Resources
Children's University
Find out how children can earn Children’s University hours by taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge and Chatterbooks groups.
RHS I Can Grow a Sunflower - Sunflower colouring sheet
“This is a wonderful first gardening book for young children that perfectly captures the magic of growing a beautiful plant from a tiny seed.” Jamie Butterworth, RHS Ambassador A delightful introduction to plant life and nature, as little ones get hands-on to grow their own sunflowers. Includes sunflower seeds, a sunflower height chart, and exciting flaps. RHS I Can Grow a Sunflower is a friendly approach to plant science and a great gift for little gardeners. Sixteen bright board book pages...
City vs. Country
Do you prefer being in the city or the countryside? We’ve selected some of our favourite books about urban and rural spaces.
The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya
A Reading Group Guide for The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya. About The Girl Who Smiled Beads “The plot provided by the universe was filled with starvation, war and rape. I would not—could not—live in that tale.” Clemantine Wamariya was six years old when her mother and father began to speak in whispers, when neighbors began to disappear, and when she heard the loud, ugly sounds her brother said were thunder. In 1994, she and her fifteen-year-old sister, Claire, fled the Rwandan...
The Children of Castle Rock by Natasha Farrant - The Great Library Orienteering Challenge
The Children of Castle Rock ‘There would be at least two betrayals, a few lies and a couple of near-death experiences before they could really call themselves friends’ Alice Mistlethwaite has been packed off to an unusual boarding school in Scotland. Everyone is talking about the Great Orienteering Challenge, where students are sent off, unsupervised, for three days! Alice sees her chance… She just needs to persuade her teammates, rule-abiding Jesse and mischief-maker Fergus, to follow her...
My Sister by Joanna Young - Teacher's Notes
My Sister This stunning picture book shows the special relationship that exists between two sisters. Soft, beautiful illustrations and simple text make this the perfect bedtime read. AGE : 2 – 6 years Download the Teacher’s Notes for some excellent guidance on how you and your group can get the most out of this new book. You can find out more about the book and author here.
How Many Dinosaurs Deep? by Ben Kitchin and Vicky Fieldhouse - Teacher's Notes
How Many Dinosaurs Deep? Jim is not quite sure that he’s ready to move from the baby pool to the middle-sized pool. Can a group of splashing, sploshing dinosaurs help him face his fear? AGE : 3 – 6 years Download the Teacher’s Notes for some excellent guidance on how you and your group can get the most out of this new book. You can find out more about the book and author here.
Judy Moody by Megan McDonald - Event Day digital resources pack
Judy Moody Another day. Another mood. Meet Judy Moody at her moodiest-best, in this laugh-a-minute first adventure in the international bestselling series. Bad moods, good moods, even back-to-school moods – Judy has them all! Meet Judy Moody, her little “bother” Stink, her best friend Rocky and her “pest” friend Frank Pearl. Judy has a mood for every occasion, but when a new teacher gives the class a “Me” collage project, Judy has so much fun that she nearly forgets to be moody at all! Judy...
Frankenstein in Baghdad - themed reading list
The Man Booker International Prize celebrates the finest works of translated fiction from around the world. Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi, translated by Jonathan Wright is one of the six shortlisted titles for 2018. All of the suggested books follow similar themes, styles or settings as Frankenstein in Baghdad. You can download the supporting booklist by clicking below.
Like a Fading Shadow - themed reading list
The Man Booker International Prize celebrates the finest works of translated fiction from around the world. Like a Fading Shadow by Antonio Muñoz Molina, translated by Camilo A. Ramirez is one of the six shortlisted titles for 2018. All of the suggested books follow similar themes, styles or settings as Like a Fading Shadow. You can download the supporting booklist by clicking below.
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 world. The comic is a...
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 despite wanting...
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...
Inspirational Women
To mark 100 years of female suffrage, we collected together our favourite books about girls, women and feminism.
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 Johnson and...
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 activity pack which...
