Resources
Chatterbooks Riddle Activity
A riddle activity for Chatterbooks Week, from author Lari Don, one of our Chatterbooks champions! Perfect for Chatterbooks Week, which has the theme of poetry.
Chatterbooks in South Tyneside
A Chatterbooks group called Reading Champions has been set up in Central Library, South Shields, South Tyneside. The group is made up of a group of twelve children from Marine Park school in South Shields who took part in the Summer Reading Challenge.
Chatterbooks flyer
Use this A5 flyer to promote the benefits of running Chatterbooks clubs.
Chatterbooks and The Children's University
Chatterbooks activities are validated for inclusion with the Children’s University. Children aged 5-12 who attend weekly Chatterbooks sessions can count up to five hours of time in their Children’s University Passports.
Quick Ideas for ice-breakers
These ideas have been tried by Chatterbooks group leaders in schools and libraries. There are lots of ice-breaker activities you can choose but these are all related to books and authors. Often children may not arrive all at the same time so it can be useful to have an activity going that everyone can join in with as they arrive.
Quick Ideas for creative activities
These ideas have been tried by Chatterbooks group leaders in schools and libraries and work with almost any theme or collection of books. They require very few resources and allow children freedom to design and create in response to books they have read or listened to.
Quick Ideas for drama activities
These ideas have been tried by Chatterbooks group leaders in schools and libraries and work with almost any theme so why not give them a try!
Top Tips for setting up a Chatterbooks club in your school
This top tips guide will walk you through the main steps of how to set up a Chatterbooks club in your school
Chatterbooks and Arts Award
You can use Chatterbooks activities with children aged 5 and above to help them achieve Arts Award Discover and Arts Award Explore.
Chatterbooks - Programme planning template
Use this template to plan your Chatterbooks sessions. You will probably be able to fit in at least 10 sessions in a term.
Chatterbooks - Book Discussion Guide
Use this quick guide to help you support children to discuss, review and recommend books
Chatterbooks Session Planning Template
Use this handy sheet to plan your Chatterbooks session and ensure you have everything you need to hand.
Chatterbooks Session Register
Use this register template to record attendance at your Chatterbooks club
Chatterbooks certificate - landscape version
To reward your Chatterbooks club members as part of your final celebration session
Chatterbooks certificate - portrait version
To reward your Chatterbooks club members as part of your final celebration session
Chatterbooks logos, clip art and how to use them
These logos and clip art characters can be used to promote your Chatterbooks club. Please ensure you read the brand guidelines thoroughly.
Poetry Chatterbooks activity pack
National Poetry Day will soon be here again – this year it’s on October 8th, perfectly placed to be part of our celebration of Chatterbooks week from the 3rd to the 10th October 2015. In this Chatterbooks Poetry pack we’re looking especially at poetry for younger children and also at a dynamic poetry session with Chatterbooks children in Hackney which we hope gives you lots of ideas!
Funny Fiction Chatterbooks activity pack
This Funny Fiction Chatterbooks pack is packed with reading recommendations: books which are rib-tickling, chuckle-making or straight-out laugh-out-loud funny – plus Funny Fiction discussion and activity ideas for your Chatterbooks groups.
Top Tips for Star Reviewers
If your Chatterbooks childrens’ reading group is taking part in the Star Reviewers scheme to review new books, then take a look at these top tips to get your group writing super Star Reviews!
Molly Maybe activity sheets
Molly Maybe has a marvellous secret – she and her dog Waggy Burns are the only ones who can travel to an amazing monster world, which mirrors our own. Download four fantastic activity sheets for your Chatterbooks group!
Chatterbooks Champions activity pack
Check out our brilliant new Chatterbooks activity pack filled with special group activities from our brilliant Chatterbooks champions. We have activities from Guy Bass, Elen Caldecott, Steve Cole, Lari Don, Jonathan Meres, Tom Palmer, and Ali Sparkes. There’s something for everyone, and guaranteed fun!
Tom Palmer's Rugby Top Trumps
Download these Top Trumps cards from Chatterbooks Champion Tom Palmer’s Rugby Academy series.
Tom Palmer video
Summer Reading Challenge Author of the Month Tom Palmer talks about his Rugby Academy series
Stop Those Monsters extract
Read an extract from our Chatterbooks Champion Steve Cole’s latest book, Stop Those Monsters!
Chatterbooks Champions book extracts
Get a sneak peek of the latest books by our wonderful and brilliant Chatterbooks Champions, including Tom Palmer, Guy Bass and Elen Caldecott.
Compton Valance Chatterbooks activity pack
Meet Compton Valance and his best friend Bryan Nylon, and join them in their mind-boggling time-travel adventures – all begun because they left a cheese-and-pickled-egg sandwich in a lunchbox for thirteen weeks! This pack gives information and tasters from the books, suggestions for more reading around the books’ key themes, and lots of discussion and activity ideas for your Chatterbooks group.
Matt Brown video
Summer Reading Challenge Author of the Month Matt Brown talks Compton Valance
How to start a reading group
Here are some tips we’ve collected from experts on how to start a reading group. Remember to check Reading Groups for Everyone for the latest news and offers. 1. The ideal group size is between eight and ten, this is large enough to allow for no-shows and small enough to make sure everyone can have their say. 2. Monthly meetings work well because it gives everyone a chance to read the book. 3. Libraries, bookshops, cafes and pubs are all ideal venues for advertising your group. 4. You can...
Lottery Boy reading guide
Find out about Lottery Boy and it’s author Michael Byrne in this great reading guide. Includes discussion topics and questions from the author.
The Great Outdoors Chatterbooks activity pack
The themes in The Great Outdoors Chatterbooks activity pack include outdoor activities and adventures: gardening, camping, hiking, sport, picnics; nature and wildlife; exploring new places and environments; enjoying, sharing and making the most of the world we live in. Something fun for everyone!
