Resources
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
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury - A Book Trailer
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes 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...
Artemis by Andy Weir - read the first chapter
Life in the lunar city of Artemis is tough if you’re not a rich tourist or an eccentric billionaire. So smuggling in the occasional harmless bit of contraband barely counts, right? Not when you’ve got debts to pay and your job as a porter barely covers the rent. Everything changes when Jazz is offered a score too lucrative to turn down – if she can plan the perfect crime – and survive it… And in a city on the moon, there’s only one rule for criminals: don’t get caught. Read an exclusive...
Seven Days of Us - read the first chapter
It’s Christmas, and the Birch family are coming together at their second home in Norfolk. Emma and Andrew’s daughter, Olivia, is back for the first time in years, and while Emma is elated, her younger, more frivolous daughter Phoebe is braced for inevitable clashes. But aid worker Olivia is only home because she has nowhere else to go. Having recently returned from Africa, where she’s been treating a life-threatening virus, she has been instructed to stay in quarantine for a week, and so,...
How to Organise a Read Aloud Party
A Read Aloud party is a fantastic alternative to a book group and is perfect for friends or a group of people new to each other. You might want to organise one in your library or promote it to members of your bookgroup
Chatterbooks Activity Pack - Fact and Information
This Chatterbooks activity pack gives you a treasure chest of wonderful non-fiction titles, plus lots of ideas for activities and discussion with your Chatterbooks groups. Enjoy these bright and vibrant books, full of fascinating information – and celebrate this year’s National Non-Fiction November (NNFN)!
The Alphabet of Heart's Desire Podcast
A podcast in which the author gives a fascinating insight into the story behind this new historical novel. A VISITOR CALLS WITH A GIFT AND A MESSAGE FROM THE PAST… In 1802 Thomas de Quincey, a young man from a comfortable middle-class background who would go on to become one of the most celebrated writers of his day, collapsed on Oxford Street and was discovered by a teenage prostitute who brought him back to her room and nursed him to health. It was the beginning of a relationship that...
I Want to be in a Scary Story by Sean Taylor - A book trailer
I want to be in a Scary Story The stellar duo behind Hoot Owl: Master of Disguise reunites to create a book that will have children (and their parents!) roaring with laughter once again. From the team behind the acclaimed Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise comes a very scary read-aloud story … or is it? Monster wants to be in a scary story – but is he brave enough? Scary stories have creepy witches and creaky stairs and dark hallways and spooky shadows… Oh my goodness me! That is very scary. Maybe,...
Willy Vlautin, Don’t Skip Out on Me Discussion Points
Exploring the fringes of contemporary America, Don’t Skip Out on Me is an extraordinary work of compassion – a novel about the need for human connection and understanding – and essential reading, now more than ever. Here are some discussion points.
Competition Terms & Conditions
Here are the Terms and Conditions for all competitions advertised on Reading Groups for Everyone.
The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club - Postcard competition
The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club It sounded like a respectable and worthy enough death for an explorer – tumbling from an ice bridge to be impaled upon a mammoth tusk – but Stella really, really didn’t want that to happen, just the same. A gorgeously imaginative and snowy middle grade fantasy adventure combining the magic of Peter Pan, the chaos of A Series of Unfortunate Events, and the thrilling icy adventure of Northern Lights. To celebrate this book’s publication, Faber and Faber have...
Wonder - library activity pack including 'Ways to be 'WONDERful' checklist competition
Wonder ‘My name is August. I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.’ R. J. Palacio’s Wonder is the unforgettable story of August Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face. It is a funny and frank novel that has inspired kindness and acceptance in countless readers. This autumn, Puffin are celebrating #ChooseKind with libraries across the UK, exploring the theme of kindness with children aged 8 and up, introducing...
We're All Wonders - library activity pack and colouring competition
We’re all Wonders “I know I can’t change the way I look. But maybe, just maybe, people can change the way they see . . .” Wonder is the unforgettable story of August Pullman and has become a modern classic that has inspired kindness and acceptance in countless readers. In We’re All Wonders, younger children are introduced to the importance of choosing kind, in a gorgeous picture book, starring Auggie and his dog Daisy on an original adventure, written and illustrated by...
Father Christmas and Me - Christmas bauble competition
Get into the festive spirit by winning a £30 National Book Tokens card and one of FOUR signed books! Father Christmas and Me is the third book in bestselling Matt Haig’s Christmassy series, with enchanting illustrations by Chris Mould. Following on from A Boy Called Christmas and The Girl Who Saved Christmas, in Father Christmas and Me, Amelia has now been adopted by Father Christmas and his new wife, Mary Christmas. But it isn’t always easy for Amelia – growing up as a human in Elfhelm. For...
Linwood Barclay’s Secret Mission digital resources
Linwood Barclay’s Secret Mission – CHASE Hachette Children’s Group and Orion Books are celebrating the publication of Linwood Barclay’s first novel for children, CHASE, and his new paperback, Parting Shot, by providing these great digital resources for libraries. Hachette Children’s Group and Orion Books would love for libraries to use the materials so that families can complete a secret mission where they follow or ‘chase’ the materials around the library. This pack...
Winnie and Wilbur 30th birthday activity pack
Winnie and Wilbur Friday 13 October is the 30th birthday of the brilliant Winnie and Wilbur series created by Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul. To celebrate this, Oxford University Press Children’s books have sent us a pack with many activity sheets and ideas. This pack can be used to inspire children with Winnie and Wilbur this autumn. #WinnieAndWilbur30
The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club - Host a Polar Bear Explorers' Book Club
The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club is a gorgeously imaginative and snowy middle grade fantasy adventure combining the magic of Peter Pan, the chaos of A Series of Unfortunate Events, and the thrilling icy adventure of Northern Lights. Faber have created this great guide so that you can hold an inspiring Book Club based around this new book from Alex Bell.
Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht - A book trailer and craft activity
Pick a Pine Tree Pick a pine tree from the lot – slim and tall, or short and squat! Long straight limbs or branches bent – Mmm! Just smell that piney scent! From Alan’s Big, Scary Teeth creator, Jarvis, and author Patty Toht, comes a beautiful, irresistible Christmas gift book that all begins with … picking a pine tree! Brimming over with the excitement of being with family at the festive season, a gorgeously rhythmical narrative accompanied by warm, joyful art celebrates all the familiar...
The Dollmaker of Krakow by R. M. Romero - Teachers' guide
The Dollmaker of Krakow A timeless fantasy set in the Second World War that weaves together magic, folklore and history, perfect for fans of The Book Thief, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and Goodnight Mister Tom. One night a little doll named Karolina comes to life in a toyshop in Krakow, Poland, in 1939 and changes the life of the gruff, broken-hearted Dollmaker. And when the darkness of the Nazi occupation sweeps over the city, Karolina and the Dollmaker must bravely use their magic to...
Follow the Track All the Way Back by Timothy Knapman - A book trailer
Follow the Track All the Way Back Today is a BIG day for little Train … he’s going out on the track, all by himself, for the very first time! From Ben Mantle and Timothy Knapman, the author of Soon and Time Now to Dream, comes the story of a Little Train who is going out on the track, all by himself, for the very first time! But before he goes, his Mummy and Daddy remind him: “When it’s time to come home, no matter how far you are, just follow the track all the way back, where...
The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club - Colour in the scene activity
The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club A gorgeously imaginative and snowy middle grade fantasy adventure combining the magic of Peter Pan, the chaos of A Series of Unfortunate Events, and the thrilling icy adventure of Northern Lights. You can read a review from a Summer Reading Challenge child here. Download this activity sheet where your children can enjoy creating their own icy scene.
The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club - Drawing activity
The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club All of a sudden, the sled rose up over the crest of a hill – and they came face to face with a white, sparkling, magnificent castle. Countless spires and turrets rose up high into the sky, the frozen windows reflected back the sunlight, and the frost icing the turret roofs sparkled at them like hundreds of tiny diamonds. Download the drawing activity where children draw their version of the castle described within The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club.
The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club - Design your very own crest
Stella joins the Polar Bear Explorers’ Club, Ethan is in the Ocean Squid club. Download this activity sheet and invent your own Explorers’ Club and design a crest below.
The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club - Make an igloo craft activity
The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club It sounded like a respectable and worthy enough death for an explorer – tumbling from an ice bridge to be impaled upon a mammoth tusk – but Stella really, really didn’t want that to happen, just the same. Join Stella Starflake Pearl and her three fellow explorers as they trek across the snowy Icelands and come face-to-face with frost fairies, snow queens, outlaw hideouts, unicorns, pygmy dinosaurs and carnivorous cabbages… When Stella and...
Witches and Wizards Chatterbooks Activity Pack
Get in the mood for Halloween with this month’s Witches & Wizards Chatterbooks Activity Pack. There are activities, discussion questions and further reading, inspired by our favourite magical characters.
Amazing Animals Chatterbooks pack
As it is #WorldAnimalDay we are highlighting a brilliant Amazing Animals Chatterbooks pack that we have. Here are some great stories and picture books about all kinds of animals, plus ideas for activities in your Chatterbooks reading group. Download the pack and enjoy the many activities with your group. Please send through any photos or feedback from your group to Kimberley.Sheehan@readingagency.org.uk.
Witch for a Week - a brilliant book trailer
Witch for a Week Here is a trailer for a new magical adventure from Kaye Umansky, the bestselling author of the much loved children’s classic Pongwiffy. The book is all about Elsie Pickles and is brought to life with charming illustrations from Ashley King. To celebrate the start of this spellbinding new series, Simon & Schuster have an exciting competition this autumn. To celebrate the start of this spellbinding new series, Simon & Schuster have an exciting competition this...
Luna Loves Library Day - reviews activity
Award-winning performance poet Joseph Coehlo has written his first picture book Luna Loves Library Day, illustrated by Fiona Lumbers, publishing this October. This lovely book is based around Luna loving her special time in the library. What better way to engage children with reading then asking them to review their favourite books and then share these in the library?
Luna Loves Library Day - wordearch activity sheet
National Libraries Week (9-14 October) is a chance to discover the range of things you can do at your library, from play and learning for children, to managing your health, to accessing wifi and games, to finding a job, a hobby or starting a business. To help children celebrate this week, Andersen Press have created special activity sheets based upon Luna Loves Library Day by Joseph Coehlo. Download this wordsearch and enjoy with your readers.
Luna Loves Library Day - maze activity sheet
Award-winning performance poet Joseph Coehlo has written his first picture book Luna Loves Library Day, illustrated by Fiona Lumbers, publishing this October. Every week Luna looks forward to one special day. The day when she discovers magic among the library shelves. The day she gets to spend with her dad. To celebrate the release of this very special picture book, Andersen Press have created activity sheets for libraries to use during National Libraries Week (9-14 October).
