Only 26 years old, Amanda Hocking had never sold a single book before 15 April 2010.  She has now sold over one million.  Switched is the first novel in the Trylle Trilogy - published for the first time in paperback, it is already hitting the top of the New York Times bestseller charts and Amanda has just completed a high profile UK tour across TV, radio and press.

Macmillan have 300 FREE copies to give away exclusively to 30 schools (10 books per school)  -  email Ellen at e.wood[at]macmillan.co.uk with your contact address if you would like to take advantage of this offer.

Here is The Guardian front cover article about Amanda  http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jan/12/amanda-hocking-self-publishing - just incase you would like to get some form of context about the books and Amanda Hocking as author.

The Reading Agency’s Chatterbooks Children’s Reading Groups scheme, is now on offer to schools free. It gives a best practice model for running reading groups, developed with expert librarians, and with ready to use resources. Chatterbooks groups can be targeted at children of any age from 4 to 14 years. 

The links between reading for pleasure and attainment are well documented, and Chatterbooks sessions are designed to give children confidence in speaking, writing and reading in a group, choosing books for themselves, and talking about what they like to read. We provide lots of ideas for fun, creative sessions, and through our partnership with 17 leading children’s publishers Chatterbooks groups get a stream of information and promotions featuring the best in children’s books.

The Reading Agency is an independent charity working to inspire more people to read more.You’ll probably know our work throughthe national Summer Reading Challenge in libraries. There are exciting volunteering opportunities for secondary school pupils, acting as reading buddies to younger children doing the Challenge, and to follow on from this to help run Chatterbooks groups. We provide training to support this activity.  

With Chatterbooks 2012 you can

• join Chatterbooks free

• get free best practice support from the website and e-letter, for setting up and running a Chatterbooks group

• get new title information about children’s books

• give children a powerful year round menu of free resources from publishers

There is a Chatterbooks web page on the Reading Groups for Everyone website, where you can find out who else is in the Chatterbooks network, blog about children’s books and what your group is doing, and get tips and ideas, plus promotions and offers from publishers.   Make sure that your group is signed up and profiled here - at www.readinggroups.org/chatterbooks

You can also get

•   Children’s 2012 Welcome Packs  (set of 10 packs £50)*
•   a 2012 Starter Pack for Group Leaders  (£20 per pack)*

-and when you buy any Chatterbooks packs or training you will also get access to Chatterbooks Extra downloads and offers, including termly ideas packs, creative session plans, Chatterbooks graphics, and special publisher promotions.

Attached is a press release with more detail about Chatterbooks 2012, and an order form and special Early Bird offer for the new materials.

Chatterbooks Order Form

PDF file, 469 kB

Requires Adobe Reader

Chatterbooks 2012 Offer Press Release Final

Word document, 133 kB

Requires Microsoft Word 97 or later

*We have a special discount of 10% on all materials (including the Early Bird offer) for all School Library Association members – just quote your SLA membership number when you order.

If you have any enquiries, or need more information about the scheme and accompanying training, just contact us at chatterbooks[at]readingagency.org.uk  - or visit www.readinggroups.org/chatterbooks

Shoutabout Poster

PDF file, 453 kB

Requires Adobe Reader

Check out the new online writing magazine for people under 16 years old.  Shoutabout! is launched by the Children's Writers and Illustrators inSouth London (CWISL). 

Movellas, a leading international online reading and writing community launches in the UK to provide a social platform to create, develop and promote a love of reading and writing. Movellas is launching with a writing competition on the theme of love – to tie in with Valentine’s Day.  For information visit their website.