Christmas advent calendar

Christmas children’s book advent calendar

A festive online advent calendar of classic and modern children’s Christmas picture books. Including cracking yuletide tales by Michael Morpurgo, Judith Kerr, Delia Huddy, Raymond Briggs, David McKee, Rod Campbell, Kes Gray, and Janet & Allan Ahlberg.

Storybooks online

Storybooks online – free videos of children’s and YA books

Storybooks online – here’s our curated collection of video online stories read by authors including Cressida Cowell, Aisha Bushby, Alex Wheatle, Catherine Bruton, David Walliams, Malorie Blackman, Michael Rosen and more.

The best children's bookcase bookshelf and bookend

Children’s bookcases, bookshelves and bookends

Trying to find the perfect children’s bookcase or bookshelf can be a minefield with children’s books coming in all shapes, sizes, and weights. We’ve put together a selection of kid’s bookshelves, bookends & bookcases for storing all your picture books, stories, and kid’s magazines.

Travelling round the world in Children's Literature

Travel locations and holiday destinations inspired by children’s books

Looking for a travel destination to engage your children? How about a location from a favourite children’s book, or an actual landmark or building which inspired a magical or legendary setting from a story? Here’s a list of top holiday spots with literary themes.

Take It As Read book recommendation service from School Reading List

Take It As Read

Take It As Read is School Reading List’s free children’s and teen book recommendation service for teachers, parents/guardians and librarians in the UK. Let us know what you are looking for and we’ll get back to you – Take It As Read!

How to make sure daily reading time is fun

How to make timetabled reading time in schools exciting

How to make timetabled reading time in schools exciting – including ideas to encourage and develop a lasting reading for pleasure culture in your classrooms, Key Stages and school.

Magazines for children

Magazines and newspapers for children and teenagers

Magazines for children aged 3-6, 7-12 and 13+ in the UK, including comics, newspapers and periodicals. Pick from over 100 engaging titles which are ideal for reading at home and in primary and secondary school libraries.

World Book Day costumes

World Book Day Costumes

Our World Book Day costume recommendations and suggestions for cracking book character outfits for your child. We’ve picked out fancy dress kits based on book characters by authors including Roald Dahl, Beatix Potter, J.K. Rowling, J.M. Barrie and Lewis Carroll.

Home learning in self isolation

Online courses and home learning for children and teens

Great resources and online courses for primary and secondary home learning – ideal for homework, time away from school, or revision. This list of E-learning activities is suitable for primary aged children and secondary and sixth form teens and young adults in the UK.

Outdoor reading space for children

Children’s outdoor reading spaces

Outdoor reading space resources, with bean bags, tents, pop-ups, teepees, wigwams, hammocks, pouffes, giant outdoor cushions, outdoor classrooms, reading sheds, garden playhouses, reading treehouses and literacy teaching ideas.

Children's book awards

Children’s literature awards

Following established annual children’s literature awards, medals and prizes is a good way to decide which books to pick when purchasing new stock for your school library, or which new books to buy for your children.

Children's Book Publishers in UK

Children’s Book Publishers in UK

Our up to date list of children’s book publishers in the UK covering baby & toddler picture books, 5-7, early chapter books for 7-9 year olds, middle-grade novels for 9-12 year olds, 12-16 teen young adult fiction, poetry, nonfiction, textbooks, and study guides.

Fabular deck for kids

Fabula Deck for Kids

Fabula Deck for Kids offers children a fresh way to develop their imagination and storytelling skills. Developed by the independent publisher Sefirot, Fabula Deck for Kids uses a deck of 34 interactive cards aimed at children aged six and above.

Resources for English Teachers

Must-have resources for English Teachers

A list of must have, go-to, life-saving, instant lesson idea resources for English teachers including links to curriculum, assessment, creative writing, extra-curricular, enrichment and motivational ideas.

GCSE English language and English literature revision

GCSE revision books and guides for English language and literature

Our list of up-to-date GCSE English language and literature revision guides for pupils in years 10 & 11 of secondary schools, chosen by KS4 teachers, heads of departments in the state and independent sectors, tutors and homeschooling parents.

Teaching ideas for home learning

Online courses and training for teachers

Are you looking to up-skill during downtime? Are you a literacy or English teacher in need of CPD evidence for your next appraisal? Here’s our regularly updated list of online training, remote courses, distance learning research-based CPD and internet-based inset for teachers.

New children's and YA / teen book reviewers

How to be a children’s book reviewer for the School Reading List

We’re always on the lookout for enthusiastic and experienced teachers, ex-teachers, home-educators, librarians, education academic, children’s authors and education writers to join our merry band of book and resource reviewers.

Literary festivals and events

Children’s Book Festivals and Events

A calendared list of competitions, festivals and events ideal for schools to promote to primary and secondary aged pupils.

Children's and YA book publicity

Children’s and YA book publicists and PR

A resource for new children’s and YA authors. Discover the importance of a children’s book publicist & how they can propel your book into the spotlight for its target audience.

Literacy Hive logo

Literacy Hive

Literacy Hive is an online platform designed to make it easier for teachers to discover literacy resources. It aims to be a one-stop support for literacy, helping to reduce the amount of time educators spend searching the web.

Touch Type Read and Spell

Touch-type Read and Spell (TTRS)

Touch-type Read and Spell (TTRS) offers a comprehensive program for typing, reading, and spelling, suitable for individuals and families, including those with dyslexia.

Blue Light Card

Blue Light Card for Teachers

Blue Light Card is now available for teachers! The discount service traditionally offered to emergency workers, NHS staff, and the armed forces, is now available to teachers across the UK.

Epic Escapes room kits

Epic Escapes At-Home Kits

Epic Escapes at-home escape room kits offer a screen-free entertainment option for your teens this summer. These innovative kits aim to engage teens with adventure, problem-solving, and social interaction – offering a break from digital devices over the holiday period.

Kid's Pass

Kids Pass

Families across the UK can save on leisure activities through Kids Pass, a digital membership providing discounts at cinemas, attractions, and restaurants. Launched in 2014, Kids Pass has helped over one million members save money.

Nessy

Nessy

Nessy provides a structured, enjoyable learning experience that supports children of all abilities. Its alignment with the Science of Reading ensures that children receive the best possible instruction, setting them on a path to literacy success.

Poetry By Heart

Poetry By Heart

The Poetry By Heart competition, spearheaded by former Poet Laureate Sir Andrew Motion and educator Dr. Julie Blake, invites pupils across England to engage with poetry in a fresh, memorable way.

Book Collector software

Book Collector Software

At under £40 per year, Book Collector is much more affordable than dedicated school library software. You won’t need a trained librarian to operate it and books can be added by scanning the barcode that’s already on the back cover of each book.

First News Free

First News Free Resources

First News has introduced a wealth of free educational resources for schools across the UK, aimed at enhancing literacy through engaging, news-based content. Developed by experts, these tools support teachers in addressing challenging topics.

Find The Quote contest

Find The Quote Contest

Find The Quote! We’ve hidden a book quote somewhere on our website. If you can find it, you could win a bookshop gift voucher! Read more for full details, terms and conditions and entry instructions.

Children's bookshops in the UK and Ireland

Children’s Bookshops

Children’s bookshops in the UK and Ireland – browse our list of independent bookshops and specialist children’s bookshops throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland to visit with your children, class, school or teaching colleagues.

School Reading List Summer Reading Challenge 2024 - Two Reads and a Dream

Summer Reading Challenge

Summer reading challenge – A good reading challenge will not only promote reading and encourage reading for pleasure, but it will encourage a reading culture to spread like a virus throughout your school.

Educating for Empathy - Empathy Lab conference

Educating for Empathy – the reading factor

EmpathyLab, the University of Sussex, and St Matthew’s Research School are hosting a conference addressing the need for empathy education. Educating for Empathy – the reading factor conference will explore how literature plays a role in nurturing empathy.

Children's Literature Blogs

Children’s Literature Blogs

Children’s literature blogs are a great way to keep track of the latest trends, releases and recommendations in children’s literature – including picture books, short chapter books, middle-grade fiction, school library non-fiction and YA novels.

How to recommend a new book for our reading lists.

How to suggest a new book for our reading lists

Recommend books for our reading lists! Send in your favourite titles from beloved classics to new titles that reflect the realities of our diverse world.

How to promote your children's book

Promoting your new children’s book – some helpful tips

Promoting your new children’s book is hard! Here are some useful tips from the School Reading List team, including practical advice on using word of mouth and social media, getting your book into schools, and how we can help.

School Reading List KS2 Christmas children's books quiz

100 question children’s book quiz for pupils aged 7-11 in KS2

A 100 question quiz with a festive Christmas round for children aged 7-11 in KS2. Genres include fantasy, historical, mystery, adventure and picture books. This literacy quiz is ideal for end of term school activities, family fun in the holiday, or something for your children to do at your local library.

Children's and YA eBooks for lockdown

Great value and free eBooks for the lockdown period

A selection of great value or free eBooks for children and young adults in lockdown. Authors include Angie Thomas, Akemi Dawn Bowman, Adam Blade, Kevin Tsang, Darren Shan and Fiona Danks.


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Our latest reading national curriculum year group recommended reading lists:
Picture books for the under 5s | Books for Reception | Books for Year 1 | Books for Year 2 | Books for Year 3 | Books for Year 4 | Books for Year 5 | Books for Year 6 | Books for Year 7 | Books for Year 8 | Books for Year 9 | Books for Year 10 | Books for Year 11


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