18 December 2020
December 2020 Children's and Young People booklist - Winter Wonderland
As we head into the grey and cold, we thought that we would share some great books set during the Winter or set in beautiful winter wonderlands. We have some classics, lovely illustrated stories and some thrilling page-turners. You can...
02 December 2020
December 2020 Children's and Young People booklist - Books of the Year
It’s been another year of fantastic books and we’re delighted to present our Books of the Year list for 2020 for children and young people. Our staff have chosen their top recommendations of new books from the year. You can...
05 November 2020
November 2020 Children's and Young People booklist - Non-fiction
For Non-Fiction November, we have created a list filled with the best non-fiction for children and young people. There are memoirs, essay collections and books with great advice. You can join in with the conversation online using #NonFictionBooklist and tagging us...
07 October 2020
October 2020 Children's and Young People booklist - Powerful Poetry
The fantastic National Poetry Day shines a spotlight on how much fun and important poetry is. We have created a booklist with some of our favourite rhyming picture books, poetry collections and books written in verse. You can join in with...
02 September 2020
September 2020 Children's and Young People booklist - Back to School Books
Starting back at school can be an anxious time for lots of children and young people, let alone after the Covid-19 lockdown. To help support this transition, we have created a booklist of stories where characters face issues that some...
05 August 2020
August 2020 - Comics, graphic novels and illustrated books booklists for children and young people
This month our booklist features comics, graphic novels and illustrated books that we think will draw children and young people into the story. We love comics, graphic novels and books that have beautiful illustrations, as well as being fun they...
28 July 2020
Tricks and Jokes Chatterbooks Activity Pack
In this Chatterbooks activity pack you’ll find some great suggestions for funny books to explore, read and enjoy together. Inspired by Lily the Frog from the Summer Reading Challenge’s Silly Squad, this pack will focus on her favourite things, jokes...
17 July 2020
July 2020 - The Great Outdoors booklist for children and young people
This month our booklist is about books that immerse a reader in an environment, where the setting plays an important part to the plot or shows the beauty of nature. We’ve picked some brilliant poetry, picture books, non-fiction and chapter...
10 June 2020
How to host a virtual book club with your class article
Are you wondering how your reading group can continue to meet, even while you’re social distancing? With so many children and families at home, we know that books are so important to provide comfort, solace and escapism. Staying connected and keeping your...
10 June 2020
Why reading for pleasure is vital and how to encourage your students to read for enjoyment article
This article shares some of the research that outlines the importance of reading for pleasure as well as some ideas to promote reading for pleasure in your school. Make sure you visit our School Zone on the Summer Reading Challenge website...
10 June 2020
How schools can get involved with Summer Reading Challenge 2020 article
The Summer Reading Challenge, presented by The Reading Agency and funded by Arts Council England, encourages children aged 4 to 11 to set themselves a reading challenge to help prevent the summer reading ‘dip’. For the Summer Reading Challenge 2020, we are...
04 June 2020
Colouring resource: Poster by Johanna Basford
Print off this super silly poster from the queen of colouring Johanna Basford, and then follow along with her colouring-in tips on the Summer Reading Challenge Facebook page!
04 June 2020
June 2020 - Pride booklist for children and young people
June is Pride Month, so it is the perfect time to share our favourite LGBTQ+ positive books for children and young people. These books highlight family dynamics and stories to help develop the values of acceptance and kindness towards themselves...
01 June 2020
Funny Fiction Chatterbooks activity pack
Ahead of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge when we will all get silly we’re celebrating all things funny. Here’s our Funny Fiction Chatterbooks pack with a bumper collection of some of the latest funny books for children…and some old favourites....
30 April 2020
The Reading Agency Hub
Here you can access The Reading Agency at home. You’ll find ideas, activities and challenges from across our programmes to entertain and educate yourself, your family or those you are teaching remotely. The activities will be refreshed every couple of weeks...
09 December 2019
The Reading Agency Books 2019 - Children and young people booklist
Every year, the staff at The Reading Agency enjoy picking and sharing our favourite books for children and young people. We have three booklists of the books we have loved the most from 2019: picture and illustrated books, books for...
30 September 2019
The Golden Cage by Anna Castagnoli and Carll Cneut - activity pack
Valentina the emperor’s daughter is an obsessive collector of exotic birds. Her servants track down every bird she desires – just one remains unfound: a bird that talks. Servants search far and wide to fulfill her impossible quest – and...
26 September 2019
October 2019 Children's and Young People booklist - Powerful Poetry
To help you celebrate National Poetry Day on 3 October, we have created a booklist of our favourite works of poetry for children and young people. There are classics as well as newly published books – all selected to help...
18 September 2019
Tiny and Teeny by Chris Judge - activity sheets
Welcome to Pocket Town, the teeniest, tiniest town around… Deep down, in between the blades of grass, lives Tiny. Can you see her? Keep looking … closer still … squint a bit … yes, there she is! Tiny keeps very busy...
06 August 2019
September 2019 Children's and Young People booklist - Back to School Books
Our September booklist for children and young people is a selection of our favourite books either set in a school or about starting a new academic year. It includes picture books, guides for teenagers, a graphic novel and some amazing...
30 April 2019
We're Going on a Bear Hunt Let's Discover Baby Animals, Flowers and Trees - book trailer
Inspiring and fun guides to baby animals, flowers and trees featuring artwork from the animated special of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. In these fun-filled guides to baby animals, flowers and trees, eager readers will learn all about spring time...
04 April 2019
Nature and wildlife Chatterbooks pack
Inspired by the arrival of Spring and the celebration of Earth Day on 22 April, we’ve created this Chatterbooks pack full of reading recommendations and activity ideas featuring books about the natural world, wildlife and our environment. You can also download...
04 February 2019
February 2019 Children's booklist - letters, diaries and memoirs
Letters, Diaries and Memoirs This month we have loved picking our favourite picture and illustrated and middle grade books which are either written in letter or diary form or are memoirs. We have also selected six books for this theme perfect for...
02 November 2018
A Society of Readers - executive summary
A new report that we commissioned from leading independent think tank Demos lays out the central role reading must play in helping to address many of the most pressing challenges British society will face over the next decade. Read the...
02 November 2018
A Society of Readers
A new report lays out the central role reading must play in helping to address many of the most pressing challenges British society will face over the next decade. Read the full report and share your thoughts on Twitter and...
07 August 2018
A First Book of the Sea by By Nicola Davies - Teachers' notes
A stunning anthology that blends poetry and information about the sea, from an award-winning team. From Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton, the multi award-winning team behind Tiny and Lots, comes a spellbinding collection of poems about the oceans of the...
05 July 2018
Think Like an Engineer by Usborne - activity booklet
Think Like an Engineer activity booklet Usborne have created a fantastic activity pack to help inspire children with engineering. They can find out what it takes to be an awesome engineer in this free activity booklet, filled with problems to solve,...
05 July 2018
The Girls with the Lost Smile by Miranda Hart - Event Pack
FIND YOUR SMILE using this fun The Girl with the Lost Smile event pack! The Girl with the Lost Smile Chloe Long has lost her smile. She’s looked everywhere for it. (Under her pillow. Under her bed. Under her nose. Obviously.) She’s tried...
04 July 2018
The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale - Event Kit
The Princess in Black Who says princesses can’t wear black? When trouble raises its blue monster head, Princess Magnolia ditches her flouncy dresses and becomes the Princess in Black. The first in a funny, action-packed series for young readers who like their...
18 June 2018
Royal Society Young People's Book Prize - Chatterbooks Activity Pack
The Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize aims to inspire young people to read about science and promotes the writing of excellent, accessible books for under-14s. We have created a Chatterbooks Pack featuring this year’s brilliant shortlisted titles. There are...
