Resources
'PESTS' Activity Pack
Create your own PEST party, test your knowledge and draw your dream pizza with this activity pack celebrating the must-read, madcap new series from the creator of ‘Diary of Pig’. About the Book Meet Stix, the tiny but heroic mouse who might be living behind your washing machine. But is he naughty enough to join the PESTS? Stix is the size of an egg cup, can jump the width of a dog’s bottom, and LOVES cheese. That’s because Stix is a mouse. He probably lives behind your washing machine, but...
'The Dragon in the Bookshop' Teachers' Notes
Use these Teachers’ Notes for ‘The Dragon in the Bookshop’ to help guide conversation in your classroom about the book and further discuss the themes. About the Book The Dragon in the Bookshopby Ewa Jozefkowicz An old Polish city fizzes with fear. The townsfolk are at the mercy of a dragon who lurks in the cave below the castle… Konrad’s dad always used to say, ‘There is a character in a book somewhere that matches you almost entirely. It’s just a matter of finding them’. Konrad never...
'How to Catch a Rainbow' Teachers Notes
Explore the themes of ‘How to Catch a Rainbow’ with your Year One, Reception or Early Years class with these Teachers Notes from Oxford Children’s Books. Includes activities for whole class and smaller groups, all linked to the National Curriculum. About the Book Freya loves rainbows. She loves their bright colours and their curvy shape. More than anything, she wishes she has one of her very own. One that she can keep forever. So she decides to become a Rainbow Hunter! She searches high and...
'How to Catch a Rainbow' Activity Sheets
Explore all the colours of the rainbow with this activity sheet and colouring in sheet. About the Book Freya loves rainbows. She loves their bright colours and their curvy shape. More than anything, she wishes she has one of her very own. One that she can keep forever. So she decides to become a Rainbow Hunter! She searches high and low, but no rainbows are to be found, so she decides to make her own, collecting items in every colour of the rainbow from the garden. But when things don’t go...
'Bee Active' Activity Pack
Helping our planet can feel overwhelming at times, but every little action really does count, especially when lots of people join in. Just look at the busy bees and other pollinators for proof of what can be achieved. Together, these tiny insects make a HUGE difference. But now the pollinators need OUR help – and in this Bee Active Activity Pack there are some great suggestions for what we can do.
Roy of the Rovers Virtual Assembly
To kick off your summer, Rebellion Publishing and award-winning Children’s book author Tom Palmer invite you to join them in a fun and free assembly celebrating the fantastic football book series, Roy of the Rovers! With the series now spanning sixteen exciting instalments across illustrated fiction and graphic novel titles, this virtual assembly features an exciting introduction to Roy and his sister Rocky, a Q&A with Tom about how he writes the series, and exciting activities and...
Big Bright Feelings series by Tom Percival - digital pack
Bloomsbury Children’s Books has created an activity pack to promote Tom Percival’s Big Bright Feelings series, including the latest title, Milo’s Monster! Tom Percival’s Big Bright Feelings series is the perfect springboard for talking about mental and emotional health, positive self-image, building self-confidence and managing feelings. Every child’s bookshelf should contain his books. We would love to see you enjoying the resources by tagging KidsBloomsbury and using #BigBrightFeelings.
Ready for Spaghetti: Funny Poems for Funny Kids Library Event Pack
Fizzing with rhythm, energy and laughter, the 30 poems in Ready for Spaghetti delight in the details of children’s daily routines. Full of affectionate observations of young children, which are beautifully continued in Polly Dunbar’s warm-hearted pictures, Michael Rosen’s poems are ideal for reading aloud with toddlers! The packs include: - Downloadable Ready for Spaghetti storytelling tips - Downloadable Ready for Spaghetti teachers’ notes
The Reading Agency's July Booklist for Adults - Friendship
To mark World Friendship Day, also known as International Day of Friendship which takes place on 30 July this year, we have compiled a booklist focusing specifically on books written about friendship. Tell us what you think about these books or any others you have read by tagging us on social media @readingagency using #booklist.
The Reading Agency's September Booklist for Adults - International Translation Day
Every 30 September, English PEN hosts a programme of talks, workshops and networking opportunities for literary translators, in celebration of International Translation Day. To help you celebrate the best in translated fiction and international authors, we have created a booklist of 12 authors which includes short stories, poetry, non-fiction and lots of immersive stories. Tell us what you thought of any of the books on the list by tagging us on social media using #booklist and tagging...
The Reading Agency's August Booklist for Children & Young People - Escape with a Book
As lots of people head off on their holidays, we selected books that can transport a reader somewhere else even if they’re not going away. From picking up plastic pollution on a Caribbean Island to rural Ireland to Memphis, we hope these stories can help transport children and young people on exciting journeys this summer. Tell us what you thought of any of the books on the list by tagging us on social media using #booklist and tagging @readingagency!
The Marvellous Doctors for Magical Creatures by Jodie Lancet-Grant and Lydia Corry - digital pack
Unicorns with tummy trouble. Dragons with broken wings. Sneezy centaurs and mermaids with measles. Everyone in town knows just who to see when they are feeling poorly: Ava and her dads, The Marvellous Doctors for Magical Creatures. Well, Ava isn’t a doctor, not yet, but she’s learning the ropes and she’s brilliant at solving medical mysteries. Glitterbug the unicorn is not like all the other unicorns. They love dancing and planning parties, but she would much rather be frolicking in the mud....
National Reading Group Day - assets
Libraries and other organisations can download these social media assets to promote National Reading Group Day (28 September – new date). Contact readinggroups@readingagency.org.uk with any questions.
Read Between the Lies by Malcolm Duffy - Teachers' Resources
Two very different boys, one new family, a shared struggle and a big secret. Tommy is talented, cool, a young offender, and dyslexic. Ryan is smart, uncool, well-behaved, and dyslexic. The two develop an unlikely friendship. As Ryan helps Tommy to read, a secret is revealed that will change their lives forever. Prize-winning Malcolm Duffy’s third novel explores the joys and challenges of dyslexia in a story full of his hallmark heart and humour. For those 12+.
Oh No, George! 10th Anniversary - library and school digital packs
It’s hard work being good all the time – and it’s especially hard for a dog like George! Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, Oh No, George! is a laugh-out-loud, visual romp from the acclaimed author-illustrator, Chris Haughton. The digital packs include: - Downloadable Oh No, George! activity sheets - Downloadable Oh No, George! storytelling tips - Downloadable Oh No, George! teachers’ notes We would love to see you enjoying the resources on social media using #OhNoGeorge and tagging...
The Reading Agency's July Booklist for Children & Young People- Friendship
To mark World Friendship Day, also known as International Day of Friendship which takes place on 30th July this year we have created a booklist of titles about friendship in all its forms.
Hope on the Horizon by Onjali Q. Raúf - School Resources
“No one is too small to make a change.” Growing up, there is so much out of our control and so much we can feel helpless about. But together, we can make a difference. In this inspiring and practical handbook, bestselling children’s author and Human Rights campaigner, Onjali Raúf, shares her top ten ways for creating change. With the help of her favourite fictional characters and some of the most inspiring people she has ever met, Onjali invites readers to dive in and discover everything...
National Reading Group Day Chatterbooks pack
In this Chatterbooks activity pack you’ll find some great suggestions for Chatterbooks groups to celebrate National Reading Group Day together. National Reading Group Day is on 14 September, but you can use the pack at any time. The activities are aimed at helping children get to know each other, share reading and learn about the library. We hope you enjoy using this pack.
Secrets of an Undercover Activist by Nat Amoore - teaching resources and activity pack
Secrets of an Undercover Activist is the outrageous story of three best friends, one greedy mayor and a whole lot of pranking, by Nat Amoore! This book is suitable for readers aged 8+ Casey Wu tries to stay out of the spotlight, which is why no one would suspect her of being the mastermind behind a string of attention-grabbing stunts. Together with best friends Zeke and Cookie, she is part of Green Peas – a secret activist organisation designed to make adults sit up and pay attention to...
Ghostcloud by Michael Mann - digital pack
Catch the wind. Find your freedom. Kidnapped and forced to shovel coal underneath a half-bombed, blackened power station, 12-year-old Luke’s life is miserable. Then, he discovers he can see things others can’t. Ghostly things. Specifically, a ghost-girl named Alma. Alma, who can ride clouds through the night sky and bend their shape to her will, befriends Luke. And with Alma’s help, Luke discovers he is in fact a rare being – half-human and half-something else… Then Luke learns the terrible...
Summer Reading Challenge x StoryTrails additional apps and ideas
Additional apps and ideas for StoryTrails x Summer Reading Challenge activities Download Other SRCxST Resources Get Immersive with the Gadgeteers Activity Toolkit Get Immersive with the Gadgeteers Schools Activity Toolkit Welsh Get Immersive with the Gadgeteers Activity Toolkit Welsh Additional Resources and Activities Welsh Get Immersive with the Gadgeteers Schools Activity Toolkit StoryTrails Comms and Activity Toolkit Welsh StoryTrails Comms and Activity Toolkit
Summer Reading Challenge x StoryTrails
StoryTrails is a unique, immersive storytelling experience. It aims to allow local people to experience their town in a completely new way through immersive technology, including augmented and virtual reality. People will be able to use this new technology to travel back in time, experiencing untold histories from their local community. The Summer Reading Challenge is an annual reading engagement programme delivered by The Reading Agency. It aims to tackle the summer reading ‘dip’ by...
Leilong's Too Long! and Leilong the Library Bus activity pack
Teacher notes for Leilong the Library Bus and Leilong’s Too Long! (pdf) A Leilong’s Too Long! colouring in sheet (pdf) A video of the illustrator painting a mural in a children’s library, based on the book (mp4) A look inside book trailer for Leilong’s Too Long! and Leilong the Library Bus (mp4) Assets for sharing on social media
'Autumn Moonbeam' Activities
Dive into the world of Autumn Moonbeam with this activity pack, including puzzles, a recipe and instructions to create a puppet theatre. THE BOOK Autumn Moonbeam loves gymnastics and dance so when Sparkledale Dance Academy have tryouts for their competitive dance team, Black Cats, she thinks it’s the most broom-tastic opportunity ever! Just one problem, Autumn is nervous and worries she won’t make it onto the team. And then she discovers that her nasty neighbour Severina Bloodworth, who is...
The Encyclopedia of STEM Words display and activity pack
This pack contains: Downloadable STEM words colouring sheet (pdf) Downloadable illustrations to print out and display (pdf) Downloadable A4 ‘the A-Z of STEM Words’ poster (pdf)
Join the adventure club with Jess Butterworth - activity pack
Join the adventure club this summer and embark on the journey of a lifetime. Instil a love of reading and adventure with your class with this fantastic series by much-loved author Jess Butterworth – writer of classic adventure stories in vibrantly described settings. Journey to Nepal to meet red pandas, to India to search for endangered tigers, and to the Arctic circle to find polar bears in the first three books in this brilliant new series. At the end of each book there’s a wildlife...
When I See Blue by Lily Bailey – Teaching Resources
An unforgettable, heartfelt story about life with OCD and the unique power of friendship, from inspiring author and mental health activist, Lily Bailey. Perfect for readers of A Kind of Spark and The Goldfish Boy. About the Book New town, new school, but the bully is in Ben’s head… There are 4 things you should know about Ben: 1. He’s 12 years old 2. He’s the new kid at school 3. His special number is 4 4. He has a bully in his brain Sometimes Ben’s brain makes him count to 4 to prevent bad...
The Reading Agency's June Booklist for Children & Young People - Around the World/Refugee Week
This month we are celebrating books set in different countries and those by authors and illustrators from around the world! Read on to be transported to Mumbai, Paris, Nigeria and many other locations across the globe and discover Samurai, the Northern Lights and even a tomato-throwing festival along the way! We have also compiled a booklist focusing specifically on books written by and about refugees or former refugees. This is to mark Refugee Week, which takes place from 20-26 June 2022....
The Reading Agency's June Booklist for Adults - Refugee Week
This month, we have compiled a booklist focusing specifically on books written by and about refugees or former refugees. This is to mark Refugee Week, which takes place from 20-26 June 2022. Here you will find a range of fiction and non-fiction books that explore the struggles, achievements, bravery, resilience and strength of refugees around the world.
'Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale' Teaching Resources
This Teachers’ Resource pack is full of activities for KS2 Teachers and Librarians to use with their students based on ‘Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale’. The subjects included are literacy, Art, Design & Technology, and PSHE. About the Book Meet explorers, inventors, and mighty sky whales in this richly inventive fantasy, perfect for 9+ fans of BRIGHTSTORM and ORPHANS OF THE TIDE. Zeina Starborn spends her days dreaming of adventure in the sky and escaping the smog-filled city of...
