Resources
National Reading Group Day 2019 - poster
This year, National Reading Group Day will take place on Saturday 15 June, the start of Independent Book Week. We have a downloadable poster that you can use in your library. Just click on the link below to download.
The Silence of the Girls Readers' Guide
Download a free readers’ guide for The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker, one of the shortlisted books for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019.
Ordinary People Readers' Guide
Download a free readers’ guide for Ordinary People by Diana Evans, one of the shortlisted books for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019.
The Sister, the Serial Killer Readers' Guide
Download a free readers’ guide for My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, one of the shortlisted books for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019.
Milkman Readers' Guide - Women's Prize for Fiction
Download a free readers’ guide for Milkman by Anna Burns, one of the shortlisted books for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019.
Circe Readers' Guide
Download a free readers’ guide for Circe by Madeline Miller, one of the shortlisted books for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019.
An American Marriage Readers' Guide
Download a free readers’ guide for An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, one of the shortlisted books for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019.
Dementia friendly booklist
After being diagnosed with Young-onset dementia in July 2014 Wendy Mitchell set about finding other ways to keep reading. She shares some of her favourite books with us here.
The Secret Starling Activity Pack
About the book Clara has lived a life of solitude, home schooled under her mean uncle’s strict regime . . . until now! The day that Uncle abandons Clara, leaving her with nothing but a wedge of ‘guilt money’ and a half empty, crumbling manor house, she is determined to do things her way for a change. And when streetwise Peter turns up, with his rescue cat and a surprising array of knowledge, she is sure that between them they have everything they need to survive. But the...
Alex Rider: Secret Weapon - book trailer
Ever since MI6 recognised his potential, Alex Rider has constantly been thrust into the line of danger. From a routine visit to the dentist that turns into a chase through the streets of London, to a school trip with a deadly twist, no day has ever been ordinary for the teenage super-spy. Secret Weapon is a collection of seven explosive adventures featuring familiar and new assailants from the much-loved world of Alex Rider, including three never-before-seen stories. Discover more and buy the...
Malamander - book trailer
Nobody visits Eerie-on-Sea in the winter. Especially not when darkness falls and the wind howls around Maw Rocks and the wreck of the battleship Leviathan, where even now some swear they have seen the unctuous Malamander creep… Discover Malamander by Thomas Taylor. “Full of unforgettable characters and brimming with maritime mystery.” – Catherine Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper’s Island “Mermonkeys, monsters and magic, oh my! Malamander is a brilliantly plotted...
We're Going on a Bear Hunt Let's Discover Baby Animals, Flowers and Trees - book trailer
Inspiring and fun guides to baby animals, flowers and trees featuring artwork from the animated special of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. In these fun-filled guides to baby animals, flowers and trees, eager readers will learn all about spring time tinies including chicks, bunnies, lambs and all the wonder of plant life, from tiny plants to tall trees and all that’s in-between. Packed with recipes, crafts and sticker activities galore, these beautifully illustrated sticker-activity...
Celebrating Spring with HarperCollins Children’s Books - activity pack
HarperCollins Children’s Books are celebrating the arrival of Spring with a gorgeous pack of activities for little ones featuring eggs, bunnies and tadpoles from an array of amazing picture book creators! - Follow Tad, the littlest almost-a-frog in the whole wide pond, in the new picture book from Benji Davies, creator of The Storm Whale and Grandad’s Island. - Meet the formidable Imelda and her favourite soft toy, Bunny Wunny, in Emma Chichester Clark’s wickedly funny modern cautionary...
Rosie: Scenes from a Vanished Life by Rose Tremain, Reader's Guide
Here is a reading group guide for Rose Tremain’s Memoir, Rosie: Scenes from a Vanished Life. About the book Rose Tremain (or Rosie as she was then) grew up in post-war London – a city still partly in ruins, where both food and affection were fiercely rationed. But when she is ten years old, everything changes. She loses her father, her house, her school, her friends and is dispatched to a freezing boarding-school in Hertfordshire. Slowly though, the teenage Rosie escapes from the cold...
The Remainder - Readers' Guide
On Tuesday 9 April the Man Booker International Prize revealed the shortlist of six books for the 2019 prize. Discover the excellent books that have been chosen for the Man Booker Prize shortlist. You can download a Readers’ Guide for shortlisted title The Remainder by Alia Trabucco Zerán, translated by Sophie Hughes by clicking below.
The Shape Of The Ruins - Readers' Guide
On Tuesday 9 April the Man Booker International Prize revealed the shortlist of six books for the 2019 prize. Discover the excellent books that have been chosen for the Man Booker Prize shortlist. You can download a Readers’ Guide for shortlisted title The Shape Of The Ruins by Juan Gabriel Vásquez, translated by Anne McLean by clicking below.
Drive Your Plow Over The Bones Of The Dead - Readers' Guide
On Tuesday 9 April the Man Booker International Prize revealed the shortlist of six books for the 2019 prize. Discover the excellent books that have been chosen for the Man Booker Prize shortlist. You can download a Readers’ Guide for shortlisted title Drive Your Plow Over The Bones Of The Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones by clicking below.
The Pine Islands - Readers' Guide
On Tuesday 9 April the Man Booker International Prize revealed the shortlist of six books for the 2019 prize. Discover the excellent books that have been chosen for the Man Booker Prize shortlist. You can download a Readers’ Guide for shortlisted title The Pine Islands by Marion Poschmann, translated by Jen Calleja by clicking below.
The Years - Readers' Guide
On Tuesday 9 April the Man Booker International Prize revealed the shortlist of six books for the 2019 prize. Discover the excellent books that have been chosen for the Man Booker Prize shortlist. You can download a Readers’ Guide for shortlisted title The Years by Annie Ernaux, translated by Alison L. Stayer by clicking below.
Celestial Bodies - Readers' Guide
On Tuesday 9 April the Man Booker International Prize revealed the shortlist of six books for the 2019 prize. Discover the excellent books that have been chosen for the Man Booker Prize shortlist. You can download a Readers’ Guide for shortlisted title Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi, translated by Marilyn Booth by clicking below.
Nature and wildlife booklist
Inspired by the arrival of Spring and the celebration of Earth Day on 22 April, we’ve created a booklist to share some of our favourite titles about the natural world, wildlife and our environment We’ve also created a Chatterbooks pack which focuses on six brilliant books from the booklist and includes activities to use with your reading group or class.
Nature and wildlife Chatterbooks pack
Inspired by the arrival of Spring and the celebration of Earth Day on 22 April, we’ve created this Chatterbooks pack full of reading recommendations and activity ideas featuring books about the natural world, wildlife and our environment. You can also download our Nature and wildlife booklist at the link below
Nothing to See Here Competition
The Nothing To See Here Hotel is the best secret holiday destination for mysterious and legendary beings. All manner of magical creatures stay at this hotel; from bridge bothering trolls to wrinkly old mermaids! Competition Do you want to win all three books and the chance to have your creature drawn by Steven Lenton, illustrator of the Nothing to See Here Hotel series? All you have to do is design a new creature to come and visit the Nothing to See Here Hotel! You can find out more and read...
How to Rob a Bank by Tom Mitchell - Teaching Notes
Some people rob banks because they’re greedy. Others enjoy the adrenalin rush. Me? I robbed a bank because of guilt. Specifically: guilt and a Nepalese scented candle… When fifteen-year-old Dylan accidentally burns down the house of the girl he’s trying to impress, he feels that only a bold gesture can make it up to her. A gesture like robbing a bank to pay for her new home. Only an unwanted Saturday job, a tyrannical bank manager, and his unfinished history homework lie between Dylan and the...
She Wolf by Dan Smith - Teachers' Notes
Northumbria, 866. Washed ashore on a frozen English beach, Ylva’s survived. She will not cry. She’s meant to be strong. She’s a Viking. But when her mother dies at the hand of a three-fingered man, and the wolves of the forest circle closer, Ylva will need more than the memory of her mother’s stories to stay alive. Can she shape her own legend? Will it end in revenge – or is there another way? If you have an Authorfy subscription, you can also check out Dan’s She Wolf masterclass – Dan has...
Amateur - Readers' Guide
On Tuesday 19 March the Wellcome Book Prize announced the shortlist of six books for the 2019 prize. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the prize rewards exceptional works of literature that illuminate the many ways that health, medicine and illness touch our lives. Discover the excellent books that have been chosen for the Wellcome Book Prize shortlist. You can download a Readers’ Guide for shortlisted title Amateur by Thomas Page McBee by clicking below.
The Trauma Cleaner Readers' Guide
On Tuesday 18 March the Wellcome Book Prize announced the shortlist of six books for the 2019 prize. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the prize rewards exceptional works of literature that illuminate the many ways that health, medicine and illness touch our lives. Discover the excellent books that have been chosen for the Wellcome Book Prize shortlist. You can download a Readers’ Guide for shortlisted title The Trauma Cleaner by Sarah Krasnostein by clicking below.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation
On Tuesday 19 March the Wellcome Book Prize announced the shortlist of six books for the 2019 prize. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the prize rewards exceptional works of literature that illuminate the many ways that health, medicine and illness touch our lives. Discover the excellent books that have been chosen for the Wellcome Book Prize shortlist. You can download a Readers’ Guide for shortlisted title My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh by clicking below.
Murmur Readers' Guide
On Tuesday 19 March the Wellcome Book Prize announced the shortlist of six books for the 2019 prize. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the prize rewards exceptional works of literature that illuminate the many ways that health, medicine and illness touch our lives. Discover the excellent books that have been chosen for the Wellcome Book Prize shortlist. You can download a Readers’ Guide for shortlisted title Murmur by Will Eaves by clicking below.
Mind on Fire Readers' Guide
On Tuesday 19 March the Wellcome Book Prize announced the shortlist of six books for the 2019 prize. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the prize rewards exceptional works of literature that illuminate the many ways that health, medicine and illness touch our lives. Discover the excellent books that have been chosen for the Wellcome Book Prize shortlist. You can download a Readers’ Guide for shortlisted title Mind on Fire by Arnold Thomas Fanning by clicking below.
