Tag: Reading for pleasure

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primary school author visits Engaging reluctant readers free resources

How to Organize Primary School Author Visits in 4 steps

strict female teacher with book pointing at scribbled blackboard
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Primary school author visits are magical for children. They are an easy-to-plan, cost-effective way to inspire reading for pleasure, and they create a real reading buzz in school for days to come.

If you are a teacher looking to book an exciting, hassle-free day for your pupils, here is your ultimate primary school author visit checklist.

Phase 1: Primary School Author Visits – Planning and Booking

1. Find a Local Author

Booking locally saves your budget from heavy travel and accommodation expenses.

  • Where to look: Check your local independent bookshop. (You can find a handy list of UK indie bookshops here).
  • Location tip: I live in Chorley and love visiting schools across the North West, frequently travelling to Bolton, Preston, Blackburn, and Wigan.
Jen Carney Primary School author visits

2. Audit Their School Visits Page

Ensure the author’s books and style match your target age group.

“Thank you for visiting – it really was one of our most interactive and favourite visits yet.“

Mrs Bowker – head teacher, Lytham Hall Park Primary School
  • Check the target age: For example, my books and interactive, high-energy visits are tailor-made for KS2.
  • Read testimonials: Look for proven social proof before you book.
  • Reach out early: Use their website contact form. State your location, target dates, and objectives. Remember, authors visit schools all year round, not just on World Book Day!
Jen Carney primary school author visit in Bolton

3. Collaborate on the Details

Once the author replies, iron out the logistics via email.

  • Response times: Fast communication is key (I aim to reply within 48 hours).
  • Confirm the budget: Know the exact costs upfront. My sessions cost £120 for an hour and can accommodate the entire of KS2 at once.
  • Format: Clarify if they prefer whole-key-stage assemblies or individual classroom workshops to fit your budget.
  • Check the school calendar: Choose a date your target classes aren’t out of school for swimming lessons or school trips.
Jen Carney author visit in primary schools

Phase 2: Primary School Author Visits – Pre-Visit Preparation

1. Streamline Book Sales

Most authors want to sell books, and children love getting signed copies. To eliminate cash-handling stress for school staff, ask if the author works with a local bookstore.

  • The easy way: I collaborate with my local bookshop. They provide a direct order-and-pay link for parents. I then bring the pre-ordered books with me on the day to sign.
Jen Carney book signing event in Manchester

2. Tech and Logistics

  • Request slides early: Ask for PowerPoint presentations a few days in advance to load onto your school network.
  • Prep the children: Have classes brainstorm great questions for the Q&A session.
  • Parking: Give the author clear parking instructions or reserve them a spot.
Jen Carney author visit in Bolton

Phase 3: Primary School Author Visits – On the Day of the Visit

  • The Arrival: Have a staff member ready to greet the author, guide them to the hall, and help test the PowerPoint and clicker.
  • Space Setup: Most authors need minimal space. I just require a small table (or a gym vault!) to display books.
  • Gather Materials: If the session involves activities, remind teachers to bring supplies. For my illustration activities, pupils need something to draw on and with.
  • Protect the Time: Aim to have children seated by the start time. Eliminating “settling down” delays ensures you get a full hour of exciting content.
  • Teacher Engagement: Encourage class teachers to actively join in rather than mark work. Seeing teachers engaged sends a powerful message to pupils that books matter.
  • Capture the Magic: Take photos for school social media and the author’s website. Backs of heads work perfectly for safeguarding, but a few faces holding up the author’s book are fantastic if permissions allow.
Jen Carney interactive illustration school visit

Phase 4: Primary School Author Visits – After the Visit

  • Follow up: Send the event photos to the author and post about the day on your school social media channels, tagging the author.
  • Keep the buzz alive: Place the author’s books in class book corners immediately. You might need to set up a waiting list!
  • Utilise resources: Follow up on any free resource links or activity sheets the author sends over.
  • Support the author: If the pupils loved it, write a quick testimonial and recommend them to your local school cluster. School visits are a primary income source for creators, and word-of-mouth is invaluable.
  • Final step: Promptly pay the invoice!
Jen Carney author visit in Bolton

Plan Your Next Visit with Ease
Get a printable, one-page version of this checklist to share with your literacy lead or school office.

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IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MY primary school author visits, click here!


Categories
Reading for pleasure Engaging reluctant readers

All Reading Counts: Encouraging Reading For Pleasure

An A-Z of reading poster
A .pdf of this poster is available to download for free from the resources page of my website

Encouraging reading for pleasure during the National Year of Reading and beyond

National Year of Reading
National Year of Reading Go All in Logo

All reading counts

In this National Year of Reading, our feeds are full of passionate posts about books. And as a children’s author, it will come as no surprise that I’m wholeheartedly in favour of children reading for pleasure.

Reading for pleasure helps children relax. It expands vocabulary. It strengthens empathy. It deepens understanding of the world. Long term, it supports mental wellbeing and academic achievement.

Encouraging reading for pleasure

As a mum and a former Key Stage Two teacher, I know how hard it can be to nurture reading for pleasure as a sustained habit. I know how tempting it is to want a child to curl up and devour a whole, mind expanding novel. And I know how quickly that well intentioned hope can turn into pressure.

Most children do not fall in love with reading under pressure.

So, as we approach World Book Day, if you’re a parent or carer worrying that your child is not reading enough, take a breath and remember this:

All reading is reading. And all reading counts.

An A-Z of reading poster
A .pdf of this poster is available to download for free from the resources page of my website

Books are wonderful. They offer immersion, depth, imagination, connection. But they are not the only gateway to reading fluency, comprehension and enjoyment.

The world is stitched together with words. Life requires us to read constantly and in many different forms.

Printed books.
E books.
Comics and graphic novels.
Game instructions.
Subtitles.
Jokes.
Billboards.
Menus.
Shampoo bottles.

It all counts.

All reading counts

Children become readers by reading. The habit builds through volume, variety and choice. What matters most is that they are engaging with words, making meaning, and discovering that reading is useful, empowering and sometimes even joyful.

Encouraging reading for pleasure is key.

Let them start where they are.

The rest will follow.

Resource

A free PDF poster of the “Alphabet of Reading” featured in this post is available to download from the resources page of my website. Please feel free to print and display it at home, in your classroom, or in your library.

CliCK TO DOWNLOAD A FREE POSTER NOW!

Encouraging reading for pleasure is one of my biggest passions. If you would like to book me for an author visit, please click on of the buttons below.

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Encouraging reading for pleasure. All reading counts.

Categories
Engaging reluctant readers audio books free resources The Accidental Diary of B.U.G.

Interactive books for children 7+

A scale of liklihood of an event happening

When I was writing The Accidental Diary of B.U.G., I had my own son in mind. Overwhelmed by books that were just pages and pages of just text, he’d quickly lose interest. He liked books with illustrations, but even those weren’t always enough to keep his interest.

That’s why The Accidental Diary of B.U.G. series is packed with things to do.

Interactive books for children 7+ are fabulous

The distractions are within the book. They’re all relevant to what’s going on in the story, and they all involve reading. Sneaky, hey! Yes, but also effective!

Here are just a few examples:

Fun decision-makers

Children have said they love working their way through these. Some even make their own up after seeing one in a chapter, so they go on to practise writing and logical thinking too. 😊

Interactive books

Biscuit Laws!

Biscuits are one of the series’ less-serious themes (although, as a biscuit-lover myself, I could argue that this is a VERY serious series-spanning topic!).

This picture shows the first five laws Billie and her TOBLA (The Official Biscuit Law Association) pals invent, but more are added as the series continues. Not only do children love reading these, they like debating their merits, trying them out and writing their own.

Games to try

The Accidental Diary of B.U.G. describes a lot of games that Billie plays in class and with her friends. As well as reading the rules, children can test them out which usually involves giving clear instructions to their friends.

Drawing activities

There are lots of drawing activities peppered through the series. Like the example below, many involve a bit of reading!

Bonus Blog content!

I love games. I’m a fan of playing games during long car journeys.

Five fun games to play in a car that don’t require any equipment

Try them on your next journey and see how quickly time passes! (Or, if games aren’t your thing, why not listen to a fun audiobook? Here’s a link to mine! my audiobooks)

Fun games to play on a car journey:

1. FORTUNATELY, UNFORTUNATELY

(as played by Billie and her class in The Accidental Diary of B.U.G.)

Rules:

  1. One person says a sentence to start a story.
  2. The next person continues the story, but they must start with the word unfortunately – essentially describing something that hinders things.
  3. The next player continues the story, but must start with the word fortunately and, in doing so, try to rectify the unfortunate event that has just happened.
  4. This continues until it gets too silly or boring, at which point you start again, or try the next game.

Example:

PLAYER 1: Derek jumped into his car and began to drive to a theme park.

PLAYER 2: Unfortunately, he’d only been driving for five minutes when he got a flat tyre…

PLAYER 3: Fortunately, he had a pump in his boot.

PLAYER 1: Unfortunately, the pump was broken.

PLAYER 2: Fortunately, Derek was a member of the AA, so called for help and the tyre was soon fixed.

(TIP: It’s good to resolve things along the way like this so that the story can continue)

PLAYER 3: Unfortunately, when Derek arrived at the theme park, he realised he’d left his wallet at home, so couldn’t buy a ticket.

PLAYER 1: Fortunately, his friend, Mary, who he was meeting, lent him £20.

PLAYER 2: Unfortunately, the tickets were £30.

PLAYER 3: Fortunately, Mary also had a £10-off voucher which she gave to Dereck and they entered the park.

PLAYER 1: Unfortunately, the roller-coaster Derek really wanted to go on was shut due to strong winds.

PLAYER 2: Fortunately, Mary was a weather weaver and ordered ten minutes of calm, sunny skies.

(TIP: It’s fine to include a fantasy!)

(TIP:  This game works best with three or more people. )

Here are some sentences to start your stories in case you’re struggling to think:

One sunny day, Laura went for a walk with her dog.

Jamil and Henry wanted to build a den.

Shannon really wanted an ice cream.

The pigs at Parr Farm were starving.

2. ANSWER THE QUESTION BEFORE…

(as played by Billie and her class in The Accidental Diary of B.U.G. Sister Act)

Rules:

  1. You play this two at a time.
  2. Player 1 asks player two a question.
  3. Player two doesn’t answer it verbally.
  4. Player 1 asks player 2 another question.
  5. Player 2 gives the answer to the first question.
  6. Player 1 asks another question.
  7. Player 2 answers the second question they were asked
  8. …and so on until you’re bored or achieve a hilarious result.

Example:

Player 1: What day is it?

Player 2: (no answer)

Player 1: What was the last thing you ate?

Player 2: Saturday!

Player 1: What is your sister called?

Player 2: Weetabix

Player 1: Who are you going to buy a present for today?

Player 2: Lucy…

Tip: a bit of fore-thought works well! 😉

3. THAT DRIVER IS…

Rules:

Take it in turns to look at the drivers of vehicles you pass and assign them an adjective using sequential letters of the alphabet.

Example:

PLAYER 1: That driver is amazing

PLAYER 2: That driver is boring

PLAYER 3: That driver is careful

PLAYER 4: That driver is dangerous

TIP: It’s okay to pass or ask for help!

SUGGESTION: Play alternative versions of this game like ‘That driver is called…’ or ‘I be he/she likes…’ in which you essentially play the alphabet game using topics of your choice.

Example:

PLAYER 1: That driver is called Adam

PLAYER 2: That driver is called Bilal

PLAYER 3: That driver is called Christine

Example:

PLAYER 1: I bet she likes apples

PLAYER 2: I bet he likes burgers

PLAYER 3: I bet they like Coronation Street

4. COUNTING CARS

A basic game that my children loved when they were young.

Rules:

  1. Each player picks a colour.
  2. You set a time for the game to end e.g. “when we reach junction 34”, or “at 10 past 11.”
  3. Everyone counts how many vehicles of their colour they spot during that time period.
  4. The winner gets a toffee.

TIP: I like to pick a rare colour like brown so I can have a little sleep while the children are counting their red, black and white cars!!

WARNING! This games tests children’s honesty.

5. SILLY REGISTRATION PLATE PHRASES

Rules:

  1. Consider the registration plate of a vehicle in front of you.
  2. Using the string of three letters, take it in turns to make up a silly phrase.

E.g. LS15 GDF as above

Player 1: Gary dances funkily

Player 2: Get dressed, Freddy!

Player 3: Great dozy farmers

Everyone votes for their favourite then you choose another car.

TIP: wait for a car without an X!

Are we nearly there yet?

Yes.

Boo, I was enjoying that journey…😉

Categories
Reading for pleasure Representation

Why is representing rainbow families in children’s books so important?

It’s no secret that I’m passionate representing rainbow families in children’s books. Indeed, a conversation with my son about the lack of positive representation (particularly in funny books) was my starting point for The Accidental Diary of B.U.G. series which I’ve previously blogged about here.

representing rainbow families in children's books

In my opinion, the answer to this question is:

A. to give children with two mums or two dads the choice to read a book that reflects their reality

and

B. to help children from more traditional family units to broaden their understanding of the world.

Why is representing rainbow families in children’s books important?

According to the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education’s ‘Reflecting Realities’ report (2020), representation is the key to successful reading for pleasure (another of my passions).

Representing rainbow families in children’s books – as a mirror

When a child sees themselves in a book, they feel validated, their self-confidence sky-rockets as they realise they’re not alone. Moreover, they’re more likely to read for pleasure and, if this habit is sustained, they’ll have better life chances, get better grades and report higher levels of wellbeing (OECD). 

So given that in 2019 (according the ONS) there were 212,000 same sex families in the UK (and three years on, this figure will surely be greater), representing rainbow families is key to reading for pleasure for a large number of children.

That’s the ‘mirror’ element of reading.

Representing rainbow families in children’s books – window

But reading about people who are different to you, is of equal importance. This is where ‘windows’ come in.

To be able to read about life from another person’s perspective, helps children to make sense of the world around them. When a reader from a family with a mum and a dad reads a book that contains a rainbow family, they learn to empathise and accept. Essential conversations are sparked which can often lead to a deeper understanding of ‘different’ and a celebration of the many similarities that unite humans.

So, in summary, from picture books for babes in arms, right through to longer reads for older children, books have a huge role to play in helping youngsters to understand our world. Whether that’s to boost an individual’s self-esteem, to help nurture empathy for different, or just to cement the fact that all family units, whatever they look like, are valid, worth writing about, normal.

Representing rainbow families in children’s books: some great recommendations:

Yes! BookTrust has some marvellous suggestions on these pages:

Middle Grade recommendations (age 7-11ish)

Younger readers

And here are a few recommendations from me:

My Daddies written by Gareth Peter, illustrated by Garry Parsons – a rhyming picture book adventure that includes a celebration of adoption and is perfect for introducing children to a family with two loving fathers.

Love Makes a Family written and illustrated by Sophie Beer – a board book depicting a wide range of families and what they may typically do on a daily basis.  I love this book’s main message: the one thing that makes every family is love.

The Pirate Mums written by Jodie Lancet Grant, illustrated by Lydia Corry  – an adventure picture book that helps children to embrace uniqueness – whether that’s because you have two mums, or that your parents are pirates!

Uncle Bobby’s Wedding written by Sarah Brannen, illustrated by Lucia Soto – an uplifting celebration of love in all its forms.  I vividly remember my nephew worrying I might not have time to play when I told him I was getting married!

The Accidental Diary of B.U.G. (3 books) written and illustrated by me! – think Wimpy Kids meets Tom Gates, but with a witty female protagonist who, incidentally, has two mums and was adopted as a baby.

The Last Firefox written by Lee Newbery, illustrated by Laura Catalan – a fantasy tale about finding your own courage with lovely representation of an adoptive family with same-sex parents (two dads).

Max Kowalski Didn’t Mean It by Susie Day – an exploration of masculinity told via an exciting adventure and including a family headed up by two fathers.

Proud of Me by Sarah Hagger-Holt – a lovely coming of age story with multiple LGBT themes, told from the point of view of twelve year old siblings Josh and Becky who have two mums.

Categories
Reading for pleasure Engaging reluctant readers

Funny books for reluctant readers

Billie Upton Green

I’ve received many marvellous messages from parents, guardians and teachers thanking me for igniting a love of reading in their reluctant readers. Such correspondence delights me, because it was my own son’s MAHOOSIVE reluctance to read that inspired the format and content of The Accidental Diary of B.U.G. series.

It’s true funny books for reluctant readers are brilliant! Here’s an example.

Five reasons The Accidental Diary of BUG books appeal to children usually disinclined to choose to read for pleasure:

  1. Early attention-grabbing content
  2. Short chapters easily finished in one sitting
  3. Dynamic content
  4. Laughter and jokes
  5. A relatable (and inspirational) protagonist

Allow me to expand…five reasons funny books for reluctant readers really work:

Early, attention-grabbing content

    The first few pages of a book are important for all readers. For children disinclined to read for pleasure, grabbing and maintaining their interest in the initial pages is, perhaps, vital.

    funny books for reluctant readers
    Will I read the rest of this book?

    Where children who love to read might enjoy an atmospheric, descriptive build up, reluctant readers (my own son being a prime example of this) are inclined to abandon perfectly wonderful books if nothing has piqued their interest by page four.

    Other people have commented on this aspect of my series:

    “My 7-year-old is a hard sell… books have to grab him immediately. We could hear him laughing while he was in bed reading this. It’s a triumph. Thank you”

    Parent

    “I have an 8-year-old reluctant reader… hadn’t read anything willingly for well over a year… from page 1 I could see her interest piqued… Tonight when I finished reading to her, she took the book from me and read a couple of pages to herself whilst giggling at the content…It’s early days but you may just have got my lovely girl’s reading mojo back on track.”

    Parent

    Short chapters easily finished in one sitting

    The feeling of accomplishment should not be under-estimated. I’ve never come across a child who wasn’t thrilled to have found a book they actually enjoyed reading. And a proudly announced, ‘I’ve finished A WHOLE CHAPTER!’ is a moment to be celebrated.

    My daughter usually has to be bribed to read. The short chapters kept her going. She read this whole book without complaint and immediately asked me to order the sequel. Thank you.”

    Parent

    “Hasen has finished your book and absolutely LOVED it! Thank you so much for writing a book which has ignited a love for reading in some of my reluctant readers.”

    KS2 Teacher

    Dynamic content

    For many so-called reluctant readers I have taught over the years, a full page of text was a real turn-off. Even if the story was gripping, even if I read the opening chapter to pique interest in a book I knew they could read and I thought they’d enjoy, some children (especially those who were also struggling readers) just felt too overwhelmed by dense paragraphs of words page after page, so gave up.

    The Accidental Diary of B.U.G. series is purposefully packed with doodles, interactive pages and activity ideas – often viewed by reluctant readers as a nice little reading break despite the reading skills these parts of the story involve (Shhh)!

    Lots of reading here!

    “The Accidental Diary of B.U.G. is immense fun and is the first book I have read in a single sitting in a long time!”

    Louie Stowell, author of many great books for children including The Dragon in the Library and Loki

    LAUGHTER AND JOKES

    Through funny speech bubbles, daft doodles, blatant jokes and the odd amusing hyperbole, The Accidental Diary of B.U.G. series is intended to make children laugh. In my experience, the LOL-factor can be a magnet for many reluctant readers as books are often competing with games consoles/phones. Certainly, my son always had a better entertainment option unless it was bedtime. As a parent to three would-be screen-addicts, these recent tweet made me VERY happy:

    “Awab is really enjoying his new book and was very proud of himself this morning. ‘Miss, I am already on page 111 and I didn’t even go on my PlayStation last night!’”

    “Daughter got a copy for her birthday and hasn’t put it down since! Even choosing book over Nintendo she is loving it so much 😊”

    “Jen Carney writes family life with warmth, nuance and a phenomenal eye for detail. Plus, she knows how to make kids laugh . . . and I mean totally unreserved roll-on-the-floor belly laugh. Billie Upton Green is a firm favourite in our house.

    Emma Mylrea, author of Curse of the Dearmad

    A relatable (and inspirational) protagonist

    B.U.G.

    Many reluctant readers, in my experience, enjoy reading about someone who’s a bit like them.

    Billie Upton Green is a regular, present-day ten-year-old – no angel, but likeable. She lives with her family, she goes to school, she watches TV, she plays with her friends, she has disagreements, she visits relatives, she bemoans rules and obligations, she marvels at the extraordinary, and she’d much rather be doodling than writing. She’s not afraid to laugh at herself and the things she struggles with (namely spellings) and she’s very matter of fact about life. Writing about the everyday with no filter, and in a witty but easy to understand manner, she’s a character that proves to reluctant or struggling readers that everyone is smart in their own way.

    “The character of Billie is wonderfully relatable, as well as likeable and funny. And Carney has done well to incorporate topical subjects, like diversity, same sex parent adoption and so on. This is life as youngsters know it today, and it’s great to see such issues treated with both humour and respect.”

    Amazon reviewer

    Class workshop feedback:

    “I liked how she made spelling mistakes and drew things she couldn’t spell.”

    Abominable

    “I’m going to invent my own biscuit laws later.”

    The Cream-Filled Commandment

    I dearly hope that one of my books might begin a reluctant readers’ ‘reading for pleasure’ journey because it was these kinds of books that turned my book-loathing son into someone who chose to read for pleasure. (Said son is now sixteen and reads a wide range of books, his current favourite genre being dystopian fantasy. So, to anyone currently struggling with a reluctant reader, my advice would be to pile them with books until they find their pleasure, then wait – they’ll branch out in their own time.)

    The Accidental Diary of B.U.G. series is recommended for readers aged 7+ (note that plus – it’s very important, my son was eleven when he was reading books like this).

    PS In addition to all of the reluctant reader hooks mentioned above, all the books in The Accidental Diary of B.U.G. series carry important underlying messages surrounding being proud of who you are, accepting differences and navigating friendships.

    PS. Check out this post for some other examples of funny books for reluctant readers.

    Categories
    Reading for pleasure

    Why libraries in primary schools are essential

    Photo by Caio on Pexels.com

    Libraries in primary schools

    As both a primary school teacher and a mum, I’ve witnessed first-hand the positive impact reading for pleasure has on children’s well-being and achievement.

    I wasn’t surprised, therefore, to discover evidence in this report, produced by the National Literacy Trust, that children who read for pleasure have better life chances, get better grades and report higher levels of wellbeing.

    What I was shocked by, however, was the fact that in many areas of the UK, one in four primary schools don’t have a school library, and that two in five lack the budget to buy new books.

    How do the children at these schools access books they can read for pleasure?

    And I mean properly read for the sheer pleasure of getting lost in an adventure, being transported to another world, connecting with a character so much that they can’t wait to discover what happens next. Where do these children find books they can see themselves in? How do they experience the real magic of reading that is lacking from many prescribed reading schemes?

    Having thought about this, I’ve come up with the following possibilities:

    Where do children without libraries in primary schools get their books?

    Their local public library

      BUT not all neighbourhoods have a library. And, even if they do, not all parents/guardians choose to take advantage of these wonderful free resources staffed by knowledgeable professionals on hand to help. (I take one or more of my children to our local library weekly, but we’re often the only patrons there.)

      Their parents/guardians buy them books

      BUT not many families can afford to do this regularly, especially those living in the areas cited as not having a school library.

      Their teachers buy new books with their own personal funds.

      As wonderful as regularly forking out for books for your pupils is (I’ve been there), this is not a solution for the masses.

      So I guess the question becomes, if a school doesn’t have a well-stocked library, curated by an educator who is afforded the time to keep abreast of new, diverse, inclusive, exciting books, where do children whose parents/guardians can’t/don’t take advantage of public libraries, and can’t afford to buy books, get the opportunity to experience the pleasure of reading?

      Nowhere.

      Why libraries in primary schools are essential

      In hope, the report published today will highlight to the government the long-term benefits of proper investment in libraries in primary schools so that ALL children have the opportunity to reap the benefits of reading for pleasure.

      Libraries in primary schools – an idea

      If you work in a school that needs a new library, you might like to check out or support World of Stories

      World of Stories is a programme developed in partnership with Puffin (my publisher), part of Penguin Random House. The programme equips primary schools with the books, materials, training and resources they need to champion reading for pleasure across the whole school, and reinvigorate their school libraries and reading spaces.

      libraries in primary schools

      Libraries in primary schools visits and openings

      If you would like to enquire about me opening a school library, please contact me on this page on my website.

      Check out my books on this page of my website