Eight-year-old Jayce Joyce, from Sutton Coldfield, has been awarded a Guinness World Record as the Youngest Editor of a Published Anthology. The record follows the publication of Our Stories Our World, a 50-page anthology featuring 20 original stories by children from across the UK.
Jayce, who joined Mensa with an IQ of 150, first published his own book at age four. He began understanding and drawing pictures from books at 15 months and wrote about his experiences by age three.
Record-breaking anthology
The anthology took eight months to create and was developed after a nationwide search for young storytellers. Stories include One Big Awesome World, Najita and the Disappearing Handbag, Racism in Football, and Veda's Big Indian Adventure. It celebrates imagination, diversity, creativity, and inclusion.
Inspired by poet Benjamin Zephaniah, entries were judged by educator Juliet Bremmer and author-illustrator Kate Rafiq, then professionally published by Jayce's World.
Literacy movement launched
The anthology has evolved into Books from Children to Children, the UK's first national child-led literacy movement, aiming to empower children as readers, writers, and future leaders. Jayce conducts school visits, workshops, and story time sessions to champion early literacy.
“I'm incredibly proud to have achieved a Guinness World Records title, but what makes me happiest is knowing that children across the country are seeing their stories published,” Jayce said. “Reading and writing has given me confidence, helped me express myself and allowed me to share my ideas with the world. I want every child to know that their voice matters.”
Honours and impact
Jayce has received the British Citizen Youth Award Medal of Honour, the BBC Blue Peter Gold Badge, and a personal letter from Queen Camilla. He was recently longlisted for the Children's Booker Prize Child Judge 2027.
The Guinness World Record comes amid declining children's literacy. Research from the National Literacy Trust shows children's enjoyment of reading is at one of its lowest levels in nearly two decades, with rising screen time blamed.
Jayce encourages children to write during the summer: “Instead of spending all summer scrolling, why not spend some time storytelling? You never know where one story might take you. It could be the beginning of your own publishing journey.”
He invites young writers to enter a summer competition for a chance to be published in next year's anthology. More information is available via Jayce's World of Learning website.
