Resources
The World Goes On - themed reading list
The Man Booker International Prize celebrates the finest works of translated fiction from around the world. The World Goes On by László Krasznahorkai, translated by John Batki, Ottilie Mulzet & George Szirtes is one of the six shortlisted titles for 2018. All of the suggested books follow similar themes, styles or settings as The World Goes On.
The White Book - themed reading list
The Man Booker International Prize celebrates the finest works of translated fiction from around the world. The White Book by Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith is one of the six shortlisted titles for 2018. All of the suggested books follow similar themes, styles or settings as The White Book. You can download the supporting booklist by clicking below.
Flights - themed reading list
The Man Booker International Prize celebrates the finest works of translated fiction from around the world. Flights by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Jennifer Croft is one of the six shortlisted titles for 2018. All of the suggested books follow similar themes, styles or settings as Flights. You can download the supporting booklist by clicking below.
Vernon Subutex 1 - themed reading list
The Man Booker International Prize celebrates the finest works of translated fiction from around the world. Vernon Subutex 1 by Virginie Despentes, translated by Frank Wynne, is one of the six shortlisted titles for 2018. All of the suggested books follow similar themes, styles or settings as Vernon Subutex 1. You can download the supporting booklist by clicking below.
Inventions and discoveries Chatterbooks activity pack
Think of the wheel, ships, aeroplanes, TV, the Internet – and crisps, coffee machines and zip fasteners, toilets and microwaves! This Chatterbooks activity pack is full of reading ideas and activities about inventions and discoveries – how they came about, how they work, and the differences they make to people’s lives.
Kid Normal by Greg Jame and Chris Smith - digital activity pack and competition
Get your free activity pack and display materials for the latest Kid Normal adventure from Greg James and Chris Smith! Murph Cooper is BACK in the second hotly-anticipated Kid Normal and the Rogue Heroes. To celebrate the second epically funny book in the series, Bloomsbury have created a fantastic activity pack, including a competition to win a signed copy of the book. Each pack includes Kid Normal and the Rogue Heroes discussion questions, a bunting craft activity, a Superhero ID badge and...
The Wonderling by Mira Bartók - A3 poster (digital)
The Wonderling In this extraordinary debut novel with its deft nod to Dickensian heroes and rogues, Mira Bartók tells the story of Arthur, a shy, fox-like foundling with only one ear and a desperate desire to belong, as he seeks his destiny. To help you celebrate this great story in your libraries, Walker have provided this beautiful poster for you to use.
The Wonderling by Mira Bartók - Discussion guide
The Wonderling In this extraordinary debut novel with its deft nod to Dickensian heroes and rogues, Mira Bartók tells the story of Arthur, a shy, fox-like foundling with only one ear and a desperate desire to belong, as he seeks his destiny. Welcome to the Home for Wayward and Misbegotten Creatures, an institution run by evil Miss Carbunkle, a cunning villainess who believes her terrified young charges exist only to serve and suffer. Part animal and part human, the groundlings toil in...
Maria and Me by Miguel Gallardo - A guide and extract
Monday 26 March kicks off Autism Awareness Week. We are thrilled to have the brilliant Maria and Me by Miguel Gallardo as one of our Mischief Makers Summer Reading Challenge selected books. It’s a father’s first-hand account of what life is like with his daughter Maria who has autism. On a trip to the Canary Islands in Spain, some challenges arise as a result. This comic shows how the two work around these issues, and gives insight into how Maria sees and experiences the...
Scythe by Neal Shusterman - a book trailer
In a perfect world, what is there left to fear? A chilling and thought-provoking sci-fi novel from New York Times bestselling author Neal Shusterman. A dark, gripping and witty thriller in which the only thing humanity has control over is death. In a world where disease, war and crime have been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly killed (“gleaned”) by professional scythes. Citra and Rowan are teenagers who have been selected to be scythes’ apprentices, and...
Begone the Reaggedy Witches by Celine Kiernan
Begone the Raggedy Witches (The Wild Magic Trilogy, Book One) From multi-award-winning Irish author Celine Kiernan comes a fantasy adventure about witches and forbidden magic. When witches kidnap Mup’s dad, she must journey to their home to save him, and so begins a fantastical adventure of rhyming crows, talking cats and outlawed magic. For Witches Borough is a dangerous place, ruled by a tyrannical queen and her band of raggedy witches. We hope that you enjoy watching the book trailer.
We're Going on a Bear Hunt: Let's Discover Birds and Bugs: A book trailer
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt: Let’s Discover Birds and Bugs If you loved the film of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt you can explore your natural world with two brand new We’re Going on a Bear Hunt activity books! If your children love using their imagination, going on a bear hunt and bugs or birds – than this book trailer is for you.
The Wanderers Reading Guide
About the book: Two teenagers, bound by love yet divided by fate, forge separate paths in pre-First World War Devon and Cornwall. 1912. Leo is on a journey. Aged thirteen and banished from the secluded farm of his childhood, he travels through Devon, grazing on berries and sleeping in copses. Behind him lies the past, and before him the West Country, spread out like a tapestry. But a wanderer is never alone for long, try as he might – and soon Leo is taken in by gypsies, with their waggons,...
The Hoarder by Jess Kidd - Readers' Guide
Maud Drennan – underpaid carer and unintentional psychic – is the latest in a long line of dogsbodies for the ancient, belligerent Cathal Flood. Yet despite her best efforts, Maud is drawn into the mysteries concealed in his filthy, once-grand home. She realises that something is changing: Cathal, and the junk-filled rooms, are opening up to her. With only her agoraphobic landlady and a troop of sarcastic ghostly saints to help, Maud must uncover what lies beneath Cathal’s decades-old...
The Hoarder by Jess Kidd - exclusive extract
Maud Drennan – underpaid carer and unintentional psychic – is the latest in a long line of dogsbodies for the ancient, belligerent Cathal Flood. Yet despite her best efforts, Maud is drawn into the mysteries concealed in his filthy, once-grand home. She realises that something is changing: Cathal, and the junk-filled rooms, are opening up to her. With only her agoraphobic landlady and a troop of sarcastic ghostly saints to help, Maud must uncover what lies beneath Cathal’s decades-old...
Little Leaders by Vashti Harrison - competition page
International Women’s Day (8 March) celebrates women’s achievements throughout history. Following in the footsteps of author Vashti Harrison’s Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History, we are taking time on International Women’s Day to think about the extraordinary women in our everyday lives. In 150 words or less, write about a person who has inspired you and draw a picture of them in the space provided overleaf and you could win a framed print of your choice from the book, plus £250...
Little Leaders by Vashti Harrison - Library resources pack
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History Featuring 40 trailblazing black women in the world’s history, this book educates and inspires as it relates true stories of women who broke boundaries and exceeded all expectations. Debut author/illustrator Vashti Harrison pairs captivating text with stunning illustrations as she tells the stories of both iconic and lesser-known female figures of black history – from nurse Mary Seacole, to politician Diane Abbott, mathematician Katherine...
Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam by Tracey Corderoy - Activity packs
Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam by Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam are two hapless robber dogs who decide on a career change after one bungled burglary too many. Their adventures are full of japes, scrapes and mysteries to solve, and prove just what fun a life of baking can be! There are two Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam picture books and three hilarious young readers. This download contains four paw-some puzzle pages: - A step-by-step guide to drawing...
Man Booker Prize - list of winners
The Golden Man Booker Prize will mark the 50th anniversary of the Man Booker Prize. This special one-off award will crown the best work of fiction from the last five decades of the prize, as chosen by five judges and then voted for by the public. Take a look at every one of the winners by downloading our list, and see how many you have read. Remember you can leave a review for any book you have read on our Book Reviews page.
Piggy Hero by Pip Jones - Activity pack and competition
Piggy Hero ‘Jeffry, I’m no mere guinea pig! I’m a Handsome. And Handsomes have always been famous. I simply cannot be the only Handsome in history to not be famous.’ Piggy Handsome is a very confident guinea pig with a hugely inflated ego – he hails from a long line of very famous guinea pigs. But sadly Handsome STILL hasn’t achieved world renown. Well, now he has a new plan to get his name on the telly – he’ll be someone’s hero! Faber Children’s have created a brilliant...
Marvel Avengers The Greatest Heroes - activity pack and competition
DK are celebrating their first World Book Day title by offering libraries a wonderful Marvel Super Hero themed pack with activities for children aged 3 to 10 years old. Focusing on DK’s World Book Day title, Marvel Avengers The Greatest Heroes, it also includes backlist titles such as Marvel Absolutely Everything You Need to Know and Marvel Avengers The Ultimate Character Guide. These packs are ideal to be used on World Book Day (1 March) onwards! The Reading Agency and DK would love to see...
Romance reads without the cheese
If you think books with a love story at their heart are full of soppy characters and unrealistic swooning, think again. This quirky selection is full of real relationships and funny takes on love and sex. Download the full list and find out more about the books by clicking the link below.
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness - A Chaos Walking book trailer
Walker have a special anniversary edition, with a striking new cover design, to celebrate 10 years of the Chaos Walking trilogy. Prentisstown isn’t like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else’s thoughts in a constant, overwhelming Noise. There is no privacy. There are no secrets. Then Todd Hewitt unexpectedly stumbles on a spot of complete silence. Which is impossible. And now he’s going to have to run… This new edition marks the 10th anniversary of the award-winning modern classic,...
Fantastically Great Women activity pack by Kate Pankhurst
Fantastically Great Women activity pack: celebrate 100 years of votes for women The Fantastically Great Women books by Kate Pankhurst celebrate some of the world’s most brilliant women, from Rosa Parks to Jane Austen, Ada Lovelace to Pocahontas. Each book shares fascinating facts through highly-visual illustrated spreads, and is ideal to get children learning about inspirational women, as well as how they might change the world. Bloomsbury have created a fantastic activity pack based around...
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury - A3 digital poster
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes Celebrating 10 years of Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes Walker Books have provided this digital version of the Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes anniversary poster.
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury - A special Storytime kit
Celebrating 10 years of Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes All over the world, babies are different. Yet in some ways they are very much the same: each one has ten little fingers and ten little toes – to play with, to tickle, to wave. And each child is very, very special to its parents… For over a decade Mem Fox’s Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, brought to life by Helen Oxenbury’s diverse cast of delicious babies, has been shared by parents and their little ones the world over. To...
How to Stop Time by Matt Haig - read a sample
Tom Hazard has a dangerous secret. He may look like an ordinary 41-year-old, but owing to a rare condition, he’s been alive for centuries. From Elizabethan England to Jazz Age Paris, from New York to the South Seas, Tom has seen a lot, and now craves an ordinary life. Always changing his identity to stay alive, Tom has the perfect cover – working as a history teacher at a London comprehensive. Here he can teach the kids about wars and witch hunts as if he’d never witnessed them first-hand. He...
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - discussion questions
Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend. Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled life. Except, sometimes, everything. One simple act of kindness is about to shatter the walls Eleanor has built around herself. Now she must learn how to navigate the world that everyone else seems to take for granted – while...
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - read a sample
Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend. Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled life. Except, sometimes, everything. One simple act of kindness is about to shatter the walls Eleanor has built around herself. Now she must learn how to navigate the world that everyone else seems to take for granted – while...
Running a Book Club Quick Guide to Chatterbooks
This handbook tells you what you need to know about setting up and running a successful Chatterbooks club
