Even more books are to strengthen the joy of reading in primary school.

You can flip through them. They feel nice to touch – really "crispy," according to 9th grade class A at Videbæk School. And they have their own unique smell. A smell of new book and a desire to read.

Today, six boxes of the book "Eftersøgt" by Jakob Brodersen landed in the classroom at the West Jutland school.

"I think it's really great. It gives you a desire to read more when you get new books," says student Annica Weiergang.

And many more new books are on their way to 9th grade class A and other school classes across the country.

Today, the government granted 50 million for the purpose.

That corresponds to up to 200,000 books.

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Over half a billion granted

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The money comes on top of the 540 million that the Danish Parliament has already granted for new books over a 10-year period from 2025 to 2034.

"We can't wait ten years. That's an entire school life. That's why we have to invest now and get more books into classrooms already this year," says Minister of Education Magnus Heunicke (Social Democrats).

Six boxes filled with new books landed today in 9th grade class A at Videbæk School in West Jutland. They are paid for with money from the "book gift" of 540 million, which a broad majority in the Danish Parliament agreed on in 2024. Now even more millions for new books are on the way. (Photo: © Jesper Ibfelt, DR)

The books are meant to help reverse what many – including the Minister of Education – describe as a full-blown reading crisis, because many students leave primary school without sufficient reading skills.

"Reading is the key to learning in all subjects, and the ability to immerse yourself in a book and independent critical thinking are closely linked to also reading books," says Magnus Heunicke.

* Joan Ejstrup Pedersen, 9th grade class A, Videbæk School. Number of books read: Probably around 30. Favorite book: Jagten på nazisternes guld. – So something with crime, where you have to help solve something yourself, that's very exciting. (Photo: © Jesper Ibfelt, DR)

* Annica Weiergang, student 9th grade class A, Videbæk School. Number of books read: Probably around 100 (but some of them were thin). Favorite book: "Den dag vi døde" about the accident on Præstø Fjord, which we are reading right now. – When we constantly get new books, you get more desire to read. (Photo: © Jesper Ibfelt, DR)

* Silas Nielsen, student 9th grade class A, Videbæk School. Number of books read: Probably 50+. Favorite book: De sorte hullers klub. – It's about some high school students who are having a bit of a hard time. And it matters for the desire to read that it's about people your own age. (Photo: © Jesper Ibfelt, DR)

* Jonas Windsløv Jeppesen, student 9th grade class A, Videbæk School. Number of books read: 60+ish (but mom is also a Danish teacher). Favorite book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. – It just makes it more exciting when new books come. And it's pretty cool to be the first to get a new book in your hands. (Photo: © Jesper Ibfelt, DR)

1 / 4 Joan Ejstrup Pedersen, 9th grade class A, Videbæk School. Number of books read: Probably around 30. Favorite book: Jagten på nazisternes guld. – So something with crime, where you have to help solve something yourself, that's very exciting. (Photo: © Jesper Ibfelt, DR) 1 / 4 Annica Weiergang, student 9th grade class A, Videbæk School. Number of books read: Probably around 100 (but some of them were thin). Favorite book: "Den dag vi døde" about the accident on Præstø Fjord, which we are reading right now. – When we constantly get new books, you get more desire to read. (Photo: © Jesper Ibfelt, DR) 2 / 4 Silas Nielsen, student 9th grade class A, Videbæk School. Number of books read: Probably 50+. Favorite book: De sorte hullers klub. – It's about some high school students who are having a bit of a hard time. And it matters for the desire to read that it's about people your own age. (Photo: © Jesper Ibfelt, DR) 3 / 4 Jonas Windsløv Jeppesen, student 9th grade class A, Videbæk School. Number of books read: 60+ish (but mom is also a Danish teacher). Favorite book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. – It just makes it more exciting when new books come. And it's pretty cool to be the first to get a new book in your hands. (Photo: © Jesper Ibfelt, DR) 4 / 4

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Students can more easily relate

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The Danish teacher in 9th grade class A thinks it's absolutely fantastic that the government is now granting even more money for new books.

"It's the access to these new, current topics that students can relate to and see themselves in. And it's new, lovely books you get in your hands. It really contributes to their desire to read," says Marie Fjeldgren Jensen.

Ten of Denmark's biggest crime stories in history were delivered today to 9th grade class A at Videbæk School. (Photo: © Jesper Ibfelt, DR)

School researcher Andreas Rasch-Christensen from Via University College believes the new grant is a good step in the right direction.

Research indicates that more analog material can help support students' reading skills.

The grant is an expression of a clear recognition that digitalization has gone too far in the Danish primary school, he believes.

"There is a need for better balances between the analog and the digital, but it's not just done by buying new books. It's a long process of change, because many teaching materials are precisely digitalized," says Andreas Rasch-Christensen.

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New books are not enough

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The Minister of Education agrees with the school researcher.

"People thought everything could be run on screens. It can't," says Magnus Heunicke.

And the minister also acknowledges that new books alone are not enough.

"We also need to ensure that there are more resources for enough teachers and a general boost for our schools," says Magnus Heunicke.

9th grade class A at Videbæk School has split into reading groups, where they answer questions about the book "Den dag vi døde" by Anja Hitz – about the drowning accident in Præstø Fjord in 2011, where a group of boarding school students capsized. (Photo: © Jesper Ibfelt, DR)

Almost one in five students in ninth grade have such difficulty reading that it causes them problems in everyday life, according to the latest Pisa survey from 2022.

The younger children in the country's after-school programs and daycare providers will also receive new books for 20 million kroner.

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