Reading from home…
The school libraries are closed for now but do not fear! We have many ways in which you can continue to enjoy reading, creative writing, creating comics and sharing your reviews online…
What to read next?
For ideas on what to read next we have a great collection of books in our collections that reflect a diverse range of tastes and have been recommended by people like you! Search our Accessit library catalogue by title/author/genre, read the blurbs and click on the genre hyperlinks (Adventure/Horror/Science Fiction etc.) to find similar books.
We have suggested reading lists, including recommendations by fellow students for Years 7, 8 and 9 – click on the Quick Lists tab in Accessit.
The Booktrust has a great Bookfinder guide you can use to find reading ideas based on your likes and dislikes, as well as book reviews and activities.
Our local public libraries in Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire have free audiobooks and ebooks available through their website for members. If you’re not already a member, it’s easy to sign up online.
More free books are available online from providers including Project Gutenberg, Open Library, Wattpad, ComiXology (some are more aimed at adults but have books for younger people too). See details on Accessit news items for further useful sources of free books.
Following on from our recent literary-related celebrations for World Book Day, the official website still offers a multitude of resources including a dedicated Stay-at-Home Ideas & Free Resources section with author and illustrator masterclasses; free audiobooks and opening chapters; creative activities including making your favourite book characters; setting up a virtual book club with friends and various quizzes.
You might like to join in with the book awards that we have been following in school. The Cumbrian- wide Spellbinding reading challenge and the national Excelsior award provide shortlists of the best new fiction and comics/graphic novels. See Accessit news for the shortlists and accompanying review sheets if you would like to record your reading preferences. Nationally the shortlists for the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals also provide suggestions for brilliant new fiction and non- fiction suggestions that are up for awards this year.
Year 7 students who recently attended our author event with Danny Rurlander and are reading his book Spylark may like to follow some of the activities and lesson ideas provided by the publisher.
There are also lots of fantastic challenges and activities available for all the many other literacy- related goings-on that we enjoy in our libraries.
For writing try:
• How to Think when you Write from The Etherington Brothers has numerous lively, imaginative tutorials on different themes to help you develop your writing style. • Pobble 365 has a different daily photograph linking to a creative writing task. • The Poetry Society has a wonderful archive of poetry, writing advice, activities and the Foyle Young Poets of the Year competition for 11-17 year olds. • The World Book Day website’s great range of activities and online tutorials. • After all your reading you can share your knowledge by contributing a book review on Accessit here to help us build up a great resource of recommendations. You will need to login (click Login at top right and put in your school login details) and find the book in our collection to add a review. Your review will not appear immediately as it needs approval to be published publicly! • Teenink is a teen magazine, book series and website focusing on teenager writing, art, photos, forums and competitions.
For drawing/illustrating:
• You can’t do better than the fabulous free resource How to Think when you Draw offered by the Etherington Brothers. • The Beano has numerous quizzes, games, jokes, videos and, importantly, a comprehensive How to Draw section of their website (go to More Stuff) with advice on drawing everything from lobster claws to Star Wars characters.
Finally, after all your reading, writing and drawing, why not have a go at creating and sharing your own digital fiction, non-fiction book or comic using Book Creator
We look forward to hearing all about your new favourite books and sharing creative experiences when we return!
All the best,
Mrs Holman and Miss Sosnowsky