Resources
Unsettled Ground – Women's Prize for Fiction Reading Guide
Download this reading guide, produced by the Women’s Prize for Fiction, for Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller, shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2021.
Transcendent Kingdom - Women's Prize for Fiction
Download this reading guide, produced by the Women’s Prize for Fiction, for Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi, shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2021.
The Vanishing Half – Women's Prize for Fiction Reading Guide
Download this reading guide, produced by the Women’s Prize for Fiction, for The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2021.
Piranesi - Women's Prize for Fiction Reading Guide
Download this reading guide, produced by the Women’s Prize for Fiction, for Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2021.
No One Is Talking About This - Women's Prize for Fiction Reading Guide
Download this reading guide, produced by the Women’s Prize for Fiction, for No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood, shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2021.
How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House – Women's Prize for Fiction Reading Guide
Download this reading guide, produced by the Women’s Prize for Fiction, for How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones, shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2021.
The 130-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton - Activity Pack
There are lots of laughs at every level in The 130-Storey Treehouse, the tenth book in the number one bestselling Treehouse series from Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton. This is our Treehouse, come on up! We’ve added 13 new levels to our Treehouse including soap bubble blaster, a GRABINATOR (it can grab anything from anywhere at any time), a time-wasting level, a toilet paper factory (because you can never have too much toilet paper) and an extraterrestrial observation centre…
Emmy Levels Up by Helen Harvey - Reading Notes
Emmy is brilliant at the computer game, Illusory Isles. Her avatar is a powerful fire elemental with magma claws and flaming breath. When Emmy’s gaming video gets a front-page feature, thousands of devoted fans flock to watch her battle the ultimate online baddie, the Mulch Queen herself. Life at school is the exact opposite. Emmy is friendless and bullied by Vanessa AKA the Queen of Mean. To Vanessa and her gang, Emmy is a weirdo with bad handwriting, horrible fashion sense and no dad. But...
Amber Undercover by Em Norry - activity pack
I’m Amber Roberts. Just your average teenager. Life revolves around school and my best mate, Vi. Nothing too dramatic, and certainly nothing dangerous. Well. That’s how things used to be. But now, my life is way more complicated: Mum and Dad have a massive secret and Vi’s being all moody. But, bigger than that, I’ve just been recruited as a secret agent! That’s right. Me. An actual spy. Exciting? It would be, if I had a clue what I was doing… Download the activity pack from Oxford University...
How to be a Hero by Cat Weldon - activity pack
How to be a Hero by Cat Weldon, illustrated by Katie Kear A no-good Viking thief. The worst-ever trainee Valkyrie. A hilarious case of mistaken identity. When failing trainee Valkyrie Lotta mistakes an unconscious Viking thief, Whetstone, for a fallen hero and takes him triumphantly to Valhalla, things are definitely not on track to be epic or glorious. Having lost a precious talking cup, Whetstone must cover up his mistake and the two embark upon a quarrelsome journey to find it. But Loki...
The Incredible Record Smashers by Jenny Pearson and Erica Salcedo - Assembly and activity sheet
A record-smashing, feel-good adventure packed with heart, humour and Guinness World Records from Costa Award-shortlisted Jenny Pearson, and Kid Normal illustrator Erica Salcedo. Lucy is a fixer of broken things. But there’s one thing she can’t fix and that’s her unhappy mum. Until she comes up with an INCREDIBLE plan. Along with her best friend, Sandesh, Lucy is going to SMASH a world record. Because she’s convinced that starry Paul Castellini – Record Smashers TV host and singing legend – is...
Elmer Day 2021 digital pack
Get ready for the most colourful day of the year! Elmer Day returns on Saturday 29 May 2021. Elmer makes the world a much brighter place. So for this year’s Elmer Day celebrations Andersen Press are spreading the positivity of Elmer with free resources so that everyone can hold their own celebration in May. These digital packs will include educational resources, colourful crafts and lots of activity ideas to help you celebrate in a classroom, library, at home or online. We would love to see...
Talking to Alaska by Anna Woltz - Digital Activity Pack
Sometimes rivals just need a helping paw… Talking to Alaska is a powerful story of two unlikely friends brought together by the love of a dog. It only takes one day at their new school for Parker and Sven to become mortal enemies. Parker has had a terrible summer and just wants to be invisible, while Sven is desperate to be known as anything other than “that boy with epilepsy”. When Parker discovers her beloved dog Alaska – who she had to give away last year – now belongs to Sven, she’s...
The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud - Discussion Guide
England has been radically changed by a series of catastrophes – large cities have disappeared and London has been replaced by a lagoon. The surviving population exists in fortified towns where they cling to traditional ways, while strangely evolved beasts prowl the wilderness beyond. Conformity is rigidly enforced and those who fall foul of the rules are persecuted: some are killed, others are driven out into the wilds. Only a few fight back – and two of these outlaws, Scarlett McCain and...
The Black Friend by Frederick Joseph - Discussion Guide
Speaking directly to the reader, Frederick Joseph offers powerful reflections on his own experiences with racism in The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person. As a former “token Black kid”, he now presents himself as the friend many readers need, touching on topics including cultural appropriation, “reverse racism” and white privilege. Featuring interviews with figures such as writer Angie Thomas, content creator Toni Tone, and April Reign, founder of the #OscarsSoWhite movement, this...
The Strawberry Thief Reading Group Guide
If you are reading The Strawberry Thief as part of a reading group, here are some questions and resources to help get you started created by the author Joanne Harris. Warning: questions may contain spoilers!
Fing by David Walliams - Digital Activity Pack
Meet the Meeks! Myrtle Meek has everything she could possibly want. But everything isn’t enough. She wants more, more, MORE! When Myrtle declares she wants a FING, there’s only one problem… What is a FING? Mr and Mrs Meek will do anything to keep their darling daughter happy, even visit the spooky library vaults to delve into the dusty pages of the mysterious Monsterpedia. Their desperate quest leads to the depths of the jungliest jungle where the rarest creatures can be found. But will they...
April 2021 Children's and Young People booklist - Books to Make You Smile
World Book Night is the annual celebration of books and reading on 23 April that brings people from all backgrounds together for one reason – to inspire others to read more. Presented by The Reading Agency, and in partnership with Specsavers, in 2021 we’re celebrating our 10th anniversary with a special Books to Make You Smile theme. To help the whole family read and smile together we have created a booklist for children and young people to enjoy. You can join in with the conversation online...
Andersen Press Easter Holiday Fun - activity pack
Andersen Press are continuing their commitment to supporting children and families who will be spending a lot of time at home over the Easter holidays, with a new activity pack featuring resources inspired by new titles. The pack is free to download and available to everyone – designed not only for families, but also bookshops and libraries who may be looking for activities to share with their patrons and customers. The Easter Holiday Fun! activity pack features free colouring sheets, word...
Circus Maximus by Annelise Gray - Teaching Resources
Welcome to the great Circus Maximus, the most glorious sporting stage in Ancient Rome, where the best horses and charioteers compete in a race to the death, and one girl dreams of glory. Twelve-year-old Dido dreams of becoming the first female charioteer. She’s lost her heart to Porcellus, a wild, tempestuous horse she longs to train and race. But such ambitions are forbidden to girls and she must be content with helping her father Antonius the trainer of Rome’s most popular racing team. But...
Bumper pack of activity sheets from OUP Childrens
Oxford University Press Children’s Books are helping you spring into reading with a bumper pack of activity sheets and reading notes. These resources include activities based on brilliant titles such as Victioria Stich, Winnie and Wilbur, Roald Dahl, Pippi Longstocking and Isadora Moon. Please do tag us in your social media posts, you can find us on Twitter and Instagram at OUPChildrens and readingagency.
The Supreme Lie by Geraldine McCaughrean - Discussion Questions
Twice Carnegie medal winning Geraldine McCaughrean’s enthralling new novel is set in a world paralysed by natural disaster and dangerous lies. Fifteen-year-old Gloria is maid to Afalia’s tyrannical Head of State, Madame Suprema. When the country is hit by unprecedented flooding, Madame Suprema runs away, fearing she will be blamed for the crisis. To cover up this cowardly act, Gloria is made to step into Madame Suprema’s shoes and is thrust into a world of corrupt and desperate politicians....
44 Tiny Secrets and 44 Tiny Acrobats by Sylvia Bishop and Ashley King - Teachers' guides and activity
44 Tiny Secrets is the first book in a heartwarming and timeless new series with a brave and spirited heroine, from the acclaimed duo behind The Bookshop Girl. Betsy Bow-Linnet is determined to become a world famous concert pianist like her parents. There’s just one problem: no matter how hard she practises she doesn’t share their musical talents. So when a mysterious letter arrives from a woman claiming to know of an unusual Method that will make Betsy’s playing ‘stupendous’, Betsy jumps at...
Mort the Meek by by Rachel DelaHaye - Book trailer and teachers' guide
The first in a wickedly funny new series about an aspiring pacifist in a brutal kingdom! On Brutalia violence is a way of life. Ravenous ravens circle overhead, monstrous grot bears cause chaos and the streets are bulging with brawls. But Mort isn’t like the other islanders – he’s determined to live peacefully. His struggle is made even tougher when the cruel queen appoints Mort as Royal Executioner. No one has challenged the royals and lived to tell the tale. Can Mort keep his head and...
Protect the Planet by Jess French - Author video
This World Book Day, are you ready to help save our world? In Protect the Planet from DK Books you can discover fascinating facts and practical solutions on what you can do to help solve some of the major problems our planet and environment is facing. From small changes you can make that can have a large impact, to how you can raise awareness about what we can do to help planet Earth in your community, join author, vet, TV presenter, and animal expert Jess French on her mission to make the...
Protect the Planet by Jess French - Digital pack
This World Book Day, are you ready to help save our world? In Protect the Planet from DK Books you can discover fascinating facts and practical solutions on what you can do to help solve some of the major problems our planet and environment is facing. From small changes you can make that can have a large impact, to how you can raise awareness about what we can do to help planet Earth in your community, join author, vet, TV presenter, and animal expert Jess French on her mission to make the...
March 2021 Children's and Young People booklist - Wonder Women
March is Women’s History Month, so we have created a booklist to celebrate some of our favourite stories about inspirational girls and women or fantastic books written by them. We hope that you will enjoy reading and discussing these stories together. You can join in with the conversation online using #WonderWomenBooklist and tagging us using @readingagency on Twitter and @SummerReadingChallengeUK on Facebook. You can find out more about the books on the list on our Bookshop.org page.
Toto the Ninja Cat and the Mystery Jewel Thief - Digital Activity Packs
Toto is no ordinary cat, and she can’t wait for you to join her on her fourth ninja adventure! From one of the UK’s best-loved broadcasters, purrfect for fans of The Aristocats, The Secret Life of Pets and Atticus Claw Breaks the Law. Toto and her friends are due to be looking after the French ambassador on a day of sightseeing, finishing at the Tower of London to see the animal world’s crown jewels: a sacred diamond cat collar. But when they arrive, the collar has disappeared – and what’s...
Climate Action by Georgina Stevens and Katie Rewse - digital pack
The future is in our hands This book by Georgina Stevens explains in detail the different causes and effects of climate change and empowers children and families to think of ways to create change and live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Full of inspirational stories of different young climate activists to inspire and galvanize, and beautiful and emotive illustrations by Katie Rewse. In this book, we share the facts, but we also share hope. Learn about the causes of climate change and how it is...
Children of the Benin Kingdom - Reading Notes and Activities
Ada has lived close to the great rainforest for her whole life, helping her beloved Papa Eze to heal fellow villagers when they fall sick. But when Papa Eze himself becomes unwell he knows it s time to reveal to Ada her true heritage – a closely kept secret that has so far protected his daughter from her enemies. Ada must now travel deep into the forest to discover the ancient Edo kingdom of Benin and use everything within her power to heal the terrible divisions that are tearing the kingdom...
