Meet Tiny Heroes Volunteer Carole-Ann Montgomery ‘I wanted to be a constant in the lives of young children living in care… just to read and have fun through books with them’

The UK’s largest Shared Reading charity celebrates its amazing team of volunteers as part of Volunteers’ Week 2025, Monday 2 June – Sunday 8 June.  

NAME: Carole-Ann Montgomery 

WHERE DO YOU VOLUNTEER? Crosby, Liverpool  

ROLE: Tiny Heroes volunteer 

WHAT IS TINY HEROES?  Tiny Heroes is part of the Reading Heroes project for children aged two to four-years-old. I read weekly in person with two siblings for half an hour each. 

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER WITH THE READER? I was shocked to hear that less than 30% of children read for pleasure daily and I wanted to help others experience the joy reading has brought me throughout my lifetime. Every book is a vehicle, a means of transport into magical new worlds. I wanted to share the explorative power of a book with young people, inspire them to ask searching questions, and ignite a lifelong passion for reading. I also wanted to be a constant in the lives of young children living in care, someone who was there just to read and have fun through books with them. 

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR VOLUNTEER ROLE? I love seeing how excited the children are by new books, how they love returning to favourites and get excited by the magic of reading. We have sailed the seas with pirates (and naughty bunnies), soared through space, danced with unicorns, transformed ourselves into teapots and flamingos, and rolled in laughter at a book with no pictures. The infectious nature of the children’s enjoyment, their questions and observations, and their enthusiasm for books has been a pleasure to experience. I’m privileged to be ‘the book lady’ and amazed by how much the children have developed during my time with them. 

If you would like to find out more about our Reading Heroes or Tiny Heroes project visit here. We’re currently expanding this project and looking for more fantastic volunteers to read with children. Volunteers receive full training and ongoing support from The Reader. If you love reading and can spare up to an hour a week, please get in touch here.