# data[].attributes.headline
Read this edition of the 'First News' online newspaper

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Read this edition of the 'First News' online newspaper

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Use the code: FNELOCK3

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Read this edition of the 'First News' online newspaper

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Read this edition of the 'First News' online newspaper

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Use the code: FNELOCK3

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Read this edition of the 'First News' online newspaper

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Read this edition of the 'First News' online newspaper

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Watch this TED talk about the importance of diversity in literature and in life 

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Watch this TED talk about the importance of diversity in literature and in life 

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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story | TED

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Learn the answer to the question- who was the world's first author

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Learn the answer to the question- who was the world's first author

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The princess exiled from ancient Mesopotamia - Soraya Field Fiorio

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Listen to some of the most beautiful sentences from literature be read by Levar Burton

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Listen to some of the most beautiful sentences from literature be read by Levar Burton

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11 Of The Most Beautiful Sentences In Literature (Read by LeVar Burton)

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Learn how and why we read and the history of it!

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Learn how and why we read and the history of it!

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How and Why We Read: Crash Course English Literature #1

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Paper towns and why learning is awesome | John Green

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Get Free Printable Posters for Your Classroom or Library

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Listen to the Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls Podcast

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Listen to the Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls Podcast

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We have the book 'Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls' in the library!

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Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls Podcast

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Our audio adventures about extraordinary women have moved to a new home: the Rebel Girls App. Learn more.

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Listen to some chill beats chosen by Will Smith!

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Listen to some chill beats chosen by Will Smith!

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Read the opening of A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicholl

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Read the opening of A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicholl

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We have this book in the library!

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A Kind of Spark book. Read 207 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. A KIND OF SPARK tells the story of 11-year-old Addie as she campai...

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Watch Margaret Atwood answer 7 questions

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Watch Margaret Atwood answer 7 questions

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7 questions with The Handmaid's Tale author Margaret Atwood

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Watch this dubbed version of the first Lumberjanes comic

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Watch this dubbed version of the first Lumberjanes comic

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We have the Lumberjanes comics in the library!

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Read the opening of Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez

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Read the opening of Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez

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We have this book in the library!

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Watch this interview with Bernardine Evaristo about her novel, Girl, Women, Other

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Watch this interview with Bernardine Evaristo about her novel, Girl, Women, Other

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We have this book in the library!

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Bernardine Evaristo: The Waterstones Interview - Booker Prize 2019 Winner

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Find out from this cool animation more about Dune by Frank Herbert and why you should read it

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Find out from this cool animation more about Dune by Frank Herbert and why you should read it

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Why should you read “Dune” by Frank Herbert? - Dan Kwartler

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Read the opening of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglass Adams

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Read the opening of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglass Adams

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Just click read an excerpt. We have this book in the library!

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"Extremely funny . . . inspired lunacy . . . [and] over much too soon." -The Washington Post Book World

"The feckless protagonist, Arthur Dent, is reminiscent of Vonnegut heroes, and his travels afford a wild satire of present institutions." -
"Very simply, the book is one of the funniest SF spoofs ever written, with hyperbolic ideas folding in on themselves." -School Library Journal

"[A] whimsical odyssey . . . Characters frolic through the galaxy with infectious joy." -Publishers Weekly

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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams: 9780345418913 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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"Extremely funny . . . inspired lunacy . . . [and] over much too soon." -The Washington Post Book World "The feckless protagonist, Arthur Dent, is reminiscent of Vonnegut heroes, and his travels afford a wild satire of present institutions."

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Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users and enhance your user experience. They also help us improve our site. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. World Book Day® is a charity sponsored by National Book Tokens.

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Watch an interview with Madeline Miller about Circe

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Watch an interview with Madeline Miller about Circe

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We have this novel in the library!

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‘Circe’ author Madeline Miller answers your questions

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Watch Madeline Miller read some of her novel Circe

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Watch Madeline Miller read some of her novel Circe

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Madeline Miller reads from her new novel Circe

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Get some writing advice from Stephen King

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Get some writing advice from Stephen King

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10 Writing Tips from Stephen King for Writers and Screenwriters

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Get some writing tips from Margaret Atwood

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Get some writing tips from Margaret Atwood

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Learn how to write a thriller with Karen M.McManus 

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Learn how to write a thriller with Karen M.McManus 

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How To Write A Killer Thriller with Karen M. McManus

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Watch Karen M. McManus answer 25 Questions 

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Watch Karen M. McManus answer 25 Questions 

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We have her book 'One of Us is Lying' and the sequels 'Two Can Keep a Secret' and  'One of Us is Next' in the library!

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✏️ 25 Questions with ONE OF US IS LYING Author Karen McManus

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Find out more about some Young Adult book recommendations!

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Find out more about some Young Adult book recommendations!

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It's spoiler free!

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Recommended Reads: Top 15 Young Adult Books!

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Read this edition of the 'First News' online newspaper!

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Watch Adam Savage from MythBusters interview the author of The Martian (Andy Weir)

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Watch Adam Savage from MythBusters interview the author of The Martian (Andy Weir)

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Adam Savage Interviews 'The Martian' Author Andy Weir - The Talking Room

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Read the opening of The Weight Of Water by Sarah Crossan.

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Read the opening of The Weight Of Water by Sarah Crossan.

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Just click 'Open Preview'.
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"And though he is right,
It makes me feel worse
Because I do not know
How to be happy."

Although I have read only two of Crossan's books. It's safe to say I love her. I read One last year and it actually made me cry and love it so bad, it jumped onto my top #5 spots. Although it has been replaced, but nevermind that. Sarah Crossan knows how to make you feel. She knows how to squeeze your heart and make you use up a whole box of tissues.
Yeah, she's that good. Not many authors are able to do that.

Th...more

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"And though he is right,It makes me feel worseBecause I do not knowHow to be happy." Although I have read only two of Crossan's books. It's safe to say I love her. I read One last year and it actually made me cry and love it so bad, it jumped onto my top #5 spots.

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Listen to Alex Gino read the opening of their book Rick

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Listen to Alex Gino read the opening of their book Rick

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Watch Zoella's review of If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo 

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Watch Zoella's review of If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo 

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Exclusive! Zoella Reviews If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

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Watch leah johnson read the first chapter of her novel  You Should See Me in a Crown  

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Watch leah johnson read the first chapter of her novel  You Should See Me in a Crown  

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Friday Reads | Leah Johnson Reads You Should See Me in a Crown!

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Read some snippets from Saundra Mitchell's Prom

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Read some snippets from Saundra Mitchell's Prom

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We have many of her books in the library!

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Malorie Blackman Chats Diversity and Resiliance

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Watch the book trailer for the graphic novel Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Hicks

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Watch the book trailer for the graphic novel Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Hicks

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PUMPKINHEADS by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks | Official Book Trailer

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Watch the trailer for the film adaption of Prom by Saundra Mitchell

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Watch the trailer for the film adaption of Prom by Saundra Mitchell

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We have Prom in the library!

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Learn more about the benefits of reading

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Learn more about the benefits of reading

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Why Reading Is Important - 10 Shocking Benefits of Reading

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Find out more about why reading is good for you and your health

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Find out more about why reading is good for you and your health

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We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here's our process.

In the 11th century, a Japanese woman known as Murasaki Shikibu wrote "The Tale of Genji," a 54-chapter story of courtly seduction believed to be the world's first novel.

Nearly 2,000 years later, people the world over are still engrossed by novels - even in an era where stories appear on handheld screens and disappear 24 hours later.

What exactly do human beings get from reading books? Is it just a matter of pleasure, or are there benefits beyond enjoyment? The scientific answer is a resounding "yes."

Reading books benefits both your physical and mental health, and those benefits can last a lifetime. They begin in early childhood and continue through the senior years. Here's a brief explanation of how reading books can change your brain - and your body - for the better.

A growing body of research indicates that reading literally changes your mind.

Using MRI scans, researchers have that reading involves a complex network of circuits and signals in the brain. As your reading ability matures, those networks also get stronger and more sophisticated.

In one conducted in 2013, researchers used functional MRI scans to measure the effect of reading a novel on the brain. Study participants read the novel "Pompeii" over a period of 9 days. As tension built in the story, more and more areas of the brain lit up with activity.

Brain scans showed that throughout the reading period and for days afterward, brain connectivity increased, especially in the somatosensory cortex, the part of the brain that responds to physical sensations like movement and pain.

And speaking of sensing pain, has shown that people who read literary fiction - stories that explore the inner lives of characters - show a heightened ability to understand the feelings and beliefs of others.

Researchers call this ability the "theory of mind," a set of skills essential for building, navigating, and maintaining social relationships.

While a single session of reading literary fiction isn't likely to spark this feeling, shows that long-term fiction readers do tend to have a better-developed theory of mind.

Reading researchers as far back as the 1960s have discussed what's known as "the Matthew effect," a term that refers to biblical verse Matthew 13:12: "Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them."

The Matthew effect sums up the idea that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer - a concept that applies as much to vocabulary as it does to money.

Researchers have that students who read books regularly, beginning at a young age, gradually develop large vocabularies. And vocabulary size can influence many areas of your life, from scores on standardized tests to college admissions and job opportunities.

A 2019 poll conducted by Cengage showed that 69 percent of employers are looking to hire people with "soft" skills, like the ability to communicate effectively. Reading books is the best way to increase your exposure to new words, learned in context.

The National Institute on Aging recommends reading books and magazines as a way of keeping your mind engaged as you grow older.

Although research hasn't proven conclusively that reading books prevents diseases like Alzheimer's, show that seniors who read and solve math problems every day maintain and improve their cognitive functioning.

And the earlier you start, the better. A 2013 study conducted by Rush University Medical Center found that people who've engaged in mentally stimulating activities all their lives were less likely to develop the plaques, lesions, and tau-protein tangles found in the brains of people with dementia.

In 2009, a group of researchers measured the effects of yoga, humor, and reading on the stress levels of students in demanding health science programs in the United States.

The study found that 30 minutes of reading lowered blood pressure, heart rate, and feelings of psychological distress just as effectively as yoga and humor did.

The authors concluded, "Since time constraints are one of the most frequently cited reasons for high stress levels reported by health science students, 30 minutes of one of these techniques can be easily incorporated into their schedule without diverting a large amount of time from their studies."

Doctors at the Mayo Clinic suggest reading as part of a regular sleep routine.

For best results, you may want to choose a print book rather than reading on a screen, since the light emitted by your device could keep you awake and lead to other unwanted health outcomes.

Doctors also recommend that you read somewhere other than your bedroom if you have trouble falling asleep.

British philosopher Sir Roger Scruton once wrote, "Consolation from imaginary things is not an imaginary consolation." People with depression often feel isolated and estranged from everyone else. And that's a feeling books can sometimes lessen.

Reading fiction can allow you to temporarily escape your own world and become swept up in the imagined experiences of the characters. And nonfiction self-help books can teach you strategies that may help you manage symptoms.

That's why the United Kingdom's National Health Service has begun Reading Well, a Books on Prescription program, where medical experts prescribe self-help books curated by medical experts specifically for certain conditions.

A long-term health and retirement followed a cohort of 3,635 adult participants for a period of 12 years, finding that those who read books survived around 2 years longer than those who either didn't read or who read magazines and other forms of media.

The study also concluded that people who read more than 3 1/2 hours every week were 23 percent likely to live longer than those who didn't read at all.

So, what should you be reading? The short answer is: Whatever you can get your hands on.

There was a time when remote regions had to rely on librarians traversing the mountains with books stuffed in saddlebags. But that's hardly the case today. Just about everyone can access vast libraries contained in cellphones and tablets.

If you're pressed for time, devote a few minutes daily to a blog on a niche topic. If you're looking for an escape, fantasy or historical fiction can transport you out of your own surroundings and into another world altogether.

If you're on a career fast-track, read nonfiction advice offered by someone who's already arrived. Consider it a mentorship you can pick up and put down when it suits your schedule.

One thing to note: Don't read solely on a device. Flip through print books, too.

Studies have shown repeatedly that people who read print books score higher on comprehension tests and remember more of what they read than people who read the same material in a digital form.

That may be, in part, because people tend to read print more slowly than they read digital content.

There's nothing wrong with watching an entire television series, start to finish, in a single weekend - just as there's nothing wrong with eating a large, luscious dessert.

But binge-watching TV probably needs to be an occasional treat rather than your main source of intellectual stimulation. Research shows that prolonged TV viewing, especially for children, may change the brain in unhealthy ways.

Reading is very, very good for you. Research shows that regular reading:

improves brain connectivity

increases your vocabulary and comprehension

empowers you to empathize with other people

aids in sleep readiness

reduces stress

lowers blood pressure and heart rate

fights depression symptoms

prevents cognitive decline as you age

contributes to a longer life

It's especially important for children to read as much as possible because the effects of reading are cumulative. However, it's never too late to begin taking advantage of the many physical and psychological benefits waiting for you in the pages of a good book.

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Benefits of Reading Books: For Your Physical and Mental Health

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Reading books benefits both your physical and mental health, and those benefits can last a lifetime. They begin in early childhood and continue through the senior years. Learn how reading books can change your brain, your body, and your mental health for the better.

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Find out more about your brain with Positively Teenage author, Nicola Morgan

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Find out more about your brain with Positively Teenage author, Nicola Morgan

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We have Positively Teenage in the library!

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Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education

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Nicola Morgan is an expert in teenage brain changes. She is the author of Blame My Brain - The Amazing Teenage Brain Revealed and The Teenage Guide to Stress, and has given hundreds of talks in schools, to teenagers, parents, teachers and other professionals.

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Read a preview of Wonderland by Juno Dawson

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Read a preview of Wonderland by Juno Dawson

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We have this book in the library!

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You don't have to, they all work as standalone. They are set in the same universe, so if you do read all three (and you should, Clean and Meat Market You don't have to, they all work as standalone. They are set in the same universe, so if you do read all three (and you should, Clean and Meat Market are excellent!) then you get to see cameos from side characters, but you won't lose anything from the story if you do not. Cora Tea Party Princess...more (less)

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You don't have to, they all work as standalone. They are set in the same universe, so if you do read all three (and you should, Clean and Meat Market You don't have to, they all work as standalone.

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Watch Zoella's review of Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

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Watch Zoella's review of Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

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Exclusive! Zoella Reviews Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

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Watch people guess what Gavriel Savit's 'Anna and the Swallow Man' is about

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Watch people guess what Gavriel Savit's 'Anna and the Swallow Man' is about

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ANNA AND THE SWALLOW MAN by Gavriel Savit | Judge a Book

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Read the opening of the graphic novel 'Maus' by Art Spiegelman 

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Read the opening of the graphic novel 'Maus' by Art Spiegelman 

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We have this book in the library!

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Read some snippets of the graphic novel White Bird by R.J Palacio here

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Read some snippets of the graphic novel White Bird by R.J Palacio here

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We have this book in the library!

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Find out  about 'Once' in Morris Gleitzman’s own words here

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Find out  about 'Once' in Morris Gleitzman’s own words here

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We have this book in the library!

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Get the inside story on Once direct from the author.

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Watch, read and listen to weekly posts and books from some of your favourite authors!

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Watch, read and listen to weekly posts and books from some of your favourite authors!

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Print and cut out your own Albert Einstein bookmark here! 

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Print and cut out your own Albert Einstein bookmark here! 

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Just enter the code: FNELOCK3  to log in and access it!

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Print and cut out your own Juno Dawson book mark here!

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Print and cut out your own Juno Dawson book mark here!

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Read the opening of The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

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Read the opening of The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

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We have this book in the library! After you click the link just click 'open preview'.

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Yes and no, depends on the kid. It is not a book that was written for kids. Yes and no, depends on the kid. It is not a book that was written for kids.

I think I read this in 5th or 6th grade. My brothers read it at a similar age and both liked it. I enjoyed it as a kid and was eager to read the sequel. Rereading it as an adult though was almost like reading a whole different book. ;) (less)
I think I read this in 5th or 6th grade. My brothers read it at a similar ...more

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David - proud Gleeman in Branwen's adventuring party

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The Color of Magic (Discworld, #1; Rincewind, #1)

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Yes and no, depends on the kid. It is not a book that was written for kids. Yes and no, depends on the kid. It is not a book that was written for kids. I think I read this in 5th or 6th grade. My brothers read it at a similar age and both liked it.

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Print and cut out your own Virginia Woolf bookmark here! 

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Print and cut out your own Virginia Woolf bookmark here! 

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Stephen Fry with David Baddiel | Penguin Podcast

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Print and cut out your own Stephen King bookmark here!

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Print and cut out your own Stephen King bookmark here!

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Read some of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak here

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Read some of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak here

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We have this book in the library!

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March 17, 2006— -- Kind and compassionate Death narrates the tale of a town in Nazi Germany. The story is based on Death's perception of the young orphan, Liesl, her foster parents and the Jewish fugitive they are hiding. When Liesl learns to read, she begins stealing books, hence the title of Zusak's book.

You can find an excerpt of "The Book Thief" below.

DEATH AND CHOCOLATE
First the colors.
Then the humans.

That's usually how I see things.

Or at least, how I try.

*** HERE IS A SMALL FACT***

You are going to die.

I am in all truthfulness attempting to be cheerful about this whole topic, though most people find themselves hindered in believing me, no matter my protestations. Please, trust me. I most definitely can be cheerful. I can be amiable. Agreeable. Affable. And that's only the A's. Just don't ask me to be nice. Nice has nothing to do with me.

***Reaction to the AFOREMENTIONED fact***

Does this worry you?

I urge you -- don't be afraid.

I'm nothing if not fair.

-- Of course, an introduction.

A beginning.

Where are my manners?

I could introduce myself properly, but it's not really necessary. You will know me well enough and soon enough, depending on a diverse range of variables. It suffices to say that at some point in time, I will be standing over you, as genially as possible. Your soul will be in my arms. A color will be perched on my shoulder. I will carry you gently away.

At that moment, you will be lying there (I rarely find people standing up). You will be caked in your own body. There might be a discovery; a scream will dribble down the air. The only sound I'll hear after that will be my own breathing, and the sound of the smell, of my footsteps.

The question is, what color will everything be at that moment when I come for you? What will the sky be saying?

Personally, I like a chocolate-colored sky. Dark, dark chocolate. People say it suits me. I do, however, try to enjoy every color I see--the whole spectrum. A billion or so flavors, none of them quite the same, and a sky to slowly suck on. It takes the edge off the stress. It helps me relax.

*** A SMALL THEORY***

People observe the colors of a day only at its beginnings and ends, but to me it's quite clear that a day merges through a multitude of shades and intonations, with each passing moment.

A single hour can consist of thousands of different colors.

Waxy yellows, cloud-spat blues. Murky darknesses.

In my line of work, I make it a point to notice them.

As I've been alluding to, my one saving grace is distraction. It keeps me sane. It helps me cope, considering the length of time I've been performing this job. The trouble is, who could ever replace me? Who could step in while I take a break in your stock-standard resort-style vacation destination, whether it be tropical or of the ski trip variety? The answer, of course, is nobody, which has prompted me to make a conscious, deliberate decision--to make distraction my vacation. Needless to say, I vacation in increments. In colors.

Still, it's possible that you might be asking, why does he even need a vacation? What does he need distraction from?

Which brings me to my next point.

It's the leftover humans.

The survivors.

They're the ones I can't stand to look at, although on many occasions I still fail. I deliberately seek out the colors to keep my mind off them, but now and then, I witness the ones who are left behind, crumbling among the jigsaw puzzle of realization, despair, and surprise. They have punctured hearts. They have beaten lungs.

Which in turn brings me to the subject I am telling you about tonight, or today, or whatever the hour and color. It's the story of one of those perpetual survivors -- an expert at being left behind.

It's just a small story really, about, among other things:

* A girl

* Some words

* An accordionist

* Some fanatical Germans

* A Jewish fist fighter

* And quite a lot of thievery

I saw the book thief three times.
BESIDE THE RAILWAY LINE
First up is something white. Of the blinding kind.

Some of you are most likely thinking that white is not really a color and all of that tired sort of nonsense. Well, I'm here to tell you that it is. White is without question a color, and personally, I don't think you want to argue with me.

***A REASSURING ANNOUNCEMENT***

Please, be calm, despite that previous threat. I am all bluster--

I am not violent.

I am not malicious.

I am a result.

Yes, it was white.

It felt as though the whole globe was dressed in snow. Like it had pulled it on, the way you pull on a sweater. Next to the train line, footprints were sunken to their shins. Trees wore blankets of ice.

As you might expect, someone had died.

***

They couldn't just leave him on the ground. For now, it wasn't such a problem, but very soon, the track ahead would be cleared and the train would need to move on.

There were two guards.

There was one mother and her daughter.

One corpse.

The mother, the girl, and the corpse remained stubborn and silent.

"Well, what else do you want me to do?"

The guards were tall and short. The tall one always spoke first, though he was not in charge. He looked at the smaller, rounder one. The one with the juicy red face.

"Well," was the response, "we can't just leave them like this, can we?"

The tall one was losing patience. "Why not?"

And the smaller one damn near exploded. He looked up at the tall one's chin and cried, "Spinnst du?! Are you stupid?!" The abhorrence on his cheeks was growing thicker by the moment. His skin widened. "Come on," he said, traipsing over the snow. "We'll carry all three of them back on if we have to. We'll notify the next stop."

As for me, I had already made the most elementary of mistakes. I can't explain to you the severity of my self-disappointment. Originally, I'd done everything right:

I studied the blinding, white-snow sky who stood at the window of the moving train. I practically inhaled it, but still, I wavered. I buckled -- I became interested. In the girl. Curiosity got the better of me, and I resigned myself to stay as long as my schedule allowed, and I watched.

Twenty-three minutes later, when the train was stopped, I climbed out with them.

A small soul was in my arms.

I stood a little to the right.

The dynamic train guard duo made their way back to the mother, the girl, and the small male corpse. I clearly remember that my breath was loud that day. I'm surprised the guards didn't notice me as they walked by. The world was sagging now, under the weight of all that snow.

Perhaps ten meters to my left, the pale, empty-stomached girl was standing, frost-stricken.

Her mouth jittered.

Her cold arms were folded.

Tears were frozen to the book thief's face.

Excerpted from The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Copyright © 2006 by Markus Zusak.

Excerpted by permission of Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

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Excerpt from 'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak

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March 17, 2006- -- Kind and compassionate Death narrates the tale of a town in Nazi Germany. The story is based on Death's perception of the young orphan, Liesl, her foster parents and the Jewish fugitive they are hiding. When Liesl learns to read, she begins stealing books, hence the title of Zusak's book.

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Listen to the first chapter of Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca 

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Listen to the first chapter of Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca 

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We have this book in the library!

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Dramatic Reading: 'Rebecca' by Daphne Du Maurier - Chapter 1

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Here are some tips on creating your own lockdown book club

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Here are some tips on creating your own lockdown book club

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In some ways, the lockdown has returned us to the days of pre-internet, where we're connecting via phone calls or letters, rather than spending all our time tweeting at each other or posting pictures of our perfect Instagram lives. In other ways though, the situation has made us rely on new technology more than ever, with many of us finding that we're spending our work days (and even our social lives) connecting via video conferencing apps and websites.

There are a number of options for your online book club, and you can even combine two or more if you think that's what's best.

You'll most easily be able to recreate the feel of an in-person book club if you can see the people you're talking to. There's little doubt that one of the words of 2020, alongside coronavirus, will be Zoom, referring to the video conferencing app and website. It, or things like FaceTime and Google Hangouts, will allow you to see your book club, and is a great way to connect.

But maybe you're camera shy, in which case it's worth thinking about setting up a group on WhatsApp, or on Slack if you already use it for work, where your book club can hold its discussions. These options also work if all your members can't "meet" at the same time - the discussion can continue even if you're not all present, and people can catch up on what's been talked about in their own time.

If you want a book group that does more than talk about books (more on that later), then consider something like HouseParty, another app that has soared in popularity in the last couple of weeks. You can set up a "room" for your book club, and the app also allows you to play games.

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In some ways, the lockdown has returned us to the days of pre-internet, where we're connecting via phone calls or letters, rather than spending all our time tweeting at each other or posting pictures of our perfect Instagram lives.

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Print and cut out your own Dr. Seuss bookmark here!

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Print and cut out your own Dr. Seuss bookmark here!

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Read the first 25 pages of Yarn Martel's 'Life of Pi'

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Read the first 25 pages of Yarn Martel's 'Life of Pi'

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We have this book in the library!

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If you have Netflix, give this modern film adaption of Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca!

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If you have Netflix, give this modern film adaption of Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca!

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READ WITH ME || 1 hour of reading w/ magical music

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Watch this Juno Dawson interview about her knew book 'Clean'

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Watch this Juno Dawson interview about her knew book 'Clean'

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Lush Library Presents: Juno Dawson, Clean

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Reading Music to Concentrate 🕮 Ambient Study Music 📔 Soothing Music for Studying with Sea Waves

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Guide your reading with some reading bingo!

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Guide your reading with some reading bingo!

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It's made by teenagers for teenagers!

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ASMR | Whispered Reading: Bram Stoker's DRACULA: Chapter One

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Writing competitions you could take part in! 

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Writing competitions you could take part in! 

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There are competitions on here, including ones for under 18's and some for under 25's.

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Young writer's competitions for children and teens aged 5-18

Please read our list of writing competitions for children. The contests are checked and updated each month. We are happy to feature writing challenges open to primary-age children, secondary-age pupils, and young adults in the UK. If you would like your competition featured here, please contact us. We are happy to feature competitions with at least one month remaining before the closing date. We have also compiled a list of recommended creative writing manuals and writing workshop activity guides suitable for use with KS1, KS2, KS3, and KS4 at the bottom of this page. New competitions are listed at the top of the page. Past and annual competitions are listed on the second half of the page below the horizontal line.

New writing competitions for children and teens

Annual (and past writing) competitions for children and teens
Please note - many previously annual competitions have been affected by lockdown/COVID during 2020-3. This is beyond our control.
Closing date in June

Alzheimer's Society poetry competition 'welcomes entries about dementia or people affected by the condition' and offers those under 18 the opportunity to enter up to three poems of 40 lines or less. Winning entries will feature in the October/November edition of Dementia Together magazine.

The Wells Festival of Literature offers young poets aged 16-25 the opportunity to enter poems of up to 35 lines on any subject for the annual Young Poets Competition. All entries must be in English.

Celebration Day writing competition - entrants are invited to write 250 words (primary) or 500 words (secondary) to tell the story of an inspirational person they know. There are five age categories: 5-7; 8-10; 11-13; 14-16; 17-18 & teachers. Full details and resources are available on the competition website and the Celebration Day website.

The Poetry of Science Competition - is open to children who go to school in Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire. The task is to write a 'terrific scientific poem'. Entries in three age group categories: Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and Key Stages 3&4. The closing date is 11th June. There's a downloadable poster for classrooms here.

The Solstice Prize for Young Writers - open theme for either poetry - up to 40 lines, or short stories - up to 1000 words, aimed at secondary pupils. Categories for 10-13 and 14-17. The closing date is Saturday 20th June.

The Orwell Youth Prize - for secondary students aged 12-18, entries can be in any form, up to 1000 words. This year's task is to respond to this title: "The Future We Want". The closing date is 11th June.

The ISA Handwriting Competition is open to children in years 1, 2, 3-4 & 5-6 in ISA member schools, "to showcase their handwriting skills".

Cambridge University and SATIPS handwriting competition.

Closing date in July

The Young Wild Writer competition, run by Hen Harrier Action invites children aged 6-8, 9-12 and 13-16 to enter stories, poems, articles, prose or letters of up to 500 words on the theme of animal survival. Prizes include book vouchers and an online author visit to the winning child's school. Full details, including a downloadable poster, are on the competition website.

The Hampshire Young Poets competition is open to any young person aged 4-7; 8-11 or 12-16 "who lives or studies in Hampshire". Entrants can submit up to 14 lines of poetry on the theme of 'home'. Full details are on the competition website.

The Writing Tournament is a "free, not-for-profit writing competition for young writers which simulates the journey of a professional author". Run by author W.J. Kite, 8-16-year-olds can submit 750-word stories written in English on the theme "Unsung Heroes". There are two age categories - 8-11 and 12-16 - and the closing date is 31st July.

The Chester Cathedral Young Poet's Competition is open to UK students aged 16-18 and invites original poems of up to 40 lines. For further details and this year's theme, please see the competition website. The closing date is 17th July.

Foyle Young Poets competition - for 11-17-year-olds, the competition welcomes "poems on any theme and any length". Closing date 31st July.

Stephen Spender Trust poetry in translation prize - the challenge is to translate a poem from any language into English. There are three categories for young people: U18, U16, and U14. The top prize is £1000. The closing date is 17th July.

Ledbury Under 18's poetry competition. Two categories - 11 and under and 12-17 request poems of no more than 40 lines in length. There are cash prizes or book tokens for the winners. Deadline 15th July.

HG Wells short story competition.

The Lewis Carroll society is running a competition that includes categories for up to 16 and 16-20-year-olds who invite young writers to create a missing chapter of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland or Through the Looking-Glass. Full details are on the website link and the competition closes on 3rd July.

Closing date in August

3-18-year-olds can enter the Potential Plus creative writing competition. Entries can be poems, short stories, essays, statements or plays. There are categories for KS1, KS2 and secondary school pupils. There's a comprehensive guide to the contest on their website. The closing date for online entries is 24th August.

Atom Learning's Young Author Award 2022 offers 7-9-year-olds and 10-11 year-olds the chance to win a trip to Disneyland Paris. Children can enter fiction stories of up to 500 words inspired by the theme "A Day That Changed The World". There's also a free creative writing activity pack to download. The closing date is 31st August.

The Man Up! Creative Writing Competition is open to young people aged 15-25. Inspired by the Man Up! exhibition that highlighted 'stories of women in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries who stepped into male roles', entrants are invited to submit short stories and poems inspired by the women and stories in Man Up! There are categories for 15-17-year-olds and 18-25-year-olds, and full details are on the competition's website. The closing date is 15th August.

Goldsmiths University of London is running a series of competitions for 16-18-year-olds who are invited to a short story, a piece of journalism with a historical angle, or a piece about identity and culture. The Young Writer, Young Columnist, and Young Anthropologist competitions close on 2nd August.

Cinemagic Young Filmmaker - open to films on any subject from young filmmakers aged under 25. The prizes include winning films being screened in cinemas.

Young Muslim Writers Award - open to UK children and teens in KS1, KS2, KS3 and KS4 who can submit a short story or poetry - and in KS3 and KS4, this is extended to also include journalism, screenplays, and play scripts. Full details are on the website. The closing date is 13th August.

C.A.B.B publishing is running a short story competition for children. Full details are available on their website.

Closing date in September

The Patricia Eschen Prize for Poetry invites children worldwide to enter poems written in English of up to 40 lines, on any theme, on 'any subject that kindles your imagination. The closing date is 30th September.

The Ottery Literary Festival is running a young writers' competition open to children and young adults aged 18 and under for flash fiction stories of up to 500 words. This year's theme is 'trapped' and full details are available on the competition webpage. The deadline is 30th September.

The National Museum of Computing has organised a poetry competition open to 5-18 years olds, in honour of WW2 code-breaking heroine Betty O'Connell. Entries should be "on the theme of community spirit, individual achievement, unsung heroes and those who inspire them." The deadline is 15th September.

The Curious Tales story competition offers children up to 16 the chance to win two tickets to the Harry Potter studios by entering stories of up to 3000 words. The deadline is 1st September. Full details are available on the competition website.

The Style of Wight Children's Writing Competition - children who live on the Isle of Wight aged 7-11 and 12-16 can submit stories of up to 500 words on any subject. The deadline is 2nd September.

The Betty Haigh Shakespeare Prize - open to "any sixth-form student of English Literature". There are two options, both with detailed entry criteria which can be viewed on the competition website. The closing date is 1st September.

Closing date in October

Poetry Together Competition - children in the UK aged 5-18 are invited to enter poems of no more than 14 lines on the theme of 'Laughter and Tears' by 12pm on 25th October. Full details are available on the competition website.

The Yorkshire Festival of Story Children's Story Competition invites short stories from UK children aged 7-12 that 'feature a woodland creature or creatures.' The deadline is 9th October.

Royal Geographical Society School Essay Competition - an annual competition, run in association with the Financial Times, for 16-19-year-olds, with a closing date in October.

The Young Walter Scott Prize is dedicated to historical fiction, defined as "in a time before you were born", and this competition has two age categories: 11-15 and 16-19. Entries can be prose, poetry, drama, fictional letters, or reportage. The closing date is the end of October.

The Solstice Prize For Young Writers, organised by Writing East Midlands, invites children and teens aged 7-17 to write 'imaginative short stories (up to 500 words) and provocative poems (up to 40 lines)'. The competition offers cash prizes and an anthology of the best entries. There are three age categories: 7-11, 12-14 and 15-17 and the closing date is 31st October.

Saugus Halloween story writing contest.

Closing date in November

The East Riding Festival of Words runs an annual poetry competition. This year's theme is 'My Wonderful World'. Entries of up to 45 lines are open to children aged 4-10 and 11-16 and there are cash prizes for the winners. The closing date is 30th November.

The Tadpole Press 100 Word Writing Contest is a worldwide competition open to writers of all ages. There's an entry fee for this one, with cash prizes and writing development packages on offer for the winners. The deadline is November 30th.

Wenlock Olympian Society Short Story Competition - open to students aged 16+ who are invited to write a story on any theme of up to 2500 words. Full entry details are on the Wenlock website. The closing date is 23rd November.

One Teen Story - story submission site for teenagers. The deadline is 27th November.

The Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize for writers aged 18-25 invites entries of 1000-1500 words on a Franklin quote which changes each year. The deadline is 30th November.

Closing date in December

Closing date in January

The Cheshire Prize for Literature is open to children and teens in two age group categories: 4-11 (who can enter poetry and short stories) and 11-18 (who can enter poetry or short stories). This year's theme is open. Entrants must have lived, worked or studied in Cheshire and the closing date is 31st January.

The Immerse Essay Competition offers teens aged 13-18 the opportunity to write an essay choosing from a range of topics including architecture, science, law, international relations, medicine, economics, creative writing and many more. There are two age groups: 13-15 and 16-18. The deadline is 4th January.

North Eastern University London is running an essay competition for students in year 12. Pupils can submit up to 1,500 words, choosing from a range of set essay titles that span a broad range of topics including humanities, philosophy, social issues, the law and creative writing. There are cash prizes for the top three entries and the closing date is 16th January.

The Korean Spirit & Culture Promotion Project Essay Contest is an international competition open to children in two age group categories: years 6-9 and years 10-13. There are cash prizes for the top three entries and honourable mentions in each category. Full entry details are available on this information poster. All submissions must be submitted by 15th January.

The Herne Hill Lit Fest is running a "Stepping into Stories" competition for children aged 4-7, 8-11 and 12+. The theme is "bouncing back". Entries can be written stories, drawings, comic strips, poetry, raps, or digital animations. There are book token prizes for the winners and the closing date is 14th January.

Bournemouth Young Writers prize - open to children in years 3&4, and years 5&6 and stories can be "about anything you like". Prizes include £150 worth of books. The closing date is 16th January.

Rotary Club International Young Writer competition.

Closing date in February

Bright Light Education Creative Writing Competition for children aged 7-13. This annual competition returns in 2023 and is open to all children in the UK, with three age categories - 7-9, 9-11 and 11-13. Entries need to be a 500-word story (full criteria on the website) inspired by Joseph Coelho's advice on the website. Closes on February 28th.

The Royal Society of Literature invites students aged 13-18 to write up to 500 words about "the writer from the past that most inspires them". Prizes for the "History is in the Making" competition include book tokens for both entrants and the school, and the closing date is 10th February.

The Hugo Young Award - held in memory of Guardian political columnist Hugo Young, this competition encourages "fresh voices" aged 16-18 and 19-25 from UK state schools to pen political opinion pieces. Highly recommended for students studying A-level politics, sociology or looking towards a career in journalism.

Perse Research's Year 9 Aristotelian Award is open to students in Year 9 or equivalent. Entrants are invited to write between 800-1500 words from a choice of topics and essay titles spanning arts, humanities and the sciences. The competition aims to promote independent study and research. The deadline is 20th February.

The Canterbury Tales Writing Competition - annual - open to all school pupils and home-educated children. There are three age categories: 5-10; 11-14 and 15-18. The 2023 theme is "Promises Promises". The closing date is February 28th.

The Elmbridge Literary Competition is open to children (free) in four age group categories: 5-7; 8-11; 11-13 and 14-18. The theme for 2023 is "The Road". Short stories or poems can be entered.

The Japan Society is running a haiku competition. Children aged 15 and under can enter a haiku on the theme of "towns". Full details are available on the competition website. Entries must be received by 28th February 2022.

Voices - a writing competition, run by the charity Coram Voice, which is open to children and young people who are in or have experience with the care system.

Christopher Tower Poetry Prize - open to young adults aged 16-18.

Closing date in March

Humanimal Trust Creative Awards 2023 - children and teens aged 7-18 can share their creative skills on the theme of 'Connectivity' and/or 'One Medicine' in four age group categories: 7-11; 12-14; 15-16 & 17-18. Full details are on the competition website.

Young Songwriter 2023 - "The world's leading songwriting competition for young aspiring songwriters, aged 8-18". Children are invited to enter up to five songs. There are three age group categories for UK children and teens: 8-12; 13-15 & 16-18. Full details are on the Song Academy website.

Never Such Innocence - The 2023 theme is "What does war mean to you?" and to enter, children and teens can 'share thoughts on how people, communities and countries build a life after conflict using poetry, art, speech and song'. There are four age group categories (9-11; 11-14; 14-16; & 16-18) and full details are on the competition website. The closing date is 10th March.

The BBC Young Reporter Competition is open to children and teens aged 11-18 who "want to report on a story or issue which is important to their life or the world around them".

Young Financial Journalist Competition - open to secondary students aged 14-15, 15-15, 16-17 and 18-19. "We are seeking well-argued articles from students aged 14-19". The closing date is 18th March.

Fitzwilliam College Cambridge is running a series of essay competitions aimed at pupils in their penultimate year of education before university - ie Year 12, S5 or Y13 (Northern Ireland). Entries (written in English) are welcome from around the world. With six categories: Ancient World and Classics, Archaeology, History, Land Economy, Medieval World, and Architecture; this competition is highly recommended for 6th formers and could provide useful evidence for university applications, a starting point for an EPQ project, or a talking point for an admissions interview. The deadline is 3rd March.

Chiltern Bookshops is running a children's writing competition open to reception, year 1 and year 2 children; years 3-6; and 11-16-year-olds in secondary schools. Full details of word limits and story titles are on the website. The competition will be judged by Cressida Cowell. The closing date is 12th March.

The BBC Young Writer's Award - is open to 14-18-year-olds who can submit a piece of original fiction of up to 1000 words. Highly recommended.

The Portico Sadie Massey Awards feature two competitions open to children. There's the KS2, KS3, KS4, and KS5 Young Readers Competition (write a book review - any genre - on any subject) and the Young Writers competition, open to pupils in KS3,4&5 (write a story based in the North of England.)

The Girton College Humanities Writing Competition - open to Year 12 students in the UK, the writing task is based on five objects in the college's antiquities museum.

The Royal Mint runs an annual competition for primary school pupils aged 8-11 who can enter short stories of up to 500 words. Prizes include books for the school library. For this year's theme and entry details, see the competition website.

The Lowry's Creative Writing Challenge is open to children aged 7-11 from across Salford and Greater Manchester. "Pupils can draw on all aspects of writing for performance", and enter writing of up to 500 words including poetry and stories or up to three minutes of playscript.

Closing date in April

In association with The Times and FIPP, Pitch Magazine is running a Young Sports Journalist competition. Students aged 14-24 can enter an article of 700-800 words in response to the question prompts on the website. There are four age group categories: 14-17, 17-19, 19-21 and 21-24 and there's a £150 prize for each winning entry.

Tadpole Press is running a worldwide 100-word writing contest open to writers of all ages. 100 words can be submitted in any genre. There is an entry fee for this competition and there's a cash prize for 1st place and writing coaching and editing packages for the 2nd and 3rd places. The deadline is 30th April.

UK-RAS is running 'Once Upon a Robot' - an up to 800-word short story competition for 7-11-year-olds in the UK. Children are invited to write a story - in any genre - involving a robot.

The Writing Bee organised by Boom Writer offers children an exciting opportunity for children attending schools or those who are learning at home. The competition runs from January to April as an in-school contest, and from April to May as an online competition.

Author of Tomorrow - run by the Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation, the Author of Tomorrow prize aims to find adventure writers of the future. Young people under 21 can submit entries between 1500 and 5000 words (under 500 words for primary-aged pupils). The prizes are £1000 for the 16-21 age group, £100 and £150 in book tokens for the 12-15 age group, and £100 and £150 in book tokens for the 11 and under age group. The closing date is 29th April.

The Day 'Young Journalist Awards" are open to anyone under 19 (under 10 and 11-18) and entrants can submit a written article, a video clip, an audio piece, photography, an illustration or a graphic in any one of 12 subject categories. Full details including how to enter are on the competition website.

Closing date in May

The D.H. Lawrence Children's Prize: Writing Competition 2023 is open to students aged 11 and under and 12-16, who can enter up to 500 words on the theme of "my neighbourhood". Prizes include Kindles and book tokens.

Primary children aged 5-7, 7-9 and 9-11 from Dorset can enter the Bournemouth Writing Festival Schools' Competition. The competition is run in association with AFC Bournemouth.

Inspired by the curiosity and imagination of Martha Mills, The Martha Mills Young Writers' Prize invites young people in the UK aged 11-14 to enter under 500 words of "writing that is lively, unusual or otherwise original". This year's theme is "The Stranger" and there are full entry details on the competition web page.

War Through Children's Eyes is open to children aged 7-17 and aims to "raise awareness of the impact of wars and violent conflicts on the communities caught up in them, and particularly on the most vulnerable members of those communities: their children". Entries of up to 1000 words are invited, there are vouchers for the top three entries and full details are available on the website. The closing date is 10th May.

The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition is open to young people under the age of 19. The competition features a starter paragraph and invites entrants to write under 1000 words to continue the story. The closing date is 22nd May.

First News Education School Newspaper of the Year Competition. (Not running in 2023) Open to primary schools, secondary schools, and special schools. Will this become the long-term successor to the legendary Daily Telegraph competition from the 90s and 00s?

SATIPS poetry writing competition. (Not running in 2023)

Undated or open

The Scottish Book Trust runs monthly mini-sage 50-word story writing competitions for children aged 5-11 and 12-18, with a different theme each month.

Wordhound runs a monthly creative writing challenge for children aged 12 and under, who can send in 300-word stories "of funny, weird or otherwise unique writing" on a different subject each month.

Kids' Poetry Club runs a variety of competitions for primary and secondary-aged children, with a new theme announced every few months.

The Young Poets Network runs regular writing challenges and competitions, which can be viewed on their website.

BBC Today Student Journalism Awards - annual. this competition features a variety of journalism categories, including journalism (any medium), broadcasting, visual and photojournalism, criticism, publication, and programme. Entrants must be over 18 and in full-time UK higher education. The prizes include places on highly coveted BBC Journalism Trainee Schemes (paid positions).

BBC Writers Room is inviting speculative screenplay submissions of at least 30 pages from young scriptwriters aged 16+ in the UK or the Republic of Ireland.

Blue Things Zine invites young writers aged 13+ to write articles and stories under 1500 words for consideration for publication.

Scholastic We Are Writers - not a competition per-se, but lots of ideas for literacy and writing projects with the aim of getting your pupils published. Ideal for fundraisers or whole-school writing initiatives.

Inkhead short story competition and writing clubs.

Amnesty International has a series of online resources - 'Words That Burn' - to inspire teenagers to write about human rights, equality and discrimination.

National Literacy Trust competitions page.

Readers' Digest Competitions. - including a 100-word story competition for children.

The Guild of Food Writers Write It - Young Food Writer of the Year - is open to children up to 18 in three age categories.

Live Canon: Children's Poetry Competition - for young people aged 5-18.

For a non-competitive option, the John Muir Award offers schools an opportunity to "encourage people of all backgrounds to connect with, enjoy and care for wild places." Through an award scheme, pupils can create a dossier of experiences, challenges and presentations to demonstrate how they have discovered a wild place, explored it, done something to conserve it and shared their experience. A good option for larger groups, classes and year groups, this award requires teacher input and planning. Suitable for year 4 through to secondary-aged pupils.

The First Story Young Writers Festival offers pupils a day-long online festival with workshops, resources, interviews with writers, showcases for young writers, resources and CPD for teachers. This is a fantastic resource to inspire children to write for publication and would make a great starting point for pupils considering entering writing competitions. (Note the festival is not running a competition of its own).

Resources for creative writing in schools and at home

Below is a collection of books recommended to inspire children to write - whether it be creative writing, nonfiction, or poetry.

Write Like a Ninja: An essential toolkit for every young writer by Andrew Jennings

This cracking guide to using vocabulary and grammar effectively in KS2 is designed to be used independently by children. Ideal for homework, home learning and SATs revision, this is a useful and worthwhile resource to help build confidence and inspire children to write with greater ambition and accuracy.

For more competition ideas, have a look at our public speaking and debating contests.

Browse our list of Children's Book Publishers in the UK

Peruse our list of magazines for children and teens

Why not have a look at our suggested reading lists for children aged 3-16?

Please respect copyright and don't copy or reproduce our reviews. Thanks.

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A list of creative & non-fiction writing competitions for children in the UK, including contests for poetry, stories, handwriting & essays.

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Print and cut out your own SJL New Year book mark here! 

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Print and cut out your own SJL New Year book mark here! 

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It features some of the best books of 2020.

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Writing opportunities for young people here!

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Writing opportunities for young people here!

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These writing opportunities have been pulled together from organisations that support young people's writing. We're happy to share their competitions and call outs here, but we're not affiliated with them in any way. If you have any opportunities you'd like to be listed here please contact us at teen@scottishbooktrust.com
THE SHORT STORY
Looking for stories of 1000 words or less from anyone aged 6 - 16 years old.

Deadline: Ongoing
Find out more
A film magazine by and for under-15s. Pitch article ideas by email.

Deadline: Ongoing
Find out more Blue Things Zine
A monthly zine published by teenagers for teenagers. The submission window is between the 01 and 22 of each month, and they are looking for prose, poetry, photography and artwork.

Deadline: 22nd of each month
Find out more Let's Work Together
Looking for a collaborative piece from under 25s with one of the artforms including poetry.

Deadline: Sunday 17 January
Find out more The Human Cell Atlas
Looking for a poem inspired by the Human Cell Atlas (more information in the link below!). Open to anyone under the age of 25.

Deadline: Sunday 31 January
Find out more Write on Art
For school pupils aged between 15 - 18. To enter Write on Art, all you have to do is pick one artwork featured on the Art UK website and write about it.

Deadline: Friday 30 April
Find out more Annual Competitions Words That Burn
Amnesty International invites students to submit a poem on a different theme about someone who has suffered human rights abuses, one that can be performed in one minute.
Rattle Young Poets Anthology
A yearly anthology of young poets' work: poets must be 15 years old or younger when they wrote the poem(s), and 18 or younger when they submit them.

One Teen Story

A competition looking for writers aged between 13 - 19 years old, looking for short stories with teenagers as the main character.

Monthly Competitions

The John Byrne Award

The John Byrne Award is an online exhibition and competition exploring personal and societal values, open to 16-30 year olds in Scotland. Creative writing & illustration welcomed. Each month, the best entry is awarded £250. All entries from the year are submitted to the annual John Byrne Award competition where the best entry wins £2,500. All entries are eligible for all prizes and all entries will be considered for posting on the John Byrne Award social media pages.

50 Word Fiction
A competition run by Scottish Book Trust every month (so, okay, we are affiliated with this one) where we ask for short pieces of fiction inspired by a theme. As well as Adult and Gaelic language categories, there are categories for 5 - 11 and 12 - 18 year olds.

Workshops

Wirdsmit - an online workshop based in Orkney with writing prompts and activities. Aimed at 8 - 14 year olds.

Write with Rachel - a free series of writing workshops aimed at children and teenagers.

The Writers' Den with Philip Caveney - £80 for 4 workshops aimed at 9-12 year olds. First group starts on 31/08/20. Click link above for email.

The Writers' Block - online sessions from January - March 2021 including sessions aimed at teenagers.
Performing Opportunities
We maintain a list of spoken word and poetry nights throughout Scotland. Some of them welcome under eighteens.

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Writing Opportunities - What's Your Story?

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These writing opportunities have been pulled together from organisations that support young people's writing. We're happy to share their competitions and call outs here, but we're not affiliated with them in any way. If you have any opportunities you'd like to be listed here please contact us at teen@scottishbooktrust.com THE SHORT STORY Looking for stories ...

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Listen to Night Vale, a podcast with a creepy twist!

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Listen to Night Vale, a podcast with a creepy twist!

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Welcome to Night Vale is made possible through the support of our fans and sponsors. Check out our sponsor codes for discounts and special offers! If you are interested in shopping with a Night Vale sponsor, using the Night Vale link and/or sponsor code helps show our sponsors you are listening.

BetterHelp Online Counseling - If you think you may be depressed, or you're feeling overwhelmed or anxious, BetterHelp offers licensed, online counselors who are trained to listen and to help in a private, online environment -at your convenience. Listeners get 10% off your first month here.

Hendrick's Gin- Hendrick's is crafted with care in Scotland by Master Distiller, Ms. Lesley Gracie and is uniquely infused with rose & cucumber. To learn more, visit hendricksgin.com/US. Please enjoy the unusual responsibly.

Odoo- Odoo is an all-in-one management platform with a suite of user-friendly applications designed to simplify and connect every aspect of your company in one, easy-to-use software. So, you can get MORE done in LESS time. Learn more here.

Progressive - Progressive has you covered when it comes to car insurance. You can save when you start your quote online or have multiple vehicles on your policy. Start a quote online and see all the discounts for yourself.

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Welcome to Night Vale is made possible through the support of our fans and sponsors. Check out our sponsor codes for discounts and special offers! If you are interested in shopping with a Night Vale sponsor, using the Night Vale link and/or sponsor code helps show our sponsors you are listening.

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Do you remember how you read when you first encountered books? That shimmer of excitement upon entering a library or a book shop? The giddy feeling which kept you returning to your bookshelves?

With so much to read and so little time to do it, you can be forgiven for losing some of that shine. So, on the cusp of a new year, we thought we'd suggest some ways to get it back and make reading truly fun again.

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Do you remember how you read when you first encountered books? That shimmer of excitement upon entering a library or a book shop? The giddy feeling which kept you returning to your bookshelves? With so much to read and so little time to do it, you can be forgiven for losing some of that shine.

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Podcast can be a great way to learn, be entertained, LOL and look after your wellbeing. Many free podcasts are available and you can find out where you can access them here:

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Listening to audio programmes, or podcasts, is simple if you have access to the internet. You just need to find a podcast platform or app that suits you and then sample some of the many thousands of podcasts made around the world. All podcasts are free, and most are available via many different apps.

On a website

The simplest way to listen to podcasts is on a web browser like Chrome, Safari or Microsoft Edge. You can do this from a computer or from the web browser on your phone.

Find a website that has podcasts you like, for example the Guardian.

Find the player on the page, check your device's sound is switched on and click play to listen to the podcast.

On your iPhone or iPad

If you have an iPhone you can use the Apple podcasts app to listen to podcasts.

The Podcasts app should already be downloaded on your phone so search your apps for 'Podcasts'. If it's not, go to the app store and download it.

Open the Podcast app and go to the search page (click on the magnifying glass button in the navigation at the bottom).

A search box should appear at the top, next to another magnifying glass icon. Tap on this and type in the name of the podcast you want to find eg: "Guardian Books". Hit "enter" on your keyboard.

Choose the podcast you want from the search results and tap on it. This should take you to the podcast's homepage.

Once you're on the podcast homepage you'll see a list of recent episodes. Tap on one to play it.

If you like what you hear, a subscribe button at the top of the page lets you subscribe for free. This means the app will automatically download the latest episodes to your library.

More information from Apple here.

On your Android phone

If you have an Android phone you can use the Google podcasts app.

Search "Google podcasts" in the play store app or click this link on your phone to open it in the store.

Install the app.

Once you open the app, use the search box (look out for the magnifying glass icon) and type in the name of the podcast you want to find eg: Football Weekly.

Choose the podcast you want from the search results and tap on it again. This should take you to the podcast's homepage.

Once on the podcast homepage you should see a list of most recent episodes. Tap on one to play it.

If you like it, tap the subscribe button at the top of the page. When you subscribe to a podcast, it'll appear at the top of the Google podcasts app, and a new section in the app will let you know about new episodes from podcasts you've subscribed to. You should also be able to listen to podcasts from the Google search app, just search for the name of the podcast.

And, if you're interested in finding new, lesser-known podcasts or recommending your favourites, then sign up for our weekly newsletter, Hear here, at theguardian.com/podcasts.

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How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know

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Listening to audio programmes, or podcasts, is simple if you have access to the internet. You just need to find a podcast platform or app that suits you and then sample some of the many thousands of podcasts made around the world. All podcasts are free, and most are available via many different apps.

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Find out some weird and interesting facts from this podcast!

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Find out some weird and interesting facts from this podcast!

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No Such Thing As A Fish | Nosuchthingasafish

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nosuchthingasafish.com | A weekly podcast about interesting facts from the makers of QI.

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Find some podcasts focused on your wellbeing here!

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Find some podcasts focused on your wellbeing here!

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Accessing Mental Health Care: Overcoming Obstacles and Asking for Help What happens after you recognize you need help? Who can you go to to receive support? As important as mental…

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Emily Shaw - empowering people, trusting your gut and why career ‘paths’ may be a thing of the past

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Find out what plays are available to watch!

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Find out what plays are available to watch!

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Theatres may be closed, but you can always get a stagey fix online. We round-up a series of shows you can watch right now - operas, musicals and more!
If you can - please do try and help out theatres across the UK - we've got some tips here.
HPC Meeeting 10 December 2020

[Not really theatre but utterly gripping]

London International Mime Festival

A variety of stage shows will be streamed on YouTube for free - highlighting the best in physical and contemporary storytelling. Highlights include Gecko's The Wedding.

Rifco Theatre's Leave the Plastic On

The company's comedy series is available to watch now - top notch production values and some whip-sharp dialogue.

A Tale to Tell

Shakespeare's Globe's Romeo and Juliet

Jackson's Lane international short film

Kneehigh's The Neon Shadow

Frozen

The cruise hour-long version can be seen now.

Sadler's Wells

Sadler's Wells will be streaming an archived production each month, featuring Candoco, Kate Prince and more. More details here.

These Folk at The Boulevard Theatre

Good Dog

Based on Arinzé Kene's hit play, the new, shortened, screen version has been put online for all to see.

Edinburgh International Festival

The organisation has created a whole digital platform to replace its events this year. The series includes National Theatre of Scotland's Ghost Light, which is below:

Zoo Venues

The Edinburgh Fringe company is streaming a host of online and recorded productions on its website, with all funds raised going directly to artists unable to perform this year. Watch here.

Tangled

Shakespeare's Globe's Richard II

Manchester International Festival

The festival is putting full shows, musical performances, talks, Q&As and more online for free. Check out the YouTube channel here.

Leonard Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti

Opera North is streaming its production of the hit Bernstein opera for a full month on its YouTube channel.

Alan Seymour's The One Day of the Year

Australian and New Zealand actors including Mark Little, Kerry Fox, Daniel Monks, Paul Haley and Celeste Dodwell bring the hit play to life, all via remote performance. It's available until 31 May.

BBC's Performance Live

Featuring Hofesth Shechter, Tourreshero, Akala, Kate Tempest and more, the BBC is offering a raft of free theatre for UK users.

Royal Opera House

The iconic company is putting archived shows online for free, and you can see more here.

ZARA

Now this is a bit of a biggy - Mind the Gap, Walk the Plank and Emergency Exit Arts' epic 2019 show is heading online from Sunday 19 April at 8pm. Featuring 100 performers and a giant baby bigger than a double-decker bus, the piece is available here.

Only the Brave

Only The Brave - A New Musical from AdVision TV on Vimeo.

Only the Brave, the hit musical starring Caroline Sheen and David Thaxton, is available for free online. The show, filmed by AdVision TV in 2016, tells the story of a group of soldiers in the run-up to the D-Day landings. It had its first run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2008, before a full production premiered in 2016 at the Millenium Centre in Cardiff.

Cheek By Jowl

The iconic theatre company has brought back the archive recording of its hit version of Shakespeare's problem play, which was captured live at the Barbican in 2017. It's around for a month!

Henry V

The Barn's hit production with Aaron Sidwell and Lauren Samuels went live at 6pm on Friday 27 March, and will be available from the Barn's website after that.

21 Chump Street

Long before Hamilton there was the speedy 21 Chump Street, starring Anthony Ramos and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Ramos himself is about to take on the leading role in the In the Heights movie, scheduled to be released this summer. The BAM performance is available to watch in its entirety above. A small nugget of gold.

Ghost Quartet

Missed the award-winning revival of Ghost Quartet when it ran in London last year? Well Dave Malloy has posted the full musical on YouTube - featuring himself, performed in 2015.

The Show Must Go Online

This is a cool scheme - live readings of Shakespeare's works provided by top-notch actors who would otherwise be twiddling their thumbs.

Bubble

Rehearsed on Skype and filmed via Facebook, Theatre Uncut's newest show is a perfect fit for the coronavirus outbreak. Kieran Hurley's brand new play will be premiering on 23 March at 8pm and will also be released as a playtext to download, with performing rights free until 23 April. Find out more about it in the trailer above.

Opera Vision

Free opera! Now that's a nice sentiment - the European Commission-supported OperaVision will be supplying free opportunities to watch top-tier performances filmed at the highest quality level, with new shows released weekly on top of a massive back catalogue. Find out more.

First encounter King Lear

Another lovely RSC show geared towards introducing theatre to young'uns, this time taking the tragic story of King Lear and making it more accessible and fleet. The perfect way to kick off a love of theatre.

Gecko Theatre

Physical theatre pros Gecko have put a wad of their shows on YouTube for free, including The Time of Your Life, a collaboration with the BBC.

Tim Crouch is a legend at the best of times, so seeing his solo show hosted by the RSC is a great chance to watch theatre at its best. You can also watch his production of I, Malvolio here.

Girls Like That

Evan Placey's hit 2014 play heads to the virtual world. It follows a group of schoolgirls reacting as one of their peers has naked photos of themselves leaked online - a pertinent issue for the present day, and a good way to get into a knotty play during the quiet hours.

Kanopy

Have you got a library card or a university login? Did you know about this amazing streaming service that can be accessed through your local institution to watch films, TV shows and live theatre performances? Did you know that it's totally free? Well you do now! Open to members participating libraries, colleges and universities, this is a great to way to catch up on some amazing shows from years gone by. Check out Kanopy and discover the participating venues here.

5 Soldiers

The critically acclaimed five-star production is a collaboration between British choreographer Rosie Kay and the British army, and gave an insight into the psychology and welfare of soldiers fighting on the front lines. It's now available to watch online above.

Clown Funeral

Associate artists of the New Diorama and Pegasus Theatre, Clown Funeral has made three shows available online for free (head to YouTube for the others) so that's a whole wad of whimsy while you wait for the virus to subside!

Timpson the Musical

The hit Fringe production has put its best foot forward and released a full recording online! Watch it above.

YesYesNoNo

The theatre company has put one of its earlier works, Five Encounters on a Site Called Craigslist, online for free! The show was one of the smash hits at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017. And more than that, the company are sending the cast of its latest show The Accident Did Not Take Place to record at the Bunker Theatre. Stream it live online here on 21 March at 7.25pm.

Playwright Emily Jenkins was commissioned to write this show about cyber bullying by the Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass charity. It was first performed live in 2017 and then live recorded for Anti-Bullying Week. A great show about the negative experiences young people can face online - and it's available for free!

Daniel Bye

This theatremaker has been creating exciting and thought-provoking work and putting it on his YouTube channel for years. Bye has also launched a Patreon page if anyone wants to contribute.

This apocalyptic comedy came to the Old Vic Tunnels in 2013 and the theatre company has made it available to watch for free on YouTube in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Stage shows, musicals and opera you can watch online now for free | WhatsOnStage

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Theatres may be closed, but you can always get a stagey fix online. We round-up a series of shows you can watch right now - operas, musicals and more! If you can - please do try and help out theatres across the UK - we've got some tips here.

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LeVar Burton Reads: The Best Short Fiction, Handpicked by the World's Greatest Storyteller

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LeVar Burton Reads: The Best Short Fiction, Handpicked by the World's Greatest Storyteller

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In every episode, host LeVar Burton (Reading Rainbow, Roots, Star Trek) invites you to take a break from your daily life, and dive into a great story.

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Find out what your favourite authors are up to in lockdown

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Find out what your favourite authors are up to in lockdown

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Penguin Books are running a 'Penguin at Home' video series with a variety of authors - watch live on Facebook or catch up on YouTube

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At Home with Penguin is a chance for you to connect with some of our most loved authors in their kitchens, studies and living rooms. In these isolated circumstances, authors will invite you into their homes to share how they're spending their time, talk about the books they are turning to, and take questions from readers. It's a great chance to connect with great writers and fellow readers.

Check back here regularly to get links to watch the live stream, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to make sure you don't miss a thing.

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At Home with Penguin is a chance for you to connect with some of our most loved authors in their kitchens, studies and living rooms. In these isolated circumstances, authors will invite you into their homes to share how they're spending their time, talk about the books they are turning to, and take questions from readers.

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Read a comic or graphic novel from Comixology

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Read a comic or graphic novel from Comixology

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Amazon's Comixology has a selection of free comics to read online or using their app on a phone/tablet/Kindle (you will need to sign up for an account)

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Read comics, graphic novels, manga and more

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Select Your Cookie Preferences We use cookies and similar tools that are necessary to enable you to make purchases, to enhance your shopping experiences and to provide our services, as detailed in our Cookie Notice. We also use these cookies to understand how customers use our services (for example, by measuring site visits) so we can make improvements.

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Listen to a Shakespeare sonnet, read by Sir Patrick Stewart

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Listen to a Shakespeare sonnet, read by Sir Patrick Stewart

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The Star Trek and X-Men star is reading one of Shakespeare's sonnets every day - catch up on his Twitter: https://twitter.com/sirpatstew

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Read book reviews and competitions from LoveReading

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Buy a Book. Support a School. Make a Difference | LoveReading UK

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LoveReading exists because reading matters, and books change lives. Support local schools through the LoveReading bookshop. 10% off RRPs, and 25% of the cover price will be given to a school of your choice. Sharing book love with book reviews and book recommendations.

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Discover the Women's Prize for Fiction 2020 shortlist

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Discover the Women's Prize for Fiction 2020 shortlist

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Some of the best fiction written by women in the last year - winner announced in November

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We are absolutely thrilled to reveal this year's Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist, in the Prize's 25th year. The shortlist was announced as a special online event on the Women's Prize for Fiction social channels by Chair of the Judges Martha Lane Fox.

Martha said: "We are all living in challenging, sad and complex times so incredible stories provide hope, a moment of escape and a point of connection now more than ever. Choosing the shortlist was tough - we went slowly and carefully and passions ran high - just as you would want in such a process. But we are all so proud of these books - all readers will find solace if they pick one up."

Joining Martha on the 2020 judging panel are writer and activist Scarlett Curtis, writer and activist, Melanie Eusebe, co-founder of the Black British Business Awards, author and comedian Viv Groskop and Paula Hawkins, international bestselling author.

The 2020 shortlist is as follows.

Dominicana by Angie Cruz

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel

Hamnet by Maggie O' Farrell

Weather by Jenny Offill

Our brilliant judging panel will now whittle these 16 books down to a shortlist of just 6 novels, announced on April 22nd. The 25th winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction will be announced on Wednesday 9th September.
Watch the online announcement event with Martha Lane Fox now >
And keep your eyes peeled to our social channels for a chance to win all six shortlisted books. Join in the conversation @WomensPrize about this year's brilliant novels.

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Announcing the 2020 Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist - Women's Prize for Fiction

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We are absolutely thrilled to reveal this year's Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist, in the Prize's 25th year. The shortlist was announced as a special online event on the Women's Prize for Fiction social channels by Chair of the Judges Martha Lane Fox.

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Listen to the world's best poetry read aloud

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Listen to the world's best poetry read aloud

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The Poetry Archive needs your help to remain free-of-charge

Our supporters are very special people. They are poetry lovers who want to help others to share in the transformational power of the written word by ensuring the Archive can remain free-of-charge for everyone. We now attract over 5 million visits per year from teachers, children, poets and people just like you. If you can, please consider making a donation, signing up to our Insider, or becoming a Member today. Thank you!

The Poetry Archive is an entirely not-for-profit organisation with a mission to record every significant poet reading their own work aloud and make this poetry freely available to everyone.

We can only do this with your help. This ambitious and valuable project succeeds because of the generosity of people who share our passion to grow and care for this vital heritage. Every £1 we raise contributes directly to our recordings programme. You have already helped us by becoming a visitor to our website, so thank you for that! You can help us record more poets by joining us as a Member of the Archive and truly get connected to the work we do.

5 Reason to become a Member

You can help us grow this vital heritage of poetry and ensure we can keep it safe for future generations to enjoy

You can gain access to thousands of poems exclusive to our Members

You can dedicate a poem to someone's memory, or to celebrate an anniversary or achievement, or simply because you love them

You are directly supporting poets and their careers when you become a Member and use your credits to download their work

You can get connected to our behind-the-scenes work through Member newsletters and gain early-bird or discounted access to a range of events and special offers

Copyright © 2023 All rights reserved. Charity No. 1093858. Registered No. 4336052

The Poetry Archive is a not-for-profit organisation with charitable status.

Help keep the Archive Free!

For poetry lovers everywhere! Become a member to enjoy our full catalogue, rare recordings and exclusive member offers, whilst helping to keep the Archive free-of-charge.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We use cookies. Accept More info

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Listen to the world's best poetry read out loud. Start exploring the Poetry Archive for your favourite poems or poet. Read along or listen distraction free.

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Read a book of short stories and poems to inspire hope

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Read a book of short stories and poems to inspire hope

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With contributions from 110 children’s writers and illustrators, including Lauren Child, Anthony Horowitz, Michael Morpurgo, Liz Pichon, Axel Scheffler, Francesca Simon and Jacqueline Wilson

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Edited by Katherine Rundell, with contributions from more than 100 children's writers and illustrators

This extraordinary collection of short stories, poems, essays and pictures has contributions from more than 110 children's writers and illustrators, including Lauren Child, Anthony Horowitz, Greg James and Chris Smith, Michael Morpurgo, Liz Pichon, Axel Scheffler, Francesca Simon and Jacqueline Wilson.

The collection, published by Bloomsbury, is dedicated to the doctors, nurses, carers, porters, cleaners and everyone working in hospitals.

Read the book

When schools were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in both 2020 and 2021 Bloomsbury generously permitted us to share The Book of Hopes as an ebook freely accessible to schools and families.

As part of our Education Recovery support for schools and children we worked with partners to develop a range of supporting resources, that you can find linked below.

The Book of Hopes is now available as a beautiful hardback gift edition, with 23 never-seen-before stories, poems and illustrations, providing an ongoing wealth of discovery, comfort and inspiration for children.

The Book of Hopes is available to buy from all good book retailers. A donation from the sale of each book will go to NHS Charities Together, in gratitude for the incredible efforts of all those who worked in hospitals over the quarantine period. Learn more and purchase your own copy.

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The Book of Hopes | National Literacy Trust

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Read The Book of Hopes: Words and Pictures to Comfort, Inspire and Entertain Children