The Year of Reading’s theme for January is Screen Reads, which focuses on books that become films and vice versa.

Leading the initiative is Film Education, a charity funded by the film industry to promote the use of films in the national curriculum (and a supporter of The TES crossword). It is organising a series of free screenings between January 25 and February 25 at 50 cinemas around the country.

The first of the films, all of which are linked to books, will be Shakespeare in Love (January 25) and others will include Twelfth Night, Titanic Town (a preview), Madeline and Regeneration. Lectures and workshops are also been organised in many cities. Further information including a list of the screenings will be sent to schools on Film Education’s mailing list or can be obtained by phoning 0171 976 2291.

The National Museum of Photography and Television in Bradford (01274 725347) is working with Bradford Library Services to organise training days for teachers on aspects of print and visual literacy. There will also be special free screenings for children on Friday January 29 of Matilda and Of Mice and Men.

Nottinghamshire Country Council will be running a See a Good Read display at a number of venues, including libraries throughout the county.

STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS

A series of practical workshops for people who want to develop their storytelling skills are being run by professional storyteller and children’s book author Bob Hartman in February. Employed by the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum in Pennsylvania, USA, as a storyteller in schools, Hartman is an annual and very popular visitor to the UK.

This year his tour will take him to shops and schools in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Oxford, Leicester and Huddersfield. Additional events can be organised. Contact: Becca Wyatt on 0171 603 1776 or www.lion-publishing.co.uk

BLOOMSBURY CATALOGUE

The weirdly-named Bloomsbury Magalog is an attractive and useful part magazine, part catalogue of the publisher’s books which will appeal to children and young adults.

The emphasis both in the listings and accompanying articles by is on the sheer pleasure of books. Copies of the catalogue are being offered free to schools, libraries and bookshops. Tel: 0171 695 2111. Fax: 0171 434 0151. e-mail: roz-walker@bloomsbury.com READING THE FUTURE:HOMERTON’S FIFTH CHILDREN’S LITERATURE CONFERENCE

Booking forms for this conference, to be held from September 3 to 5 in association with theCambridgeshire National Year of Reading Project, are now available along with further details. Guest speakers will include authors Philip Pullman and Jacqueline Wilson, and reading specialists Mary Jane Drummond and David Rudd. Contact: Judith Hammond on 01223 507144 or Morag Styles on 01223 507281.

RAVE REVIEWS

The TES, the National Association of Head Teachers and McDonald’s are collaborating on a book reviewing competition for under-19s. Details have just been sent to schools and are also available from the NAHT, I Heath Square, Boltro Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1BL. Book token prizes of up to pound;200; closing date May 7.

JANUARY 25 RSA LECTURE

Images of childhood in picture books - which tend to be either angelic or grotesque - is one theme to be explored in the lecture, “The changing child and the evolving picture book” by Dr Kimberley Reynolds and Nicholas Tucker. It will be held at the RSA, 8 St John Adams Street, London WC2 at 6pm. Free tickets can be booked on 0171 930 9286.

ORAL ARCHIVE

An oral archive containing the reminiscences of the late Edward Blishen and Kaye Webb, and others involved in children’s publishing since 1950, has been set up by The National Centre for Research in Children’s Literature at Roehampton Institute London. Transcripts are available. The Learning Resources Centre, Roehampton Institute, London SW15 5PU. Tel: 0181 392 3346.