Fleetwood mum Michelle out to help youngsters struggling with reading

Bookseller Michelle Brereton is on a mission to help youngsters who struggle to read.
Michelle Brereton at her stall, the Bedtime Reading Club, in Fleetwood MarketMichelle Brereton at her stall, the Bedtime Reading Club, in Fleetwood Market
Michelle Brereton at her stall, the Bedtime Reading Club, in Fleetwood Market

Michelle, 45, of Beach Road, Fleetwood, has dyslexia herself and after finding things particularly hard when she was young, she has seen all of her children dealing with difficulties in reading too.

Now, after setting up an online bookshop last month, she has also become a stallholder at Fleetwood Market as well, specialising in titles for youngsters with dyslexia, autism, ADHD and braille books for the visually impaired.

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Her stall and Facebook page are both called the Bedtime Stories Book Club.

Some of the books at Michelle's Fleetwood Market stallSome of the books at Michelle's Fleetwood Market stall
Some of the books at Michelle's Fleetwood Market stall

Michelle had never been involved in such an enterprise before, but decided to give it a try after other attempts to find work last year didn't work out.

The married mum-of-three said: "It is possible to get past things like dyslexia - I managed to get a degree in Family Support and Wellbeing from Lancaster University, and I would never have thought that was possible when I was younger.

"I've been a housewife for years but this kind of business really interested me because it can help families who are struggling, and I've been there myself.

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"It 's important that children can get something out of reading and if you have short stories with pictures and books with jigsaws in, it's a great stepping stone.

"I also have books on mindfulness which can help children with their worries."

Michelle's children are now aged 11, 16 and 18 and between they have struggled with dyslexia, ADHD, autism and Asperger's.

She added: "When I was young there was nothing around for dyslexia but I think things are getting better now."

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Michelle set up her Facebook store as an independent organiser with online children's book dealer Usborne Books, which helps people sell books from home.

But she said: "I wanted to set up the stall at Fleetwood Market because I know people enjoy looking at the books and it's nice to talk to customers in person.

"It was easy to set up the stall at the market - I just needed to given them ID, insurance and the first week' rent."

On May 8-14, Michelle will be supporting the Book Trust charity, whose projects encourage children to read, when she sells second hand books at the market and gives a percentage to the Trust.

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