Digital Resources for Lockdown
We have pulled together some fantastic resources for Children and Young People, Adults and Teachers to support you during Lockdown.
Children and Young People
Toolkit for online events
As events continue to move to online formats, we have created a toolkit to support libraries and other organisations to host their own author Q&As, panel discussions and readings.
Brilliant books by black authors and illustrators – Booklist
Children’s and Young People booklist – Brilliant books by black authors and illustrators available here.
How to run a virtual reading group with children and young people
Are you wondering how your reading group can continue to meet, even while you’re social distancing? With restricted access to public and school libraries many children and families at home are looking for activities to keep children entertained. We know that books are so important to provide comfort, solace and escapism as well as fun.
Virtual reading groups can help children with their confidence through talking about books, and to encourage them to read more widely. In this resource we share some suggestions on how you can still run a regular reading group with the children and young people you work with virtually.
January 2021 Children’s and Young People booklist – Something New
As we enter a new year and find ourselves in lockdown, we wanted the first booklist of the year for children and young people to focus on books that we hope will inspire them to learn a new skill, support them during this hard time or have characters who they can escape into an adventure with. We hope there is something for everyone to enjoy. You can find all of our recent booklists for children and young people here.
Chatterbooks resources for children 5 – 12
We have hundreds of brilliant, free resources to download from our Chatterbooks resources page. This month there are digital packs for Storytime and Rhymetime, Gender Swapped Fairy Tales lesson plans, Teachers’ Notes about The History of African and Caribbean Communities in Britain and a spooktacular digital pack of videos and discussion points for the new YA horror, The Witching Stone.
Reading Well for Children
Reading Well for children provides quality-assured information, stories and advice to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. Books have been chosen and recommended by leading health professionals and co-produced with children and families.
The booklist is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 (aged 7-11), but includes titles aimed at a wide range of reading levels to support less confident readers, and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers.
The books are available to borrow from your local library. Selected titles are also available to borrow as e-books and audiobooks. Visit your local library website to find out how to join the library and access books electronically.
Browse the books on the list here or download a full overview of the titles here.
Reading Well – Young people’s mental health
Reading Well for young people (named Shelf Help) recommends expert endorsed books about mental health, providing 13 to 18 year olds with advice and information about issues like anxiety, stress and OCD, and difficult experiences like bullying and exams. Find out more here. The books have all been recommended by young people and health professionals and are available to borrow for free from public libraries.
Winter Mini Challenge
The Reading Agency’s Winter Mini Challenge has been extended to the 19th February! Users will be able to continue using the website and adding books to their profile (even if they’ve already read three books and completed the Challenge) – and look out for new activities in the coming weeks too! You can sign up to the Challenge at www.wintermini.org.uk where you’ll find lots more information on this year’s theme – Everyone Is A Hero and our partner Knights Of have created a booklist which can be found here and are listed in age categories.
Reading Hack resources for young people
You can find our resources aimed at young people here.
Roald and Beatrix activity pack
Available to download here.
Adults
Resources for adults and reading groups
We have hundreds of resources on discussion guides, articles from authors and more for adults and reading groups to enjoy on our Reading Groups for Everyone resources page.
Why don’t you shadow one of the Book Prizes this lockdown?
Why not find out more about book prizes such as the Booker Prize with our Readers’ Guides.
Reading Groups for Everyone
Being part of a reading group is a fantastic way to keep in touch with friends, or meet new people, while discovering new books. On readinggroups.org you can register your group or find one to join, read the latest book news and access exclusive offers from publishers to receive books for your group. There are also lots of recommendations to help you choose your next read.
Reading Friends Stay Connected Resources
Creative Writing Guide from Kerry Hudson
Teachers
Find a Read page from Teachers’ Reading Challenge
Have you visited our TES page?
To stay up to date with all our news and resources, join our mailing list.
