Resources
Washington Black - Readers' Guide
On Thursday 20 September the Man Booker Prize revealed the shortlist of six books for the 2018 prize. The prize is the leading literary award in the English speaking world, and has brought recognition, reward and readership to outstanding fiction for over four decades. Discover the excellent books that have been chosen for the Man Booker Prize shortlist. You can download a Readers’ Guide for shortlisted title Washington Black by Esi Edugyan by clicking below.
Milkman - Readers' Guide
On Thursday 20 September the Man Booker Prize revealed the shortlist of six books for the 2018 prize. The prize is the leading literary award in the English speaking world, and has brought recognition, reward and readership to outstanding fiction for over four decades. Discover the excellent books that have been chosen for the Man Booker Prize shortlist. You can download a Readers’ Guide for shortlisted title Milkman by Anna Burns by clicking below.
The Wishing-Chair by Enid Blyton - Activity Pack and Competition
Egmont are celebrating the brand new rejackets of the classic The Wishing List adventure stories from the world’s best-loved children’s author, Enid Blyton. The stunning new covers have been designed by Mark Beech. They have created a fantastic activity pack – perfect for Chatterbooks groups, children to work through independently or a class. If you use the pack, we would love to hear some feedback. You can do this online by using #blytonwishingchair and tagging @EgmontUK and @readingagency....
The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane - an Activity Pack
The Lost Words The Lost Words stands against the disappearance of wild childhood. It is a joyful celebration of nature words and the natural world they invoke. With acrostic spell-poems by award-winning writer Robert Macfarlane and hand-painted illustration by Jackie Morris, this enchanting book captures the irreplaceable magic of language and nature for all ages. Hamish Hamilton have created an activity pack to celebrate the first anniversary of this important book’s publication on Friday...
Angry Cookie by Laura Dockrill - an author reading
What happens when a little cookie gets up on the wrong side of bed? Prepare to fall absolutely in love with this irresistible cookie, crumbly chocolate chips and all. OH NO! Barbra the cactus won’t stop playing her recorder, the yummy strawberry toothpaste has run out, and now – to top it all off – Cookie has to have his hair cut! Which all makes for one VERY ANGRY little cookie… But perhaps you, the reader, can find a way to turn his grumpy frown upside down? This wildly inventive,...
And the Ocean Was Our Sky by Patrick Ness - A reading by the author
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Monster Calls comes a richly illustrated and lyrical tale, one that asks harrowing questions about power, loyalty, obsession, and the monsters we make of others. With harpoons strapped to their backs, the proud whales of Bathsheba’s pod live for the hunt, fighting in the ongoing war against the world of men. When they attack a ship bobbing on the surface of the Abyss, they expect to find easy prey. Instead, they find the trail of a myth, a...
Children and Young People booklist - Perfect Poetry Picks
Children and Young People booklist for September 2018 Perfect Poetry Picks This month we have selected our Perfect Poetry Picks. We’re getting in the mood to celebrate National Poetry Day on the 4th of October! We have selected some of our favourite poems or books that have a theme about poetry. You can find out more about some of our picks on the Summer Reading Challenge news page.
National Poetry Day Chatterbooks Activity Pack
To celebrate National Poetry Day on 4 October, they have created a fantastic and fun, new Poetry Chatterbooks Activity Pack. National Poetry Day is an initiative of the Forward Arts Foundation, a charity that celebrates excellence in poetry and widens its audience.
Secrets of a Sun King by Emma Carroll - Activity Pack and Competition
Secrets of a Sun King London, 1922 A discovery from ancient Egypt… A cursed package… The untold story of a young pharaoh… When Lilian Kaye finds a parcel on her grandad’s doorstep, she is shocked to see who sent it: a famous Egyptologist, found dead that very morning, according to every newspaper in England! The mysterious package holds the key to a story… about a king whose tomb archaeologists are desperately hunting for. Lil and her friends must embark on an incredible journey – to return...
Treehouse series Chatterbooks activity pack
This Chatterbooks pack is all about the ever-expanding Treehouse Series by writer Andy Griffiths and his best mate, artist Terry Denton. In this pack are activity and discussion ideas for your Chatterbooks group, inspired by the fantastic and fun series. Macmillan Kids UK and Andy and Terry would love to see your groups enjoying the books. You can share images on social media of any displays or your group using #Treehousegarden and tagging @MacmillanKidsUK and @readingagency. You can tag...
The Giant Jumperee by Julia Donaldson and Helen Oxenbury - Activity pack
The Giant Jumperee “I’M THE GIANT JUMPEREE AND I’M SCARY AS CAN BE!" The Giant Jumperee follows the story of Rabbit, who is hopping home one day, only to discover that there’s something lurking in his burrow. It’s the Giant Jumperee, and he’s as scary as can be! Rabbit’s friends Cat, Bear and Elephant come to help, but they are no match for the mysterious, booming voice… A read-aloud picture book by Julia Donaldson, full of suspense and humour and beautifully bought to life by award-winning...
Dahl Dictionary Activity Sheets
Get Gobblefunking with Roald Dahl Oxford University Press have some fantabulous activity sheets for children to use and enjoy this Roald Dahl Day (13 September). If you do use the resources in your library or school, we would love to see photos. You can share these by using #GetGobblefunking and tagging @OUPChildrens and @readingagency. Competition There is also a great competition for children aged 13 and under on the Summer Reading Challenge competition page. If they enter they could win a...
The Dam by David Almond and illustrated by Levi Pinfold - Teachers' Notes
The Dam When a great dam was built by the Kielder Water in Northumberland, the valley below slowly filled with water. But just before this, when the villagers had been moved out, two musicians went back to the abandoned valley. They tore down the boards over the houses, stepped inside and started to play – for this would be the last time that music would be heard in this place. In this astonishing picture book that combines themes of loss, hope and music, David Almond pays homage to all...
Sporty Stories Chatterbooks Activity Pack
Here is our Sporty Stories Chatterbooks pack. It is filled with inspiration sporting tales or books written by successful athletes. We have also created a Sporty Stories booklist that you may want to check out.
A First Book of the Sea by By Nicola Davies - Teachers' notes
A stunning anthology that blends poetry and information about the sea, from an award-winning team. From Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton, the multi award-winning team behind Tiny and Lots, comes a spellbinding collection of poems about the oceans of the world and their shores. With this book, children can swim alongside dolphins and flying fish, pore over rockpools and sail from pole to pole and back, learning about everything from phosphorescence and plankton to manta rays and puffins – all in...
Back to School Booklist
When September hits it’s time to go back to studying. We have some fantastic books about schools, university and education for when you want to put down a textbook and pick up something to read just for fun.
Women in Translation Booklist
August is Women in Translation Month. Only a tiny fraction of fiction published in English is translated, and only about a quarter of that translated fiction was originally written by women. For some reason, fiction in translation by women remains as rare as black diamonds. And yet there are so many amazing women-authored books out there in the world – books we’re missing out on. Here is a list of books by women in translation, as chosen by a group of literary translators.
Aliens Invaded My Talent Show! by Matt Brown - Activity Sheets
Aliens Invaded My Talent Show! Eric Doomsday loves doing magic tricks. But even though his best friend, Vinnie Mumbles, thinks they’re great, they do always seem to go a bit… wrong. When some very important School Inspectors threaten to close down Eric’s school, his headmistress decides to put on a talent show. A talent show with Eric in it. And Eric’s magic tricks. Thank goodness the Earth isn’t being inspected by aliens at the same time! Because magic, aliens and talent shows are sure to be...
To the Edge of the World by Julia Green - Reading group activity and competition
To the Edge of the World Set sail on an exciting adventure in award-winning author Julia Green’s new story To the Edge of the World. Set in the islands of the Outer Hebrides, Julia’s book is a gripping sea adventure with wild places, open seas and remote islands. Explore Julia’s story in your reading groups with downloadable reading notes, packed with themes for discussion, writing ideas, and creative activities. We will provide postcards for your readers to imagine their own amazing...
National Poetry Day – Reading Group Guide
In the lead-up to National Poetry Day in October, we have a selection of poetry collections that have been specially chosen for reading groups with notes and questions to get you started. To download the guide, click the link below.
Summer 2018 Booklist
Now that summer has arrived, we’re all looking for that perfect book to take to the beach. The Reading Agency staff have put together our ultimate summer booklist recommendations, with new and older books that we think everyone should take on their holidays. When your children go to the library to get their books for the Summer Reading Challenge, how about picking up one of these suggestions? What’s your summer book recommendation? Join in the conversation online with #summerread To download...
Think Like an Engineer by Usborne - activity booklet
Think Like an Engineer activity booklet Usborne have created a fantastic activity pack to help inspire children with engineering. They can find out what it takes to be an awesome engineer in this free activity booklet, filled with problems to solve, things to create and links to websites to find out more. You can find out more about the Lift-the-Flap Engineering book and more information about Usborne and the Year of Engineering 2018 here. There is an opportunity (until 24 August) for...
The Girls with the Lost Smile by Miranda Hart - Event Pack
FIND YOUR SMILE using this fun The Girl with the Lost Smile event pack! The Girl with the Lost Smile Chloe Long has lost her smile. She’s looked everywhere for it. (Under her pillow. Under her bed. Under her nose. Obviously.) She’s tried everything to bring it back. (Her favourite cake. Her favourite gran. Her favourite joke. Obviously.) But nothing seems to be working! Until one night, something utterly magical happens – and Chloe finds herself on an adventure that is out of this world … How...
Mischief Makers Chatterbooks Activity Pack
Here is a Chatterbooks activity pack to accompany the Summer Reading Challenge, Mischief Makers. It features reading and activity ideas inspired by the brilliant books in the 2018 Summer Reading Challenge collection.
The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale - Event Kit
The Princess in Black Who says princesses can’t wear black? When trouble raises its blue monster head, Princess Magnolia ditches her flouncy dresses and becomes the Princess in Black. The first in a funny, action-packed series for young readers who like their princesses not only prim and perfect, but also dressed in black! Princess Magnolia is having hot chocolate and scones with Duchess Wigtower when… Brring! Brring! The monster alarm! A big blue monster is threatening the goats! Stopping...
The Sealwoman's Gift by Sally Magnusson - Extract
In 1627 Barbary pirates raided the coast of Iceland and abducted some 400 of its people, including 250 from a tiny island off the mainland. Among the captives sold into slavery in Algiers were the island pastor, his wife and their three children. Although the raid itself is well documented, little is known about what happened to the women and children afterwards. It was a time when women everywhere were largely silent. In this brilliant reimagining, Sally Magnusson gives a voice to Ásta, the...
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell - Extract
Newly married, newly widowed Elsie is sent to see out her pregnancy at her late husband’s crumbling country estate, The Bridge. With her new servants resentful and the local villagers actively hostile, Elsie only has her husband’s awkward cousin for company. Or so she thinks. For inside her new home lies a locked room and beyond its door is a two-hundred-year-old diary and a deeply unsettling painted wooden figure – a Silent Companion – that bears a striking resemblance to Elsie herself… Read...
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell - Reading Group Guide
Newly married, newly widowed Elsie is sent to see out her pregnancy at her late husband’s crumbling country estate, The Bridge. With her new servants resentful and the local villagers actively hostile, Elsie only has her husband’s awkward cousin for company. Or so she thinks. For inside her new home lies a locked room and beyond its door is a two-hundred-year-old diary and a deeply unsettling painted wooden figure – a Silent Companion – that bears a striking resemblance to Elsie...
Hot, hot, hot!
When it’s hot outside, sometimes you need a book to match how you feel. Here are some of our favourite books that are perfect for a heatwave.
LGBT History Month
For LGBT History Month, we’ve selected some fantastic books for everyone to read.
