Reading Matters New Website

We are really pleased to have a new website that really promotes and supports all Reading Matters activities. With details of our key services (Reading Mentors, Reading Leaders, Reading Families and Reading Teams) and downloadable resources including Fun Sheets, Case Studies, Research and Information Packs.

Take a look at www.readingmatters.org.uk, and get involved:

• Leave a comment on the blog
• See the latest updates from our Facebook page, please like us! 
• Sign up for the new Email Bulletin 
• Check out the Events Calendar

This blog has been incorporated into the new website, so in future posts will be added there. You may want to update any subscriptions you have set up.

The BFG is 30 - lets have a frobscottle

The BFG cropped up at our recent Volunteer Reading Mentors meeting. One of our smashing Reading Mentors has being using Roald Dahl's book in her reading sessions. The super use of language is working really well with her partner who can identify with the spellings and phrases such as  "human beans" and "snozzcumbers".

Then on the Schools Librarian Association Blog I learn the BFG is 30 years old! On the 13 September you can celebrate his birthday. So plenty of time to start planning some fun. Download the pdf leaflet.

World Read Aloud Day 2012

It is World Read Aloud Day today, 7 March 2012. As the organisers LitWorld say:

"Take Action for Global Literacy, Celebrate the Power of Words, Change the World"

Check out the Facebook page for more info.

World Book Day 2012

1 week to go before World Book Day 2012, on 1 March. As ever it looks really great;

• The £1 books look cool; get  your tokens ready.
• The Biggest Show on Earth, online festival, includes some amazing authors and illustrators.
• Nominate a Storytelling Superstar.
• Play games, enter a competition or attend an event (including one at the Houses of Parliament).
• There are tons of Resources for schools, libraries, bookshops etc.

Almost too much to take in, have fun!

Book awards, competitions and festivals

I've spotted a few nice book-themed activities recently.

• Blue Peter Book Awards 2012, they are also trying yo find
• The Best Children's Book of the Last 10 Years
• BBC 500 Words story-writing competition with Chris Evans
• Schools Minister Nick Gibb's new reading competition
• Redhouse Children's Book Award, the 2012 winner will be announced at the...
• Imagine Children's Festival - 11 - 26 February - it's on now!

Free to download: How to Choose Children’s Books

I just got a copy of the free to download: How to Choose Children’s Books by Aaron Mead.

It is really comprehensive, and just a little over-whelming!

It contains

• Practical tips on picking great books for kids of all ages—infant through young adult.
• Guidance on what makes books attractive and developmentally valuable for children.
• Analysis of themes, illustrations, stories, and the use of humor in children’s books.
• Philosophical reflections on the role of children’s books in the development of moral character.
• A comprehensive list of online resources for finding excellent children’s literature, including book lists, sources of professional book reviews, and children’s literature blogs.

A key message for me, is that just because a book looks attractive to an adult doesn't mean it is going to be right for a young person. 

It's an eBook so full of links to further reviews and resources. I think our Reading Mentors, families and other people working one-to-one with young people will find it very interesting.

New Baby - Little Parachutes

My start with Reading Matters was two weeks after the birth of my first daughter, Rose, see my very first blog post. Well three years later, a new baby is on the way:

It is exciting times, I may not be to coherent around the end of April!

To prepare Rose for becoming a big sister I have been looking for reading recommendations. The Little Parachutes website, in conjunction with the local library, has proved really useful. Little Parachutes provides suggestions for 'picture books to help with life's challenges' such as a new baby. I can really recommend The Perfect Baby by Tony Bradman and Holly Swain.


With other subjects including Hospitals/Operations, Fear of the Dark, Moving House, Starting School and Healthy Eating it is great for exploring issues with children via reading.

Wildlife Trust Wildlife Watch Magazine

My colleague, Diane, passed me her latest copy of Wildlife Watch Magazine, published by the Wildlife Trust. Both the magazine and the website are super and perfect for reading partnerships where a young person is interested in nature.


Both the website and magazine are really nicely presented with lots of colour, pictures and snappy bits of text to read.


The magazine has games, competitions and activities, this edition, Winter 2011 has a beautiful Red Squirrel poster too.


The website is full of interesting things to read and do, in particular:

• Exploring wildlife by seasons, habitats tracks and signs etc.
• Activities  with loads of suggestions
• Downloads, spotting sheets, word searches, activity sheets, recipes and loads more
• Games, Greenspace Race has some reading built in
• Badger's blog and Watchers entries frequently updated

All brilliant stuff, well worth checking out.

Learning is lovely: 12 days of Learning Pool gifts

I have just received the fifth gift from the Learning Pools 12 days of gifts. A really nice children's Christmas Activity Pack. Just right for reading partnerships. Whether it is Christmas or not The Learning Pool has all sorts of nice resources to check out.

Video Games

When trying to engage a struggling or reluctant reader, computer games can often be a less intimidating approach than a hefty tome or badly photo-copied activity sheet. I've spotted a few interactive online resources that might be of interest:

• Root, an interactive spy story - This project started this week, new chapters of Root will be published every day for six weeks. Any one can get involved and influence the story by solving mysteries, foiling plans and eavesdropping into conversations!
• The Binary - A brilliantly presented online adventure, like an interactive book.
• Book Worm Adventures - A role-playing word game involving building words and battling monsters.
• Build your own Book Mobile - This one is a bit more 'old school', download, cut out and stick together your own beautiful mobile library.
• Word Fighter - This isn't out yet, but looks too cool for words (bad pun). 

I guess the inspiration for this post was the song I am kind of in love with at the moment, Video Games by Lana Del Rey. Song lyrics are another great idea to read with a partner, try googling their favourite song.

Have fun.

Free Copy of First News

First News is a brilliant weekly newspaper for young people, it's perfect for our reading partnerships. Full of topical articles presented really nicely with lots of images, graphics and accessible text.


Courtesy of Sainsbury's magazine you can get a free copy.


Call 0800 665480 and quote SBFREE or text NEWS to 78070 before 31 October 2011.


Another good deal is 3 issues for £1.

Ninja: First Mission by Chris Bradford

Chris Bradford is quite an amazing guy, before becoming the hugely successful author of the Young Samurai series he was a professional musician, he is a black belt martial artist, he is funny (check out this video) and he is a nice guy too, all the proceeds for Ninja: First Mission are going to charity!


Naturally, hugely jealous, I really wanted to hate Ninja: First Mission, his first book for Barrington Stoke, but it is hard not to love it. 


The first of a series set in Japan in 1580. Taka is training to be a ninja. He is a little over-confident and the start to the story is not what you'd expect. The back story and setting is nicely woven into the story; we learn about his family history, clan, rivals, enemies, friends and training. Super language too, I love the sound of the 'Sixteen Secret Fists' technique.


The First Mission of the title, is a personal and significant challenge for Taka. We are not sure of his true motivation, is he being driven by or vengeance rather than dedication to his ninja clan? This truly adds to the thrill of the adventure.


I am very much looking forward to the continuing series. I enjoyed the realism and historical setting, a real contrast to the Lords of Pain series, and the manga-style illustrations are superb.


By the way, the video I mentioned above, is an introduction to the Ninja Challenge, a duelling card game to be played on or offline, looks brilliant for Reading Matters partnerships, more resources on the Chris Bradford website too.

Bookstart Book Crawl

This weekend, I was at Sheffield Children's Library. My daughter, Rose, completed her Bookstart Book Crawl. Part of the Summer Reading Challenge. Catching up with Alexis the Librarian it sounds like the Summer Reading Challenge Volunteers are doing a great job.

Alexis and Rose!

Booktrust Newsletter

I just received the latest Booktrust newsletter, I get a lot of email bulletins, but this one shone out.

• An interesting intro by Booktrust CEO, Viv Bird, on the summer riots
• A reminder about the BBC National Short Story Award 2011
• And, The Roald Dahl Funny Prize plus the Roald Dahl Day
• A great overview of Sport reading material, which is always a great way for our Reading Mentors to engage many reluctant readers, especially with the 2011 Rugby World Cup and 2012 Olympics on the horizon
• Their 2011 Best Book Guide always a great set of recommendations
• And finally an opportunity to win the wonderful looking In the Sea there are Crocodiles by Fabio Geda

Great stuff, sign up here.

Getting Linking 5 - Big Hitters

I have been tidying up my bookmarks (I live a very exciting life), it has inspired a long overdue return to my Getting Linking series. I previously posted up lots of links resources for use in Reading Matters one-to-one sessions. This time I have a list of websites from major institutions, that you may well know about, but are none-the-less useful.

• First News - Our favourite news paper for young people
• Books for Keeps - Online magazine all about children's books
• Ransom Books - Publishers of books for reluctant and struggling readers
• Richard and Judy's Children's Book Club - Superb set of reads
• Toon Books - Online cartoons and tools to make your own
• Harper Collins Browse Inside - Read HC's books online
• Flashlight Worthy - Handpicked book recommendations
• International Children's Digital Library - Books to read online from around the world in many different languages
• Tate Children's Books - Beautiful books
• Page45 - Nottingham based comic shop, with a super website including excellent recommendations
• Rising Stars Superscripts - series of six-part plays
• Evans Publishing - education specialists
• Words for Life - Book lists plus tips and ideas for reading together with children
• Kid's Lit Quiz - Massive literature based competition
• Illustration Cupboard - a celebration of picture books
• An Illustrated Guide - new picture book review site, beautifully presented
• Unshelved - daily book-based comic-strip
• Booktime - Book Trust book giving scheme
• National Literacy Trust; Books with Hooks List - recommended reading
• Land of Me - interactive 'living picture book' from Ladybird
• Project Aon - A beautiful recreation of the Joe Dever Lone Wolf choose-your-own-adventure looks (I loved these books when I was a teenager)

Enjoy

Peter Pan and Book Drum

I have just finished reading Peter Pan by JM Barrie, can't believe I have't read it before. My motivation was to read it before moving on to Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean, which has been on the shelf for a while.


I really don't know what to make of Peter Pan, I found it a very unsettling 'children's' book. This probably says a lot about me as the reader. Similarly, as many people have said before, Peter Pan is very much about the author's pre-occupations; "the desire for immortality, the urge to shirk responsibility and the role of motherhood". This is quote is taken form the Peter Pan entry on the the wonderful Book Drum website.


Book Drum offers comprehensive reading notes for a growing list of 'classic' books. Each book is covered by a dedicated fan including pictures, videos, maps and music.


I don't think Book Drum is going to be appropriate for the struggling and reluctant readers that Reading Matters supports, but I think our Reading Leaders and Reading Mentors, and anyone with a passion for reading will get a lot out of it.

Rugby World Cup 2011 Resources

In my spare time I like to shout at the TV in the hope the England Rugby team might live up to its potential.

With the 2011 Rugby World Cup on the horizon, why not download the National Literacy Trust Rugby World Cup Toolkit. It is aimed at schools, but has lots of great ideas and resources for reading mentors and families. It has been put together by Tom Palmer, who really knows his stuff, check out Scrum!.

Summer Reading Challenge 2011: Circus Stars

I finally got my daughter signed up for the Summer Reading Challenge. It's been running for a few weeks now through the summer holidays. We really do need to get reading!

Like last year I trained some young reading volunteers to work in libraries across Sheffield. And reports are they are really making a difference to the success of this year's Summer Reading Challenge.

This year's theme is Circus Stars. The website has some nice games, opportunities to chat and author videos, including my new friend Andy Stanton.

Get reading and get some fancy stickers!

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Rotherham

One of our Reading Mentors just sent me this one-line email:

"I am sure you will have better things to do on a Saturday morning, but there is a programme at 10.30 on Radio 4 about what Dolly Parton has done for reading in Rotherham!!!" 

She couldn't be more wrong, I can think of no better way to spend a Saturday morning! I immediately looke for for some more info: BBC Radio 4 - How Dolly Got Rotherham Reading.

Thanks Anne.

Reading - Fun Stuff

I haven't posted for a while. So to get back in the swing of things. Here are some fun/silly things about reading I have spotted recently.
Attack of Literacy! T- Shirt
Available now from the rather marvelous Threadless website.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Poptropica Game
Play as Greg and in other games on the Poptropica site!

The Great Dr Seuss Read Aloud Competition
Enter a video, win prizes (or just watch)!

Captain Kirk - should have been a librarian!

Confessions of a Book Fiend
Available as a print from Incidental Comics.