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20 Jun 2023

Lily Grim – teaching resources and activity

The city of Undone is a dark and dangerous place to live, especially if you’re an Other… Lily Grim’s life is a mystery. She has lived with her guardian Gabriel, in their rundown second-hand shop in the City of Undone, for as long as she can remember. For years, the city-dwellers have lived in uneasy discord with The Others – a community of wanderers forced to shelter within the city walls, after they were driven from their nomadic camps in the wilderness. But Undone is a dark and dangerous...

20 Jun 2023

Lost on Gibbon Island – activity pack and teaching resources

A shipwrecked girl. A lost baby gibbon. An impossible journey home. ‘If you’re reading this, hopefully you’ve come to rescue me. My name is Lark Taylor, and I’ve been shipwrecked on an island. The last mainland I was on was Cambodia, miles and miles away from home…’ When Lark’s mum takes her family with her on a research trip to Cambodia, Lark never expects that she’ll end up stranded on a deserted island! But that’s exactly what happens when her boat is shipwrecked. With her only companion a...

19 Jun 2023

Publisher Spotlight: Vintage Crime

Vintage Crime would like to introduce you to your next crime fiction obsession! We are giving away packs of six thrilling murder mysteries, from bestselling and award-winning crime authors including Jo Nesbo, Susan Hill, Denise Mina and Abir Mukherjee. Each book is the first in a detective series so there’s also plenty more to discover once you’ve found your favourite. More information about the books The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill (Simon Serrailler series, Book 1) PEOPLE ARE GOING...

19 Jun 2023

Sticker Dolly Dressing Activity Pack

Enter a magical world where unicorns with rainbow manes gallop across the sky, meet a woodland fairy princess, gaze at the Northern lights and rest in a crystal cave. Use the stickers to adorn the unicorns with headdresses and garlands, and choose outfits for the fairy dolls.

16 Jun 2023

The Reading Agency’s June booklist for Adults – Sports & Games

The Summer Reading Challenge launches soon and this year we’re teaming up with children’s charity, the Youth Sport Trust, for Ready, Set, Read!, focused on reading, sport and play. To help adults join in with all of the fun, we have created a booklist of titles which have strong sports or games related themes or which show the importance of sport on people’s lives or stories. We would love to hear what books you’d recommend for the theme of Sports & Games on social media using #booklist...

16 Jun 2023

Dawnlands by Phillipa Gregory - digital assets

In a divided country, power and loyalty conquer all… Discover the new historical novel from Philippa Gregory, the Number One bestselling author of Tidelands and Dark Tides. A compelling and powerful story of political intrigue and personal ambition, set between the palaces of London, the tidelands of Foulmire and the shores of Barbados. Download the digital pack of assets to help your libraries or reading group enjoy the book. You can read and interview with Phillipa Gregory on our Reading...

14 Jun 2023

The Stories Grandma Forgot (And How I Found Them) by Nadine Aisha Jassat - digital postcard and activity sheets

From acclaimed poet Nadine Aisha Jassat comes a captivating mystery about memory loss, identity, and the unbreakable bond between grandmother and granddaughter. A love letter to libraries and the safe space they offer, this story is perfect for readers aged 9+. You can download additional digital resources and activities here.

14 Jun 2023

How to Train Your Dragon turns 20th anniversary - activity pack

Can you believe the classic How to Train Your Dragon turns 20 this year? In celebration of this milestone, there is special commemorative edition of book one available this June, which includes a brand new short story by Cressida Cowell, new dragons to meet and lots more exclusive content. We would love to see you enjoying the resources on social media by tagging HachetteKids, cressidacowelL and Readingagency using #HTTYD20.

14 Jun 2023

Toto the Ninja Cat and the Mystery Jewel Thief - Activity Packs

Toto the cat and her brother Silver live footloose and fancy-free in a townhouse in London. Toto is almost totally blind, and learned to trust her senses from a ninja cat-master who taught her back in Italy where they were born. By day, Toto and Silver seem to be ordinary cats, but by night, they love to have adventures! Written by bestselling children’s author, Dermot O’Leary and illustrated by Nick East, perfect for readers aged 6+. The zip drive includes: - Toto the Ninja Cat activity pack...

13 Jun 2023

The Escape Artist - digital resources

Waterstones Non-Fiction Book of the Month for June 2023 Shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction 2022 A Radio 4 Book of the Week About The Escape Artist Anne Frank. Primo Levi. Oskar Schindler. Rudolf Vrba. In April 1944 nineteen-year-old Rudolf Vrba and fellow inmate Fred Wetzler became the first Jews ever to break out of Auschwitz. Under electrified fences and past armed watchtowers, evading thousands of SS men and slavering dogs, they trekked across marshlands, mountains...

12 Jun 2023

Rainbow Magic - Activity Sheets

No one knows how to throw a party like the Rainbow Magic Fairies! Join Rachel, Kirsty and their new friends Gracie and Khadijah on a magical birthday adventure. The Birthday Party Fairies are throwing the biggest celebration of the year – Queen Titania’s birthday party! But jealous Jack Frost has stolen their magical objects and is intent on spoiling the fun. Rachel, Kirsty, Gracie and Khadijah must work together to find the missing magical objects, come up with new party games and save the...

06 Jun 2023

National Crime Reading Month with Faber

Faber is one of the world’s great independent publishing houses. Since they were founded in 1929, they have sought to find the very best writers and they are proud to publish the foremost voices in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, film and children’s books. In 2022, Faber won Crime and Mystery publisher of the year at the CWA Daggers. To celebrate this year’s National Crime Reading Month, they’re highlighting ten titles from their extensive crime list, including some exciting new releases...

05 Jun 2023

Max Magic by Stephen Mulhern and Tom Easton - activities and sneak peek!

The UNBELIEVABLE new book series from superstar TV presenter and magician, Stephen Mulhern. Stephen Mulhern and Tom Easton have collaborated closely, combining Stephen’s natural storytelling talent with Tom’s children’s fiction writing experience. Creating an unforgettable adventure celebrating friendship, family and… MAGIC! With engaging black-and-white illustrations throughout from Begoña Fernández Corbalán and a dyslexic-friendly layout this is the perfect series for every child. MAX...

02 Jun 2023

The Great Read/Write Together

This resource pack will help you to celebrate the Great Read/Write Together, as part of the Great Get Together (23-25 June), an initiative run by the Jo Cox Foundation.

25 May 2023

Football Superstars Series Activity Pack

The Football Superstars series is aimed at building a love of reading in young children, and is filled with fun cartoons, inspirational stories and a cast of characters chipping in with quotes, jokes and comments.

25 May 2023

What is Mud? Activity Pack

Mud is so much more than squelchy brown stuff. It’s why our food grows, why our forests stand tall, why our water and air are less dirty and why billions of living things have somewhere to live. This engaging new title encourages young readers and their grown-ups to delight in mud, to value it in a new way and to help protect the planet’s soil for the future.

25 May 2023

Questions and Answers about Refugees Activity Pack

With simple, direct questions, thoughtful, compassionate answers and stunning illustrations by the Ukrainian artist Oksana Drachkovska, this book explores what it really means to be a refugee. Written with advice from the Refugee Council and drawing on conversations with refugees and aid workers from around the world, the questions cover all stages of a refugee’s journey, from fleeing danger and embarking on hazardous journeys, to seeking asylum and struggling to find a new place to call home.

22 May 2023

The Big Breakout (My Laugh-Out-Loud Life 3_ - digital resources

Selected as ‘Books to make you laugh out loud’ – The Reading Agency ‘A must for all KS2 bookshelves’ Reader review ‘Brimming with Bengali culture and hilarious fun’ Reader review More about the book Yusuf wants to be the ultimate uncle to his sister’s new baby, and he has a foolproof plan! With the help of his friends, the school chameleon Chompy, and even his nemesis Bashir the Basher, he knows nothing at all can go wrong… right? Expect more chaotic mishaps, more mayhem, and even more...

14 May 2023

Small Miracles by Anne Booth - Reading Guide

Three nuns play the lottery to save their failing convent, resulting in a story of friendship, community, faith and love. The 1990s are proving tough for the convent. The order of the Sisters of Saint Philomena is down to its three last nuns. The place that Sisters Margaret, Bridget and Cecilia call home is in dire need of repairs and, with no savings and no new recruits, they are facing the prospect of having to sell up and leave behind the friends and neighbours in the parish community that...

10 May 2023

The Rage of the Sea Witch Activity Pack

A new adventure series about the pivotal moments of discovery through the ages, bringing the past to life with a generous helping of fantasy, humour and delightful, black and white illustrations.

10 May 2023

Stone Activity Pack

A second novel from the bestselling author of Branford Boase-shortlisted and Carnegie-nominated Witch. An engrossing story of fathers and sons, death and grief, and unexpected bonds, new and old, forged by dark and benign magic.

10 May 2023

Nala's World Activity Pack

A heartwarming picture book based on the incredible true story of social media sensation and round-the-world-cyclist Dean Nicholson and his trusty cat companion, Nala.

09 May 2023

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume - film club resource

For over fifty years, Judy Blume’s classic and ground-breaking novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret has impacted generations with its timeless coming-of-age story, insightful humour, and candid exploration of life’s biggest questions. In Lionsgate’s big-screen adaptation, 11-year-old Margaret is uprooted from her life in New York City for the suburbs of New Jersey, going through the messy and tumultuous throes of puberty with new friends in a new school. She relies on her mother,...

04 May 2023

Women's Prize for Fiction 2023 - Shortlist Reading Guides

The Women’s Prize for Fiction is the greatest international celebration of women’s creativity. Now in its twenty-eighth year, the Prize shines a spotlight on outstanding, ambitious, original fiction written in English by women from anywhere in the world. The 2023 shortlist was announced 26 April. The winner will be announced on 14 June. The Women’s Prize Trust is the registered charity behind the Women’s Prize for Fiction. The Trust supports all readers, prioritising access to and engagement...

03 May 2023

Elmer Day 2023 - Downloadable event packs

Elmer Day returns on Saturday 27 May 2023 and Andersen Press are offering free downloadable event packs to help you join in the celebrations in your school or library, including activity sheets, craft ideas and educational resources. Get ready for the most colourful day of the year! For this year’s Elmer Day we are celebrating the themes of inclusivity and friendship that run throughout the Elmer books as well as honouring the life and legacy of Elmer’s creator David McKee. Everyone is...

21 Apr 2023

The Reading Agency’s May booklist – Community and Celebration

We hope that May will be a time of communities coming together in celebration, so we have selected some of our favourite titles that demonstrate the power of being part of a community (whether big or small) and the importance of celebrating together. You can buy the books selected on the booklist on our Bookshop.org page. There is a reading guide for Small Miracles available here. Dive into the list today and don’t forget to tell us what you thought of any of the books on the list by tagging...

20 Apr 2023

Wishtree Activity Pack

Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighbourhood wishtree – people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red’s branches. Along with a crow named Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red’s hollows, this wishtree watches over the neighbourhood. You might say Red has seen it all. Until a new family moves in. Not everyone is welcoming, and Red’s experience as a wishtree is more important than ever.

20 Apr 2023

Where Does my Food Come From?

A fully illustrated non-fiction picture book that lets readers discover how their favourite foods are grown and made – with exclusive recipes from Annabel Karmel for each one.

20 Apr 2023

When Poems Fall from the Sky Activity Packs

Original, inspiring and intimate, When Poems Fall From the Sky marries science and poetry to create a tender and thoughtful love-letter to Earth promising children a riot of imagination, humour and joy – the perfect book to celebrate National Poetry Day on 6th October. The collection of poems, raps, rhymes, haiku and little plays is written by Zaro Weil, winner of the 2020 CLiPPA children’s poetry prize and is illustrated in full colour throughout by artist Junli Song.

20 Apr 2023

The King's Hats Activity Pack

King Charles the III is now King of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth and he is finding his new crown just a little heavy to manage. But his good friend Tom the gardener is on hand to show him that kings must wear all sorts of hats and that he must be brave and allow himself to be the king he was born to be.

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