'It is important that kids enjoy books'

Reading books for pleasure gives children a wide variety of benefits, from stimulating imagination to developing vocabulary and language skills.

And Chelsea showcased how it is encouraging the next generation of young readers when more than 600 children attended a special event at Stamford Bridge to mark World Book Day recently.

The children, from 16 local primary schools, joined Chelsea first-team players Nemanja Matic and Asmir Begovic and Chelsea Ladies captain Katie Chapman in watching performances of famous children’s books such as the Gruffalo and Spindarella.

"With my kids, one is 13 and he reads to himself now, one is eight and has to read to me every night and the little one who is three, I read to so I experience the whole spectrum," Chapman told chelseafc.com.

"It is important kids enjoy books and that comes from parents who encourage them to read and it does help with their school work and their English and their literacy.

"Children want to be footballers but education is important and reading is part of that, and it is a nice interaction between a child and a parent to pick up a book and read."

The Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Lydia Monks were the stars of the Chelsea Foundation event, filmed by BBC Match of the Day, as part of the Premier League Primary Stars initiative, which uses the appeal of football and sport to inspire children in schools across the country.

Since September 2013, the Chelsea Foundation have engaged 6,744 young people through PL Primary Stars and School Sport.

"In the Chelsea Foundation it's really important for us to work with schools, children and people within the community," said Sam Gaskin-Kemp, Chelsea Foundation's schools education manager."It's not just about what goes on the pitch on a matchday, it's more than that.

"We want to send that good message out to children every day."

See: World Book Day bonanza at Stamford Bridge