Resources
Warriors Book 1: Into the Wild by Erin Hunter
Take your first steps into the wilderness with Rusty the house cat as he leaves his home to go and live in the wild. A thrillling new feline fantasy series that draws you into a vivid animal world. When ‘kittypet’ Rusty strays into the forest beyond his owner’s garden and is ambushed by a wild cat, life as he knows it is over. After a brave fight, he is invited to leave the ‘twoleg’ world and join ThunderClan, one of four cat tribes, to train as a warrior. Rusty becomes Firepaw and learns...
The Reading Agency’s February booklist - LGBT+ History Month
LGBT+ History Month takes place every February. Our booklist this month is for librarians and teachers to help them celebrate stories with strong LGBTQ+ representation or that are by LGBTQ+ creators. LGBT+ History Month is an opportunity to discover LGBT+ past and celebrate its present and future. Every year, Schools OUT sets a different theme for the month and provides free resources for education settings, businesses, services and organisations to help them celebrate and ‘Usualise’ LGBT+...
Beastlands: Race to Frostfall Mountain by Jess French - digital pack
‘I loved how Jess combines animal expertise with infinite imagination to create an unputdownable fantasy adventure.’ – A. F. Steadman, author of SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF ‘Hugely exhilarating and wildly imaginative, BEASTLANDS is a truly magnificent new fantasy series…a heart stopping adventure packed full of intrigue, twists and a multitude of magical creatures.’ – Aisling Fowler, author of FIREBORN The island of Ramoa was once luscious and roamed by fearsome beasts. Now, entering the...
The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey - Book Club question cards
Yorkshire, 1979 Maggie Thatcher is prime minister, drainpipe jeans are in, and Miv is convinced that her dad wants to move their family Down South. Because of the murders. Leaving Yorkshire and her best friend Sharon simply isn’t an option, no matter the dangers lurking round their way; or the strangeness at home that started the day Miv’s mum stopped talking. Perhaps if she could solve the case of the disappearing women, they could stay after all? So, Miv and Sharon decide to make a list: a...
The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson - book club kit
Jersey, 1943. Once a warm and neighbourly community, now German soldiers patrol the cobbled streets, imposing a harsh rule on the people of the island. Grace La Mottée, the island’s only librarian, is ordered to destroy books which threaten the new regime. Instead, she hides the stories away in secret. Along with her headstrong best friend, postwoman Bea Rose, she wants to fight back. So she forms the wartime book club: a lifeline, offering fearful islanders the joy and escapism of...
Bronte Tempestra and the Lightning Steeds by Bex Hogan and Hannah McCaffery - activity sheets
A fun-filled fantasy quest starring an unforgettable new hero: BRONTE TEMPESTRA! Bronte Tempestra of the Storm Kingdom is taking charge of her own destiny – she will be the first ever princess to become a knight! But knight school isn’t the fun-filled adventure Bronte is expecting – the knights don’t seem interested in saving . . . anything. And when she discovers that the Lightning Steeds have gone missing, leaving the Thunder Trolls to wreak havoc across the lands, she knows it’s her moment...
Mind and Me: Going to Bat - digital resources
Our friends at Knights Of have some incredible digital resources to help celebrate Sunita Chawdhary’s Mind and Me: Going to Bat. More about the book Maya is excited to join Cricket Club at school, but between sports superstars, the big green monster, and her ACTUAL MUM coming to coach the team, she has a lot to handle. And on top of that, Mind thinks they’ve forgotten something important… like sending a letter to Grandad in India! Can Maya and Mind work it all out in time for their big...
Jane Eyre: Abridged for Young Readers by Charlotte Bronte & Patrice Lawrence - discussion guide
A beloved classic adult novel skilfully abridged to inspire and engage a new generation of middle-grade readers, from multi-award-winning author, Patrice Lawrence. As a young orphan, Jane Eyre is thrown upon the mercy of an aunt and cousins who are anything but merciful, and when they send her away to an austere boarding school for charity cases, it seems she will never be allowed to forget her humble beginnings. However, Jane has a quiet inner strength and resourcefulness, and when she takes...
Stitch by Padraig Kenny - discussion guide
Stitch and his friend Henry Oaf were brought to life by the genius Professor Hardacre. But when his wicked nephew takes over the laboratory, they soon discover that his sights are set on Henry as his next experiment. Can Stitch and Henry escape his clutches and make their way in a world they were never built for – and may only ever see them as monsters? “A marvellously delicate parable of friendship, grief and owning being different.” – Jonathan Stroud “Brimming with heart and bursting with...
Reader Reviews January 2024 - Children and Young People
Did you know that we offer free reading group sets of books for groups every month? All we ask for in return are reviews. If you’d like to find out more you can sign up to our newsletters. Every month we will be sharing reviews from our readers who have received copies of the latest books from our publisher partners. If you are part of an adult reading group, make sure you sign up to our Reading Groups for Everyone where you can find lots more reviews from readers and apply for sets of books...
Paper Dragons: The Fight for the Hidden Realm Teaching Notes
n a village above the cloud sea, twelve-year-old orphan Zhi Ging is chosen to become a Silhouette, an apprentice to the immortals. Taken to an underwater realm, she begins her training, competes in thrilling challenges and discovers she can awaken a special sort of dragon. But Silhouettes who fail the challenges seem to be disappearing and rumours are spreading of a growing dark force that threatens her world. Zhi Ging begins to realise that there is so much she has yet to learn about the...
The Girl Who Sang Teaching Resources
A beautifully illustrated graphic novel recounting the heart-rending true story of a young girl’s struggle for survival during the Holocaust, suitable for children age 10+. Born to a Jewish family in a small Polish village, Estelle Nadel - then known as Enia Feld – was just seven years old when the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939. Once a vibrant child with a song for every occasion, Estelle would eventually lose her voice as, over the next five years, she would survive the deaths of their...
Pablo and Splash - digital resources
Our friends at Hachette have some incredible digital resources to help celebrate Sheena Dempsey’s new series, Pablo and Splash. More about the book Join time-travelling penguins Pablo and Splash on an unexpected adventure to the time of the dinosaurs in this brilliantly funny full-colour graphic novel. Perfect for fans of Bunny vs Monkey and Bumble and Snug. Antarctic penguins Pablo and Splash are polar opposites and besties for life. Pablo is a home-bird and a careful planner. Splash is...
A Better Day by Dr Alex George - author video for Children's Mental Health Week
Winner of the Children’s Non-fiction Book of the Year in the British Book Awards 2023 Start the new year with this positive wellbeing handbook. What if we could think of mental health in a positive way? Sweep away the rain clouds. Talk about what’s on our minds. And care for our mental health in the same way we look after our bodies. In this empowering and hopeful handbook, Youth Mental Health Ambassador Dr Alex George is here to show children how. A Better Day is a positive, accessible and...
Reader Reviews January 2024
Did you know that we offer free reading group sets of books for groups every month? All we ask for in return are reviews. If you’d like to find out more you can sign up to our newsletters. Every month we will be sharing reviews from our readers who have received copies of the latest books from our publisher partners. If you are part of an adult reading group, make sure you sign up to our Reading Groups for Everyone where you can find lots more reviews from readers and apply for sets of books...
Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf - digital resources
An empowering retelling of Little Red Riding Hood about challenging the traditional narratives we are told, with a confident, autistic character at its heart. Gina Kaminski is here to tell you three facts. 1 – Little Red Riding Hood is full of BIG mistakes. 2 – She is off to fairy tale land to fix them. 3 – She WILL save the wolf. Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? Certainly not Gina as she takes the narrative lead and tells the story in her own distinctive way. With fantastic illustrations...
The Reading Agency’s January booklist - New Year, New Adventures
To kick off 2024 we have picked books that will either help you learn something new or will take you away on new adventures. Whether you’re looking to delve into some self-improvement, explore the wonders of nature, conduct mind-boggling science experiments, or embark on thrilling fictional journeys, our picks should help to start your year of exciting adventures. Tell us on social media by tagging readingagency and using #booklist. You can also find the booklists on our Bookshop.org page...
A Society of Readers - report 2018
A 2018 report lays out the central role reading must play in helping to address many of the most pressing challenges British society will face over the next decade. Read the full report and share your thoughts on Twitter and Instagram using #PowerOfReading
The Wild Robot series by Peter Brown - digital pack (including extracts)
From bestselling author and illustrator Peter Brown comes a heartwarming and action-packed third book in his New York Times bestselling The Wild Robot series, exploring what happens when nature and technology collide. The digital pack includes: • A4 Poster – downloadable PDF • The Wild Robot Teaching Resources – downloadable PDF • The Wild Robot Discussion Notes – downloadable PDF • 3 x Sneak Peek Extracts – downloadable PDFs Download the digital resource here. More about the book The...
Indi Raye is Totally Faking It by Lauren Layfield - Activity sheet and extract
For fans of GEEK GIRL and SUPER AWKWARD comes a hilarious new teen series from CBBC presenter and Capital DJ, Lauren Layfield. Meet Indi. She’s new to Manchester with approximately zero friends. Unless you count Gary, who, unfortunately, is a gecko. If Indi’s going to find some real mates – and maybe even a boyfriend – she’s going to have to FAKE IT. How else is she going to survive her first job in a chippy, which is anything but glam vibes? And how on earth will she attract school crush...
The Reading Agency’s December booklist for children and young people - Books of the Year!
At The Reading Agency, we have read a lot of brilliant books over the past year; books that have made us laugh, cry and left us with a lot to discuss. Members of our team have picked the books that have stood out for them in 2024. We hope you find some inspiration for your next read, or perhaps spot a few titles you have enjoyed yourself! Tell us on social media by tagging readingagency and using #BooksOfTheYear. You can also find the booklists on our Bookshop.org page where you can buy...
The Reading Agency’s December booklist for adults - Books of the Year!
At The Reading Agency, we have read a lot of brilliant books over the past year; books that have made us laugh, cry and left us with a lot to discuss. Members of our team have picked the books that have stood out for them in 2024. We hope you find some inspiration for your next read, or perhaps spot a few titles you have enjoyed yourself! Tell us on social media by tagging readingagency and using #BooksOfTheYear. You can also find the booklists on our Bookshop.org page where you can buy...
Fundraising Guide
Interested in raising funds to help us on our mission to get everyone reading? Our fundraising guide is packed with ideas, tips and materials to get you started.
Luna Loves Christmas by Joseph Coelho and Fiona Lumbers - Activity Pack
From award-winning Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, the fourth book in the Luna Loves… series celebrates separated families at Christmas time, and shows the power of giving to bring people together. Luna loves Christmas. Sometimes at Mum’s, sometimes at Dad’s, she gets two trees, two dinners, two advent calendars to open… but this Christmas, Luna’s family are doing something different. They’re volunteering, and Luna can’t wait for them to all be together at the community Christmas...
Get inspired with award-winning poet Joshua Seigal
Get inspired with award-winning poet Joshua Seigal including teaching notes and a video of Joshua reading one of his poems from his new book, <i? Who Let the Words Out? About Who Let the Words Out? A marvellous new collection of poems by Joshua Seigal, two-time winner of the Laugh Out Loud Awards – the UK’s only prize for funny children’s books. Someone has let the words out… and they’re going to have some fun! ‘Joshua Seigal is definitely my new favourite poet.’ Books for Keeps ‘Joshua...
Leila and the Blue Fox by Kiran Millwood Hargrave with Tom de Freston - activity pack
‘A thing of beauty both inside and out’ A.F. Steadman, author of SKANDAR From bestselling author Kiran Millwood Hargrave and acclaimed illustrator Tom de Freston – the duo behind the award-winning Julia and the Shark – Leila and the Blue Fox tells the breathtaking story of one small fox’s journey across the Arctic, and one girl’s journey to find the mother she thought she’d lost. Sensitively exploring themes of migration, climate change and complex family relationships, and wrapped up in...
The Magic Faraway Tree A Christmas Adventure by Jacqueline Wilson - Activity Sheet
Explore the much-loved Magic Faraway Tree at the most special time of the year. This brand-new story by superstar author Jacqueline Wilson is set in the original world created by Enid Blyton. Milo, Mia and Birdy are excited to return to the cottage beside the Enchanted Wood for Christmas. They can’t wait to visit their magical friends Silky the fairy and Moonface again. Which amazing worlds will arrive at the top of the Faraway Tree at this time of year? The children are hoping for a trip to...
Tottenham's Big Read 2023 - Amazing Bodies Activity Pack - Greyscale
This version of the activity pack is in greyscale for printing. This activity pack is available to support children’s reading of the book, Amazing Bodies by Dr Ronx. Find fun reading and writing activities to test children’s understanding, as well as exciting science experiments to show the content of the book in real life. The Reading Agency are supporting the Bernie Grants Arts Centre in giving away free copies of Amazing Bodies, by award-winning trans non-binary emergency doctor, CBBC’s...
Tottenham's Big Read 2023 - Amazing Bodies Activity Pack
This activity pack is available to support children’s reading of the book, Amazing Bodies by Dr Ronx. Find fun reading and writing activities to test children’s understanding, as well as exciting science experiments to show the content of the book in real life. The Reading Agency are supporting the Bernie Grants Arts Centre in giving away free copies of Amazing Bodies, by award-winning trans non-binary emergency doctor, CBBC’s Operation Ouch! presenter, and activist, Dr Ronx. Children can...
The Christmas Pig - festive resources and activities
As the end of term fast approaches, Hachette Children’s Group have got just what you need to create your very own Christmas story-time adventure! Imagine a place where all the lost things go, a place where love can bring things to life, and what is lost might just be found… J.K. Rowling’s The Christmas Pig is a heartwarming, page-turning adventure about one child’s love for his most treasured thing, and how far he will go to find it. Read along with your class and use Hachette Children’s...
