Reading for pleasure is more important for children’s cognitive development than their parents’ level of education
Chatterbooks
What is Chatterbooks?
Chatterbooks reading clubs help children build a lifelong reading habit. Because everything changes when we read.
The groups are run by librarians, teachers, teaching assistants, or volunteers – anyone with a passion for reading. Chatterbooks is a flexible model that can be used with children from 4 up to 12, for all different abilities and in targeted or mixed groups. There are typically 10 to 15 children in a Chatterbooks club. In a library setting, Chatterbooks reading clubs often meet monthly. In a school setting, the clubs meet weekly or fortnightly.
Our Research
Chatterbooks started in 2001 and is now the UK’s largest network of children’s reading groups. We estimate that almost 9,000 children belong to Chatterbooks groups, which are run in libraries and schools to generate discussion and encourage children to enjoy reading.
1 in 4 children don’t reach the expected level of reading by the age of 11
Get involved
To run a Chatterbooks reading club, you need a meeting space, a session plan, and books for the children to borrow.
We offer free downloadable activity packs each month, plus recommended book lists on different themes.
Each session should last a minimum of 40 minutes (many Chatterbooks clubs meet for 1 to 1.5 hours).
“I’ve always been a total bookworm and practically lived in my local library when I was a child. I wish I’d been able to join a Chatterbooks reading group then. It would have been such fun to make new friends and discuss all our favourite books. Lots of members write to me and send me their stories and drawings and book reviews – they obviously love being part of a Chatterbooks group.”
– Dame Jacqueline Wilson
Here are five top tips for when you’re starting off your club
- Buy a Chatterbooks group leader’s toolkit, or invest in a training day for staff. [LINK]
- Sign up to our Children and Young People’s Reading News newsletter [LINK]
- If you work in a school, contact your local library and School Library Service and plan what you can do together.
- Have a mix of activities available for each meeting (look out for our themed activity packs and publisher promotions.
- Ask the children what they want to read and talk about – Chatterbooks is their club!
- Read our Chatterbooks FAQs [LINK]
Resources
The Week Junior Big Book of Knowledge - Activity Pack
*How much would someone pay for a painting done by a pig? Why did a Japanese company send a hamster to space? What do Star…
Penguin and Pup: The Perfect Christmas by Hazel Gardner - Activity Sheets
Penguin is thoughtful, kind and loyal. He can be a bit cautious with new things, and he’s very sensible. Pup, on the other hand, is…
What on Earth! Always Curious for Non-fiction November - Digital Assets
*What on Earth! is a small but mighty independent publisher of illustrated children’s non-fiction books. Everything we create is lovingly crafted, visually compelling, highly giftable…
The Daughter of Auschwitz (Children's Adaptation) by Tova Friedman - digital assets and videos
*The true story of one girl's fight for survival against the unspeakable terror of Auschwitz - an important and sensitive retelling.* Tova Friedman was just…
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Summer of Reading Resources
Are you looking for activities to keep your family busy over the summer? You’re in the right place. The organisations that are bringing you the Summer of Reading have lots of activities to share. There are read-alongs, games, quizzes, book clubs and so much more.
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