The social side of books
Reading doesn't have to be a solitary activity
We tend to think of reading as something we do alone, absorbed, shutting out the world. And it’s true that one of the most satisfying aspects of a great book is its ability to take you somewhere else.
But books can also be social – and one of the best ways to keep kids engaged with reading is to create ways and places for them to share their reading experiences.
After all, if there’s one thing better than reading a great book, it’s talking about that great book and sharing the experience with another reader. Particularly face to face, in the same room, no screens involved – and with great snacks involved!
[More about why creating your own book club is a great way to get kids reading.]
Book clubs for kids and teens can be created in schools, in bookshops, at home – anywhere you can pull together a pool of willing readers. But where do you begin?
In her new ebook ‘Build A Book Club’, distilled from her previous e-course of the same name, Megan Daley takes you step by step through the process of creating a book club for the young readers in your life.
“I’ve created the ebook because I’ve realised that it’s the simplest, most efficient way to impart the information,” Megan says. “I don’t have time to watch videos – I just want to know what I need to know as quickly as possible – so I wanted to offer that to others as well. And that’s what the ebook does.”
The book is in six parts and covers everything from:
•The Basics of Book Clubbing,
•to deciding the kind of book club you want to build (you can base it on ages, genres, text types – anything you like),
•to choosing the books (with fantastic curated lists to get you started) – and more!
Drawn from Megan’s award-winning teacher-librarian experience and her years of running book clubs across different age groups, the book is the hands-on guide you need to give you the confidence to create your own book club at home or in school.
A book club you can tailor specifically to the requirements of your young readers – to get them reading, sharing stories and making friends.
Sound good? Hit the button to find out more!
And speaking of social reading, requests for Family Read-Aloud Novels have popped up frequently in the community of late, so we’ve curated the recommendations for you!
Hit the red button to be taken to 60+ YKNR Favourite Family Read-Aloud Novels!
UPDATES FROM TEAM YKNR
One of us is skating on (not) thin ice this month…
HELLO FROM MEGAN DALEY
Megan is an award-winning teacher-librarian working in Brisbane, the author of Raising Readers: How to nurture a child’s love of books, and co-host of the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast. Her debut picture book THE BEEHIVE is out now! More about Megan here.
If you listen to the podcast, you'll know that it's a super busy time at work and at home for me right now and while I can see the end is in sight, I might be crawling to the finish line! But onwards we tramp...
In other news, the Warrigal Greens in my garden have gone berserk and I've thus far made Warrigal Greens and Macadamia Pesto and a Saag Paneer – if you have any ideas for how to use up more of this Australian version of spinach, do let me know.
Predictably, the kids are not enamoured with the Warrigal Greens but, fortunately, they have liked every.single.meal we have thus far cooked from the new book by Nagi Maehashi, 'Tonight’. The Satay Chicken and the Supreme Soy Hokkien Noodles have been winners and the Brownie Cookies lasted all of 20 minutes - entire batch gone.
If you've been pondering buying 'Tonight', I can 100% recommend it as a super easy, no-fuss recipe book for small and large families alike.
MEGAN’S BOOKMARK REVIEWS
Each month, I share full reviews of two outstanding books that have crossed my desk. Bookmark these for your young readers.
‘The Hunger Games’ by Suzanne Collins. Illustrated by Nico Delort
Look, I know you all know 'The Hunger Games' but did you know there’s an illustrated edition? It would make a perfect gift for an existing fan or a potential new fan this Christmas. This new hardback edition has magnificent endpapers, and is illustrated by Nico Delort, a Canadian and French illustrator currently living in Paris, France, and working across a variety of genres.
I don't tend to hold onto books that have been read by the kids, but I do buy special editions of loved family series like Harry Potter (we have the illustrated editions), Percy Jackson, No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and now, The Hunger Games.
A recap on the blurb for you: Even at the age of sixteen, Katniss Everdeen knows it takes hard work, keen observation, and inner fortitude to survive in the world. Her home, District 12, is under the merciless rule of the Capitol, continually forced to pay after losing a long-ago civil war in the nation of Panem. One of the ways the Capitol keeps control is its annual Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death featuring two young tributes from each of Panem's twelve districts. This gruesome battle is meant to send home a chilling message: Rebellion will always be punished.
‘Kittens do not Care for Baths’ by Ali Rutstein. Illustrated by Niña Nill
I absolutely adored the first book from this creative partnership, 'Ladybirds do not go to Daycare' and was overjoyed when I recently discovered this to be part of a series, Preschool Problems. It's set to be a brilliant series about all the big problems faced by our littlest people if the first two titles are anything to go by!
Dad says it's time for a bath, but Maya is certain that kittens do not need baths. In fact, this curious kitten would much rather hunt for prey and climb trees all night than wash herself and get ready for bed. Can this feisty kitten be coaxed into starting her night-time routine?
I loved a feisty young child story and in ‘Kittens do not Care for Baths’, Ali and Nina absolutely capture the look and feel of a small yet mighty child with warmth and gentle humour. I can think of many young Ladybirds and Kittens that I could gift these books too and I look forward to the next titles in the series.
HELLO FROM ALLISON RUSHBY
The award-winning, bestselling author of many, many books for children and adults, Allison Rushby’s novels are firm favourites in the Your Kid’s Next Read community. Her latest illustrated junior fiction series, The Wish Sisters, is fast gaining fans. More about Allison R here.
What’s going on here? Well, I’ll have you know I’ve been very busy this week being a competitive figure skater (I will go to any lengths to not write the middle of the book I am currently writing).
I think I may have confused a few people lately who had no idea I could ice skate, but back in the day (cough, cough, around thirty-five years ago), I was a competitive figure skater. An old friend has recently dragged me back into that world to join an adult synchronised team and I have suddenly found myself forking out thousands of dollars on skates and costumes and coaching and ice time and competition fees and all sorts… but it’s all been worth it for the many, many laughs (we will not discuss my teammate with the broken leg or my currently sore wrist that I type these words with).
This week we placed third at States and that means in November we will compete at Nationals in Melbourne! Hmmm… I sense a list coming – ice skating must reads. This was one of my Young Adult faves back in (again, cough, cough) 1988…
THREAD OF THE MONTH
I’m a bit of a Christmas tragic and just looooove a Christmas book (I might have written a couple myself), so I was thrilled when I saw this thread pop up.
I adore a wintry Christmas read, so jotted down some “must reads” eagerly. It helps that I’ve been busily planning an absolutely amazing Twelve Days of Bookmas giveaway for you all, so I’m definitely in the mood to Christmas read now!
HELLO FROM ALLISON TAIT
Writing as A. L. Tait, Allison is the internationally published, bestselling author of three middle-grade series: The Mapmaker Chronicles, The Ateban Cipher and the Maven & Reeve Mysteries. She is an in-demand speaker, a writing teacher for kids and adults, and co-host of the YKNR podcast. Her latest novel THE FIRST SUMMER OF CALLIE McGEE is out now. More about Allison here.
Unfortunately, I don’t have anything as exciting as ice skating or Warrigal Greens to report. Instead, I’ve been editing one novel and finishing writing another.
The great news is that I’ve managed to complete both tasks, so the manuscripts now progress to the next stage. With any luck, I’ll have at least one cover to share soon.
In the meantime, I’m busy putting together a really exciting summer series for the podcast – stay tuned!
PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS
It’s been a busy month on the podcast, with a YKNR favourite in the author hotseat, as well as two incredibly popular topics explored in depth.
Episode 180: Family Read-Aloud Novels
(Megan and Allison discuss great family readalouds, and share their faves!)
Episode 179: 10 minutes with R. A. Spratt
(The popular author discusses her latest novel ‘Nanny Piggins and The Origin Story’)
(Inspired by recent gallery visits, Allison and Megan explore books about art for kids)
NOVEMBER BOOKMAIL WINNER
Each month, we give away a prize pack consisting of some of the brilliant bookmail sent to us for the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast. One winner* is chosen from our full subscriber list by random draw and announced here!
There are SIX books in the NOVEMBER prize pack.
The NOVEMBER bookmail giveaway winner is … Rebecca Hopson.
Congrats! We’ll be in touch by email.
Want a chance to win next month? All you have to do is subscribe.
What’s your bookclub reading this month?
Allison T, Allison R and Megan
*Australian mailing addresses only. Prize consists of one copy of each book pictured, sent as a pack to the winner by Australia Post. Winner will be contacted by email and prize must be claimed within 14 days or a redraw will take place. You must be subscribed to the YKNR newsletter by midnight (AEDST) the night before publication each month to be eligible to win. No correspondence will be entered into.