Award-winning children’s author, Katherine Rundell, has launched The Book of Hopes: Words and Pictures to Comfort, Inspire and Entertain Children in Lockdown, which is hosted exclusively on the National Literacy Trust’s Family Zone.
Completely free for all children and families, the extraordinary collection of short stories, poems, essays and pictures has contributions from more than 110 children’s writers and illustrators.
At this time you may wish to read stories online as one of the many ways to digitally engage children and young people. Many publishers understand this, and have temporarily lifted or adjusted their copyright guidelines and permissions, please visit this website to find out which publishers have adjusted their policies. You will also find guidelines to follow from each participating publisher.
Don’t forget that many others are offering free resources and tools on their websites.
Due to the school closures, the deadline for sending submissions to the First Minister’s Reading Challenge has been extended to the 14th May 2020.
Your evidence of nurturing a love of reading can be in the form of a piece of writing, or a film, photo diary, presentation or mind map. It may not be what you had intended due to the lockdown, but Scottish Book Trust are really keen to hear about your good work.
Scottish Book Trust is also running an online webinar on 21st April on how to submit your Challenge entry, more information can be found here.
GOOD LUCK!
Barrington Stoke have pulled together all their free learning resources which can be found here
The resources are a brilliant way to support children and young people’s learning as well as offering them exciting opportunities, for example the Young Editors Scheme, where young people can download manuscripts before publication and shape what is published.
There is also a list of links to other useful sites to help learning at home.
Book Trust have developed this digital hub. It is packed full of free books, videos, games, recipes, competitions, quizzes and much more. Plus, watch live readings and draw-a-longs with celebrated children’s authors and illustrators..
Why not try RadioBlogging – daily shows with interactive activities to keep everyone busy and engaged, brought to you by Pie Corbett, Deputy Mitchell, Ian Rockey and Russell Prue. Just listen and blog, it’s live, fun and interactive with new educational tasks each day for children to engage with at home or in school. CLICK HERE to visit and listen to any of the previous RadioBlogging Shows.
Remember to visit the Scottish Book Trust website for loads of great ideas for reading and writing. You can also meet amazing authors and illustrators on-line – here is what’s on offer in April and May:
Tuesday 14 April, 11am Liz Pichon: Featuring lots of giggles and doodles, author and illustrator Liz Pichon explores the world of her well-loved character, Tom Gates. Suitable for ages 8-11.
Thursday 16 April, 11am Nikesh Shukla: Hear about Nikesh’s powerful novel The Boxer, the impact of experiencing racist abuse, and how sport can empower young people. Suitable for ages 12+.
Tuesday 21 April, 11am Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton: Have your drawing supplies at the ready for a fun-filled event with the team behind the hilarious Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam books. Suitable for ages 6-11.
Thursday 23 April, 11am Nick Sharratt: Learn how illustrator Nick Sharratt creates well-loved characters, such as Jacqueline Wilson’s Tracy Beaker and Kes Gray’s Daisy. Suitable for ages 6-11.
Tuesday 28 April, 11am Julia Donaldson, Julia brings to life some of her best loved heroes and villains with costumes, puppets and song. Suitable for ages 3-6.
Thursday 30 April, 11am Kwame Alexander: Join multi-award winning author Kwame Alexander for a compelling discussion about his books and the power of poetry. Suitable for ages 12+.
Tuesday 5 May, 11am Emily Mackenzie: Draw along with this fantastic event, featuring a wonderful reading of Emily’s picture book There’s Broccoli in My Ice Cream! Suitable for ages 3-6.
Thursday 7 May, 11am Lauren St John and Elizabeth Laird: Explore the importance of looking after the oceans, and hear all about where these amazing authors get their inspiration from! Suitable for ages 6-11.
Falkirk Council’s Learning Resource Service has added e-books and unabridged e-audio books to the resources available to borrow for pupils and school staff. This is a brilliant way to develop and maintain a love of reading especially in the current situation where schools and public libraries are closed.
We have invested in a number of campaign titles allowing simultaneous access to certain titles e.g. Holes, The Wizards of Once and The Boy Who Grew Dragons.
| Also, BorrowBox has been working with J.K. Rowling and Pottermore to support the #HarryPotterAtHome initiative and we are offering unlimited loans to the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone until 30th April 2020. |
There are two main ways to log in:
Have a look at the really helpful videos available here to show how to sign in and borrow books.
A free information book was released this week to help explain the coronavirus to children, illustrated by the Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler.
You can access it here.
Falkirk Council’s RED (Read Enjoy Debate) Book Award is now in its 14th year and the excellent shortlist of books is:
The Quiet at the End of the World by Lauren James
Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen
The Closest Thing to Flying by Gill Lewis
The shortlisted authors are invited to Falkirk to lead workshop sessions in the secondary schools and to attend the Book Award ceremony in Falkirk Town Hall. A major highlight of the Book Award process is the award ceremony in May, where pupils from each of the secondary schools in Falkirk Council screen their creative digital interpretations of the shortlisted books, meet the authors and celebrate books and reading.
Unfortunately due to Covid 19 the book award ceremony has been cancelled for this year. It is so disappointing that this decision has had to be taken, feedback from previous participants tell us that the RED Book award is one of the highlights of the school year.
The RED Book Award is Falkirk Council’s Book Award in which each secondary school in the authority participate. RED stands for Read, Enjoy, Debate and is all about reading for enjoyment and stimulating lively debate about books. https://twitter.com/readenjoydebate?lang=en
At the time of writing this post, the award is now in its 12th year and the shortlist is:
Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
Welcome to Nowhere by Elizabeth Laird
Boy X by Dan Smith
Hell and High Water by Tanya Landman
13 and 14-year-olds from English classes in Bo’ness Academy, Braes High, Denny High, Falkirk High, Graeme High, Grangemouth High, Larbert High and St. Mungo’s High as well as reading groups in Polmont Young Offenders Institute and from a variety of countries take part. This year schools in Kenya, South Africa and The Netherlands are participating.
The young people read the 4 shortlisted titles, vote for their favourite book and produce a creative interpretation of one of the books for the award ceremony. English teachers and school librarians work together to make sure each student gets the most out of being part of the RED Book award.
There is also an art competition, where young people in each school are invited to redesign the front covers of each of the shortlisted books . The schools bring 4 designs to the award ceremony and the authors choose the overall winners.
The Books
The shortlist of books is decided after lengthy debate by school and public librarians, young people feed in their opinions to the debate too. The criteria include books must be available in paperback, the author is available to attend the award ceremony and the books must have the wow factor.
The young people decide the winning book through a secret vote a few weeks before the award ceremony. The winner is revealed by opening the red envelope at the close of the big day!
Key Dates
April – August: A longlist of books is read from which the shortlist is agreed.
September – April: Young people read, enjoy and debate the books.
April: Pupils vote for their favourite book.
May: the 4 shortlisted authors visit the secondary schools and the RED Book Award ceremony is held at the Falkirk Town Hall FTH
The RED Book Award Ceremony
Around 250 young people and invited guests pack into the Falkirk Town Hall to participate in the RED Book Award ceremony. Participants are encouraged to wear a red accessory and there are prizes (sponsored by Bright Red Books, www.brightredpublishing.co.uk) throughout the event for winners of the book review competition (sponsored by Palimpsest, www.palimpsest-bp.co.uk), a book cover design competition and best red accessory. The day is full of energy and fun and packed with a host of activities – from book signings and chatting with the authors to creative interpretations of the books and live entertainment by the young people.
The ceremony culminates in the opening of the red envelope to reveal the winning book.
Follow the RED on twitter.
Previous winners and shortlists:
RED 14 (2019-2020 award): Lauren James The Quiet at the End of the World
Nominated:
RED 13 (2018-2019 award): Phyllida Shrimpton Sunflowers in February
Nominated:
RED 12 (2017-2018 award): Elizabeth Laird Welcome to Nowhere
Nominated:
RED 12 (2017-2018 award): Elizabeth Laird Welcome to Nowhere
RED 11 (2016-2017 award): 13 Hours by Narinder Dhami
Nominated:
RED 10 (2015-2016 award): Mind Blind by Lari Don
Nominated:
RED 9 (2014-2015 award): Raining Fire by Alan Gibbons
Nominated:
RED 8 (2013-2014 award): Slated byTeri Terry
Nominated:
RED 7 (2012-2013 award): An Act of Love by Alan Gibbons
Nominated:
RED 6 (2011-12 award): Wasted by Nicola Morgan
Nominated:
RED 5 (2010-11 award): Grass by Cathy MacPhail
Nominated:
RED 4 (2009-10 award): Divided City by Theresa Breslin
Nominated:
RED 3 (2008-09 award): Worse Than Boys by Cathy MacPhail
Nominated:
RED 2 (2007-08 award): Blood Ties by Sophie McKenzie
Nominated:
RED 1 (2006-07 award): Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy
Nominated:
The RED Book Award is run by the Learning Resource Service promoting reading for enjoyment for S2 and S3 pupils in Falkirk Council.
The shortlist for this year’s RED Book Award was:
Beneath by Gill Arbuthnot
Salvage by Keren David
Mind Blind by Lari Don
Inflicted by Ria Frances
All great books which had that important wow factor.
The RED award ceremony took place on 29/1/17 at the Falkirk Town Hall. 250 young people attended from every secondary school in Falkirk Council. Each school provides a creative interpretation of one of the shortlisted books. The authors enjoy watching their readers deliver their opinion of the books through powerpoint and drama. There was an opportunity for the young people to meet and talk to the authors at the signing table and during the question & answer session. During the ceremony groups of pupils acted as journalists, photographers and a media group interviewed authors and participants for their school radio broadcast and filmed the event. Everyone is encouraged to wear a red accessory which contributes to the fun and energy of the day. It was a wonderful event – a celebration of books and reading culminating in the opening of the red envelope to reveal he winner of the RED Book Award. The winner was Mind Blind by Lari Don.
This year we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the RED Book Award and to acknowledge this milestone, 10 schools across the world were invited to participate in the Book Award. Copies of the shortlisted books were sent to them and some Falkirk Council pupils were able to skype the young people in other countries to discuss the books. The countries taking part were Australia, China (2 schools), Jamaica, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, South Africa, Switzerland and Turkey.
A quilt, featuring all previous RED winners and material from the countries who took part, was made by Anne Ngabia, school librarian at Grangemouth High School, and will act as a fabulous legacy for the RED Book Award.
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