Resources
The Little Wartime Library Bookclub Kit
Based on true events, The Little Wartime Library is a book that remembers one of the greatest resistance stories of the war. This bookclub kit includes discussion questions, recipes, suggested reading list, a book trail and more.
Nura and the Immortal Palace by M. T. Khan - digital pack
A magical and page-turning adventure following a young girl’s journey from the mines of Pakistan into the treacherous world of the jinn… Nura has worked all her life in the mica mines, earning just enough to keep her family afloat – and to enjoy the odd delicious gulab jamun from the market. Some day she’s going to find the Demon’s Tongue, a legendary treasure buried deep in the mines, and she’ll never have to worry about money again. Then a terrible accident in the mine buries her best...
The Reading Agency's September Booklist for Children and Young People - Back to School
For many children and young people, September marks the start of the new school year, a time that can be both exciting and daunting. We have created a booklist for all children, from nursey school age through to secondary students, related to school. There are novels about subjects they will enjoy this academic year as well as books about friendship, fitting in and being brave. Tell us what you thought of any of the books on the list by tagging us on social media using #booklist and tagging...
'Busy Party' Activity Sheet
Colour your own bunting with this activity sheet from for ‘Busy Party’, illustrated by Jill Howarth.
'Adventures on Trains' Activity Pack
Activity sheets full of puzzles inspired by the ‘Adventures on Trains’ book series.
'Tales from Acorn Wood' Activity Pack
Fun activities inspired by the ‘Tales from Acorn Wood’ series by Julia Donaldson and Axel Sceffler, including spot the difference, drawing and colouring.
The Reading Agency’s October booklist for Adults – Poetry
Celebrate National Poetry Day on 6 October and share the magic of poetry. From queer culture and explorations of grief to the power of hope and healing, take a dive into the world of poetry and get inspired today. Tell us what you thought of any of the books on the list by tagging us on social media using #booklist and tagging @readingagency!
The Asparagus Bunch by Jessica Scott-Whyte Discussion Notes
Discussion notes for The Asparagus Bunch by Jessica Scott-Whyte and published by Welbeck Children’s Books. About the book When school bully Glen Jenkins humiliates Leon in the school canteen and almost destroys Lawrence, Leon very reluctantly agrees to the formation of a club, The Asparagus Bunch. How Leon manages to navigate school woes and family drama – and astonishingly ends up with not one but two friends – is nothing short of a miracle, or maybe just simply down to being different.
'The Last Whale' Teaching Resources
Explore the themes of Chris Vick’s ‘The Last Whale’ in your classroom with these Teaching Resources, including Whales and Whalers, Artificial Intelligence and Climate Change. About the Book From killers to conservationists, Carnegie-shortlisted Chris Vick tells the story of three generations of the Kristensen family, their history as whale hunters and later their mission to save the great whales and our planet. Summer, the Present Fiery and fierce, computer geek and eco-activist, Abi is...
Summer of Fun Project Gadgeteers Chatterbooks Pack - Welsh
Join the Gadgeteers for the Summer of Fun in Wales and download this Chatterbooks pack to use with children’s reading groups. An English version is available at https://readingagency.org.uk/resources/6144/.
Summer of Fun Project Gadgeteers Chatterbooks Pack - English
Join the Gadgeteers for the Summer of Fun in Wales and download this Chatterbooks pack to use with children’s reading groups. A Welsh version is available at https://readingagency.org.uk/resources/6145/.
The Reading Agency's August Booklist for Adults - Escape with a Book
Summer is a time when some go travelling, so we have selected the perfect books that can transport a reader somewhere else even if they’re not going away. On the list we have a fantasy book based on African history and mythology, a non-fiction book tracing the Ottoman Empire and a sizzling holiday love story to help transport you on some exciting journeys this summer. Tell us what you thought of any of the books on the list by tagging us on social media using #booklist and tagging...
Five Minutes Peace downloadable storytelling tips
Parents everywhere will understand the plight of poor Mrs Large. All she wants is five minutes’ peace and quiet away from her boisterous children! So, taking refuge in the bathroom, she fills herself a hot, foamy bubble bath and takes in a tray of her favourite breakfast and the morning paper. But there’s never a dull moment with the Large family, and it soon becomes clear that mum’s quiet time is to be very short-lived! Family life is beautifully observed in this warm and funny modern...
Five Minutes Peace downloadable activity sheets
Parents everywhere will understand the plight of poor Mrs Large. All she wants is five minutes’ peace and quiet away from her boisterous children! So, taking refuge in the bathroom, she fills herself a hot, foamy bubble bath and takes in a tray of her favourite breakfast and the morning paper. But there’s never a dull moment with the Large family, and it soon becomes clear that mum’s quiet time is to be very short-lived! Family life is beautifully observed in this warm and funny modern...
bsmall's Young Language Learner Competition
Open to young linguists aged 6-11, the b small Young Language Learner Award 2022 aims to support and encourage language learning through story-writing. Created by independent children’s publisher b small publishing, this popular award has previously run in 2014 and 2017, and returns for the third time in 2022. Children can choose from a story or comic template, provided for free on the b small website, and are invited to pen their own foreign language story in the foreign language of their...
'PESTS' Teaching Resources
In this resource pack for KS2 Teachers, you will find a range of activities for subjects including creative writing, drama, art, design & technology, and PSHE, linking to the three books in the PESTS series. About the Books When the lights go off, the PESTS come out! The laugh-out-loud series from the creator of the bestselling DIARY OF PIG series and DADDY FARTYPANTS. Meet Stix, the tiny but heroic mouse who might be living behind your washing machine. Stix’s grandma taught him to always...
'PESTS' Activity Trail
Create an adventure in your own back garden this summer with this Activity Trail pack. Print out the PESTS, hide them wherever you want and see who can find the most of them. About the Book Meet Stix, the tiny but heroic mouse who might be living behind your washing machine. But is he naughty enough to join the PESTS? Stix is the size of an egg cup, can jump the width of a dog’s bottom, and LOVES cheese. That’s because Stix is a mouse. He probably lives behind your washing machine, but you...
'PESTS' Activity Pack
Create your own PEST party, test your knowledge and draw your dream pizza with this activity pack celebrating the must-read, madcap new series from the creator of ‘Diary of Pig’. About the Book Meet Stix, the tiny but heroic mouse who might be living behind your washing machine. But is he naughty enough to join the PESTS? Stix is the size of an egg cup, can jump the width of a dog’s bottom, and LOVES cheese. That’s because Stix is a mouse. He probably lives behind your washing machine, but...
'The Dragon in the Bookshop' Teachers' Notes
Use these Teachers’ Notes for ‘The Dragon in the Bookshop’ to help guide conversation in your classroom about the book and further discuss the themes. About the Book The Dragon in the Bookshopby Ewa Jozefkowicz An old Polish city fizzes with fear. The townsfolk are at the mercy of a dragon who lurks in the cave below the castle… Konrad’s dad always used to say, ‘There is a character in a book somewhere that matches you almost entirely. It’s just a matter of finding them’. Konrad never...
'How to Catch a Rainbow' Teachers Notes
Explore the themes of ‘How to Catch a Rainbow’ with your Year One, Reception or Early Years class with these Teachers Notes from Oxford Children’s Books. Includes activities for whole class and smaller groups, all linked to the National Curriculum. About the Book Freya loves rainbows. She loves their bright colours and their curvy shape. More than anything, she wishes she has one of her very own. One that she can keep forever. So she decides to become a Rainbow Hunter! She searches high and...
'How to Catch a Rainbow' Activity Sheets
Explore all the colours of the rainbow with this activity sheet and colouring in sheet. About the Book Freya loves rainbows. She loves their bright colours and their curvy shape. More than anything, she wishes she has one of her very own. One that she can keep forever. So she decides to become a Rainbow Hunter! She searches high and low, but no rainbows are to be found, so she decides to make her own, collecting items in every colour of the rainbow from the garden. But when things don’t go...
'Bee Active' Activity Pack
Helping our planet can feel overwhelming at times, but every little action really does count, especially when lots of people join in. Just look at the busy bees and other pollinators for proof of what can be achieved. Together, these tiny insects make a HUGE difference. But now the pollinators need OUR help – and in this Bee Active Activity Pack there are some great suggestions for what we can do.
Roy of the Rovers Virtual Assembly
To kick off your summer, Rebellion Publishing and award-winning Children’s book author Tom Palmer invite you to join them in a fun and free assembly celebrating the fantastic football book series, Roy of the Rovers! With the series now spanning sixteen exciting instalments across illustrated fiction and graphic novel titles, this virtual assembly features an exciting introduction to Roy and his sister Rocky, a Q&A with Tom about how he writes the series, and exciting activities and...
Big Bright Feelings series by Tom Percival - digital pack
Bloomsbury Children’s Books has created an activity pack to promote Tom Percival’s Big Bright Feelings series, including the latest title, Milo’s Monster! Tom Percival’s Big Bright Feelings series is the perfect springboard for talking about mental and emotional health, positive self-image, building self-confidence and managing feelings. Every child’s bookshelf should contain his books. We would love to see you enjoying the resources by tagging KidsBloomsbury and using #BigBrightFeelings.
Ready for Spaghetti: Funny Poems for Funny Kids Library Event Pack
Fizzing with rhythm, energy and laughter, the 30 poems in Ready for Spaghetti delight in the details of children’s daily routines. Full of affectionate observations of young children, which are beautifully continued in Polly Dunbar’s warm-hearted pictures, Michael Rosen’s poems are ideal for reading aloud with toddlers! The packs include: - Downloadable Ready for Spaghetti storytelling tips - Downloadable Ready for Spaghetti teachers’ notes
The Reading Agency's July Booklist for Adults - Friendship
To mark World Friendship Day, also known as International Day of Friendship which takes place on 30 July this year, we have compiled a booklist focusing specifically on books written about friendship. Tell us what you think about these books or any others you have read by tagging us on social media @readingagency using #booklist.
The Reading Agency's September Booklist for Adults - International Translation Day
Every 30 September, English PEN hosts a programme of talks, workshops and networking opportunities for literary translators, in celebration of International Translation Day. To help you celebrate the best in translated fiction and international authors, we have created a booklist of 12 authors which includes short stories, poetry, non-fiction and lots of immersive stories. Tell us what you thought of any of the books on the list by tagging us on social media using #booklist and tagging...
The Reading Agency's August Booklist for Children & Young People - Escape with a Book
As lots of people head off on their holidays, we selected books that can transport a reader somewhere else even if they’re not going away. From picking up plastic pollution on a Caribbean Island to rural Ireland to Memphis, we hope these stories can help transport children and young people on exciting journeys this summer. Tell us what you thought of any of the books on the list by tagging us on social media using #booklist and tagging @readingagency!
The Marvellous Doctors for Magical Creatures by Jodie Lancet-Grant and Lydia Corry - digital pack
Unicorns with tummy trouble. Dragons with broken wings. Sneezy centaurs and mermaids with measles. Everyone in town knows just who to see when they are feeling poorly: Ava and her dads, The Marvellous Doctors for Magical Creatures. Well, Ava isn’t a doctor, not yet, but she’s learning the ropes and she’s brilliant at solving medical mysteries. Glitterbug the unicorn is not like all the other unicorns. They love dancing and planning parties, but she would much rather be frolicking in the mud....
Read Between the Lies by Malcolm Duffy - Teachers' Resources
Two very different boys, one new family, a shared struggle and a big secret. Tommy is talented, cool, a young offender, and dyslexic. Ryan is smart, uncool, well-behaved, and dyslexic. The two develop an unlikely friendship. As Ryan helps Tommy to read, a secret is revealed that will change their lives forever. Prize-winning Malcolm Duffy’s third novel explores the joys and challenges of dyslexia in a story full of his hallmark heart and humour. For those 12+.