Tag: reading

World Book Day: BBC relaunches 500 Words children’s writing competition

The UK’s most successful children’s writing competition, 500 Words, will relaunch this September, supported by BBC Teach with BBC Breakfast hosting the initiative for 2023. 

The announcement comes on World Book Day.

The BBC is now searching for teachers and librarians across the UK to register their interest in joining the judging panel to help choose the best entries later this year.

500 Words is a UK wide competition to find the most talented young writers. Since it was first launched by Chris Evans on The Radio 2 Breakfast Show in 2011 and continued by Zoe Ball until 2020, the competition has received over a million stories written by children, generating more than 440 million words to date.

Once again, the competition will enjoy the support of Her Majesty The Queen Consort. Her Majesty has a longstanding commitment to championing literacy and creative writing, and has supported the 500 Words competition every year since 2015.

In a recent conversation with BookTrust and Joseph Coelho, the Children’s Laureate, to mark this year’s World Book Day, The Queen Consort spoke about the importance of creative writing competitions like 500 Words and Her Majesty’s ‘joy’ that the competition is being relaunched. 

Joseph Coelho said: “Putting pen to paper doesn’t have to be that scary, which is what is so wonderful about 500 Words. There are no rules!”

The Queen Consort replied: “There’s no rules – they can sit down and write exactly what they like.”

New for 2023, World Book Day ambassador Sir Lenny Henry will be making his debut on the 500 Words judging panel, alongside the original judges – award-winning and best-selling authors Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Francesca Simon, Charlie Higson and former Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman. 

Lenny will also read a special CBeebies Bedtime Story to celebrate World Book Day on 2 March. He will read Luna Loves World Book Day by Joseph Coelho, a story about a little girl’s excitement to dress up as her favourite book character, meet an author and illustrator and buy a new book with her book token.

The grand final will take place on World Book Day 2024, where 50 finalists will be invited to a star-studded event at a special location. Previous locations for the final have included Windsor Castle, Hampton Court and the Tower of London. 

With a focus on primary schools, the entries will be split into two age categories – 5-7 year olds and 8-11 year olds. 

Chief Content Officer at BBC, Charlotte Moore said: “We are thrilled to once again host the 500 Words competition and help discover a range of young authors with big imaginations. It is fantastic that the competition will be supported by The Queen Consort and we do hope teachers and librarians across the UK will get involved in this chance to help find the writers of tomorrow.”

Author and 500 Words judge, Charlie Higson said: “I am so excited to take part in this year’s 500 Words! We can’t wait to see what stories today’s kids want to tell. I know that my fellow judges and I will be laughing, crying, gasping and I’m sure left feeling amazed at all the talent on display.”

BBC Breakfast presenter, Jon Kay said: “We are delighted to be championing 500 Words and look forward to the no doubt stellar entries from talented, aspiring young writers up and down the country that are sure to follow in due course.”

Teachers and librarians can find out more information about volunteering to take part in the first round of judging  at BBC Teach. The Reading Agency will then whittle down the entries into a top 50, which are then passed onto the final judging panel who will select the bronze, silver and gold winners in each of the two age categories. The competition is focused on imagination and creativity, rather than spelling, punctuation or grammar, encouraging children of all abilities to enter. 

To help raise awareness in schools, encourage as many entries from young creative minds as possible and provide further support for teachers, BBC Teach will run the competition in partnership with World Book Day, The Reading Agency, Libraries Connected, The Publishers Association and Oxford University Press. 

A host of famous faces will read out the six winning stories, with narrators from previous years including the likes of Dua Lipa, Benedict Cumberbatch and Jodie Whittaker. 

This World Book Day, half a million children in UK don’t own a single book

As reading attainment rises in schools, reading for pleasure continues its sharp decline

To mark World Book Day 2023, the charity is calling on teachers, carers and parents to ensure that reading for pleasure is encouraged as much as reading attainment, in and outside of schools.

While reading was the only core subject which saw attainment levels improve in 2022, (at Key Stage 2, 75% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, up from 73% in 2019. 28% of pupils reached the higher standard in reading, up from 27% in 2019[2]), the National Literacy Trust’s Annual Literacy Survey shows that the number of children who say they enjoy it is in serious decline. 

Reading for pleasure is not just a ‘nice to have’, it is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income.

However, reading for pleasure is at its lowest levels in 18 years; fewer than one in two (47.8%) children aged 8 to 18 said they enjoyed reading in 2022, the lowest level since 2005. This is even lower for children growing up in poverty; fewer children and young people who receive Free School Meals (FSMs) said they enjoyed reading compared with their peers who do not receive FSMs (43.8% vs. 48.8%). The percentage-point-gap between these groups has more than doubled from 2.1pp to 5pp, between 2020 and 2022.

The cost of living is putting the biggest squeeze on family budgets in years and creating further barriers to reading for pleasure, with almost two thirds (64%) of parents saying they currently have less money to spend on books for their children than before.  500,000 (1 in 15; 6.5%) children in England aged 8 – 18 say they don’t own a single book, which rises to one in 10 (9.7%) for those eligible for Free School Meals. Over one in five (22.4%) pupils receiving free school meals said that the book they ‘bought’ with their World Book Day book token was the first book of their own.

This year, the charity World Book Day has focused on a large number of initiatives and provided guidance to ensure anyone can take part and experience the joy and inspiration of reading, regardless of household income. 

This includes ideas for no or low-cost costumes or costume swaps, book swaps or other free activities in school or community groups. There is also advice on how to fundraise more inclusively, focusing more on reading over other aspects such as dressing up.

Fewer boys than girls said they enjoyed reading (45.6% vs. 54.9%) and fewer than 3 in 10 (28.0%) children and young people aged 8 to 18 said that they read daily, the second-lowest level since the National Literacy Trust survey began. Boys who receive Free School Meals had the lowest levels of reading enjoyment, with just 2 in 5 (39.8%) enjoying reading; a drop of 6.5 per cent since 2020.

Children and young people who take part in World Book Day activities enjoy reading more compared with their peers who don’t take part – 63.8% vs 48.4%, while 54.7% read more books as a result of World Book Day.

Parents surveyed by the charity said that 50% of children find reading more fun because of World Book Day, 48% make more time to read and 49% feel they have more choice in what they read because of it. Children who are the most engaged with literacy are also three times more likely to have higher levels of mental wellbeing than those who are the least engaged (39.4% vs 11.8%.)

In its 25th year in 2022, World Book Day distributed 50 million £1 book tokens through schools, nurseries, magazines and partnerships, to enable children to get a book of their own, for free.

Cassie Chadderton, CEO of World Book Day comments: “World Book Day exists to encourage more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to benefit from a life-long habit of reading for pleasure. Many families are facing financial challenges so we want all children, families, schools and communities to feel welcome to celebrate the joy of reading in ways that work for them.

“There are lots of affordable, inclusive and of course, enjoyable ways to create joy and excitement around reading. Dressing up is a great way to encourage children to read, and we’ve shared ideas for other fun activities and resources to help schools, nurseries and families to work together to create a World Book Day where everyone feels included. The joy of reading cannot be underestimated in terms of improved wellbeing and the improved life chances it can lead to.”

Jonathan Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust, said: “World Book Day is an important moment to inspire and delight children with the wonder of books and a powerful platform to reinforce the importance of building literacy skills for life – this is even more essential during times of economic hardship.

“Economic studies have shown that reading for pleasure can result in children getting better GCSEs, in turn boosting their lifetime earnings and raising the UK’s GDP. In the future, my hope is that more children will grow up to be adults who read and that reading and books are part of their world.”

Letters: RNIB and World Book Day

Dear Editor,

Children across the UK will be stepping into their imaginations and dressing up as their favourite characters for World Book Day this Thursday on March 2nd.

Here at the Royal National Institute of Blind people (RNIB), we want to make sure that children with vision impairments can celebrate the power of reading on World Book Day – and every day of the year – alongside their fully sighted peers. This means giving them access to the same books and reading opportunities at school and at home.

That’s why we’re so excited that, for the first time, we have accessible electronic versions of all this year’s World Book Day titles available to download as part of our RNIB Library (www.rniblibrary.com). This means that all learners with a print disability can get them at the same time as their friends and classmates!

This year’s range of books includes Lenny Henry’s ‘The Boy with Wings; Attack of the Rampaging Robot’, ‘Lifesize Creepy Crawlies’ by Sophy Henn and the hilarious ‘Bedtime for the Burpee Bears’ by Joe Wicks and Paul Howard.

There’s something to suit beginner-readers right through to confident book-lovers. So whether your child is dreaming of being able to fly or spinning webs like Spiderman, there’s sure to be something to spark their imagination.

The books are also available in braille and audio CD and can be ordered through RNIB’s Helpline on 0303 123 9999.

On behalf of all at RNIB, we wish you an amazing, word-filled World Book Day!

James Bartlett

Senior Manager Reading Services, RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People)

Charity to gift books via food banks to combat cost of living crisis

National charity Scottish Book Trust has unveiled plans to give free books to children and families visiting food banks this winter, as the country faces the cost of living crisis.

With overwhelming demand to help children and families living in increasingly challenging circumstances, the charity has launched an urgent Christmas fundraising appeal. The rising cost of living means more children do not have books at home, with over half of parents saying books are too expensive.1

Research has also shown one in five households on low incomes in Scotland have already gone hungry and cold this year, with over a quarter of families with children cutting back on their child needs such as food or childcare, rising to almost 30% for low-income families.

Marc Lambert, CEO Scottish Book Trust, commented: “This Christmas is looking very stark for so many families across Scotland. Access to books is essential for a child’s development.

“Without books at home children are missing out and we know the impact of this lasts a lifetime. The simple pleasure of owning a book can make a huge difference in children’s lives, bringing comfort, escapism and togetherness in families.

“Every family deserves a little magic at Christmas and donations to our appeal will be helping Scottish Book Trust deliver more vital work to support those most in need this Christmas.”

Books help families bond, bring joy and comfort, give children a sense of escapism and, importantly, improve their mental health and wellbeing. Research conducted by Scottish Book Trust revealed that 85% of parents from Scotland’s most deprived areas said that reading helps them bond with their child and that reading makes their children happy, while 95% of all parents in Scotland said they think it is important for children to own their own books.

Scottish Book Trust also surveyed education and early years practitioners and over two thirds stated some children they work with only own books gifted to them by Scottish Book Trust.

Judith Kerr’s Mog the Forgetful Cat will feature in the charity’s appeal, underlining the nostalgia, magic and escapism that books can give children. Scottish Book Trust is very grateful to Judith Kerr’s family and publisher HarperCollins for use of an illustration from the children’s classic Mog’s Christmas.

Funds raised from the appeal will enable Scottish Book Trust to give books to families via food banks and community hubs and deliver more of its life-changing work. Some examples of its programmes include specialist outreach support for young families through Bookbug for the Home, providing tactile books for children with additional support needs and supporting those living with dementia and the people who care for them.

To learn more about Scottish Book Trust’s Christmas appeal, visit :

scottishbooktrust.com/donate

Scotland’s Stories: Book Week Scotland launches 2022 programme


This year’s Book Week Scotland programme has been announced today (26 October), with a line-up themed around ‘Scotland’s Stories’, as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022.

Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives through reading and writing, has worked closely with writers and partners to put together an exciting week packed full of online and in-person events and activities, taking place 14–20 November.

Book Week Scotland is the country’s biggest celebration of books and reading and this 1year the public are invited to vote on their favourite animal from fiction – voting is now open, and a national winner will be revealed during the week!

Events throughout the week include an evening with Sally Magnusson sharing stories from four vibrant Scottish communities, and Book Shriek Scotland – a celebration of Scotland’s folklore presented by Kirsty Logan and Heather Parry, featuring storytellers and writers including Garth Marenghi.

Scottish Book Trust will also be asking people to share what they’re reading during the week on a Reading Map of Scotland.

A new book, Scotland’s Stories, has been published by Scottish Book Trust, featuring true stories from people across Scotland as well as exclusive contributions from published writers Angus Peter Campbell, Raman Mundair, Graeme Armstrong and Helen Fields.

70,000 copies of the book will be given out for free during Book Week Scotland through libraries and community spaces, and it will also be available to read online and as an audiobook.

From icons of literature to local tales, Scotland’s Year of Stories encourages locals and visitors to experience a diversity of voices, take part in events and explore the places, people and cultures connected to all forms of our stories, past and present.

Book Week Scotland programme highlights:

  • Scotland’s Stories: Tales from the People of Scotland with Sally Magnusson – Monday 14 November, 7pm at Glasgow Film Theatre. Join Sally Magnusson to celebrate the real-life stories told by people from four vibrant communities across Scotland. The wonderful pieces in this event have been generously shared by people from the Garnock Valley, Port Glasgow and Greenock, Lochgelly and the South Islands of the Western Isles. Each story was shared by a member of the public as part of Community Campfires, supported by Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022. Reserve your ticket on Eventbrite.
  • Book Shriek Scotland is a celebration of Scotland’s spooky folklore –and some from further afield. This is an online event premiering on Monday 14 November, in which award-winning authors Heather Parry and Kirsty Logan present an anthology of folk tales told by storytellers and writers, including Garth Marenghi, Amanda Thomson, Ailsa Dixon, John Lees and Anna Cheung. We’ll be inviting people to send us folk tales from their hometowns on social media after the event.
  • Tales Fae Fife: a writing workshop with James Oswald – Tuesday 15 November, 6.30–8.30pm at 58 Bonnygate in Cupar. Join Fife author James Oswald, author of the Inspector McLean, The Ballad of Sir Benfro and the Constance Fairchild series, for an exciting event that will include a mini writing workshop. Find out more and reserve your ticket on Eventbrite.

The full Book Week Scotland 2022 programme is now live.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “Book Week Scotland is a special time of year, where people across Scotland can come together to celebrate and experience the magic of books and reading.

“The 2022 programme features a mix of fun, spooky, inspiring and unusual events and activities. This year’s Book Week Scotland forms part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022, celebrating Scotland’s rich culture of telling stories. We hope you’ll be able to join in with a Book Week Scotland event in your community, or one of the many ways to take part online.”

Sally Magnusson, broadcaster and writer, said: “I am delighted to be hosting ‘Scotland’s Stories: Tales from the People of Scotland’ during Book Week Scotland because this special event celebrates the stories that remind us who we are, that connect us to our families and our communities and that enable us to share the challenges and the joys of life with one another.

“Showcasing the extraordinary stories from ordinary people at the Glasgow Film Theatre is a great way to round off Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022.”

Alan Bett, Head of Literature and Publishing at Creative Scotland, said: ‘Book Week Scotland is upon us with an imaginative and inspiring programme to excite, intrigue and surprise.

‘This high-profile national focus on literature brings readers together to engage with stories and meet their favourite authors.

‘In particular this year’s connection with the Year of Stories allows our folklore and rich heritage to be viewed and enjoyed through contemporary voices.’

Pamela Tulloch, Chief Executive of the Scottish Library & Information Council (SLIC), said: “Book Week Scotland is a terrific opportunity to celebrate everything that is great about books, reading and bringing together people, families, and communities to explore and revel in the power of words and shared stories. Libraries across Scotland have great programmes lined up during Book Week Scotland.

‘Research shows that reading for just six minutes a day can reduce stress levels by up to 68 per cent in people of all ages, and with our libraries across Scotland filled with an abundance of free reading materials – whatever your interests and ability – we hope people will take the opportunity to use Book Week Scotland to start or get back to enjoying books and at the same time rediscover the enchanting world of the many brilliant libraries right on their doorstep.’

Neil Gray MSP, Minister for Culture, said: “Book Week Scotland’s theme around Scotland’s Year of Stories continues our celebration of innovative and ground-breaking forms of storytelling. This has been a bumper year for new and untold stories from people in communities across Scotland.

“There has never been a better time to enjoy a good story and this week’s events will also highlight the wealth of emerging and forward-looking writing and storytelling talent we have on our doorsteps.”

Dyslexia Awareness Week: How to support your child if they have a learning difficulty

This week is Dyslexia Awareness Week (4th– 10th October) and an education expert has shared five pieces of advice on how to support children if they have learning disabilities.

Interestingly, research conducted by Oxford Home Schooling revealed that while overseeing their children’s learning during lockdown, many parents spotted potential signs of a learning difficulty.

Nearly half (47%) identified symptoms of dyslexia (difficulty reading, writing and spelling), whilst more than one in four (29%) observed possible indicators of dysgraphia (impaired handwriting or spelling).

To help parents who now think their child may have a learning difficulty, Greg Smith, Head of Operations at Oxford Home Schooling, has put together a guide on how best to support your child and what your next steps should be.

1. Get your child diagnosed

If your child’s difficulties are having a significant impact on their learning, it’s a good idea to have them tested for a condition and diagnosed.

A diagnosis can open the door for your child to receive appropriate learning support in school. This includes allowing them extra time in exams and being supported by a teaching assistant, so it’s a good idea to look into this as early as possible.

If you’ve observed signs that your child may have a learning difficulty, you should speak to your GP, who can either make the diagnosis themselves, or refer the child for the appropriate tests.

2. Speak to your GP

Once a child is diagnosed with a learning difficulty, you should consult your GP. They will then be able to recommend and refer you to an appropriate specialist for support1.

Specialists can include speech and language therapists, educational and clinical psychologists and paediatricians, among others.

3. Make the school aware

Once you have an idea of the areas where your child is struggling, you will need to make their school and teachers aware of the situation.

This will allow the school to put extra support in place should your child require it. They will need time to consider how the condition might affect the child’s learning and work out how best to adapt their teaching.

4. Talk to others

Many parents find it difficult to process the diagnosis of a learning difficulty and it can be a challenge to adapt to your child’s new needs.

Don’t be afraid to seek out the support of other parents who have experienced similar situations. There are many support groups and forums out there for advice, and you and your child can even build new friendships.

5. Support your child

The important thing to remember is that you need to support your child, whether this is with their learning, or any other aspects of life that they struggle with.

Being diagnosed with a learning difficulty is by no means the end of the world and children with such conditions go on to enjoy rich and fulfilling lives.

You will need to be patient, and it may be challenging at times, but with the correct support system in place your child will be fine.

For information on the benefits of homeschooling for children with learning disabilities and special educational needs, head to this page: 

https://www.oxfordhomeschooling.co.uk/special-situations/

Nearly 1,000 Edinburgh children to receive free book 

900 Edinburgh children gifted books by Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Literacy Trust in drive to boost reading

  • 25,000 copies of Sir Lenny Henry’s novel The Boy With Wings given to children at 335 schools across the UK as Black History Month gets underway
  • This book was chosen because 40% of children and young people from ethnic minority backgrounds don’t see themselves in what they read according to research
  • Five videos with lesson plans featuring Joanna Adeyinka-Burford (CBeebies) and Sienna Clarke (Matilda The Musical) to engage children and support teachers
  • Part of a national £134,000 programme to encourage reading

Sir Lenny Henry’s first novel, The Boy With Wings, will be flying home with 900 P6 and P7 pupils at 15 schools in Edinburgh on 3rd October, thanks to Enterprise and the National Literacy Trust who have joined forces for a second consecutive year to promote the benefits of reading.

The partnership aims to boost rates of reading for pleasure, which is linked to better attainment at school1, higher lifetime earning potential2 and better mental health3. Despite the clear benefits of reading, almost one in five (18.6%) children in England between the ages of five and eight do not have access to books at home4, according to recent research by the National Literacy Trust.

This gift is part of Enterprise’s ROAD Forward, a $55 million fund from the philanthropic Enterprise Holdings Foundation to support social and racial equity projects across the world.

The books will arrive in schools at the start of UK Black History Month (1-31 October) which celebrates the accomplishments of Black Britons.

The National Literacy Trust has produced video resources and lesson plans featuring CBeebies star Joanna Adeyinka-Burton and Matilda The Musical actress Sienna Clarke to enable schools to delve deeper into the themes of diversity and inclusion that feature in the book.

The resources will be available to participating schools for one week and will be accessible to all schools and parents from 10th October at:

http://literacytrust.org.uk/boy-with-wings.

The Boy With Wings, illustrated by Keenon Ferrell and published by Macmillan Children’s books, was chosen because it portrays important messages about race, inclusion and diversity wrapped up in an exciting and fun adventure. The book also includes an exclusive comic book created by Marvel artist, Mark Buckingham.

Sir Lenny Henry said he wrote The Boy With Wings because he didn’t see Black heroes in the books he read growing up, and wants all children to see themselves appear centre stage in exciting, inspiring stories where they have great adventures.

Research by the National Literacy Trust found that 40% of children and young people from ethnic minority backgrounds say that they don’t see themselves in what they read.

“I want to make sure as many kids as possible have access to books and this project brilliantly targets those kids who don’t have books at home,” he said. “Reading – with lots of trips to my local library in Dudley – was such an important part of my childhood, it took me on so many different adventures and to so many different worlds.

“Here’s to The Boy With Wings flying into homes across the UK thanks to the National Literacy Trust and Enterprise!”

Simon Caughey-Rogers, Enterprise’s Corporate Social Responsibility and Charity Events Manager said: “Enterprise firmly believes in expanding opportunity for everyone. This partnership provides an excellent way for us to support early childhood development through the power of reading.

“Too many children say that they don’t see themselves in what they read, especially those from Black ethnic backgrounds. It is our hope that this book helps inspire them and spark a lifelong interest in reading for pleasure, with all the fun and benefits that it can bring.”

Darranda Rowswell, Director of Development at the National Literacy Trust commented: “Creating a culture of reading for pleasure in schools is crucial to increasing literacy levels, which in turn gives children access to more opportunities throughout their lives.

“The Boy With Wings is an excellent choice of book for this project because Sir Lenny Henry’s story gives children of Black heritage the chance to see themselves and their lives in the books they read, as well as engaging children of all backgrounds in the adventures of Tunde. We’re so excited to see this partnership create a culture of reading and encouraging a love of stories that we hope will stay with children for the rest of their lives.”

Samantha Smith, Publisher, Fiction, Non-Fiction and Picture Books, Macmillan Children’s Books, says: “‘Macmillan Children’s Books is thrilled to be working with partners who are just as passionate as we are about spreading a love of reading and getting books into the hands of children across the UK.

“Lenny Henry’s exciting, adventurous and funny The Boy With Wings is the perfect read to encourage children to spread their wings.”

The Enterprise Holdings Foundation was established in 1982 to give back to the communities where partners and employees live and work.

The towns and cities receiving books from the partnership are: Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Rochdale, Salford, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bradford, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol, Newport, Swindon, London borough of Southwark, London borough of Lambeth, London borough of Hackney, London borough of Enfield, London borough of Islington, Belfast and Lisburn.

Nominations open for annual Bookbug Hero Award

Scottish Book Trust has opened nominations for its Bookbug Hero Award 2023. The national charity, which runs the Scotland-wide Bookbug programme for young children and families, is asking people across the country to nominate a librarian, early years worker, volunteer, health visitor, or anyone who uses Bookbug in their work.

Run in association with Walker Books, the award honours someone who has made a real difference to the lives of young children, families and communities they work with.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “Bookbug touches the lives of so many young families all over Scotland, in libraries, early years and nursery settings and also through the health service.

“We are excited to open nominations for our fourth Bookbug Hero Award, which celebrates the brilliant work of our Bookbug practitioners.

“Without this work, many families and children would not discover the fun and lifelong benefits of sharing stories, songs and rhymes.  We are grateful to Walker Books for their support in helping us recognise these heroes in local communities.’

Ian Keane, librarian and Bookbug Co-ordinator, Clackmannanshire Council and winner of the Bookbug Hero Award 2022, said: “I was very surprised to win the Bookbug Hero Award.

“The idea expressed by the people who nominated me was that somehow during Covid times, I had offered an anchor that helped bring a bit of stability to the week.

“However, the truth is they offered me an anchor, a light to cling to in darker times, I’ll forever be grateful to the attendees for recalling me to life. I think without Bookbug we have all been a lot poorer – it is a panacea for our times.”

Ed Ripley, Walker UK Sales and Marketing Director: “At Walker we appreciate the huge impact individuals can have on supporting communities to grow their reading culture, and as such we’re delighted to get behind any initiative that celebrates and applauds these individuals.

“Scottish Book Trust’s programmes have a huge impact on families and young people, and the vast array of practitioners who help implement them do stellar work, so we are thrilled to support the Bookbug Hero Award.”

Nominations for the Bookbug Hero Award can be made online via Scottish Book Trust’s website. The closing date for nominations is Friday 4 November 2022.

The winner will receive a special trophy and a bundle of picture books worth £500 from Walker Books.

Penguin and Twinkl to donate over 55,000 books by authors of colour to UK primary schools

  • Penguin Books UK and Twinkl are coming together to increase primary school pupils’ access to books by writers of colour, by giving away books including by Sharna Jackson and Malala Yousafzai to 500 schools across the UK.
  • Twinkl are producing a range of learning resources to accompany titles in the donation, to support teachers to integrate the new texts into their teaching. 
  • Schools can apply to receive the books at https://www.penguin.co.uk/lit-in-colour/twinkl-partnership 

Penguin Books have joined forces with Twinkl Educational Publishing to donate books by authors of colour to 500 UK primary schools.

The donation of books from Penguin, Puffin, Ladybird, and Vintage and Andersen Press forms part of Penguin’s Lit in Colour campaign, and aims to give pupils access to a wider range of authors, characters and books to tackle their stark underrepresentation in UK schools. 

Each participating school will receive 100 books, covering a range of titles across fiction, non-fiction, poetry and mythology; from much-loved classics to new voices. Authors included in the selection are Matthew A. Cherry, Malala Yousafzai, Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali and more. Each school will also receive a class set of The Good Turn by Sharna Jackson. 

Research by Lit in Colour, carried out by Penguin Books and the Runnymede Trust in 2021, revealed a stark picture of under-representation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic authors in the teaching of English Literature in this country.

This is relative both to these authors’ place in contemporary British literary excellence and school population demographics. According to the research, 82% of young people do not ever recall studying a book by a Black, Asian or minority ethnic author, while 70% agree that diversity is part of British society and should be represented in the school curriculum. 

The research also found that a key barrier for primary school teachers was a lack of ready-made resources available from teaching sites that are focused on diverse texts. This is a significant challenge for educators who rely on these for the basis of their planning.

In response to this, Twinkl are producing a comprehensive set of learning resources that aim to make it as easy as possible for educators to create a full lesson around these titles and immerse learners through a selection of activity sheets to be used alongside the books and as follow-on activities. 

Twinkl’s comprehensive series of educational resources will cover 20 titles that will support bringing new literature to classrooms. The learning materials will consist of various worksheets and activity packs. These include 60-second reading activities, to biography fact files and writing packs. These resources will be available to freely access online and can be used in connection with Penguin’s Lit in Colour book list.

Zaahida Nabagereka, Penguin Random House’s Head of Social Impact, said: “Partnering with Twinkl on this first ever UK wide Lit in Colour Primary School donation is a really significant step in addressing the barriers the Lit in Colour report identified in 2021.

“We are committed to supporting teachers to take diverse books into their classrooms with confidence, and key to that is resources. This collaboration strengthens the argument that we can achieve more when we tackle systemic issues together.”

David Angrave, Twinkl’s Chief Operating Officer, said, “As a global education publisher, we are delighted to work with Penguin on such a meaningful campaign. Our Lit in Colour resources aim to engage learners in a wide variety of diverse titles in the classroom. Through a range of voices in books, children can discover different cultures and identifiable characters. 

“We are looking forward to continuing to collaborate with Penguin with this campaign and help build an inclusive outlook which celebrates differences and what brings us together.”

Sharna Jackson, author of The Good Turn, “When I was younger, there was a pronounced lack of access to many books that reflected my experience – as part of the curriculum, or in my school library.

“It’s why I wholeheartedly support the transformative work that Lit in Colour does to expand and enrich the curriculum. I am so incredibly proud that The Good Turn can be a small part of this change, as this donation from Lit in Colour and Twinkl will make an enormous difference to thousands of young readers who deserve to see themselves and their experience reflected in the books stocked on their school library shelves.”

To find out more about how your school can get involved with the Lit in Colour book giveaway, please visit our website.

Primary teachers can apply by completing this short form by Friday 30th September.

Edinburgh International Book Festival: Get ready for the Baillie Gifford Schools Programme

There are just a few days to go until this year’s book events for schools begin!

The Baillie Gifford Schools Programme, which runs from 22 – 30 August, features a packed programme of free events created especially for schools, available in-person or remotely from your classroom.

And, if you are joining us remotely, events for schools are also available to watch at a later date on-demand, so you can catch up at a time that suits you and your pupils.

All schools’ events will be followed by an in-person book signing in our Signing Tent where authors are available to sign books, answer questions – and maybe even take a picture!

Read on for information on our learning resources, the Book Festival Village, Baillie Gifford Gala Day and discounted books for your school:

Learning lies at the heart of everything we do. We aim to foster a love of books, words and reading, and inspire people of all backgrounds and ages to explore new ideas and expand their horizons.

You’ll find lots of engaging learning resources which accompany Book Festival events on our Learning Site.

From celebrating difference, nature and feminism, to tackling climate change, sexism and mental health, the site is full of activities and resources to engage your class in discussion, spark new ideas and continue encouraging them to approach the world around them boldly and creatively.

Explore learning resources

Your visit to the Book Festival Village

All schools events take place at the Book Festival Village at Edinburgh College of Art on Lauriston Place, EH3 9DF. After two years online we can’t wait to welcome schools’ groups back onsite!

There is lots to see and do at the Book Festival, so read on to find out what more to expect:

To make sure everything runs smoothly, please plan to arrive around 20 minutes before your event is due to start. There are two entrances to our site, at 74 Lauriston Place, and just around the corner on Lady Lawson Street: if travelling by coach please ensure your driver is aware of the designated schools parking on Lady Lawson Street.

Head to our Schools Check-In Point at the entrance to the Edinburgh College of Art Main Building to be greeted by our Front of House team ,who will direct you to your venue and will give you your free books!

You are welcome to bring your own packed lunches and have a picnic in the courtyard at ECA. There are grassy areas as well as covered seating. We also have a café onsite which sells meals, snacks and drinks – there’s even rumours of a majestic pirate ship, sailing the grassy greens of the Courtyard…

Find more information about the Book Festival that may help you plan your visit, with particular relevance if you are required to carry out a risk assessment prior to your school’s visit, on the schools safety information sheet.

Baillie Gifford Gala Day is back!

Baillie Gifford Gala Day – exclusive to primary schools – returns on Tuesday 30 August for a day full of festival fun.

Alongside seven 45-minute events hosted by a range of novelists, writers and illustrators, onsite excitement this year includes festival team members, as well as pupils, dressed as their favourite animal; a chance to get up close and personal with some real-life critters and creepy crawlies; protest placard making sessions using recycled materials; and an Eco Marketplace where schools and pupils can chat to organisations fighting to protect our planet and find out how they can help.

Pupils attending in-person can also look forward to receiving a free book which they can get signed and a free goody bag to take home.

Authors taking part in Baillie Gifford Gala Day include: Polly Ho-Yen; Serena Patel; Kelpies Prize-winner Lindsay Littleson; journalist and presenter Nick Sheridan; David C Flanagan; author and climate campaigner Georgina Stevens; and editors of the Beano comic, Craig Graham and Mike Stirling.

Discounted Books for your School

We are offering 25% off any books ordered by schools through our independent online bookshop.

Visit the specially created Schools page to browse books in the programme and receive 25% off all orders placed. T

he offer applies to all books featured in the Baillie Gifford Schools Programme and the Baillie Gifford Children’s Programme and is valid until 30 September 2022.

To claim your discount simply enter the coupon code SC25BG22V at the checkout.