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26th - Sparks Book Awards Winners Announced

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26th - Sparks Book Awards Winners Announced

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Awards that schools get to vote on

https://www.sparkbookawards.co.uk

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Two categories, great to keep an eye on.

https://carnegies.co.uk/medals/

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This award focuses on STEM books

https://royalsociety.org/medals-and-prizes/young-peoples-book-prize/

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Young People's Book Prize - Children's Science Books | Royal Society

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The Royal Society Young People's Book Prize celebrates the best books that communicate science to young people.

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1st - Waterstones Childrens book of the year announced

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1st - Waterstones Childrens book of the year announced

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Always well worth a look at this choice

https://www.waterstones.com/the-waterstones-childrens-book-prize

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1st - Laugh Out Loud Book Award Winners Announced

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1st - Laugh Out Loud Book Award Winners Announced

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A great way to find the funniest books of the year

https://shop.scholastic.co.uk/lollies

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Best Laugh Out Loud Book for 9-13-year-olds

The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates by Jenny Pearson and Rob Biddulph

The super funny, heart-warming adventure of three boys, one summer holiday, and a few miracles along the way, from breakout talent, Jenny Pearson, illustrated by award-winning Rob Biddulph.

Freddie Yates likes facts. Just not the one staring him in the face - that his secret plan is not, in fact, secret.

Because Freddie's journey wasn't meant to involve Big Trev and the onion-eating competition or the loo-exploding pear-and-potato turnovers. And Freddie definitely didn't expect to end up, with his two best friends, on national television in a supergirl costume.

But journeys never take you where you think they will. And for Freddie, that fact might just have to be enough...

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The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates by Jenny Pearson and Rob Biddulph The super funny, heart-warming adventure of three boys, one summer holiday, and a few miracles along the way, from breakout talent, Jenny Pearson, illustrated by award-winning Rob Biddulph. Freddie Yates likes facts.

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28th - SLA Information Book Childrens Choice Award

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28th - SLA Information Book Childrens Choice Award

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Non-Fiction books voted for by children

https://www.sla.org.uk/iba

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The Information Book Award ihas been designed to support school libraries and to reinforce the importance of non-fiction whilst highlighting the high standard of resources available.

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15th - Diverse Book Award Winner Announced

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15th - Diverse Book Award Winner Announced

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Celebrates books written celebrating diversity whether its cultural diversity or neurodiversity

https://www.thediversebookawards.co.uk

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Competition focused on STEM reading end in March

https://literacytrust.org.uk/resources/we-wonder-our-blue-planet/

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We Wonder: Our Blue Planet reading challenge 2025 | National Literacy Trust

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Enrich your students’ learning in 2025 with this fascinating and creative STEM reading challenge for students aged 7 to 14 (KS2 and KS3/P4 to S3)

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3rd - 8th Cheltenham Literature Festival

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3rd - 8th Cheltenham Literature Festival

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Analytical cookies are used to determine how visitors are using a website, enabling us to enhance performance and functionality of the website. These are non-essential cookies but are not used for advertising purposes.

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Shakespeare Week is a national annual celebration giving primary school children a great first encounter with Shakespeare. Register now to access our free resources and events listings, or join us as a partner organisation.

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This annual celebration of bats sees bat events for the public taking place across the country. This year (2024) International Bat Night is 24-25th August!

Have a look at our International Bat Night Pack which you can download here! Inside you will find ideas on how to celebrate bats, help bat conservation, further resources and more! You will find lots of useful hyperlinks throughout the document too so you or you can print the packs or bits of it. These are only suggestions, the main thing is that you celebrate bats your own way (and if possible share it with us)!

Bat groups, park rangers and community groups organise fantastic bat walks and talks at dusk, as well some day time fun days!

This celebration of bats is held by bat groups and the Bat Conservation Trust, to coincide with International Bat Night (formerly European Bat Night) which is organised by Eurobats. We aim to encourage thousands of people across the country to see and hear bats in their natural environment by taking part in a range of events organised by local bat groups, wildlife trusts, countryside rangers and other organisations across the country.

If you're organising an event, please do email comms@bats.org.uk with details of your event: name of event, date, time and location, who is it aimed for, is it a paid event (if so how much per person), do people need to book (and where), contact details for the organiser for people who have question, website of the event if there is one.

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International Bat Night - Support Bats - Bat Conservation Trust

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This annual celebration of bats sees bat events for the public taking place across the country. This year (2024) International Bat Night is 24-25th Augu...

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Artists For A Better World International

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Artists for A Better World International member, Becky Mate, founded an international holiday for the Arts in 1998, aptly called World Art Day.

This holiday falls annually on the 15th of April, the same day as the birth of world-famous artist, Leonardo da Vinci (1452).

Leonardo da Vinci's areas of interest included invention, drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany and more. He is widely considered one of the greatest painters of all time, with two of his most widely known works including Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.

Since 1998, Mate has inspired and encouraged others to spread the word about this holiday to artists and art enthusiasts around the globe. The result has been a growing number of World Art Day celebrations with each passing year.

For many years the holiday was celebrated on the second Friday in August. In 2017, Mate announced the move of the holiday from August to April 15th, in a gesture of solidarity with a like-minded group that established World Art Day on da Vinci's birthday.

World Art Day is the perfect time to celebrate creativity and bring joy to others:

Additionally, give a card, photo, music CD, poem, story or anything creative to someone else.

In short, World Art Day is about bringing a smile to others and forwarding the concept of creating a better world through aesthetics.

Although World Art Day was formulated around a particular date to celebrate creativity, ideally, one would forward creativity all year round. World Art Day helps to call attention to its importance.

What do you think about having a day dedicated to artists?

What would you commit to doing on such a day to show your support for artists and the arts?

PAST WORLD ART DAY ACTIVITIES:

Art Day Poetry:

WORLD ART DAY, APRIL 15TH
By R.L. Mate

Twas the night fore World Art Day
When all through the hush
Not an artist was stirring
Not even a brush.

Magic Picture Frame hung
By the chimney with care
In hopes that art gifts would
Soon would be there.

The children all nestled
All snug in their beds
Visions of music and art in their heads

Mama in her jewelry and me in my cap
Had just settle down for a long April nap
When out of the lawn there was such a clatter
I spring from the bed to see what was the matter
Away to the window, flying like a flash
Open the shutters, throw up the sash

The moon on the grass of the newly-mown lawn
Gave a magic to all just before dawn
When what to my wondering eyes did appear
But a Poet, Musician and Playwright, so queer.

With a little young Dancer so lively and quick
I knew in a moment she must do a trick
More rapid than eagles her backup they came
They set up with drummers and guitars and sang:

Now Singer, now Dancer
Now Artist and Sculptor
On Writer, on Poet
On Movie Director!

To the top of the charts
Top of them all
Art away, art away, art away all!!

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Artists for A Better World International member, Becky Mate, founded an international holiday for the Arts in 1998, aptly called World Art Day. This holiday falls annually on the 15th of April, the...

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Q. The big one: WHY? A. Why not? Talking like a pirate is fun. It's really that simple. It adds a zest, a swagger, to your every day conversation. Do you need another reason? Try it out. Let go, have a beer, burp in public. Say "Aarrr!!" Feels good, doesn't it?

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History of National Video Game Day

These days, everyone can find a video game that gets them hooked. Not only does it depend on the gameplay style you like - strategy or combat? - you might have a particular penchant for games from a specific age. Some love old-timey arcade games, while others are excited by cutting-edge VR.

Surprisingly, the origin story of your favorite video game app in your pocket is actually in research labs. The earliest video games began in the 1950s in universities like the University of Cambridge and MIT. Some games that came out of these were virtual tic tac toe, and "Spacewar!"

When the first home console, designed in 1967 by the "Father of Video Games" Ralph Baer, hit the market, it inspired the classic Atari game "Pong." Though there was a copyright infringement lawsuit, Atari still took off with the public when they released the Atari 2600. Some of the best games of the ensuing era include "Space Invaders" and "Donkey Kong" - sound familiar?

After the video game market crash in 1983, Japanese company Nintendo burst onto the scene. Nintendo is responsible for some of the most important franchises around - Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid. Nintendo found a challenger in Sega, driving the market into the 3D Gaming world.

The modern era of gaming was truly kicked off in the early 21st century with the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and the Wii. Video games then invaded media platforms and video game apps flooded the app stores. Lucrative competitions for skilled gamers have begun to spring up worldwide. These days, big video game console companies like Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, have their sights set on VR - the exciting future of video gaming gets more and more lifelike every day!

National Video Game Day - Survey Results
NATIONALTODAY NATIONAL VIDEO GAMES DAY SURVEY

Survey according to one of the top Market Research Agencies (Survey of 1,000 Americans)

What's the best gaming console?
#1: Playstation (38%)
#2: Xbox (38%)
#3: Nintendo (21%)

What's the best video game franchise?
#1: Super Mario (47%)
#2: Call of Duty (21%)
#3: Donkey Kong (19%)
#4: Grand Theft Auto (19%)
#5: Pokemon (16%)
#6: Zelda (13%)
#7: Sonic the Hedgehog (13%)
#8: Final Fantasy (9%)
#9: Halo (9%)
#10: Crash Bandicoot (7%)

How often do you play video games?
#1: Everyday (31%)
#2: Rarely (31%)
#3: 2-3x a week (23%)

When do mobile gamers like to play games on their phones?
#1: Whenever I'm bored (66%)
#2: When I'm watching TV (41%)
#3: Before I go to sleep (39%)
#4: When I'm on the toilet (34%)
#5: During my breaks at work (21%)
#6: Whenever I'm eating (20%)
#7: Before I leave for work (12%)
#8: On my commute to work (8%)

Video games have come a long way. The virtual worlds emulated by games are no longer just for enjoyment and passing time, it is an entire experience. With storylines and character development sometimes surpassing that of Hollywood movies, National Video Games Day celebrations are exuberant.

The go-to tradition for the day is to immerse oneself in video games, whether by yourself or with friends. Multiplayer gaming has formed friendships that are cherished and stronger than some real-life relations, so digital celebrations are at their peak with streaming gameplays on websites like YouTube and Twitch, commentaries, and video games played online with team-mates living around the world.

Going old-school and playing classic games at an arcade is also a tradition. The charm and nostalgia of old games are growing and they increase our appreciation for new video games with better graphics and gameplay.

Video game releases and announcements are also made by some companies today. Special discounts and bundles, and free downloads of video games are available on platforms like Steam. Items and character upgrades inside video game shops are offered at reduced prices, too.

360,000 - the number of arcade cabinets of the game "Space Invaders" sold by 1980.

$80,000 - the amount spent by a Japanese man on playing "Space Invaders".

40,000,000 - the number of copies sold of "Super Mario Bros" by the game's 25th anniversary.

3 - the number of discs that held the "Final Fantasy VII" game on PlayStation.

56 - the number of vehicles drivable in "Grand Theft Auto: III".

3 - the number of days it took "Grand Theft Auto: V" to reach $1 billion in sales.

13 - the number of novels written on the "Halo" universe.

12,000,000 - the number of subscribers to "World Of Warcraft" in 2012.

7 - the number of players originally limited to a football team in "Madden Football" due to hardware restrictions.

92 - the number of production babies who joined the Bungie family in the game "Destiny" since 2010.

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Do you want to celebrate the best games on the planet? Pull up a console and get playing for National Video Game Day 2018 on September 12!

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National Read A Book Day | Global Dimension

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Every September 6th. Encouraging everyone to pick up a book and reconnect with the joys of reading.

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The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event featuring sound systems and parade bands that has taken place in London since the mid 1960s on the streets of Notting Hill, attended by over one million people annually, making it one of the world's largest street festivals.

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23rd - International Slavery Remembrance Day

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23rd - International Slavery Remembrance Day

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On 23 August 1791, enslaved people on the island of Santo Domingo (modern-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic) rose up against French colonial rule.

The uprising played a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

That's why, on 23 August each year, we commemorate International Slavery Remembrance Day and the long struggle for emancipation throughout the world.

The 2022 event at the National Maritime Museum is now over, but we'll be back in 2023. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear about our plans, and get more Museum news and events delivered straight to your inbox.

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On 23 August 1791, enslaved people on the island of Santo Domingo (modern-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic) rose up against French colonial rule. The uprising played a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. That's why, on 23 August each year, we commemorate International Slavery Remembrance Day and the long struggle for emancipation throughout the world.

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Take Action. Save Orangutans. WorldWide.

International Orangutan Day
August 19th- Every Year!

To recognize the most iconic victim of the palm oil industry, International Orangutan Day has been set for August 19th, EVERY YEAR! This event is to help encourage the public to take action in preserving this amazing species.

From 1992-2000, the population of the Sumatran orangutan is considered to have declined by more than 50%. Its relative, the Bornean orangutan population fell nearly 43 percent in the past decade, from 35,000 in 1996 to 20,000 in 2006. Since these studies were done, deforestation rates have continued to climb which means the actual populations could be well below these.

Something has to be done to save orangutans and that is the reason for International Orangutan Day!

Show Your Support!

Send us a photo showing your support for orangutans. You can include a message, mention that International Orangutan Day or #OrangutanDay is August 19th, and gather friends!

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World Orangutan Events- International Orangutan Day

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To recognize the most iconic victim of the palm oil industry, International Orangutan Day has been set for August 19th, EVERY YEAR! This event is to help encourage the public to take action in preserving this amazing species. #OrangutanDay

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Lions are the kings of the jungle, but even those at the top of the animal kingdom need our help. On World Lion Day, let's see what's really going on.

When is World Lion Day?

World Lion Day is an annual event that takes place on August 10th.

What is the history of World Lion Day?

This year is the 10th World Lion Day. It was founded in 2013 by Derek and Beverly Joubert with the intention of raising awareness about the challenges lions face in the wild.

Prior to this, the Jouberts also partnered with National Geographic to create the Big Cat Initiative. Again, this initiative focused on trying to stop the rapid decline in lion populations.

Why is World Lion Day important?

Lions are facing huge threats

The number of lions in the wild has dropped dramatically, and this trend is continuing. The population of African lions, for example, has dropped by 43% since 2001. Without our help, lion populations may never recover.

Lions are exploited

Lions aren't typical farmyard animals, but thousands of lions are farmed around the world for their bones and other body parts. These are often used in traditional medicine, despite no evidence that they work. These animals have short, brutal lives of suffering.

Lions have empathy

Lions are social animals and they are able to empathise with other members of their pride. For example, they experience contagious yawning just like humans.

Lions are intelligent

Like many other animals, lions are able to solve puzzles to obtain food. Unusually, they can also learn how to solve a puzzle simply by watching another lion solve it first. This shows a higher level of intelligence and social connection than most other animals.

How can you celebrate World Lion Day?

We can all celebrate World Lion Day by taking important steps to reduce the exploitation of lions.

Why South Africa's Commercial Lion Breeding must end

Learn about the issue of commercial lion breeding and our evidence of cruel and illegal activity at "secret" lion farms.

Be a Real Responsible Traveller

Show travel companies that you're serious about animal protection. Refuse to book with those who offer experiences with captive lions. Check our Real Responsible Travelle r guide to see which companies are taking their responsibilities towards animal protection seriously.

Join our campaign against using animals for traditional medicine

Using animals, especially endangered wild animals, in medicine is bad for the planet and offers no medical benefits. Join our campaign to help put a stop to these practices.

World Lion Day FAQS

Where do lions live?

Nearly all lions currently live in Africa. They're able to live in lots of different habitats, including open plains, dense brush, and even dry thorn forests. They will usually be found living close to a body of water which can also help them find prey.

Are lions intelligent?

Lions are highly intelligent animals who can solve problems easily. As sentient, social creatures, they can even work together to solve puzzles and obtain food.

What do lions eat

Lions typically eat large or medium-sized animals, such as impala. They usually work together to hunt and stalk their prey rather than engage in a long chase.

Are lions endangered and why?

Lions are described as "vulnerable", with only about 20,000 African lions left in the wild. They are suffering from the loss of prey animals but they are also being hunted and caught for human purposes. These include entertainment and traditional medicine.

Captive lions are also used for "hunting experiences". These experiences keep the lions in a confined space, allowing wealthy "hunters" a guaranteed kill. These lions often sustain agonising wounds and suffer significantly.

Can lions be domesticated?

Lions are sentient, wild animals and cannot be domesticated. Their emotional and social needs can only be met by living in a pride with other lions.

How can we protect lions?

We can protect lions by putting an end to their commercial exploitation. We can remove the demand for lions in tourist entertainment and boycott companies that still engage in these practices. We can also pressure governments to crack down on the use of lion parts in traditional medicine.

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Join us for World Lion Day on August 10th, find out our top lion facts and how the big cat at the top of the animal kingdom needs our help.

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International Cat Day takes place on 8 August every year.

As custodians of this important day, we're encouraging cat owners to take five minutes a day to play with their cats to improve their physical health and mental wellbeing.

Just like dogs need walking every day, cats need daily play to keep them active and happy. Wand toy play provides cats with a safe outlet to perform natural behaviours and has many benefits.

Scroll down to discover more about Purrfect Play with your cat!

To learn more, check out our expert resources on this page and follow the campaign on social media @icatcare from 1 August.

All cats love to play

C ats of all ages love to play - from kittens to super seniors! Just like dogs, cats need daily physical and mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy.

Purrfect Play Every Day

Take five minutes a day to play with your cats to improve their health and mental wellbeing . Find out how here! (Your cat will thank you ! )

Purrfect play for the whole family

Top tips to make sure everyone, from cats to kids, has a fun and safe time playing together!

Purrfect play with senior cats

Should we be encouraging our older cats to play every day?   The answer is yes ! But we need to make sure we take their unique needs into account .

Why is playing with my cat so important?

Learn more about how play can benefit your cat's physical and mental wellbeing in our latest article for Your Cat magazine! Read it now here.

Download this fantastic FREE poster created by International Cat Care Feline Wellbeing Panel member Dr Mikel Delgado and illustrated by Lili Chin (creator of our ambassador cats Domino and McTatters), which shares her tops tips for cat play!

Available in ELEVEN languages:

Resource Library

Read more about cat play from the iCatCare experts!

Follow the Campaign
from 1st August 2023

To find our Cat Friendly Resources from International Cat Day 2022, click here.

Reference s

Henning JSL, Nielsen T, et al. Cats just want to have fun: Associations between play and welfare in domestic cats, Animal Welfare , 2023; Available from: https://doi.org/10.1017/awf.2023.2

Henning JSL, Fernandez EJ, et al. Play and welfare in domestic cats: Current knowledge and future directions, Animal Welfare , 2023; 31 (4): 407-421. Available from: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/animal-welfare/article/play-and-welfare-in-domestic-cats-current-knowledge-and-future-directions/6266B8053099D0BB3F8D441F1ADF5CDA

Bouma EMC, Reijgwart ML, et al. Family Member, Best Friend, Child or 'Just' a Pet, Owners' Relationship Perceptions and Consequences for Their Cats. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health  2022; 19(1): 193. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010193

Slingerhand LI, Hazewinkel HAW, et al. Cross-sectional study of the prevalence and clinical features of osteoarthritis in 100 cats, Vet J. , 2011; 187(3): 304-309. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.12.014

Henning JSL, Nielsen T, et al. Factors associated with play behaviour in human-cat dyads, Journal of Veterinary Behaviour , 2022. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2022.05.007

Ellis SLH, Rodan I, et al. AAFP and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery , 2013. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X13477537

Delgado M, Hecht J, A review of the development and functions of cat play, with future research considerations, Applied Animal Behaviour Science ; 214: 1-17. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2019.03.004

Cecchetti M, Crowley SL, et al. Provision of High Meat Content Food and Object Play Reduce Predation of Wild Animals by Domestic Cats Felis catus , Current Biology, 2021; 31(5): 1107-1111. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.12.044

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We're custodians of International Cat Day, which takes place on 8 August every year. Join us! #InternationalCatDay❤️

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The 2019 Peace Memorial Ceremony

Every year, the City of Hiroshima holds the Peace Memorial Ceremony to console the souls of those lost to the atomic bombing, as well as pray for the realization of lasting world peace. This ceremony, which is attended by many of our citizens, including those who lost family members in the bombing, is held in front of the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims (Monument for Hiroshima, City of Peace). The Peace Declaration, which is delivered by the Mayor of Hiroshima during the ceremony, is sent to every country in the world to convey Hiroshima's will for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of lasting world peace.

At exactly 8:15 am, the time the atomic bomb was dropped, the Peace Bell rings, sirens sound all over the city, and for one minute, those at the ceremony grounds, in households, and in workplaces pay silent tribute to the victims of the atomic bombing and pray for the realization of lasting world peace.

August 6 from 8:00 to 8:50 am every year

Note: at 7:55 am, a ceremonial offering of water to the victims is held before the Peace Memorial Ceremony.

1. Opening

2. Dedication of the Register of the Names of the Fallen Atomic Bomb Victims

3. Address

4. Dedication of Flowers

5. Silent Prayer and Peace Bell (for one minute from 8:15 am)

6. Peace Declaration

7. Release of Doves

8. Commitment to Peace

9. Messages from Distinguished Guests

10. Hiroshima Peace Song

11. Closing

The ceremony is open to the public.

Peace Memorial Park (Nakajima-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City)

Parking is not available; please use public transportation.

Directions to the Ceremony via Public Transportation

From Hiroshima Station, take streetcar no. 2 bound for Hiroden-miyajima-guchi, or streetcar no. 6 bound for Eba and get off at the stop in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome ( Genbaku Dome-mae).

From Hiroshima Station, take bus no. 3 bound for Kan-on Marina Hop, or bus no. 21 bound for Ujina and Hiroshima Port and get off at the Fukuro-machi stop. It is a five minute walk from there to the Peace Memorial Park.

Please use caution as traffic will be regulated on August 6 in the area around Peace Memorial Park.

Location of the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Peace Memorial Park

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International Owl Awareness Day

August 4th is International Owl Awareness Day. This is a BIG day in Oxford Owl's calendar. Owl thinks you can never know too much about owls, so we've pulled together some key owl facts and our favourite owl reads to help spread the word.

Key owl facts

Species: More than 200 species, with several discovered in recent years. It's possible there are even more to be discovered.
Habitat: Most places, except Antarctica! Most owl species are associated with trees, but others are adapted to living in grasslands, deserts, marshes, or even arctic tundra.
Eating habits: Nocturnal predators, rather keen on mice, insects, earthworms and (for fishing owls) crabs.
Voice: A wide range of shrieks, hoots, and caterwauls! Find out how to identify owls by their sounds on the Audubon and British Birdsongs websites.

Did you know?

Most owls swallow their prey whole.

Owls are not great nest-builders: most breed in holes in trees, rocks, or the ground, but some open-country owls line depressions in the ground and Burrowing Owls can dig their own underground nest chambers. That's why, in the UK, owls will happily move into a nesting box (providing it looks safe enough, of course). Find out how to make a tawny owl nesting box.

In 2015, the University of Bath awarded seven-year-old Yoda the Eagle Owl a library card as a thank you for his efforts in dissuading seagulls from nesting on campus.

It takes two owls to make a 'tu-wit tu-woo'. Thought to originate with Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost, our common misconception that tawny owls make a tu-wit tu-woo sound has been debunked, with the 'twit' (or 'ke-wick) sound now thought to be a contact call and 'twoo' (or 'hoo-hoo-ooo') the territorial call of the male.

Get colouring!

Photo credit: ForestWander Nature Photography

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International Owl Awareness Day | Oxford Owl

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Improve your owl knowledge with some key owl facts and our favourite owl reads.

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Yorkshire Day was established relatively recently in 1975. The nature of the region and its people meant it was quickly adopted and it has grown in significance year on year.

The decision to mark Yorkshire Day with an annual civic gathering of Mayors, Lord Mayors, their attendants and other dignitaries 'in full costume and regalia' was taken at a meeting of Local Authorities within the boundary of the old county of Yorkshire i.e. the three ridings and York and The Yorkshire Society at County Hall, Wakefield, on 29 June 1985.

The Yorkshire Society was then charged with guardianship of the idea and organising the annual event, which now forms the centrepiece and focal point for the celebrations undertaken across the whole region.

The 'Official Yorkshire Day Civic Celebration' now adds pomp and circumstance to a day of pride for a region which is like a nation within a nation: having its own flag, its own language, own anthem (almost) and its own culture. It is undoubtedly the biggest gathering of 'first citizens' and civic leaders in the UK and probably one of the biggest in the world.

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Yorkshire Day. The Yorkshire Society is a community with real spirit for people who love Yorkshire,

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Burns Night is a time to enjoy Scottish traditions and celebrate the renowned poet Robert Burns with a classic combination of haggis, neeps, tatties, some reciting of poetry, and maybe even a warming dram. It's also an opportunity to celebrate Scotland's enduring legacy of creativity.

Join us as we raise a toast to the immortal words of Burns. Immerse yourself in a tradition that transcends time and discover the extraordinary talent that defines Scotland. It's a place where the past and the present come together and create a celebration that resonates with the spirit of Scotland.

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Burns Night | Traditions and Robert Burns Information | Scotland.org

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Find out about the life & poetry of Robert Burns, as well as the Burns supper and this year's festivities.

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Best children's books - Books about Autumn

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Discover our recommended booklist - Books about Autumn - with the best books and quality texts for primary ages and topics, reviewed and selected by experts.

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Yom Kippur means Day of Atonement. It is the most sacred and solemn day in the Jewish calendar.

Yom Kippur is a day to reflect on the past year and ask God's forgiveness for any sins. Jews do not work or go to school on this day.

When is Yom Kippur?

Yom Kippur is celebrated in September or October in the UK. In 2024 Yom Kippur will begin in the evening of Friday 11 October.

Yom Kippur is ten days after Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which celebrates the anniversary of the creation of the world.

What is the story of Yom Kippur?

When the Israelites left Egypt, they went to Mount Sinai. Moses climbed to the top of the mountain and God gave him two tablets with the Ten Commandments on them.

The first commandment told people that they should not worship anyone other than God. However, when Moses went down the mountain, he found the Israelites worshipping a golden calf.

Moses was so angry that he threw the sacred tablets on the floor and they shattered. The Israelites then atoned for their wrongdoing. God forgave them and gave Moses a second set of tablets.

The Days of Awe

The ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are called The Days of Repentance or Days of Awe. During these days, Jews think about everything they have done in the past year. If they've done something wrong, they can try to put it right, ask God's forgiveness, and promise not to do it again. Jews also give money to charity.

The Day of Yom Kippur

Jews mark the day of Yom Kippur by fasting for 25 hours. They also wear white and they don't wear make-up, perfume, or leather shoes. The most important part of Yom Kippur is the time spent in the synagogue. Even Jews who do not go to the synagogue very much will go on Yom Kippur. The day is spent in continuous prayer.

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When is Yom Kippur? Learn all about the Jewish festival of Yom Kippur with fun interactive videos, activities, downloads, and quizzes for KS2 school children.

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Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, is a fall holiday, taking place at the beginning of the month of Tishrei, which is actually the seventh month of the Jewish year (counting from Nisan in the spring). It is both a time of rejoicing and of serious introspection, a time to celebrate the completion of another year while also taking stock of one's life.

The two days of Rosh Hashanah usher in the Ten Days of Repentance ( Aseret Yemei Teshuvah), also known as the Days of Awe ( Yamim Noraim), which culminate in the major fast day of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The Days of Awe represent the climax of a longer process. Starting at the beginning of the previous month, called Elul, the shofar is traditionally sounded at the conclusion of the morning service. A ram's horn that makes a trumpet-like sound, the shofar is intended as a wake-up call to prepare for the Tishrei holidays. One week before Rosh Hashanah, special petitionary prayers called Selichot are added to the ritual. Rosh Hashanah itself is also known as Yom Hadin or the Day of Judgment, on which God opens the Books of Life and Death, which are then sealed on Yom Kippur.

The origins of Rosh Hashanah may be sought in a royal enthronement ritual from biblical times, though the Bible itself never mentions the "New Year" or "Day of Judgment" aspects of the holiday. Even though Rosh Hashanah falls in the seventh month, later rabbinic tradition decided to designate it the beginning of the year. Although the origin of this tradition may have been adopted from the Babylonians, the rabbis imbued it with Jewish significance as the anniversary of the day on which the world was created, or of the day on which humanity was created. Another explanation can be found in the significance of Tishrei as the seventh month, hence the Sabbath of the year.

The challah (traditional bread) that is eaten for the Rosh Hashanah season is round, symbolizing the eternal cycle of life. The challah is traditionally dipped in honey, symbolizing the hopes for a sweet New Year. The same is done with apples, which are made even sweeter with the addition of honey. Some people avoid eating nuts at this time, since according to a somewhat convoluted gematria (mystical numerical interpretation) the Hebrew words for nut ( egoz) and sin ( het) have the same numerical value.

The prayer book for the High Holidays is called the Mahzor. Three unique sets of prayers are added to the morning service during Rosh Hashanah. These are known as Malkhuyot, which address the sovereignty of God, Zikhronot, which present God as the one who remembers past deeds, and Shofarot, in which we stand in nervous anticipation of the future.

Each of these sections culminates in the blasts of the shofar, the most potent symbol of the holiday. The shofar is alluded to in the most memorable Torah reading for the holiday, the Akedah or Binding of Isaac (Genesis 22). The story and the shofar serve as reminders of the covenant between God and the people of Israel, carrying with them the message of sacrifice, hope, and continuity. Among the popular traditions associated with the holiday is a ceremony performed on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah called Tashlich, when people throw crumbs or pieces of bread, symbolizing their sins, into flowing water.

This is the time of year during which we are to atone for both our individual - and on Yom Kippur, our communal - sins committed over the course of the previous year, before God literally closes the books on us and inscribes our fates for the coming year. God's rule over humanity and our need to serve God are stressed time and again over the course of the holiday.
Want to learn more about the High Holidays? Sign up for a special High Holiday prep email series.

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Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, is a fall holiday, taking place at the beginning of the month of Tishrei. It is both a time of rejoicing and of serious introspection, a time to celebrate the completion of another year while also taking stock of one's

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This year, Place2Be's official Children's Mental Health Week will take place from 5-11 February 2024. Our theme is 'My Voice Matters'.

We have free resources available to download so that everyone can take part in Children's Mental Health Week. Take a look and see what's available for schools, families and how you can take part and raise vital funds for children's mental health.

Get your own digital or physical copy of our pack, which is bursting with resources to help you take part - from class activities and assembly guides, to lots of creative arts and crafts and fun photobooth props!

Get a resource pack

Our free resources for families, parents and carers can help you get involved with Place2Be's Children's Mental Health Week at home.

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Find out more

Learn about how Children's Mental Health Week started and find out about this year's theme, 'My Voice Matters'.

Learn about the week

Download resources

Use our free resources for primary schools and secondary or high schools to take part in Children's Mental Health Week.

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Find out how you can take part in the week, spread the word and raise vital funds to get us closer to reaching our goal that no child or young person has to face mental health problems alone.

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Add yourself to our map!

We'd love for you to add your school or organisation to our map! You can see who else is taking part in Children's Mental Health Week across the UK.

However you're planning on taking part in giving a voice to children and young people, we'd love to hear it.
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Sign up for Place2Be's Children's Mental Health Week email alerts to be the first to hear about new updates.

How we made a difference in 2023

Schools, families and organisations across the UK (and the world!) took part in Children's Mental Health Week 2023. Whether you downloaded a resource to use in class, held an assembly, organised a fundraiser, made a donation, or tweeted about the week - your support helped Place2Be to reach more children, young people and families.

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News and blogs

Keep up with the latest news and views about Children's Mental Health Week.

Children's Mental Health Week 2024: resources available now

With just over 3 months until the week, we're excited to release our free resources to help everyone get involved.

Read more

Place2Be announces theme for Children's Mental Health Week 2024

Place2Be wants all children and young people to be able to say - and believe - "My Voice Matters".

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Young Voices to support Place2Be's Children's Mental Health Week 2024

Young Voices has selected Place2Be as its charity partner for another year, following two successful years of partnership.

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Would you like to become a supporter for Children's Mental Health Week? Get in touch to find out more.

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Place2Be's Official Children's Mental Health Week shines a spotlight on the importance of children's and young people's mental health.

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When is National Superhero Day 2021?

Caped crusaders, masked vigilantes, mutants, guardians, and immortal gods are all celebrated on National Superhero Day on April 28.

History of National Superhero Day

For a day that's all about celebrating superheros, it's no surprise that National Superhero Day was founded by Marvel Comics in 1995. Now, every year since its birth on April 28, 1995, people come together annually on this day to celebrate all their favorite heros. No matter if your fav heroes are fictional or real, this is the day to be thankful for them.

If you don't know about Marvel Comics, think about all those superheros you loved growing up (and probably still love). We're talking about Spiderman, Thor, Ironman, Black Widow, Captain Marvel, and many other fan favorites. Those heroes are all from Marvel comics. Marvel Comics as in the creators of "The Fantastic Four," "The Avengers," and "X-Men." However, Marvel superheroes aren't the only ones out there. If you're a fan of Batman, Wonder Woman, or Superman, those superheroes were created by DC Comics, and they are equally celebrated on this day!

Did you know the first superhero ever was created in 1936. The superhero was named Phantom, and he started with his own comic strip in a U.S. newspaper. This was the first known beginnings of a published superhero, and now there are hundreds of well-known heroes that everyone loves.

As for the real-life superheroes, National Superhero Day also recognizes the heroes that people look up to every day. No matter if they wear masks, capes, scrubs, or uniforms, everyone has someone they think of as a superhero. This national day began and grew so that everyone's role models could get a well-deserved shout out for whatever hard work they do. Who's your favorite superhero?

National Superhero Day is a huge day for superhero geeks, movie lovers, artists, comic book collectors, and pop-culture enthusiasts. Traditions on this day span different entertainment mediums like film, print, and animation. Ever since Christopher Nolan's epic "The Dark Knight Trilogy," as well as Marvel's "The Avengers" movies, the era of superheroes has continued to capture the public. Superhero movies are shown on some TV channels throughout the day, and watch parties and movie nights are hosted. To add to the fun, costumes of favorite superheroes are donned.

Comic book collectors and lovers share their prized possessions, and valuable comic books are exchanged more so than usual on this holiday. The art of comic books is honored and promoted, with fan art posted on social media. Superhero video games are also massive, so playthroughs are hosted live on Twitch and YouTube.

1989 - the year when Marvel comics introduced Mr. Immortal, whose only superpower was that he couldn't die.

192 - the IQ of Bruce Wayne.

2009 - the year when The Amazing Spider-Man met President Barack Obama.

20 feet - the distance at which Daredevil can recognize a heartbeat.

50 - the total number of Iron Man suits.

$600 million - the amount of money it would cost someone to be Batman, according to comic book editor Darren Hick.

1966 - the year when Archie Andrews became superhero alter ego Captain Pureheart.

640 lbs - the weight of Thor.

7,200 - the number of currently active Green Lanterns.

1960s - the year when Spider-Man's catchy theme song was released.

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Caped crusaders, masked vigilantes, mutants, guardians, and immortal gods are all celebrated on National Superhero Day on April 28. For a day that's all about celebrating superheros, it's no surprise that National Superhero Day was founded by Marvel Comics in 1995.

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Let the celebrations begin

Today, Monday 5th October, is official Global James Bond Day - a celebration of 53 years of the Bond franchise. This date marks the anniversary of the release of Dr. No in 1962. This special day of celebrations first began in 2012 when the Bond films celebrated their golden anniversary with events all around the globe and the release of the theme song for Skyfall by Adele. This year the day is marked with the release of the official video for Writing's On The Wall, the theme song for Spectre, by Sam Smith.

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Today, Monday 5th October, is official Global James Bond Day - a celebration of 53 years of the Bond franchise. This date marks the anniversary of the release of Dr. No in 1962. This special day of celebrations first began in 2012 when the Bond films celebrated their golden anniversary with events all around the...

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Following over 10 years of Archie Horror content, all roads have led to the summer's scariest showcase!

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St. Patrick: The Patron Saint of Ireland and His Legendary Exploits - IrishHistory.com

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St. Patrick: The Patron Saint of Ireland and His Legendary Exploits - IrishHistory.com

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St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is a figure shrouded in history, legend, and folklore. Born in the late 4th century, his life and deeds have been

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Usually, St David's Day is a day of parades, concerts and eisteddfodau (festivals of music, language and culture). Flags are flown. The national anthem is sung with extra fervour. Children go to school in traditional Welsh dress, and everyone (well, almost...) proudly pins a daffodil or leek to their lapel.

St David: a brief history

St David was the greatest figure in the 6th century Welsh Age of Saints, founder of scores of religious communities, and the only native-born patron saint of the countries of Britain and Ireland.

St David died on 1 March - St David's Day - in 589. He was canonised by Pope Callixtus in the 12th century, and we have celebrated St David's Day ever since.

Here's how you can join in the party.

Have a great Welsh (cake) bake off

Ideas for celebrating St David's Day

Follow the words of St David himself: gwnewch y pethau bychain - do the little things. What better way to celebrate than to bring those words to life with an outpouring of hwyl and kindness. Celebrate St David's Day by doing and sharing Random Acts of Welshness.

Visit St Davids' HQ in Pembrokeshire

Established by our patron saint in the 12th century, pretty St Davids in south west Pembrokeshire doesn't have much in common with places like Birmingham or London. But thanks to the presence of its huge, purple-stoned cathedral, this settlement of around 2000 people is officially the UK's smallest city. It's also the religious centre of Wales, with two trips here said to be worth one pilgrimage to Rome.

There's plenty that happens on or around 01 March. The little city brings out the bunting for a weekend of events in St Davids Cathedral and around the town. There's the annual Dragon Parade from Oriel y Parc, while the Ras Dewi Sant marathon is one of the toughest races, on one of the prettiest courses, in the world. The route takes runners through the undulating paths of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path around the St Davids Peninsula, with half-marathon and 10k options.

The good people who look after our castles and ancient monuments, Cadw arrange special events at some of their locations. The National Trust is a reliable source of lavishly-daffodilled gardens and St David's Day events. Most of their sites in Wales will be honouring St David in one way or another. Our seven national museums also join the party, with a host of interactive and entertaining events across Wales. Head to St David's Hall in Cardiff (where else?) for an evening of stirring Welsh song.

There are a number of parades you can enjoy that take place around Wales.

The National St David's Day Parade is an imaginative celebration of Welsh heritage and culture that happens every year on 1 March in Cardiff city centre. It's a non-military parade that brings together several cultural groups, school children and musicians - and plenty of locals in traditional Welsh costume. Keen vexillophiles (that's flag enthusiasts) will spot other banners among the sea of red dragons, including the flag of St David - a yellow cross on a black field - and the red-and-yellow lions of the Welsh princes. The action usually starts in Cardiff's Civic Centre. The procession heads down to the Hayes, where the crowd joins together in a rousing mass rendition of our national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

There are annual processions and celebrations in several other towns across the country, including Aberystwyth, Wrexham, Carmarthen, Lampeter and Colwyn Bay.

One of the biggest shindigs is Croeso (it means 'welcome' in Welsh), a two-day festival of music, food and entertainment in Swansea city centre. There are food stalls, cookery demonstrations, Welsh bands, rugby for little people, giant walk-about characters, and a daffodil dash.

Be the king of the castle

You can hardly move for castles here. At the last count we had more than 600 fabulous fortresses dotted across our landscape. These include big hitters like the UNESCO World Heritage Site castles at Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech, plus lesser-known spots like lonely Llansteffan, Dolbadarn and Castell y Bere built by native Welsh princes. If you want to get a closer look at some of these iconic Welsh sites, we've got you covered. To celebrate St David's Day, Cadw is offering free entry to many of our historic places. Storming the ramparts couldn't be easier.

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Discover more about St David, the patron saint of Wales, and several fun and interesting traditional ways to celebrate Wales' national day on 1 March.

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St Andrew's Day - The Patron Saint of Scotland

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WHAT ARE COMMON ST ANDREW'S DAY GAMES?

Get creative at home and spruce up your living space with these fun St Andrew's Day crafts. From Scottie Dog mobiles to making your very own saltire collage. There's lots to keep wee and big bairns entertained!

WHAT ARE COMMON ST ANDREW'S DAY SONGS?

From the famous Auld Lang Syne to Dougie Maclean's epic anthem Caledonia. Here are just a few suggestions to kick off your St Andrew's day sing-a-long.

Liberty sung by The Corries

Loch Lomond performed by Runrig

Scots Wha Hae, written by Robert Burns, sung by Dick Gaughan

The Wild Geese/Norland Wind sung by Jim Reid

WHAT IS ST ANDREW'S DAY FOOD?

Scotland's food and drink plays a big part on St Andrew's Day. For starters, the traditional soup dish cullen skink is often served; made of smoked haddock, potatoes and onions. When it comes to the main course, there can only be one dish to celebrate Scotland's patron saint, haggis, neeps (turnip), and tatties (mashed potato).

Dessert is a dish best served hot especially on cold winter nights, round off your feast with clootie dumpling and custard. A traditional Scottish dessert made of dried fruit, spices, oatmeal or breadcrumbs, flour, and beef suet. The word 'clootie' derives from the Old Scots word 'cloth' where the dumpling was traditionally boiled.

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St Andrew's Day - The Patron Saint of Scotland

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Find out more about St Andrew's Day and the lively programme of events taking place across the country to celebrate Scotland's patron saint on 30 November.

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St George's Day: Who was England's patron saint?

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Traditionally celebrated by giving roses (white and red of course) and gifting books

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St George's Day is the patron saint's day of England, marked around the country on 23 April each year. But who was the dragon-slaying soldier named George who became the patron saint of England?

Who was he?

"He almost certainly was a real historical figure - probably a Christian Roman soldier named Georgios," said Dr Michael Carter, a historian at English Heritage.

It is likely he was born in Cappadocia, Turkey around AD270 and was martyred at Nicomedia, or Lydda, modern day Israel, in the Roman province of Palestine in AD303, he said.

What was he like?

"He's a glamorous saint. He's said to be very handsome, there he is on his charger slaying a dragon," said Dr Carter.

"His story is something which crosses cultures and periods. He represents honour, bravery and he had royal and military associations.

"There's so much in his legend that resonates with English values. He really is a patron of modern Britain in that he's quite diverse and international.

"It's down to the man, myth and mayhem that he became so popular."

What about the dragon?

This story was set in Silene in Libya, which was being terrorised by a ferocious sea-dragon, according to Candida Moss, Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of Notre Dame.

"The inhabitants of the city had, under the king's command, given their children to be consumed by the dragon until finally the time came for the king's own daughter to be sacrificed," she told the BBC.

"George, however, intervened, promising the king that if they were all baptised he would slay the dragon. The king did as he was told, George killed the dragon and everyone was saved."

The legend comes from ideas of embodiment of good and evil and combat between heroes and monsters, said Dr Carter.

"It is basically an archetype. It's good conquers evil," he said.

How did George die?

Roman Emperor Diocletian had ordered the persecution of Christians but St George refused to give up his faith and make a sacrifice to pagan gods, said Dr Carter.

"Some stories say he was tortured for seven years in which every conceivable horror was inflicted upon him," said Dr Carter. "He was crucified, racked, broken on the wheel, boiled alive and poisoned."

"Legend says he died on three occasions and was brought back to life by St Michael. He was ultimately beheaded."

"Soon after his death, George was venerated as a saint, with a feast day on 23 April, the supposed day of his martyrdom," said Dr Carter.

He is also patron saint for Aragon, Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Germany, Greece, Moscow, Istanbul, Genoa and Venice - second to St Mark.

Following the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, St George's Day became one of the most important feast days in the English calendar, said Dr Carter.

"And in 1399 his feast day is elevated to being a holiday honoured as same level as Christmas," he said.

"But due to the formation of English national identity following the protestant reformation saints fell out of favour and did not regain their significance."

A version of this story was first published on 23 April 2018

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

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St George's Day: Who was England's patron saint?

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The legend of the handsome soldier who met a gruesome end and became the patron saint of England.

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About Japan: A Teacher's Resource | Kodomo no hi: Children's Day Celebration | Japan Society

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Celebrating children with book gifting and sharing traditional stories

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Kodomo no hi: Children's Day Celebration

Background Information.

In Japan, Kodomo no hi, or "Children's Day," is celebrated every year on May 5. On this national holiday, children are respected and honored for their individual strengths and happiness is wished upon them. Children's Day was originally known as Tango no Sekku (literally nearing the seventh sign of the chinese zodiac, but usually translated as Boys Day)and was a celebration for boys. The holiday was officially changed to celebrate the health and growth of both girls and boys in 1948. Kodomo no hi is particularly well known for the unique traditions and decorations that are associated with the celebration of the holiday.

On Kodomo no hi, or cloth carp streamers, are flown on poles outside of public buildings and private houses to bring luck and good fortune to the children inside. Koifish, or Carp, are believed to be strong, spirited fish and are revered for their determination in fighting as they swim upstream and through powerful waterfalls. Koinobori symbolize the desire for children to become brave and strong indivuduals.

Within their homes, Japanese families also display kabuto, samurai helmets, and/or gogatsu-ningyo, samurai dolls and their armaments. The samurai dolls often represent traditional folktale characters such as Kintaro and Momotaro who symbolize courage and strength. Children eat kashiwa-mochi, or rice cakes stuffed with bean paste and wrapped in oak leaves which symbolize strength. C himaki, or dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves, are also consumed. Iris flowers, which correspondingly bloom in early May, are symbolically placed in homes to ward off evil. In addition, it is customary to take baths known as syobuyu, which are filled with floating iris leaves.

Grade Level: Kindergarten - 3 rd grade

Learning Goals.

Children will bea able to identiy symbols associated with Children's Day

Children will be exposed to traditional Japanese culture through experiencing Children's Day customs.

Children will be able to compare and contrast two traditional Japanese folktales.

Standards.

Grade 1

RL.1.9. Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories.

Grade 2

RL.2.2. Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral.

RL.2.3. Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

Grade 3
RL.3.2. Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.

Key Concept. Kodomo no hi, one of the most popular and beloved Japanese holidays, has universally understood symbolism and meaning.

Essential Question. On Children's Day, what are the primary wishes for children and how are they expressed?

Primary Source. N/A

Thought Questions. 1. What are the primary symbols associated with Chidren's Day? What is the symbolism?

Activities

Focus Activity Ideas. Do your students celebrate Children's Day in their culture? If so, how do they normally celebrate? Is there a meaning or symbolism behind the customs and food? Are there specific stories associate with their Children's Day? If the children do not celebrate Children's Day, what wishes do they have for all children?

Main Lesson Activity Ideas.

Introduction of Kodomo no hi, Children's Day in Japan.

Explain what Kodomo no hi is and how to celebrate it.

"May 5 th is Kodomo no hi in Japan. That means "Children's Day." It's a day to celebrate and wish for the health and good fortune for all children. This day is very important because children like all of you are very important. This is why the day is a national holiday in Japan."

Show pictures of decorations and food.

1) koinobori

2) kabuto

3)gogatsu-ningyo

4) kashiwa-mochi

Koinobori song

Sing the koinobori song to children while showing the koinobori. ( PDF of lyrics)

♪Lyrics to be written on a sheet of paper to put on a wall

やねよりたかいこいのぼり
おおきいまごいはおとうさん
ちいさいひごいはこどもたち
おもしろそうにおよいでる

(Romanized lyrics)

Yane yori takai koinobori

Ookii magoi wa otoosan

Chiisai higoi wa kodomo tachi

Omoshirosoo ni oyoideru

(English translation)

Carp streamers are higher than the roof

The biggest carp is the father

The small carp are children

Enjoying swiming in the sky

Sing along with children. (Editor's note: An audio file of the Koinobori song is available on the MIT music archives page.)

Introduce "Kintaro, the Nature Boy" to children. "Kintaro is a healthy, strong and very kind boy. This story has been loved by children in Japan for a long long time. Let's find out how strong and kind he is."

Storytelling: "Kintaro, the Nature Boy" Text for the story of Kintaro can be found here.

It might be a good idea to serve snacks for children while listening to the story.

Newspaper Kabuto (Samurai Helmets)

Show a picture of , a samurai helmet and gogatsu-ningyo, a samurai doll.

"Along with koinobori, children in Japan decorate kabuto, a samurai helmet and/or gogatsu ningyo, a samurai doll which represent strength. Let's make kabuto with newspaper and wear them!"

Make a kabuto with newspaper. Downloadable instructions with photos, or Origami Club has diagrams and an animation.

Take a picture of children wearing kabuto and holding koinobori individually or as a whole class.

Momotaro: The Peach Boy and Japanese Sweets

Introduction of kashiwa-mochi and chimaki.

"Japanese children eat sweets, k ashiwa-mochi and chimaki on the Kodomo no hi. Kashiwa, or oak trees are strong, so they eat this rice cake to get strong!"

Introduce the story of "Momotaro, the Peach Boy" to the children. The story of Momotaro can be found here. (Viewing this story online requires a fast Internet connection. Teachers may prefer to download the PDF from the site instead).

"Do you remember the strong and kind boy we read a story about? Yes, that is Kintaro. Here is another boy who is strong and kind in a Japanese folk tale. That is Momotaro. Let's find out how strong and kind he is!"

Storytelling, "Momotaro, the Peach Boy."

Ask children to describe the similarities and differences between Momotaro and Kintaro. Do they think they would be friends? Possible extension activities include: create a story or image depicting a meeting between Momotaro and Kintaro; creating a Venn diagram showing their similarities and difference; or creating a poster showing the important props in both stories and their meanings.

Shobu: Iris Flower

1) Make an origami shobu, or iris flower. Origami Club has diagrams and an animation.
Shobu, iris flowers are seasonal flower at the time of Kodomo no hi, in early summer in Japnaese calendar. And it has important role in the celebration.

This origami activity is recommended for older children because this requires advanced eye hand coordination.

Summative Activity Ideas. The United Nations proclaimed November 20th as Universal Children's Day. If your students were organizing a Universal Children's Day celebration at your school, how would they celebrate? What rituals or activities would they do and why? Would they adapt any aspects of the Japanese Children's Day?

Resources.

Picture books:
Kintaro, the Nature Boy (Kodansha Children's Bilingual Classics) by Ralph F. McCarthy ISBN-13: 9784770021021 ISBN: 477002102X The Adventure of Momotaro, the Peach Boy (Kodansha Children's Bilingual Classics) by Ralph F. McCarthy ISBN-13: 9784770020987 ISBN: 4770020988

Online resources:
Ozaki, Yei Theodora. "The Adventures of Kintaro, the Golden Boy." Japanese Fairy Tales. The Project Gutenberg EBook of Japanese Fairy Tales: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/4018/4018-h/4018-h.htm#kintaro.

"Momotaro." Japanese Fairy Tale Series #1. www.archive.com: http://www.archive.org/stream/momotaroorlittle00londiala#page/n0/mode/2up

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About Japan: A Teacher's Resource | Kodomo no hi: Children's Day Celebration | Japan Society

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A lesson plan with songs and craft activities for Children's Day (kodomo no hi), celebrated every May 5.

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Japanese tradition of writing wishes on strips of paper and hanging them from bamboo branches, also associated with reading wishes too.

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A collection of Easter-themed teaching resources for primary and secondary classrooms.

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The Christmas Book Flood | Visit Iceland

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The origins of Jólabókaflóð, the Christmas Book Flood

There is a phrase in Icelandic, "að ganga með bók í maganum", meaning that everyone "has a book in their stomach". If this is the case, then the statistic that one in ten Icelanders will publish a book over their lifetime comes as no surprise. One could even say reading seems to be inherent to the Icelandic psyche.

Before Halldór Laxness was the first Icelander to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1955, Icelandic contemporary literature was not on the world map. Laxness can be said to have encouraged generations of Icelanders to write their own stories as well as to instill a sense of national identity.

Consider that in the 13th Century, the Icelandic sagas that tell the stories of the country's Norse settlers, who began to arrive on the island in the late 9th Century, were written on scraps of vellum and household items. Consider the storytelling that took place over the long, dark winter seasons. Consider that the country has a literacy rate of 100%. Consider the inspiration foreign writers gained from the Sagas such as Jorge Luis Borges, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Seamus Heaney to name a few. Consider that in 2011 Reykjavík was designated a UNESCO City of Literature.

During World War II in Iceland, paper was one of the few commodities not rationed. Icelanders, therefore, congregated over the gifting of books since other supplies were in short supply.

Iceland's population was not large enough to support a year-round publishing industry, so publishers flooded the market with new titles just as the year was coming to an end. As Iceland gained independence from Denmark in 1944, in the midst of the war, this instilled even further a sense of national identity bound up with communing over a love and appreciation of books.

Every year since 1944, the Icelandic book trade has published a catalog - Bókatíðindi - that is sent to every household in mid-November during the Reykjavik Book Fair. People use the catalog to order books to give to friends and family over the Holidays. Jólabókaflóð ("the Christmas Book Flood") refers to this retail cycle that begins with the launch of new books to the reading of those books.

The annual Reykjavik Book Fair has been an event in the City of Literature since Reykjavík became a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2011. The fair, hosted by the Icelandic Publishers Association and the Reykjavik UNESCO City of Literature office, is open to all and entrance is free of charge. The fair is the nexus of the Jólabókaflóð with a diverse literary program with readings, discussions, and story hours all connected to books published in Iceland over the past year.

While the tradition of gifting books is popular worldwide, the tradition that is becoming a cultural phenomenon in Iceland is the exchange of books on Christmas Eve followed by spending the rest of the evening reading said new book.

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The Christmas Book Flood | Visit Iceland

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Iceland's Writing Mania and the origins of Jólabókaflóð, the Christmas Book Flood

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Find out on what day the St. Martin's Day will be in 2024 in Iceland. Calendar for the whole year, calendar for any month, lunar calendar, printable calendar.

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Share stories of gratitude, research the history of North America

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Shortlists Announced for the UKLA Book Awards 2024

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As the shortlists are announced for the UKLA Book Awards 2024, diverse voices, genres, formats and age groups are celebrated and Kwame Alexander is the only previous winner to be shortlisted this year.
The UKLA Book Awards are the only national UK children's book awards judged entirely by teachers. Their task, defined by the criteria, is to find texts from a "wide and inclusive range" of publishers that will "recognise a broad range of perspectives, experiences and voices" but that "first and foremost" are "well written, engaging 'reads' ". These awards are completely devoid of any commercial influence, and it is notable that once again we see a strong presence of small, independent publishers, including first shortlist appearances for UCLan, the unique children's publishing arm of the University of Central Lancaster and for The O'Brien Press from Dublin.

The University of Sussex was the venue for a day of passionate debate, as the 84 teacher judges whittled down the exceptional longlists to the six books now shortlisted in each of the four categories.

As Chris Lockwood, Awards Chair said, "This is always a difficult task, especially when we had such rich and varied books in the longlists. It is always a delight to listen to talented and creative teachers talk about how they have used the longlisted books in their classrooms. The 2024 team of teacher judges brought their passion, expertise and enthusiasm to the task and, as a result, we have four marvellous shortlists."

For UKLA, giving classroom practitioners the opportunity to read high quality new children's books is as important as finding an overall winner. Research carried out by members of UKLA (Cremin et al 2008) clearly demonstrated the links between teachers' knowledge of children's books and the likelihood of pupils becoming successful readers. Despite this evidence, teachers are seldom given time to read new books or funding to purchase them when they do.
As judge Jane Branson said, "The book talk with colleagues has been stimulating and invaluable" and fellow judge Rachel Gonin agreed " My school is definitely a richer, more knowledgeable and better read place for me having taken part"
The 3-6+ age category has author Steve McCarthy, currently also shortlisted for the Carnegie medal for Illustration, for The Wilderness a whimsical adventure inspiring children to overcome fear and explore outdoors, in direct competition with twice Carnegie winner, Emily Gravett, who is shortlisted for , a really funny story about dogs which brilliantly teaches about number bonds to 10. In a shortlist of great variety, they are joined by Irish author Paddy Donnelly with Fox & Son Tailers, a pun- packed, heartwarming story about not being afraid to stand out from the crowd, Leigh Hodgkinson with Martha Maps it Out, an immersive guide to Martha's world and her imagination and best-selling author Kaye Umansky with Dick the Delightful Duck, who is hilariously having a very bad mood day, in a book which opens up discussions about feelings. The judges final choice is John Dougherty's The Hare Shaped Hole, a touching and beautifully age appropriate metaphor to depict bereavement, which leaves young readers in a hopeful , optimistic place.

In the empathy and genre rich 7-10+ category which has something for the whole age range, Camilla Chester's touching debut Call Me Lion and Anne Marie Conway's sensitive How to be More Hedgehog, both feature protagonists battling with communication difficulties, bullying and family issues and in Finn Jones Was Here Simon James Green features a young boy in total denial about his best friend's death and manages to be both hilarious and heartbreaking. There is a second shortlisting for Lesley Parr, with Where the River Takes Us, a thrilling adventure mystery about the power of friendship, set in a Welsh valley in the 1970s. The list also features a current Carnegie shortlisted title, Zillah Bethell's extraordinary The Song Walker, which weaves Aboriginal folklore into a courageous story of friendship, loss and discovery and Wildsmith: Into the Dark Forest, Liz Flanagan 's richly imagined fantasy world full of magic, mystery and dragons.

In the 11-14+ category, Hot Key Books repeats its 2021 feat of securing two books on this shortlist and coincidentally also mirroring their success on the current Carnegie shortlist for Writing with Tia Fisher's powerful verse novel debut, Crossing the Line, dealing with highly topical county lines exploitation of vulnerable youths joining Nathaneal Lessore's comedic, relatable and authentic debut Steady For This. Also sharing with them a place on the Carnegie and UKLA shortlist are Sophie Cameron with Away With Words, which explores what it means for words to mean everything and their loss to mean even more and Ruta Sepetys with I Must Betray You which powerfully explores what it was like for families and friends under the brutal Ceausescu regime. Similarly in Zoulfa Katouh's breathtaking debut, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow, we experience Salama's struggle to live the life of an ordinary teenager during the Syrian civil war. Finally we have bestselling fantasy author Sabaa Tahir 's, , an unforgettable contemporary novel about family and forgiveness, love and loss, in a story that crosses generations and continents and has already won a National Book Award, the Michael J Prinz Award and the Boston Globe Horn Award in her native USA.

Kwame Alexander repeats his 2021 shortlisting in the category of Information Books 3-14+ and could be in line for a second win with The Unspoken, which in words and images does not shy away from the horrors of slavery yet is balanced with hope for the future. With the beautiful and informative, Whose Tracks in the Snow, Alexandra Milton has improved upon her 2020 longlist place and introduces young children to animal track identification. Darwin and Hooker, the accessible biography by Alexander Stewart explores "one of science's most important friendships" and leads the reader to understand the struggles of making ground-breaking scientific discoveries. In a moving autobiographical account, written for children, The Boy Who Didn't Want to Die, Peter Lantos shares his experiences as a five year old child in Belsen Belsen. Husband and wife team Donna and Vikesh Amey Bhat's Lands of Belonging, importantly explores the rich and complicated history of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Britain. The final book in this wide ranging shortlist demonstrates the variety of text types available. Using a graphic novel scientist-notebook style Saving H'Non: Chang and the Elephant with a mix of Vietnamese art and manga, this stunningly informative text tells an important environmental story about the work of the Animals Asia Foundation.
We are delighted to be involved with this celebration of reading for pleasure. The only national awards to be judged entirely by teachers, the UKLA Awards are a remarkable thing, with the added bonus that practitioners can experience and appreciate first-hand the impact these beautiful books have on the children themselves in their classrooms. Huge congratulations to all of the shortlisted authors and illustrators, and a hearty well done to the publishers who make these books happen. The longlists were outstanding and the teacher judges had the unenviable task of whittling them down to this shortlist so kudos to all who made it this far. We can't wait to see who the winners are at the ceremony in July. Good luck everyone from LoveReading4Kids" Stephen Park, Commercial Director at co- sponsor Reading Cloud, said: "Encouraging reading for The Shortlists in full 3-6+ 7-10+ enjoyment and improving literacy are very much at the heart of Reading Cloud, so we are delighted 11-14+ Information Books 3-14+ to support these worthwhile and unique children's book awards as co-sponsors again this year. We are always heartened to see so many dedicated teacher judges all over the UK working with the @The_UKLA #UKLA24 #teachersbookawards longlisted, shortlisted, and winning books to inspire a love of reading in their pupil groups and beyond. We look forward to hearing more about the winning titles in due course."
The fact that these shortlists are judged by class teachers and can be heartily recommended to their peers makes them particularly useful as co-sponsor, our very own Deborah Maclaren, Managing Director of LoveReading4Kids, long time supporter of the UKLA and cheerleader of children's books,commented: "We are so proud to be involved with these very special Awards. We stand united with the UKLA in our mission of celebrating the very best children's books being published today. With social purpose at our heart our aim is to help get more books into the hands of children in schools, through our online bookstore and Funding Scheme. And what a brilliant selection of books these are. We'll be shouting about these to our LoveReading4Kids audience and the 14,000 schools who are members of our LoveReading4Schools platform.

12 teachers nominated from the 84 involved in the shortlisting will now form the final judging panel and have the challenging task of reading all the shortlisted books in all categories. The winner's announcement will take place at the UKLA International Conference at the University of Sussex on 5th July.

How to be More Hedgehog written by Anne Marie Conway and illustrated by Danielle Dey

Darwin & Hooker written by Alexander Stewart and illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton

Download an extract, buy and read our expert reviews of the shortlisted books below

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Shortlists Announced for the UKLA Book Awards 2024

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As the shortlists are announced for the UKLA Book Awards 2024, diverse voices, genres, formats and age groups are celebrated and Kwame Alexander is the only previous winner to be shortlisted this year.

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Chinese New Year Resources - Teaching Ideas

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Chinese New Year, also known as the spring festival, is the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar.

Watch these videos showing Chinese New Year celebrations from previous years:

The British Council has some wonderful resources on their site including a video about Chinese New Year customs and an animation about the animals in the Chinese zodiac. They also have a fantastic pack to help schools celebrate the year of the Rooster!

Here are some suggestions for classroom activities. Our free resources are also available to download at the bottom of the page...

Teaching Ideas and Resources:

English

Read books about China and prepare a non-fiction report to teach others what you have discovered.

Write a letter describing Chinese New Year festivities.

Read (or watch a video of) the story of the Chinese Zodiac, then retell the story.

Write a news report, describing the race in the Zodiac story.

Show the children some examples of chinese proverbs. What do they think the purpose of proverbs is? Can they invent any of their own?

Read the children the story of Nian. Ask children to act it out in small groups. Make a comic strip version of the story.

Maths

Computing

Use an art package to make a picture of bright fireworks on a dark background.

Use an animation program to animate a simple dragon, dancing.

Make a lucky money envelope using this great online resource.

Design Technology

Make a simple Chinese dragon puppet:

Paint two wooden sticks red.

Tie a length of string between them and tie short lengths of coloured ribbon along the string.

Add a face to one end, and you have a super dancing dragon.

Cook some noodles and try eating them using chopsticks!

Make lucky money envelopes from red paper and decorate them.

Make a simple lantern from construction paper:

Fold the paper in half, then from the fold line to the other side, without cutting all the way to the edge of the paper.

Unfold the paper and staple the short ends of the paper together.

Cut a strip of paper and staple it on to make a handle.

Art

Design a greeting card to send to someone celebrating Chinese New Year.

Chinese calligraphy is beautiful. Find some examples for the children to look at, then let them try doing their own with fine brushes and black paint.

Tell the children the story of the willow pattern plate and have a go at painting your own on paper plates with blue watercolour paint. Look at our related ideas.

Paper cutting is a traditional art in China. Show the children some examples and provide red paper and scissors for them to produce their own.

Could you try some Chinese paper folding (zhezhi), making hats or boats?

Music

Chinese music often uses the pentatonic scale C D E G A. Listen to some examples of traditional Chinese music. Give the children tuned percussion to explore, for example, xylophones or glockenspiels with the other keys removed. Can they compose a tune for a dragon dance? Add in drums and gongs to give a steady rhythm.

Geography

Using Google Maps and Google Earth, show the children where China is in relation to where they live. Compare the size of China to their own country.

Find out a few facts about China (area, population etc.) and create a table, comparing it to the country they live in.

Physical education

Show the children a video of a New Year Dragon dance. Can they make up their own dragon dance?

Religious education

Explain that Chinese New Year is also known as Spring Festival and is celebrated by millions of people living in China and across the world. It is a festival to celebrate the end of winter and the coming of Spring. Ask children to research the traditions of Spring Festival and produce a presentation about it.

PSHE

Read the story of the Chinese Zodiac. Ask the children to reflect on the personal qualities of the different animals. Talk about how the rooster, goat and monkey worked together to achieve their goal. When have you worked with others to achieve something you couldn't have done on your own?

Downloads:

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Chinese New Year Resources - Teaching Ideas

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A set of ideas, activities and resources to use when your children are learning about Chinese New Year.

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17 Sweet Reading Activities for Valentine's Day

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If you are looking for ways to integrate reading activities for Valentine's Day or literacy ideas to spur on your beginning readers, here is a great list for you! Plus, a bonus free set of printable Valentine's Day bookmarks perfect for a little side craft for your students.

Make sure you integrate lots of reading into each of the holidays and seasons throughout the year - these are golden opportunities to help your child succeed in school, and bloom in their educational pursuits.

There are a ton of books and stories to surround the February/ Valentine season, and hopefully you can take advantage of that by creating reading activities. Here are 15 to get you started:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You can learn more about that here.

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17 Sweet Reading Activities for Valentine's Day

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Your 2024 list of 17 sweet reading activities for Valentine's Day, sure to get your young readers to LOVE learning and reading! Plus a FREE printable Valentine's Day bookmarks for you!

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For 13 years, World Read Aloud Day has called attention to the importance of sharing stories by challenging participants to grab a book, find an audience, and read-aloud! The global effort, created by the non-profit LitWorld and sponsored by Scholastic, is celebrated annually in over 173 countries and is all about bringing people together through the shared connection of reading aloud in all of our communities.

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Join us for World Read Aloud Day on February 1st, 2023! Celebrate by reading aloud to a friend or tuning in for our live author read alouds.

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Read a mystery

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(£6.99, Puffin)
The first in a series of fantastic stories, Murder Most Unladylike introduces young readers to Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong, schoolgirls who set up their own secret detective society. Full of plot twists that'll keep any reader (young or old!) guessing, this mystery world is always my first recommendation for children who are searching for a thrilling read with a case of their very own to solve. I can guarantee you'll be hooked!

(£6.99, Egmont)
This best-selling historical adventure has all the key ingredients of a stellar mystery, told with old-fashioned charm. The Clockwork Sparrow takes readers back to the heyday of department stores for some international crime-solving - the Edwardian period is beautifully detailed and you'll find yourself wishing you could visit your very own Sinclair's! Perfect for readers aged 9+.

(£6.99, Andersen Press)
Once you see the illustrations in this picture book, you won't want to close it again; the more you look, the more you'll notice hiding in the pictures. Children will love to try to make sense of each illustration for themselves and you can complement their interpretations with The Chronicles of Harris Burdick, a collection of short stories in which well-known and established authors such as Stephen King and Louis Sachar respond to the imagery with stories to accompany the stunning artwork. A perfect springboard for the imagination.

(£6.99, Scholastic)
With the success her best-selling debut novel, The Goldfish Boy, and now with The Light Jar, children's author Lisa Thompson is establishing herself as a mystery specialist. These aren't your usual mysteries, though - these are deeply emotional, curious and complex stories, addressing difficult issues. Young readers will enjoy them but also take on board a meaningful message that will stay with them long after the last page has been read.

(£6.99, Random House)
Filled with action, suspense and a structure-eating plant and set in a dystopian world where one boy has to find all the answers to survive, Boy in the Tower is guaranteed to keep its readers engaged. Slightly dark in tone and suitable for readers in upper Key Stage 2 or older, this unusual and zany story celebrates the strength of family in the strangest of situations.

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To support teaching around the Jewish festival of Hanukkah here is a collection of BBC resources for primary schools that can be used in the classroom.

Hanukkah is observed for eight days and nights beginning on 28 November, 2021 .

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To support teaching around the Jewish festival of Hanukkah here is a collection of BBC resources for primary schools that can be used in the classroom. Hanukkah is observed for eight days and nights beginning on 28 November, 2021 .

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Winter wonderland | teaching ideas and activities for Christmas and the winter season | National Literacy Trust

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Winter wonderland | teaching ideas and activities for Christmas and the winter season | National Literacy Trust

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Celebrate the festive period with our teaching ideas and activities for ages 3 to 14 (Early Years, KS1, KS2 and KS3) that help encourage reading for pleasure and support literacy skills development.

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Hot topic: fireworks and festivals | National Literacy Trust

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Dark nights sat around a roaring fire, cold nights in cosy attire, skies filled with colourful lights, it's time for friends and bonfire night

At the start of November, the nights are dark and cold, last week's pumpkins are no more, and thoughts turn to festive fireworks. What better opportunity to engage with literacy than to explore firework festivals and bonfire tales?

Using our fireworks and festivals resource

Whether you're celebrating Diwali or remembering Guy Fawkes and the infamous gun-powder plot, this free hot topic resource for primary schools provides ideas for bringing the themes of fireworks and festivals into your classroom:

Ideas for books which are perfect to read aloud with children aged 5 to 14 (KS1/First level to KS3/Third level)

Suggestions for speaking and listening activities including oral storytelling and performance poetry

Ideas for writing linked to the theme including a fun grammar game to help pupils to revise word classes

The activities are designed to be adaptable for teachers working across different age ranges, and for the time you have available.

Find similar resources

Explore our range of hot topic resources packed with inspiration for activities that embed literacy skills by building on events or interests that have hooked your pupils' attention.

Find more teaching activities linked to calendar moments and awareness days with our schools literacy teaching calendar.

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Hot topic: fireworks and festivals | National Literacy Trust

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Discover poetry, stories and non-fiction texts all about fireworks and festivals, and try out some fun writing and oracy activities in the primary classroom

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Non Fiction November 2023 | National Literacy Trust

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1st to 30th National Non-Fiction November 

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1st to 30th National Non-Fiction November 

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Why non-fiction is important

In our recent research (2022), more than half (56%) of children and young people told us that they read non-fiction. We also found that children and young people who read non-fiction are more engaged with environmental issues.

Those who read non-fiction are more likely to want to take care of the environment compared with those who don't read non-fiction (68% vs 49%).

Overall, this report also found that more children and young people who read non-fiction were motivated to read for educational purposes, to satisfy curiosities, to foster social connections and to support their mental wellbeing. Read the full report on Children and young people's non-fiction reading.

Celebrate Non-Fiction November

As our research demonstrates, providing pupils with the opportunity to read and explore non-fiction plays a vital role in helping them to learn about their world, as well as fostering reading for pleasure. It is therefore essential that pupils have access to a high-quality and engaging non-fiction collection.

Our resources are designed to help you explore non-fiction with your class, and celebrate the different perspectives and enjoyment it brings.

Teaching resources and reading recommendations for Non-Fiction November

This year, the theme for Non-Fiction November is Wonderful Water. To help you celebrate and promote non-fiction in your settings we have compiled compelling book recommendations for you to explore with pupils from early years right through to KS3, alongside practical guidance for using non-fiction in the classroom.

These resources are free to download from the file list below.

Non-fiction in the early years

The Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework refers to non-fiction books and their role in enhancing language development and children's knowledge of the world around them. Our resources provide guidance on how to read and explore non-fiction texts with young children, accompanied by a Wonderful Water themed booklist of recommended texts to try in your setting.

Non-fiction in the primary and KS3 classroom

Resources include:

A booklist with cross-phase reading recommendations for ages 4 through to 14 (Reception KS1, KS2, KS3). These explore the theme of Wonderful Water, each including linked non-fiction writing ideas.

Our non-fiction guidance for primary teachers which highlights five fabulous approaches for inspiring learning through non-fiction texts.

Further non-fiction resources

For our premium members, we also have further resources to celebrate non-fiction November:

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Non Fiction November 2023 | National Literacy Trust

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Celebrate non-fiction November with our recommended reads and top tips for teachers in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 and professionals in the early years.

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5 things to know and share about St. Nicholas

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5 things to know and share about St. Nicholas

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How much do you know about the man whose feast falls on Dec. 6?

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Remembrance Sunday | Remembrance Events | Royal British Legion

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ELIGIBILITY

Associations are asked to prioritise individuals who reflect the depth and breadth of the veteran community with priority given to:

Ex-service personnel and civilians from the UK and the Commonwealth who have served the Crown.

Wives, husbands, or civil partners of those who have died as a result of their service in His Majesty's Armed Forces.

Please note, this is a veterans' parade, therefore serving Armed Forces personnel are not permitted to take part. Civilians cannot take part unless they meet the eligibility criteria above.
As any carer accompanying a veteran will be included within the 10,000-attendance cap; where appropriate, the option of one veteran assisting another for the duration of the dispersal should be considered.

Registration for individual wishing to march in the parade is now closed. If you have any questions, please email the Remembrance Events Team at: cenotaph@britishlegion.org.uk

If you wish to attend the service as a spectator, further information will be made available on the website of the Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport in due course.

If you have any queries regarding the Cenotaph Dispersal, please contact the Remembrance Events Team by email at cenotaph@britishlegion.org.uk.

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Remembrance Sunday | Remembrance Events | Royal British Legion

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Remembrance Sunday is a national opportunity to remember the service and sacrifice of all those that have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life.

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National Storytelling Week 2024 Activities, Events and Resources | National Literacy Trust | National Literacy Trust

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1st to 9th National Story Telling Week U.K.

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1st to 9th National Story Telling Week U.K.

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What is National Storytelling Week?

In 2024, National Storytelling Week will take place from 27 January to 4 February.

This fantastic annual event is a joyful celebration of the power of sharing stories. Stories teach us about the world, they allow us to step into someone else's shoes and feel empathy, they help us to relax and escape and they can help develop essential literacy skills.

National Storytelling Week Activities: Dream Up a World

Engaging with writing role models can inspire children to be deeply experimental, creative, and develop confidence in their own writing ability. Through our programme of online classroom events and follow-up resources, pupils can engage with a variety of fantastic authors and storytellers to help them discover the young storyteller within themselves.

Join us between 27 January and 4 February 2024 to dream up brilliant new worlds. From picture books to video games, there's something to spark every child's interest.

Our flexible storytelling activities - designed for learners across a wide age range covering Early years, KS1, KS2 and KS3 - will help to inspire a love of storytelling.

Dream up a World: storytelling project with Swapna Haddow for ages 5 to 7 (KS1)

In partnership with author Swapna Haddow, and supported by REY Paper, we have created a storytelling project designed to inspire a love of story creation and storytelling.

The project will kickstart with a live virtual storytelling event with Swapna Haddow. Our follow-up classroom resource will support pupils to create their own character and story inspired by Swapna's hilarious and heartfelt picture books: My dad is a Grizzly Bear and My Mum is a Lioness. Download resources for free at the bottom of this page.

About the virtual storytelling event with Swapna Haddow

Date: Thursday 1 February 2024

Time: 10:00am - 10:30am

Recommended for: pupils aged 5 to 7 years (Key Stage 1/P2-P3).

Join our free, online event with Swapna Haddow, multi award-winning children's author of the Dave Pigeon and Bad Panda series, and much more!

Sign up for Swapna Haddow event

Dream up a World: storytelling project with Steven Camden for ages 7 to 11 (KS2)

In partnership with poet and author Steven Camden, and supported by REY Paper, we have created a storytelling project designed to inspire a love of story creation and storytelling.

The project will kickstart with a live interactive story building event with Steven Camden. Our follow-up classroom resource will support pupils to create their own story world inspired by Steven's own creative process. Download resources for free at the bottom of this page.

About the virtual event with Steven Camden

Date: Thursday 1 February 2024

Time: 10:00am - 10:45am

Recommended for: pupils aged 7-11 years (Key Stage 2/P4-P7).

Join our free, online event with author and poet Steven Camden, AKA Polarbear, to learn all about world-building, an essential component of story creation and storytelling. In this interactive event, pupils will have the opportunity to help create a brand-new, fictional world live with Steven.

Sign up for Steven Camden event

Dream up a Gaming World: storytelling project for ages 11 to 14 (KS3)

This gaming-inspired world-building project, supported by REY Paper, draws on the gaming interest and knowledge held by many young people, and helping them with their own creative storytelling world.

Each year, schools celebrate the art of storytelling and the power of stories to connect, entertain, and inspire. This project for students aged 11 to 14 (KS3/S1-3) begins with a live event that brings together professionals from the gaming industry, including Rare Games, and BAFTA Games for a thought-provoking Q&A. Pupils will be able to gain fascinating insights, and have the opportunity to ask any burning questions. The classroom resource provides a fun activity for students to dream up their own gaming world and showcase their ideas through a gaming pitch, learning about the practical skills of storytelling through the real-world context of the video gaming industry. Download resources for free at the bottom of this page.

About the virtual event with gaming professionals

Date: Monday 29 January 2024

Time: 10:00am - 10:45am

Recommended for: pupils aged 11 to 14 years (Key Stage 3/S1-S3).

This panel discussion will provide an exciting opportunity to hear from a range of speakers with experience of storytelling and world creation in the gaming industry.

Sign up for KS3 event with gaming industry professionals

Dream up a world: storytelling in the early years

Story sacks are a great way to bring real stories alive for children. For this year's National Storytelling Week, help children in the early years to dream up their own worlds and stories using our ' No-Story' Story Sack guide. Download for free at the bottom of this page.

Storytelling can be a magical experience - and the flexibility of making up your own stories can allow stories to be personalised for the children you are with by including favourite toys, familiar people, and even the children themselves! You don't always need books to tell a story.

Additional classroom storytelling activities

Storysack Guide for Early Years - Explore our activities, tips and ideas for how to use a Storysack to tell stories creatively (available on this page).

Explore 28 ways to turn children into storytellers - take a look at this fantastic StoryQuest resource, packed with original ideas and fun activities to turn children into storytellers - created by Kate Norgate of The Crick Crack Club.

Write an Alex Rider adventure story - if you have Alex Rider fans in your class, why not challenge them to write their own Alex Rider adventure story? Explore the resource to access a story writing kit and accompanying resources with lots of ideas for how the tasks can be incorporated into class time.

Enjoy stories across a range of themes and genres in our Young Readers Story Club.

Looking for a storyteller for your school? If you're looking for a brilliant storyteller to bring the magic of storytelling to life, who is local to your school use our listings tool.

Free River of Stories collection - the A River of Stories anthologies can strengthen your pupils' imaginations, critical thinking, and their ability to participate in culturally diverse local and global communities. Each volume contains a story or poem from each of the 53 countries in the Commonwealth, great for sharing with your class.

Storytelling resources for families

We also have resources to help families enjoy the age-old tradition of storytelling and share their own stories, memories, and experiences.

Visit our Words for Life webpage for top tips on storytelling at home, and to download our 'dream up what's behind this door' activity sheet.

Explore family activities

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National Storytelling Week 2024 Activities, Events and Resources | National Literacy Trust | National Literacy Trust

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Storytelling ideas and activities for teachers in primary and secondary schools, and professionals in early years settings to celebrate Storytelling Week 27 January to 4 February.

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National Poetry Day is the annual mass celebration on the first Thursday of October that encourages everyone to make, experience and share poetry with family and friends.

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Roald Dahl Stories

From Sophie's adventures with the BFG and James' journey on the Giant Peach, to Matilda's brilliant bravery and Charlie's first step into the world of Wonka - Roald Dahl stories celebrate the incredible potential of young people and the power of kindness.

(And they really are brilliantly entertaining!)

Find out more

This week The Witches at the National Theatre opened to outstanding critical acclaim. Take a look at what critics have been saying about this brand-new production.

Roald Dahl in the Classroom

Bring the magic of Roald Dahl stories to life in your classroom with our YPO-sponsored lesson plans, spanning the full curriculum!

Created to align with Key Stage 1 and 2 learning objectives, our free lesson plan are designed to add a touch of Roald Dahl magic to the curriculum, from English, Maths and STEM to Art, PSHE and Geography.

Find out more

You can see a number of your favourite Roald Dahl stories reimagined for the stage.

Our new Theatre Division has been hard at work with a host of playful and talented songwriters, circus artists and playwrights to create a series of mischievously brilliant new theatre shows... which will be popping up around the UK very soon.

Find out more

The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre

The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre is an independent charity, founded in 2001 by Roald Dahl's widow, Liccy. Their founding objective as a charity is to further the education of the public in the art of literature and creativity, by running a museum and literature centre based on the works of Roald Dahl.

Since the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre opened their doors in 2005, they have used the example of Roald Dahl's creative craft to show that what he did, YOU can do too. More than a million people have visited the Museum to date, including an average of 10,000 school children every year.

Find out more

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From Sophie's adventures with the BFG and James' journey on the Giant Peach, to Matilda's brilliant bravery and Charlie's first step into the world of Wonka - Roald Dahl stories celebrate the incredible potential of young people and the power of kindness.

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Home | Edinburgh International Book Festival

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9th - 24th Edinburgh International Book Festival

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9th - 24th Edinburgh International Book Festival

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Illustrator Katie Chappell will be working with the young people one-to-one on the wards from November...

Organisers of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, which finished last night, declared the first online programme a success, with the 146 events being viewed over 210,000 times by a worldwide audience - a figure still growing as audiences continue to watch events On Demand...

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Home | Edinburgh International Book Festival

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Illustrator Katie Chappell will be working with the young people one-to-one on the wards from November... Organisers of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, which finished last night, declared the first online programme a success, with the 146 events being viewed over 210,000 times by a worldwide audience - a figure still growing as audiences continue to watch events On Demand...

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International Youth Day - Teaching Ideas

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International Youth Day - Teaching Ideas

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Find free teaching ideas and lesson resources linked to International Youth Day.

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17 Ways to Celebrate National Book Lovers Day

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Host your own book clubBook clubs aren't just about the wine and cheese (though we love those too), they're about coming together and joining in stimulating conversation about your favorite reads. Ask some friends if they want to join a virtual call to talk about a mutual favorite book or author, or even just to discuss what everyone is currently reading! Want to make it a regular event? We've got some tips how on how to host a virtual book club meeting, how to start a book club, and book club kits!

Attend an event
Authors, publishers, librarians, booksellers, and readers have been hard at work creating amazing virtual and in-person events. From interviews to games to in-depth discussions, no matter what you're looking for you can find an event to match!

Support your local indieStop by your favorite bookstore to pick up some new books! If you don't have a local indie, check out virtual storefronts on . Remember: Buying books isn't the only way to support your local bookstore- here's a list of more ideas !

Patronize your local library Libraries put on incredible summer events, so head over to see what your branch has planned for the week and maybe borrow some books while you're there. Don't forget to see what digital libraries (such as Libby, Overdrive, and Hoopa) are connected to your local branch and then borrow to your heart's content.

Fill your feed with amazing readers Fellow bookworms have the best recommendations, and an easy way to stay up-to-date on exciting new releases is to ensure your social media feeds are filled with great readers.

Listen inSpend the day with an audiobook! There are so many great ways to listen: (which allows you to support your local bookstore), your local library's digital catalog, or through the NetGalley Shelf app !

Celebrate your favorite authorSend some reader fan mail! Snap a pic of their books for Instagram! Join their Facebook group! There are tons of ways to show support for your favorite author and to connect with other readers who love their work. Here's a list if you need some more ideas .

Reread an old favorite Haven't been to Pemberley in a while? Have you been absent from Middle-earth? Drop in on some old friends by rereading one of your favorite books.

Start the platform of your dreamsHave you been considering starting a , Booktube channel Bookstagram ? This is the perfect day to start! If it sounds daunting, don't worry-we got you! Check out our tips on where to begin with each platform to help you out.

Call up your bookish BFF! A Start a buddy read buddy read involves two (or more) people reading and discussing a book together-sort of like a mini book club. National Book Lovers Day is the perfect time to connect with a friend and start reading together.

Get a new bookcaseAre all of your beloved reads tucked away in boxes and corners? Browse for a fancy new bookcase to best show off your favorite works. If you don't have space for a new bookcase, floating shelves or are great alternatives.

Organize your bookshelvesSpending the day working on your bookshelves is a great way to straighten up and to make a donation pile of books you no longer want or need. Plus for every book you give away, there's more room for new ones! We've rounded up a few bookshelf organization options here.

Decorate your e-reader
Show your favorite reading device some love by decorating it with bookish stickers! Here are a few of our favorites.

DonateParting is such sweet sorrow, but there's no better feeling than passing on a well-loved book. Look to see if there's a Little Free Library in your area that you could give some books to. You can also donate funds to bookish charities: Book Industry Charity Foundation helps to support bookstore employees who are facing financial hardship. Make a donation here !

Watch an adaptationGather up your favorite snacks and settle in to watch a movie or TV show inspired by a book. If you're looking for a place to start, check out the NetGalley team's favorite adaptations .

Set aside some time to review books you've read recently. Your reviews go a long way to help publishers, authors, and fellow readers-plus you can work on your Leave a review NetGalley Feedback Ratio! We have tips here if you need help getting started.

Tune into a bookish podcast If you love reading critically and analyzing books, then podcasts are for you!

Speak up about book bansBook bans and attempts at censorship are currently spreading across the U.S. and are disproportionately impacting diverse titles and authors from historically marginalized communities. Take time this week to research any bans happening in your community, reach out to your representatives, and learn ways to support your library. Find out more here!

This page contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through those links (at no additional cost to you).

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17 Ways to Celebrate National Book Lovers Day

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Host your own book clubBook clubs aren't just about the wine and cheese (though we love those too), they're about coming together and joining in stimulating conversation about your favorite reads. Ask some friends if they want to join a virtual call to talk about a mutual favorite book or author, or even just to discuss what everyone is currently reading!

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Hot topic: Halloween | National Literacy Trust

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"When witches go riding and black cats are seen,

The moon laughs and whispers 'Tis near Halloween.'"

At the end of October, when dark evenings are creeping in, an autumnal feeling is in the air and shop windows fill with pumpkins, thoughts turn to Halloween. Children love all things creepy and spooky; what better opportunity to share fang-tastic recipes, read eerie stories and encourage children to write their own spooktacular tales?

What you'll find in our Halloween resource

This hot topic resource provides teaching ideas and inspiration for bringing the fright into your classroom:

Ideas for books which are perfect to read and enjoy with pupils aged 3-14 years

Suggestions for speaking and listening activities including oral storytelling and performance poetry

Ideas for writing linked to the theme including a fun grammar game to help students to revise word classes, plus ideas for building suspense in narrative writing

The activities are designed to be adaptable for teachers working across different age ranges, and for the time you have available.

Explore our range of hot topic resources.

Using the resource

Useful for: classroom teachers, literacy co-ordinators, school librarians, form tutors

Suitable for: children across KS1, KS2 and KS3/Early, first, second and third level.

Use: classroom teaching ideas and activities

Focus/theme: calendar moments as literacy learning hooks. See our schools literacy teaching calendar.

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Hot topic: Halloween | National Literacy Trust

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How to bring spooky stories into your classroom.

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World Mental Health Day (10 Oct) is a day to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters. It's also a day to let people know that it's okay to ask for help, no matter what you're going through.

As the theme of World Mental Health Day highlights, 'mental health is a universal human right'. That's why at Mental Health Foundation, we're dedicated to addressing the inequalities in mental health and working towards good mental health for all, not just for some. Read more below.

This year, over 260,000 people have had a Tea & Talk for World Mental Health Day - raising vital funds for mental health! Every donation supports our life-changing work and brings us closer to a world with good mental health for all.
Donate now

Share on social media, at work, or in your community

Join us in raising awareness about mental health on social media by following us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Download images to share on social media or a poster to print:

Whether you wore your green ribbon to show your support, held a Tea & Talk, or got involved another way - we want to hear from you!

Share a photo of what you've been up to on Instagram and tag us at @mentalhealthfoundation.

We know that mental health is a universal human right. But despite this, some groups face more barriers to good mental health than others.

Inequalities in mental health lead to certain groups facing disproportionately higher rates of mental health issues.

This needs to be urgently addressed. And that's why we focus our research, policy & advocacy work, and programmes on the groups most affected. This includes families, young people, people with long-term health conditions, and refugees and asylum seekers.

We drive change towards a mentally healthy society for all, and support communities, families and individuals to live mentally healthier lives.

With prevention at the heart of what we do, we aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.
Learn more

Talking about your mental health

1. Choose someone you trust to talk to

This might be a friend, family member or a colleague. Or you might be more comfortable talking to someone you don't know, for example, through a support helpline. It can help to do a pros and cons list about talking to someone.

2. Think about the best place to talk

It's important to choose a place where you feel comfortable enough to open-up. You might want to choose somewhere private where you're less likely to be disturbed. You also might want to talk while you do an activity, like walking together.

3. Prepare yourself for their reaction

Hopefully, you will have a good experience when you open-up to someone. But there's a chance that they may not react in the way you hope. This may be for different reasons, like they may be worried or not fully understand at first. If that's the case, try to give them time to process what you've told them. It might help to give them information to read to help them understand. And don't forget to be kind to yourself and practise self-care.

Talking to someone about their mental health

1. Find a good space to talk without distractions

If you're worried about someone, try to find a place where you know you can have a conversation without being distracted. Make sure to give them your full attention. It might help to switch off your phone.

2. Listen and ask questions

Listening can be one of the most valuable ways to be there for someone. Show them that you're actively listening by facing them, making eye contact, and not interrupting. Questions can help you clarify what they mean and also show that you're actively listening. But make sure the questions are relevant to what they're saying, and not changing the subject.

3. Ask how you can help

Ask how you can help or make suggestions, rather than telling them what to do next. They might want support with making a GP appointment, help around the house, or just for you to keep things normal and chat about what's going on in your life.

References

1. Marmot, M., Allen, J., Goldblatt, P., Boyce, T., McNeish, D., Grady, M., & Geddes, I. (2010). Fair society, healthy lives: Strategic review of health inequalities in England post 2010. Retrieved from instituteofhealthequity.org/projects/ fair-society-healthy-lives-the-marmot-review [Accessed 07/11/16].

2. Eaton, V., Ward, C., Womack, J., & Taylor, A. (2011). Mental Health and Wellbeing in Leeds: An Assessment of Need in the Adult Population. NHS Leeds.

3. Raj, D., Stansfeld, S., Weich, S., Stewart, R., McBride, O., Brugha, T., ... & Papp, M. (2016). Chapter 13: Comorbidity in mental and physical illness. In S. McManus, P. Bebbington, R. Jenkins, & T. Brugha (Eds.), Mental health and wellbeing in England: Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014. Leeds: NHS Digital.

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We celebrate World Mental Health Day every year on 10 October. The theme for 2023 is 'Mental health is a universal human right'.

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National Poetry Day 2023 resources and classroom activities | National Literacy Trust

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National Poetry Day 2023 resources

On Thursday 5 October 2023, we celebrate National Poetry Day, which this year focuses on the theme of refuge. To mark the occasion in your setting, download and use our free session plans for EYFS, KS1, KS2 and KS3 (P1 to S3). Our resources are designed to help pupils reflect on the theme of refuge, whilst encouraging a love of reading and writing poetry.

Further information about our National Poetry Day 2023 activities

Our suite of resources for 2023 comprise the following:

3 to 5 year olds (Early years/Early Level): poetry session plans exploring The Grass House by Shirley Hughes

5 to 7 year olds (KS1/P2-3): two session plans where pupils will read and exploring Nature Trail by Benjamin Zephaniah, and produce their own refuge-inspired poem.

7 to 11 year olds (KS2/P4-7): two session plans where pupils will explore and compare a selection of poems, and compose their own Lune poem inspired by their personal sense of refuge.

11 to14 year olds (KS3/S1-S3): two session plans where pupils will explore and compare a selection of poems, and compose their own Haiku and 'Found Poem' inspired by their personal sense of refuge.

Access resources from the downloads list below.

More classroom resources for National Poetry Day

Each year National Poetry Day explores a different theme. You can access our resources for previous years and themes from this page to continue your class journey exploring students' responses to poems and to help them create and perform their own work.

Activities are clearly linked to the national curriculum, supporting learning and developing confidence in writing, storytelling, working together and performance.

We'd also recommend exploring these additional resources to support poetry in your school or setting:

Digital Poet in residence (ages 7 to 11)

Writing from Nature: a poetry resource (ages 7 to 13)

Monologue Jam (age 14+)

A poetry lover's classroom (primary)

Writing poems with Paul Cookson: (primary)

Poetry in the early years foundation stage (early years)

For families

Celebrating National Poetry Day isn't just for schools! On our Words for Life web portal for families we have some great ideas for exploring poetry at home.

Get involved with National Poetry Day

You can find more National Poetry Day resources, learn about events and celebrations taking place, and get involved by visiting the National Poetry Day website.

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National Poetry Day 2023 resources and classroom activities | National Literacy Trust

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Celebrate National Poetry Day in your classroom with resources and activities for ages 3 to 14 (EYFS, KS1, KS2 and KS3/P1 to S3) on the theme of Refuge.

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Welcome

Libraries Week 2023 ended on a high with Green Libraries leading the way

For 2023, Libraries Week went Green, with libraries from Jersey to John O'Groats hosting more than 290 environmental and sustainability activities, from 2nd-8th October 2023.

On the day of launch, the campaign made it into Twitter/X's trending list at number 8, boosting the campaign's reach beyond the libraries sector.

Get the first announcement for Libraries Week 2024, sign up to our newsletter:

The success of Green Libraries Week shows that going green isn't about the size of the action you take, but that any action can make a difference for the environment.

Some of the events that took place were:

Nature's Tiny Miracle by Britta Teckentrup introduces the wonder of bees to early years and KS1 children

Bug hotel storytime and craft at Dittons Library

A community fridge at Prestwich Library

Meet the author - Louise Doughty - in-conversation event with bestselling author, Louise Doughty for a special in-conversation event at Leicester Central Library

Libraries week 2024

Want to know what's in store for 2024? Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know, and get ahead of the game.

Sign up to our newsletter here

Or follow us on social media:

Libraries Week is organised by:

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Libraries Week 2023 ended on a high with Green Libraries leading the way For 2023, Libraries Week went Green, with libraries from Jersey to John O'Groats hosting more than 290 environmental and sustainability activities, from 2nd-8th October 2023. On the day of launch, the campaign made it into Twitter/X's trending list at number 8, boosting the campaign's reach beyond the libraries sector.

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Black History Month Resources and Activities | National Literacy Trust | National Literacy Trust

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1st to 31st October Black History Month 

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1st to 31st October Black History Month 

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Black History Month Resources and Activities | National Literacy Trust | National Literacy Trust

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Black History Month resources and activities for teachers in primary and secondary schools.

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Tales from the Inner City by Shaun Tan - literacy transition project | National Literacy Trust

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An engaging transition project based on Shaun Tan's 2020 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal-winning book, Tales from the Inner City.

This rich and evocative sequence of short stories and poetry explores our relationship with nature, taking the reader into another world and allowing them to consider the human relationship with nature from different points of view.

The activities have been designed to be used with pupils in their final year of primary school supporting them to create their own inspirational collection of writing and illustrations.

The teacher guidelines also include continuation ideas so that pupils can take this work with them and continue to develop it as they begin their secondary school journey. This enables pupils to demonstrate their capabilities in their new environment, and can help ensure an effective and supportive transition.

Project overview

Pupils explore a range of stories and images from Tales from the Inner City, looking deeply into the book's purpose and form, and considering how the text and images work together.

Using both text and image, pupils keep a unique project scrapbook, creating their own body of work inspired by their relationship with nature and their wider thoughts about human impact on the environment.

Extract-based lesson ideas cover:

Exploring language

Using a poetry spine

Found poetry

Exploring illustration - drawing and collage

Flash fiction.

The unit also provides suggestions for sharing and celebrating pupils' work,. and lesson activities for the beginning of Year 7 that allow for continuation, but are equally accessible for pupils who have not been involved in the project in Year 6.

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Tales from the Inner City by Shaun Tan - literacy transition project | National Literacy Trust

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An engaging transition project based on Shaun Tan's CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal-winning book, Tales from the Inner City.

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The 2021 Pride Reading List: 75 New Books to Read Now

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It's June, which means it's time to celebrate Pride month in honor of the LGBTQ+ community! This year, we wanted to highlight the hot-off-the-presses new queer books from both beloved authors and rising star debut writers alike. All of these books have been published in the U.S. from the beginning of the year through June and are ready to be added to your Want to Read shelf!

You'll see we divided these books into adult fiction, young adult fiction, and nonfiction categories. And within these categories you'll find a wealth of genres, topics, and voices to fit every reading mood. Scroll over the covers below to learn more about each book. Happy Pride!

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The 2021 Pride Reading List: 75 New Books to Read Now

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It's June, which means it's time to celebrate Pride month in honor of the LGBTQ+ community! This year, we wanted to highlight the hot-off-the-presses...

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International Fairy Day Reading List from Sandman Books

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June 24th is International Fairy Day, and (of course) we made you a themed reading list for the occasion! Things you can do with this list:

Discover the mythology of fairies with authors like Brian Froud and Andrew Lang

Explore a novel laced with fairy themes, like "War For the Oaks" or "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell"

Get crafty, with instruction books like "Fairy House" or "Drawing Fairies"

Enjoy a modern reboot, like "Cinder" or "Snow Glass Apples"

Sink into the fairycore aesthetic with journals from Stephanie Law

Revisit the classics with storytellers like Andrew Lang (1844 - 1912) or Edmund Spenser (1553-1599)

Share the magic with the next generation using board books like "F is For Fairy"

Did we miss your favorite fairy book? Tell me! I can still add things to the list, and I love getting suggestions from readers.

Punta Gorda, FL 33982-1783

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International Fairy Day Reading List from Sandman Books

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June 24th is International Fairy Day, and (of course) we made you a themed reading list for the occasion! Things you can do with this list:

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1. 1. Sign up

Click 'Join now' to create your account.

2. 2. Read books

Set your reading goal and read anything you like! Each time you finish a book, add it to your profile and leave a review.

3. 3. Earn digital rewards

Unlock special online badges and a certificate to print at home when you reach your Challenge goal!*

*Physical rewards like medals are only available when taking part at select libraries.

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Click 'Join now' to create your account. Set your reading goal and read anything you like! Each time you finish a book, add it to your profile and leave a review. Unlock special online badges and a certificate to print at home when you reach your Challenge goal!* *Physical rewards like medals are only available when taking part at select libraries.

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Refugee Week 2023 resources and classroom activities for KS2 and KS3 teachers in schools | National Literacy Trust

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Refugee Week takes place from 19-25 June 2023 and the theme this year is Compassion.
Thanks to generous funding, including support from the Association of Jewish Refugees, the National Literacy Trust is working with award-winning author Tom Palmer to produce free resources, including an instalment story, to help schools focus on Refugee Week.

Refugee Week classroom resources
All resources will be available from this page in early June.
The resources are designed to be used throughout the week from Monday 19 June 2023, and are suitable for use with students aged 10 to 14 (Upper Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3).

A short video from author Tom Palmer to introduce the story and resources to students.

Five stories written specially for Refugee Week by Tom Palmer. The stores will show the plight of refugees escaping persecution by boat and will cover different periods of time, from the 17th century to today. Teachers will be able to download and read the stories, or watch Tom read the story.

Five videos and five worksheets to support and inspire students to write their own responses. Students can submit their work using the mechanism outlined in the teacher guide.

A teacher guide with ideas and sources to support your delivery and students' writing.

An online Q&A event with Tom Palmer.

Resources will comprise

More resources

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Refugee Week 2023 resources and classroom activities for KS2 and KS3 teachers in schools | National Literacy Trust

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Refugee Week takes place from 19-25 June 2023 and the theme this year is Compassion. Thanks to generous funding, including support from the Association of Jewish Refugees , the National Literacy Trust is working with award-winning author Tom Palmer to produce free resources, including an instalment story, to help schools focus on Refugee Week.

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National Writing Day 2022 | National Literacy Trust

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National Writing Day 2022 | National Literacy Trust

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The annual celebration of the power of writing creatively, inspiring people of all ages and abilities to try writing for fun and self-expression.

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World Laughter Day Is Always The First Sunday In May!

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Come tune up and tune in on World Laughter Day on Zoom with the power of laughter and positive energies with like-minded spirits on Sunday, 5th May 2024.

All are welcome. What you will experience is safe, sound, and very satisfying.

What Is World Laughter Day?

Many of us know that laughter is enjoyable but often underestimate the significant impact this simple tool can have on our wellness and overall satisfaction in life. While laughter may not heal or resolve everything, it possesses the power to aid and alleviate numerous concerns.

World Laughter Day is an annual event observed globally to highlight the notable healing benefits of laughter and acknowledge the thousands of community groups worldwide-commonly referred to as Laughter Clubs-who regularly practice accessible, intentional laughter techniques that promote wellness and overall well-being. This event is complimentary and open to all.

Why frown when you can laugh?

Laughter Wellness makes World Laughter Day particularly special by integrating laughter with the principles of mindfulness, positive psychology, fun-filled games and activities, and various relaxation techniques. This unique approach enhances the healing power of laughter, taking it beyond mere enjoyment and transforming it into a purposeful, rejuvenating practice.

Incorporating Laughter Wellness into the World Laughter Day celebration bolsters the power of positive energy and provides a supportive environment to connect with other like-minded individuals.

Join us in this enriching experience, embracing the restorative potential of laughter and fostering a deeper sense of community and well-being!

How To Join

Click here to register. This will enable us to send you an email reminder the day before.

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World Laughter Day Is Always The First Sunday In May!

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This is an annual event to celebrate laughter, the power of positive energies, and connect with other like-minded spirits!

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Read about dinosaurs then attempt to draw one

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10 Best Star Wars Books for Kids ChildrensToyBox

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If you are a Star Wars fan, you can't deny that Star Wars has always been created for children. With the rebel princess, adorable creatures, glowing swords and hi-tech spaceships, who wouldn't love to recruit their young padawans into the Star Wars Universe.

Top 10 Star Wars Books for Kids

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Buying Star Wars toys and collectibles is so easy with so many options available today. But the best way to introduce your children to the saga is through books. Aside from the fact that books can help them learn more about the English language, books also help create better relationships with your kids. In addition, books can help your children understand the movie better. It also let them learn more facts and trivia about their favorite characters.

Star Wars Books for Kids Buying Guide

There are so many things you should consider when buying the best Star Wars books for kids. First of all, find books with appealing illustrations as the imagery helps your children better understand the ideas being portrayed in the book. As a matter of fact, graphics and photos make reading more enjoyable for kids. This can also enhance their imagination and improve their brain function.

In addition, make sure to buy books with topics that interest your kids. You may haven't met a kid who doesn't love Star Wars but if they're interested in dinosaur toys or scalextric toys instead, find books with the same topic.

You may like to read: Children's Bookcase Buying Guide: 6 Things to Know Before Buying One

The most important thing you should keep in mind is the age of your young ones. For example, while toddlers tend to enjoy books with rhyming words and preschoolers love books with one to two liners. On the contrary, school aged children like books with more complex stories.

The size of the book also matters as it will be difficult for younger children to read small words and text. Small books filled with short phrases per page are great for toddlers with smaller hands. On the other hand, books need to be bigger to be able to fit longer sentences for preschoolers.

In addition, you should also consider the type of graphics and colors in the book as there is an appropriate design for each kid's level. Books with the original dark Star Wars theme may suit older children. However, books with bright and colorful graphics are more appropriate for younger children.

Now that you had a glimpse of what a great Star Wars book should look like, we've compared 10 of the best Star Wars books for kids you can buy today.

Top 10 Star Wars Books for Kids

Star Wars Character Encyclopedia

If your young ones want to learn every Star Wars character in the saga, the Star Wars Character Encyclopedia is one of the best books you can buy for them. In fact this book is written by Elizabeth Dowseet, a London-based writer who has written more than 35 Star Wars books for children.

This Star Wars Character Encyclopedia includes more than 200 heroes, villains, aliens and droids from the Star Wars galaxy. The graphics and illustration will definitely engage your children to learn more about their favorite characters. In addition, the book is filled with facts and fascinating information that even adult fans will love to know.

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What is not so great about this toy: This book is perfect

If you're looking for the best Star Wars books for kids bedtime story, then the 5-Minute Star Wars Stories Strike Back is the best choice. In fact, this book which is a follow up of the 5-Minute Star Wars Stories features 12 short action packed stories that your young ones will surely love to hear. The stories are adapted from the 8 films of the Star Wars saga from the Star Wars: The Phantom Menace to the Star Wars: The Last Jedi. In addition, the book has colorful graphics and pictures that will let your children get to know more about the characters in the saga.

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What is not so great about this toy:
Although the book is big, the map labels are quite small for younger children.

If your aspiring Skywalkers would love to know more about the Star Wars Galaxy, this Star Wars: Galactic Atlas is the perfect gift for them. This colorful and stunning atlas is illustrated by Tim McDonagh and contains 80 pages of charming illustrations.

Star Wars: Galactic Atlas Hardcover will not get you disappointed with its 26 beautiful maps covering the Alderaan and Naboo to Tatooine and Yavin 4. This book will surely fire up your children's imagination as they learn more about the stories behind these locations. In addition, it also features star charts, strange creatures, epic stories and glorious vistas.

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What is great about this toy: The illustrations are colorful and perfect for kids.

What is not so great about this toy: Some stories are not that interesting and have less action.

Star Wars Myths Fables children's book is another great option to buy if your kids love the Star Wars Universe. In fact, this book features several untold fables, myths and folklores featuring Jedi Sith, witches, Wookiees, droids and dragons. In addition, it takes its readers across various Star Wars eras even to the remote terrestrial planet of Batuu located on the edge of the galaxy's outer rim.

Illustrated by George Mann, this Star Wars hardcover book can be a perfect gift even for adults. It features 9 interesting stories written in fairy tale style and have accompanying colorful and vivid illustrations.

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The Star Wars Little Golden Book Library

Featuring the first 6 episodes of the Star Wars Saga, this book is a great option if you want to introduce your kids to the Star Wars Universe. As a matter of fact, the Star Wars Little Golden Book Library includes the stories of The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. Your kids will surely love the gorgeous retro illustrations while you read to them this 140 paged hardcover book. But the great thing about this book is it simplifies the stories in a child-friendly way removing all the violence.

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LEGO Star Wars Character Encyclopedia New Edition

With over 200 minifigures from the LEGO® Star Wars™ Galaxy, your kids will definitely go crazy with this LEGO Star Wars Character Encyclopedia. This book covers all of your young ones' favorite lego heroes, villains, aliens, and droids from the Star Wars: The Phantom Menace through to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

The photography and graphics in this 224 page book is colorful and engaging for young readers. In addition to the main details about the characters, it also features fun facts about each minifigures including exclusive releases. But one of the best thing about this book is it comes with a Darth Maul LEGO minifigure collectible that is highly detailed and of high quality.

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What is great about this toy: The book comes with a giant pullout life-size BB-8 poster.

The Amazing Book of Star Wars is a short book that lets younger kids learn more about the main characters of the Star Wars universe. The 48 paged book covers their most loved characters like Yoda, Luke Skywalker, Rey, the Millennium Falcon, Darth Vader, R2-D2, and Wookiees including their amazing spaceships. And with the large colorful photos and clear kid friendly text, it will definitely be easier for your kids to remember all of their favorite characters in the saga. Not but not the least, your children will get crazy to find out that this book also comes with a pullout life-size BB8 poster.

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The Star Wars Little Golden Book Collection by Courtney Carbonne is one of the best Star Wars books for kids. It summarizes the first seven movies The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and The Force Awakens in one hardcover volume. Your Star-Wars obsessed kids will surely be delighted with the colorful illustrations while you read to them the action-packed stories of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and more. This Star Wars books for kids is also great for learning kids as the book text is simplified for younger readers.

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Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker The Visual Dictionary

With no details missed, this is one of the best Star Wars books for kids. In fact, it is a fantastic gift not only for older children but for adult fans who love collecting everything about the Star Wars franchise.

Written by the famous insider Pablo Hidalgo, your children will never get disappointed with the 500+ images including detailed cross-sections of the impressive vehicles in the movie. In addition, the 200 page book includes all the characters, creatures, droids, locations, and technology from the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The book also has exciting features like the pop-up holocron, a translator card, a Jedi equipment booklet and colorful pullouts.

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What is not so great about this toy: This book is perfect. There's nothing bad you can say about this book.

Written by the award-winning Marc Sumerak, The Secrets of the Jedi book is another fantastic read for your kids. This book covers Luke Skywalker's exciting adventures and secret life. In addition, it includes the stories and lives of the other Jedi Masters like Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. This book also lets your children learn more about the art of mastering a lightsaber. It will also let them find out more about the hidden secrets of the Force. This book will never bore your children as it also interactive. It has several special highlights including a pop-up holocron, a translator card, a Jedi equipment booklet, pullouts, and more.

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Now that you've seen the best Star Wars books for kids, here are more tips to make your children love reading their new Star wars books.

Try to find award-winning books as this is a sure guarantee that the books you're buying are not only entertaining but educational too. You can also try to find books from famous and familiar authors. Your children will definitely love their new books if they are familiar with the style of writing and illustrations.

In addition, select a variety of books that your children can enjoy once they finish the first one you bought. Children tend to enjoy re-reading books several times but it is a good thing if they have more once they get bored of it.

You can also create a reading area filled with Star Wars collectibles and toys to make your children enjoy reading. Another way to create excitement is by finding book-inspired activities. Bringing your children to events to see their favorite Star Wars characters, is a memory your children will never forget.

Last but not the least, make sure to find time to read with your children. Reading with your ones regularly helps them develop their vocabulary and listening skills. The special time also promotes bonding and helps create better relationships.

Frequently Asked Questions for Star Wars Books for Kids

Are Star Wars books appropriate for a 4 year old?

Toddlers learn to read as early as 5 years of age. And reading has a lot of benefits for your children. The best way to motivate them to read is to let them read books with topics they're interested about.That's why if they love Star Wars, buy them Star Wars books that are appropriate for younger children.

What is the best Star Wars book to start with?

The Star Wars Character Encyclopedia is a great book to start with. It can help you introduce your children to the most popular characters in the Star Wars galaxy. Books like this will also help them visualize and remember these characters easily. After then, it will be easier for them to understand Star Wars books with more complicated stories.

How do you choose a good Star Wars Book for Kids?

Because kids have shorter attention spans, you should make reading engaging and fun for children. That's why you should choose books that are colorful and have a lot of child-friendly graphics. This way when you read with them, they will be able to visualize the characters and you can keep them focused while reading the book.

How much are star wars comic books worth?

Star Wars books for kids are affordable. The cheapest ones cost around $10. Books that come with a lot of features, like cards and pull outs cost around $20.

How do you keep Star Wars books in good condition?

Like any other books, it is best to keep Star Wars books in a cool, dry place.In addition, place your children's bookshelves in a room that doesn't get directly hit by sunlight.

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10 Best Star Wars Books for Kids ChildrensToyBox

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In this comprehensive review, we've compare 10 of the best Star Wars books for kids today. Check out the best Star Wars for kids you can buy today

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A great chance to explore some American poets?

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National Poetry Month

Launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, National Poetry Month is a special occasion that celebrates poets' integral role in our culture and that poetry matters. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K-12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, families, and-of course-poets, marking poetry's important place in our lives.

In April 2023, U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón selected twenty new poems by contemporary poets to be featured in the Academy of American Poets' Poem-a-Day series as part of a collaboration with the Library of Congress.

Thanks in part to our National Poetry Month partners and sponsors, each April the Academy is able to offer activities, initiatives, and resources so that anyone can join the celebration:

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National Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry's vital place in our culture.

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Linked to Hans Christian Anderson

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Since 1967, on or around Hans Christian Andersen's birthday, 2 April, International Children's Book Day (ICBD) is celebrated to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children's books.

Each year a different National Section of IBBY has the opportunity to be the international sponsor of ICBD. It decides upon a theme and invites a prominent author from the host country to write a message to the children of the world and a well-known illustrator to design a poster. These materials are used in different ways to promote books and reading. Many IBBY Sections promote ICBD through the media and organize activities in schools and public libraries. Often ICBD is linked to celebrations around children's books and other special events that may include encounters with authors and illustrators, writing competitions or announcements of book awards.

IBBY Slovenia is the sponsor for International Children's Book Day 2020.

Current and past posters are available from the IBBY Secretariat. A catalogue of posters and messages that have appeared between 1967 and 2002, created on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of IBBY is also available.

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Since 1967, on or around Hans Christian Andersen's birthday, 2 April, International Children's Book Day (ICBD) is celebrated to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children's books. Each year a different National Section of IBBY has the opportunity to be the international sponsor of ICBD.

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A great opportunity to explore fiction and non-fiction that travels across North and South America

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Chapter Books for Early Readers

Create enthusiastic readers with Magic Tree House (MTH) early chapter book choices for beginning independent readers that are fun, accessible, and help improve comprehension and the habit of reading.

Ready to use these MTH books and more in your classroom? Visit MTHClassroomAdventures.org for downloadable MTH resources or head to www.MagicTreeHouse.com. Eligible educators can join First Book's Network to bring new books and resources to the classroom.

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Let's read and grow together with 12 months of recommended books, authors, and teaching resources that promote diversity and inclusion.

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Find a selection of texts that embrace empathy

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Teresa Cremin is a Professor of Education (Literacy) and Co-Director of the Literacy and Social Justice Centre at The Open University (OU). An ex-teacher and teacher educator, Teresa currently undertakes research and consultancy in the UK and abroad on volitional reading and writing.

Her research has spawned a reading for pleasure website https://ourfp.org/ and wider movement which supports over 100 OU/ UKLA Teacher Reading Groups annually, has 32 HEI partners and currently works with over 70 whole schools in yearlong CPD to develop the habit of reading in childhood. Teresa is a Reading Expert on the DfE English Hub Council, and co-director of the OU Centre for Literacy and Social Justice.

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Read for Empathy Collections | Empathy Lab

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Teresa Cremin is a Professor of Education (Literacy) and Co-Director of the Literacy and Social Justice Centre at The Open University (OU). An ex-teacher and teacher educator, Teresa currently undertakes research and consultancy in the UK and abroad on volitional reading and writing.

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A good opportunity to explore Ancient Greece, Famous Athletes and the human body

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Explore fiction and non-fiction around preserving the environment

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Earth Day 2024 activities for schools

The National Literacy Trust, in partnership with REY Paper, has created a series of resources with an environmental focus to support learning this Earth Day.

Resources are suitable for teachers to use with pupils aged 4 to 14 (KS1, KS2 and KS3/P2-S3). Learning activities explore plastic pollution and improving planetary health, whilst developing key literacy skills through a sequence of exercises concluding with pupils creating their own environmental message that is important to them.

Download these free resources to help pupils to learn about plastic pollution and the importance of protecting the environment whilst exploring how they can take action.

What is Earth Day and when is it celebrated?

Earth Day is an annual celebration that honours the achievements of the largest environmental movement and raises awareness of the need to protect Earth's natural resources for future generations. This year, Earth Day is taking place on Monday 22 April and follows the theme Planet vs Plastics.

We recommend marking the moment in the school week (Monday 22 April to Friday 26 April) celebrating Earth Day on the Monday and continuing throughout the week enabling pupils to share their learning with their communities, family and friends.

Earth Day classroom resources for pupils aged 4 to 14 (KS1, KS2, KS3)

Explore and celebrate Earth Day through our classroom sessions. Pupils will have the opportunity to explore the issue of plastic pollution through reading, discussion and creative activities, culminating in crafting their own climate message.

We have provided two 45 minute cross-curricular and literacy sessions for primary (KS1 and KS2) and a one-hour session for lower secondary (KS3) alongside a booklist inspired by the official Earth Day theme.

You will find all you need in the downloads.

Teacher guide for pupils aged 5 to 7 (KS1/P2-P3)

Teacher guide for pupils aged 7 to 11 (KS2/P4-P7)

Teacher guide for pupils aged 11 to 14 (KS3/S1-S3)

A booklist suitable for pupils aged 5 to 14 (KS1-KS3/P2 -S3)

All activities are closely linked to the English curricula across the UK.

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Earth Day 2024 - Activities & Resources for Schools | National Literacy Trust | National Literacy Trust

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Celebrate Earth Day 2024 in school with literacy resources and activities for children in Early Years, KS1, KS2 and KS3, including Earth Day poetry lesson plans

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Read for laughs or for the serious subjects this charity tackles

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Comedy improvisation is an excellent way to improve children's speaking and listening skills, build their confidence, develop their creativity and proactivity, and get them working together as a team.

It also serves as a great hook to engage harder to reach children and as a safe space to encourage quieter children to come out of their shell.

These comedy improvisations will be ideal to link with Comic Relief's Red Nose Day but can also be used throughout the year to get pupils aged 7 to 11 working together to make up comedy scenes on the spot, whilst they develop their speaking and listening skills.

This resource includes

An introduction to improvisation

Improv games to play in the classroom

Ideas for performance and to inspire writing

Further resources to explore

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Comedy improvisation in the classroom | National Literacy Trust

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Comedy improvisation is an excellent way to improve children's speaking and listening skills, build their confidence, develop their creativity, and get them working together as a team.