Resources
Icebreaker questions
You’ve read your book and come together with your group to discuss it, but where do you begin? Sometimes it can be difficult to know what to talk about first, so these handy questions will help to break the ice and get the conversation flowing. Looking to start a reading group? You can also download our How to start a reading group guide, and a social media guide to show how you can share your reading with others online.
Yearbook 2022 booklist
The results are in! To celebrate National Reading Group Day, we asked you for your recommendations for our 2022 Yearbook – the books that have made your group laugh, cry debate and more over the past year. We loved reading your recommendations and had a hard time selecting which books to put on our list. We hope that you enjoy them!
How to start a reading group
Interested in joining a reading group or starting one of your own? Download our quick guide to getting started. You can also download icebreaker questions to help get your discussion started, and a social media guide to show how you can share your reading with others online.
'Otters vs Badgers' Activity Sheets
Activity sheets based on ‘Otters vs Badgers’ by Anya Glazer.
'The Breakfast Club Adventures' Activity Pack
This activity pack is for pupils in Years 3 – 6, to help them explore ‘The Breakfast Club Adventures’. It includes an extract of the first chapter. The accompanying Teachers’ Notes can be found here.
'The Breakfast Club Adventures' Teachers' Guide
This resource includes support and guidance for teachers using ‘The Breakfast Club Adventures’ in your classroom. It should be used alongside the children’s activity pack. It’s aimed at Years 4 – 6.
'The Snail and the Whale' Outdoor Activity Pack
This pack contains outdoor activities you can do to explore the themes for Julia Donalson and Axel Sceffler’s ‘The Snail and the Whale’.
'My Granny is a Queen' Teacher Resources
Teaching resources to accompany ‘My Granny is a Queen’ for Early Years, Reception and Year One classes, from Oxford Children’s Books.
The Lost Girl King by Catherine Doyle - Digital Pack
To celebrate the publication of The Lost Girl King by Catherine Doyle, Bloomsbury Children’s Books are offering an incredible digital pack filled with engaging and inspiring resources. The pack includes: - A sneak peek extract - Discussion notes and teaching resources - An A3 Praise poster - A selection of social media assets Join in the fun and share photos on social media using #TheLostGirlKing and tagging @KidsBloomsbury, @doyle_cat and @readingagency. It is from your feedback and online...
Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Taking the Blame – digital packs
Second in the series as Norse god Loki grumbles, snarks and doodles his way through his enchanted diary, recording the highs and (mostly) lows of living on Earth as an eleven-year-old boy. Loki might not have shown any moral improvement (yet) but Odin has given him another chance to prove himself worthy of Asgard by keeping Earth safe from the threat of Frost Giants. But eleven-year-old Loki has more important things to worry about: Parents Evening. After a series of 1-star reviews from his...
'The Swallow's Flight' Activities for KS2
Explore the themes of Hilary McKay’s ‘The Swallow’s Flight’ with your KS2 students with this activity pack and discussion notes. Curriculum Areas covered are: Literacy, History, Science, Geography, Drama and Art.
'Kidnap on the California Comet' Teachers and Librarians Notes
Activities to run in your classroom or library to explore the themes of American Geography & Culture, The Environment, Modes of Transport and Magic Tricks & Spy Skills. ‘Kidnap on the California Comet’ is part of the ‘Adventures on Trains’ series by M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman.
'I Love Me' Activity Sheets
‘I Love Me’ is a first book of positive affirmations – perfect for building confidence and self-esteem in very young children. These activity sheets are based off the book by Marvyn Harrison and Diane Ewen.
'Hello Dinosaur' Activity Sheet
Colouring page from the ‘Hello Dinosaur’ book series, illustrated by David Partington.
'The Gruffalo' Activity Sheets
Activity sheets to use in your library to accompany Julia Donalson and Axel Scheffler’s ‘The Gruffalo Little Library’
Social Media Guide
Reading Groups for Everyone is full of opportunities for reading groups, but publishers are often looking for feedback and reviews in return. They are also increasingly looking for groups who will share their thoughts on social media platforms. If you or your group aren’t familiar with social media, this can seem daunting. We’ve put together a simple social media guide which will enable you to take part and get up to date. Download the guide by clicking the link below. Looking to start a...
Cranthorpe Millner Publishers - spotlight
Cranthorpe Millner Publishers is an independent publisher based in Cambridge. Their first big title was Shaun Wallace’s autobiography, Chasing the Dream, which we published October 2018, and now they have a catalogue of just over 50 authors, though their aim is to stay small, releasing between 20-40 titles per year. To highlight an exciting, upcoming through months they have selected some of their upcoming titles to highlight and there is even some fantastic POS available for World Mental...
Lego City Activity Sheets
Lego City needs you! Help the City Rangers and the Police with these activity sheets.
'Dear Zoo' Activity Sheets
Celebrate 40 years of Rod Campbell’s ‘Dear Zoo’ with these activity sheets, perfect for children aged 2-4.
'Dear Zoo' Lesson Plans
These Lesson Plans for Early Years are perfect for using Rod Campbell’s ‘Dear Zoo’ to run activities in the following areas of learning: Personal, Social and Emotional, Communication and Language, and Mathematics.
'Danger at Dead Man's Pass' Activity Pack for Teachers and Librarians
Explore the themes of ‘Adventures on Trains’ series by M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman, with subjects including Literacy, PSHE, History, Geographt, Art, Design & Technology and MFL
'Can You See Little Elephant?' Dot to Dot
Join up the dots with this ‘Can You See Little Elephant?’ activity sheet, illustrated by Émilie Lapeyre.
Celebrate Coding Week with Agent Asha - digital pack
Walker Books would love to join you in celebrating Coding Week with a special offer for libraries nationwide. Computer code just got dangerous in this new action-packed spy adventure series from Sophie Deen “This rip-roaring secret agent caper for seven-plus is full of algorithms, debugging – broken down and engagingly explained – and fart jokes.” Guardian Sophie Deen is back with a brand new mission. Asha is suspicious when evil teenage trillionaire Shelly Belly proposes to cut down all the...
The Little Wartime Library Bookclub Kit
Based on true events, The Little Wartime Library is a book that remembers one of the greatest resistance stories of the war. This bookclub kit includes discussion questions, recipes, suggested reading list, a book trail and more.
Nura and the Immortal Palace by M. T. Khan - digital pack
A magical and page-turning adventure following a young girl’s journey from the mines of Pakistan into the treacherous world of the jinn… Nura has worked all her life in the mica mines, earning just enough to keep her family afloat – and to enjoy the odd delicious gulab jamun from the market. Some day she’s going to find the Demon’s Tongue, a legendary treasure buried deep in the mines, and she’ll never have to worry about money again. Then a terrible accident in the mine buries her best...
The Reading Agency's September Booklist for Children and Young People - Back to School
For many children and young people, September marks the start of the new school year, a time that can be both exciting and daunting. We have created a booklist for all children, from nursey school age through to secondary students, related to school. There are novels about subjects they will enjoy this academic year as well as books about friendship, fitting in and being brave. Tell us what you thought of any of the books on the list by tagging us on social media using #booklist and tagging...
'Busy Party' Activity Sheet
Colour your own bunting with this activity sheet from for ‘Busy Party’, illustrated by Jill Howarth.
'Adventures on Trains' Activity Pack
Activity sheets full of puzzles inspired by the ‘Adventures on Trains’ book series.
'Tales from Acorn Wood' Activity Pack
Fun activities inspired by the ‘Tales from Acorn Wood’ series by Julia Donaldson and Axel Sceffler, including spot the difference, drawing and colouring.
The Reading Agency’s October booklist for Adults – Poetry
Celebrate National Poetry Day on 6 October and share the magic of poetry. From queer culture and explorations of grief to the power of hope and healing, take a dive into the world of poetry and get inspired today. Tell us what you thought of any of the books on the list by tagging us on social media using #booklist and tagging @readingagency!
