London Luton Airport's novel idea to get kids reading this summer

Luton-based comedian, author and illustrator Olaf Falafel reads 26 Minutes to Save Summer with year 4 pupils from Farley Junior Academy at London Luton Airport. Image: London Luton Airport

London Luton Airport (LLA) has partnered with Luton-based comedian, author and illustrator Olaf Falafel to help under 18s switch into holiday mode via the joy of reading.

LLA has teamed up with the Olaf to create a bespoke comic-style novel 26 Minutes to Save Summer, a brand-new graphic novel designed to help children switch into holiday mode before take-off and rediscover reading for fun this summer.

With the summer holidays beginning, new research reveals that two in three (67%) children feel pressure to ‘summer-maxx’ – feeling the need to stay productive and fill the school break with goals, achievements and productive activities, rather than simply switching off and enjoying their time away from the classroom¹.

The study commissioned by LLA found that 48% of parents say their children regularly talk about school during the holidays, with a third (33%) practising an academic skill and nearly a fifth (18%) setting themselves academic or achievement-based goals.

Despite children agreeing that reading can be fun (70%) and relaxing (73%), half (51%) admitted that reading can feel like something they have to do, rather than want to do.

Data from LLA’s charity partner, the National Literacy Trust, highlights that reading for enjoyment among 8–18-year-olds has fallen from 58.6% a decade ago to just 36.1% today, while its most recent report revealed that just 20.3% of 8–18-year-olds read daily².

To help children rediscover the joy of reading for fun, LLA is encouraging families to swap ‘summer-maxxing’ for a ‘pagecation’ – taking time to switch off, escape into a good story and enjoy reading without goals or pressure.

LLA’s research also found that almost a quarter (23%) of parents want simple ways to entertain children during holiday travel, while 41% actively seek to limit their child’s screen time. Meanwhile, over half of their children (60%) said travel time is an occasion when they do enjoy reading.

26 Minutes to Save Summer celebrates the National Year of Reading 2026, a campaign launched by the Department for Education in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust, designed to inspire everyone to embed reading into everyday life.

Written exclusively for LLA, the book helps families begin their ‘pagecation’ before they even board the plane, turning summer holiday travel into a chance to read, laugh and ease into the holiday spirit together. The book uses humour, adventure and eye-catching illustrations to show that reading can be as fun as the holiday itself.

Bringing to life the airport’s simple and friendly passenger experience, free copies of 26 Minutes to Save Summer will be available for families travelling through LLA this summer from 27th July.

The giveaway forms part of the LLA Summer Resort, a series of fun, interactive experiences designed to help passengers relax, unwind and start their holiday before they even board.

Children can follow the adventures of Average Joe and his trusted sidekick Robo Snail as they take on the villainous Dr Prodktiv, a character intent on fast-forwarding the school holidays in the name of efficiency and achievement. Through its playful narrative, the book gently challenges the idea that every moment must be optimised, instead celebrating the chance to make summer memories, foster creativity and enjoy free time.

Designed to make reading feel instantly more inviting, the graphic novel taps into what children say draws them into a story. Nearly four in five (79%) find comics and graphic novels easier to pick up than traditional books, while 43% are more likely to read something funny and 24% favour books packed with illustrations¹.

National Literacy Trust research highlights that graphic novels can be a valuable route into reading, supporting literacy development and creative thinking³. Despite 42% of parents admitting they weren’t aware of the benefits of introducing graphic novels to their child, research from the airport found a majority (89%) would welcome alternative types of reading materials to encourage their child to read for fun³.

Author, comedian and illustrator, Olaf Falafel said, “Nobody needs another thing to achieve during the summer holidays. Sometimes the best thing you can do is switch off and get lost in a story – preferably a funny one!”

“That’s exactly what we wanted 26 Minutes to Save Summer to do. It’s got a villain trying to optimise all the fun out of the holidays, a robot snail, and hopefully enough jokes to tempt even the most reluctant reader to turn the page. I loved comics as a kid, and they opened my imagination completely, so I hope this helps children travelling through London Luton Airport see reading as something joyful, not something they have to tick off a list.”

Clare Armstrong, Head of Guest Experience at London Luton Airport, said: “The best holidays start before you board the plane, when families begin to relax, have fun and feel like the adventure has already started. At London Luton Airport, we’re always looking for simple and friendly ways to make our passenger experience easier and more enjoyable.

“By partnering with Olaf to create this amazing book and distributing over 2,000 copies, we’re giving families who fly from LLA this summer a free, fun and easy way to switch into holiday mode before take-off. More than 2,000 copies have been printed which we hope will help lots of children rediscover reading as something exciting, imaginative and full of adventure.”

Dinny Smith, Assistant Director of Education at the National Literacy Trust, said: “The National Year of Reading is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine what reading can look and feel like for every child. We know that children are more likely to build a lasting love of reading when they can follow their own interests and choose formats that excite them – whether that’s graphic novels, comic books, audiobooks, or reading digitally or in print.

“We are thrilled to be supporting London Luton Airport and Olaf Falafel to bring the joy of graphic novels to children and families travelling to the airport. Together, we are making reading joyful and accessible, and helping families discover there are many ways to become a reader.”