• Time to get our thinking caps on

    Posted Wednesday January 20th 2010 by Natasha Worswick

    So, as the snow and ice melt and we all get back into the swing of things, back to school, back to work, back to normality, the Booktime team are starting to scratch their heads and get their thinking caps on.


    We're still loving to hear your stories about Mr Big and how it has been received in schools and libraries - but it's time to start planning for Booktime 2010/11. We need to get choosing books, because that's where it all starts. We need to start coming up with activities. We need to start working out how we'll get everything done and sent out to you.


    It's a lot of work, but it's also a really exciting time. As usual we'll be working with our friends at Pearson and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). But we love to hear from you too. So what would be on your wish list? If you had your way, what might be the Booktime book for 2010? What kinds of activities would you like us to design for you and your little readers?

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  • Happy new reading!

    Posted Wednesday January 20th 2010 by Natasha Worswick

    Wow, I can't believe we're already halfway through the first month of 2010! I hope you all had a good Christmas and a very happy new year.


    We had a great time, and all the stimulation seems to have done our son Milo's motivation to read no harm whatsoever. To start with, there was so much for him to look at, with all the tinsel, baubles, cards and presents around the place. He loved pointing at all these glittery things and trying to reach for them. We made a point of reading lots of the greetings cards addressed to him, which he seemed to love, almost as if they were a tiny picture book story in themselves. Which, I suppose, they are.


    One of the other things we did over the festive period was take Milo to the Tate Modern gallery. In fact we saw in 2010 there, mooching around the pop art exhibition, which was just the most fun we've had together as a family in a long time. I always find that I look at a piece of art and then have to read the little sign next to it to get a sense of what…

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  • Storyteller Julia Damassa offers her top tips for family reading

    Posted Wednesday December 23rd 2009 by Julia Damassa

    Storyteller Julia Damassa was one of the stars of the recent Booktime events (you can a film of the London event here). In this blog post, Julia tells us her favourite tips for family reading.

    5. Get ready for reading TOGETHER!
     
    Set the setting and have some fun getting the space ready. Indoors, make a cosy corner by putting some rugs, cusions or beanbags in a circle. A piece of fabric draped over a chair magically transforms it into something special, magical. Think about the light in your room and where best the book can be read. The space, just like in “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” should be, not too hot, not too cold, not too big, not too small, but just right. Somewhere peaceful, calm and quiet is best. Try not to be interrupted by the telephone and turn the telly off! Sit close together but with enough space to stretch! Reading outdoors is great too, and smells wonderful!
     
    4. Make enough time for reading TOGETHER!
     
    Reading together is a special and precious way to spend quality family time, so it’s worth spending some time thinking about how we prepare for it and then…

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  • Meet the team - part 2

    Posted Saturday November 21st 2009 by Natasha Worswick

    The second post in our little series introducing you to the good people behind Booktime. First up was Andy, this time it is Emma's turn.


    Who are you and what is your role within Booktime?

    My name's Emma, and I'm currently working as the Booktime Programme Coordinator. I've been with Booktime for almost 5 months, previously as the Programme Officer.

    Can you explain what your role means and what you do day-to-day for Booktime?

    One of my main tasks coming up is to work with our lovely suppliers and partners on the design and production side of things. So although this year's book packs have arrived in schools this month, we're thinking already about materials and resources for next year. This year we made lots of resources available online - reading certificates and posters as well as activity sheets.

    It would be great to know what people think about them as we start planning next year's resources - please feel free to post a comment to let me know!

    What do you think of this year's chosen book?

    I think the Mr Big story book has worked brilliantly for this…

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  • Celebrities have their say about the books they love

    Posted Saturday November 21st 2009 by Natasha Worswick

    Earlier this year, as part of the campaign to promote the launch of Booktime and Booked Up, we spoke to lots of famous people. They told us about the books they loved as children, the stories they share with their own little ones and why they think reading matters.


    And I think it says a lot about how books can bring us together, no matter who we are. Who could have guessed, for example, that Ian Hislop from Have I Got News For You and Kirsty Gallacher would both have a love for the Wind in the Willows? Or that property expert Sarah Beeny and former Olympic rower Matthew Pinsent share a fondness for the Hairy Maclary series?


    It also shows how reading tastes can sometimes defy the expectations you have of people. Who could have guessed that a children's author would have preferred characters from the Beano to any of those from children's books?


    Take a look at what all of our celebrity readers had to say here.

     

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