunity to have peer conversations.
Comic readers tend to be readers – comics help children form a healthy habit of reading for fun. Comics are a catalyst. The images support the text and ensure the reading experience is accessible and fun.”
Mike acknowledges there are barriers to children developing helping relationships with books, which is why Beano is keen to support reading.
A nationwide survey found only two in five (43.4%) of children between the ages of eight and 18 enjoyed reading in their spare time. This is the lowest level of reading enjoyment recorded since 2005.
Happier
Mike said:
I’m very fortunate as my kids have access to a lot of books and we go to our local library, but not every child has that. They need to get there, for a start, so are reliant on parents or teachers taking them to a library, and that there is one nearby. Some schools don’t even have libraries.
Kids who read for pleasure are more likely to do well in school, enjoy better friendships, have better mental health and overall happier lives.
To further encourage reading, Mike and Beano’s Director of Mayhem, Craig Graham, launched hybrids of books and comics, called “Boomics”. These include one about Yeti securing his job in the Beanotown library. Kids learn he loves his job “because of all the amazing stories waiting to be read”.
Mike said:
What we do isn’t rocket science. People can take themselves too seriously and that creates barriers between children and grown-ups.
“You can talk about serious stuff and give serious messages. We do it cheekily.