School Closure Resources - books and reading

Support for out of School Learning -

                        Books and Reading

Introduction

This page will collate the SLA resources that are of particular use when working from home. 
These are in addition to our usual provision of Online Courses, Publications, the CPD Library and the support resources and advice line. 

The SLA office is still open, and we are on hand to maintain services. 

You can find a list of resources and platforms which have been made freely available below, as well as information about upcoming events and plans in reaction to the closure of schools. 

We will update this page as needed. Best wishes for you all at this time.

Books and working resources
Books and working resources
Learning, Fun and Working From Home

Recently added Resources/Activities

Unicorn Theatre - Anansi the Spider Man online theatre experience

Jamie Rix - posting one story per week to his YouTube channel 

Copyright restrictions 

Please be aware that copyright restrictions remain in force. Up to 5% of a book or one chapter may be copied. Whole books cannot be read aloud and posted online without the express permission of the publisher/author. Some authors/publishers have given permissions in the current climate for that to be relaxed , but unless you are certain this is the case, it remains illegal . You can find more information here 

Publisher permissions - wakelet collated by the SLA

Oak National Academy - access to one free ebook each week 

Badger Learning- one free ebook each week 

Listening Books - UK audio book lending service for anyone who has a print impairment


Mystery of the Missing Macaw
- crime mystery kit designed for use with. hildren aged 9 - 12, World Book Day discount 20% using code WBD21


Book of Hopes - thanks to Bloomsbury, once again free to read online

Sarah McIntyre - Grumpycorn  & Don't Call Me Grumpycorn resources 

Storytime online - Books For Topics list of online reading by authors & illustrators

Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler - free downloadable home learning packs 

Author Emma Carroll - running free writing lessons on Instagram Live for primary and secondary students starting 12.1.21

Harry Potter Philospher's Stone quiz - on Quizshed

Hotel Flamingo Life in Lockdown - free story download in this popular series from Alex Milway

Little People, Big Dreams - new website for the popular factual book series with activities etc 

Bloomsbury Guided Reading - partnership with CLPE offering teachers notes on over 70 books

Amrit Birdi - video showing how he illustrated the cover of the new Alex Rider graphic novel, Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz and Antony Johnston.

Poetry Society virtual 'shelfies' - reading recommendations on various topics, suitable for young people

Exploring Pictures in Picture Books - webinar recording and blog from Mathew Tobin
Shannon & Dean Hale - Pincess in Black and the Case of the Coronavirus free downloadable story
DC Superpets - free poster and book 
Little Angel Theatre - Puppetry Sofa series of online performances including John Klassen's I Want My Hat Back
Storytime - with Mama G
#ReadIndieForward - support your favourite independent bookstore

Children's Bookshow - sharing book of the week emails, videos etc


Reading for Pleasure - book/film related lessons & resources  


Beanstalk Charity - reading rainbow to display
Bear Hunt - activity sheets, cut out bear & bear ears
The Book of Hopes - free to read online anthology of stories, poems, essays & pictures from over 100 children's authors & illustrators
Book Riot - 7 of the best educational comics for home schooling 
Bookseller Magazine - Children's special

Everybody Worries - free downloadable picture book about the pandemic from Oxford OwlForestry England - 10 ways to keep kids entertained during Covid-19

Isadora Moon - guide to writing 

Jennifer Bell, Wonderscape - Teachers Notes 

Juniper Reading Challenge - six-book challenge designed to keep children KS1 – KS2 reading at home
Juniper Book Awards - fab book trailers 
Libraries from home - Libraries Connected list of digital resources from public libraries
Make a Howler - resource from teacher Kate on FB 
Research Rich pedagogies - mini reading challenges

Richard & Judy - presenting book programme on Channel 4 from 4th MayRoyal Borough of Windsor & Kingston Libraries - rhyme time videos Scottish Book Trust Authors On Demand

Shakespeare Week - resources themed around the bard and his plays
Winnie & Wilbur Stay At Home - free wbook & activities
Wizarding World - Harry Potter At Home
World Book Day - Top 100 books to share


Authors & illustrators providing free content 

Mac Barnett - Instagram book club
Jo Cotterill - Jelly teaching resources
Sarah Ferguson - reading children's books aloud, with Guess How Much I Love You read by Princess Eugenie 
Giovanna Fletcher - reading 5 Minutes Peace
Tom Fletcher - live readings of his books 
Mark Haddon - Social Distance graphic novel written for The Guardian

Chris Haughton

Oliver Jeffers reading one of his books a day live on Instagram, posted to his website afterwards

Julie's Library - storytime with Julie Andrews podcast
Simon Lelic - reading Haven chapter by chapter on YouTube
Wendy Meddour - reading her books aloud 
Paul Morton - videos, downloads etc
Garth Nix - videos
Parsley Mimblewood - downloadable ebook How Not To Go To School
Lucy Powrie - Covid -19 themed short story from Paper & Hearts Society author
Quentin Blake - free ecards 
Peter Reynolds - reading aloud on Facebook
Marcus Sedgwick - reading Floodland aloud
Nick Sharratt - free downloadable 'Wash Your Hands' posters, 1 to colour yourself 
Jools Wilson, illustration - activity sheets 


Library Related 

Branching Out - Books For Topics series of reading on posters (If you liked this ...read this
Inspire Education Library Service - online primary book award #Inspireread2020
Kent Online - reading in lockdown & online book clubs to join
Kingston Libraries - running a programme of digital events
Library Lady - weekly round up of book news from librarian Anne Thompson
Mr Bodd - 2 new alternative reading tube maps, 7+ & 9+
Mrs Lodges Library - shelving activity
School Library Journal - free tools for learning and teaching online list 

CPD


Open University - free courses 
Open University - free course Book Talk in the School Library 
SCIS short course - managing your library collection & catalogue

Youtube (authors & illustrators etc)

Anne Frank - if Anne Frank was a vlogger, Youtube channel
Disney - I Am With You specially recorded song from Frozen's Olaf
Gaspard and the Quiet Day - new story reassuring & educating them about the current situation
Gaspard's Den - activities from Zeb Soanes YouTube
Alexander Gordon Smith - reading a chapter a day of his book Lockdown
Anna James Bookwanders online book club
Steve Lenton - drawing
Andrew Lloyd Webber - streaming a different musicals
National Shelf Service - daily ebook recommendations from librarians 
Storyline online - authors reading their books aloud US
Mo Willems - giving Jimmy Fallon a lesson 
Zuntold Publishing -#YouTubeLive videos 

Ebooks, audiobooks & online reading

 

Beano - free digital copy to download 
Comixology - free comics 
Gizmo's Freeware - list of online reading
Netgalley - free proof ebooks for librarians, teachers & blogger
Rain Before Rainbows -Walker Books release of free ebook to raise awareness for Save The Children's Save with Stories campaign helping children most affected by the pandemic  
Scoop magazine - free download of full copy of Scoop Magazine for kids 
Simon & Rosie - Covid themed picture book download from Lucy Moonen & Gillian Johnson
Wizarding World - Chapter 1 of Philosopher's Stone read by Daniel Radcliffe & continuing chapters read by other celebrities 

Publishers & Booksellers 

Andersen Press - Staying Home downloadable ebook
Barrington Stoke - Home School Help for Lockdown for dyslexic readers
Moon Lane Books & Toys - HipHop Love Books, picture book videos
Nosy Crow - free information book explaining coronavirus to young children illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Penguin - Classic cover generator 
Penguin Perspectives - leading authors, offering their response to the Covid-19 outbreak. 
Peters Booksellers - 100 books for parents
What on Earth Books - educator resources 

Events & just for fun

Hay Festival Digital - 22 - 31st May (events now on Hay Player)
National Theatre - At Home quiz

Twitter


Twitter chat on the theme of children's book series every Tuesday & Thursday from 8p.m., regular bi weekly chat #BOOKSNEARBEDTIME
#storystarters
#freebookresources
Sir Patrick Stewart - reading a Shakespeare sonnet a day online
Rod Biddulph #drawwithRob





I'm in school, but there's few pupils... 

Webinars

We are  running a series of webinars over the next few months, on topics from social media to library events, to hearing from international education and leadership speaker Richard Gerver. You can find out more about the webinars here: https://www.sla.org.uk/events

I'm sure there's no shortage of things on your to-do list that you never usually get time to do, but here's some suggestions:

  • Weed - have a sort through; get rid of any old, tatty, out of date resources. Make space for displays. Put yourself in the shoes of a 13 year old - what would they find attractive and engaging?
  • Do a stocktake - check what's in your system is accurate; it saves a lot of time in the long run!
  • Write your annual report - there's still time to show what you have accomplished this year. You don't have to send it yet, but you can start pulling the data together. 
  • Change displays


There's a longer list available here from Sarah Pavey, care of SLG: https://slgtalkingbooks.com/2020/03/23/things-to-do-if-your-school-library-is-closed/