There is still time to get involved with Book Week Scotland, the first national celebration of books and reading.
There are more than 400 events taking place across the country from 26 November to 2 December, including the selection of highlights below.
An “Authors Live Poetry Slam” on Thursday 29 November, 11am (S1-S6) will put a new spin on the traditional notion of poetry, with three well-known British poets “waging verbal battle against each other” before a live online audience of tens of thousands of children. They are Elspeth Murray, Lemn Sissay and Paul Lyalls, the star of CBBC’s Big Slam Poetry House, who also works with Arsenal Football Club (bit.lyR6FDKq).
The idea behind “The Reading Hour” on Friday 30 November, 11am, is to get as many people in the country as possible reading at the same time. There is a free learning resource full of ideas to help teachers make the most of the hour. Many activities are applicable to more than one stage of the curriculum (bit.lyZllRBA).
For the first time, every P1 pupil in Scotland will be given a Bookbug Primary 1 Family Pack to help create a lasting link between school and home, and emphasise the importance of both in supporting a child’s reading.
The 60,000 packs will include three picture books by leading authors in Scotland shortlisted for the early readers category of the Scottish Children’s Book Awards: Jack and the Flumflum Tree by Julia Donaldson and David Roberts, The Day Louis Got Eaten by John Fardell, and Solomon Crocodile by Catherine Rayner.
Finally, volunteers from The League of Extraordinary Booklovers will help answer book-related questions from pupils and make reading recommendations throughout the week. They are aged from 5-75 and come from all over the country.
www.bookweekscotland.com.
