The Reading Agency

Laura’s Story

Alexander Turton — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 15:00:45 +0000

Reading Well for families recommends helpful reading to support parents and carers to look after their wellbeing in pregnancy and the early years.

Co-production was at the heart of creating Reading Well for families. We teamed up with the Maternal Mental Health Alliance to involve a group of parents, carers, and people with lived experience of pregnancy, parenthood and mental health challenges to shape the booklist that truly reflects the needs of families.

Their voices, insights and experiences guided every step of the process — from the themes we covered and the books we included to the design of the logo.

Laura is a campaign champion with the Maternal Mental Health Alliance has lived experience of birth trauma and PTSD. Read on to hear how she thinks schemes like this can help parents.

Co-Production Process & Impact

How important is it for schemes like this to be developed with direct input from people with lived experience?

I think that there are some things in life, and perinatal mental health challenges are one of those things where you can’t fully understand them unless you’ve lived through them. Which is not to say that other types of knowledge and expertise aren’t valuable. But nonetheless, you can’t quite grasp some aspects of it unless you lived through it yourself. And so, I think it’s really important that we have different perspectives and different types of expertise come together. I see it a little bit like a jigsaw puzzle where we’re all kind of, carrying different pieces, but you can’t actually see the whole picture unless you’ve got all of the pieces, all of these different perspectives coming together, which then actually reveals the full picture.

Do you consider yourself a reader?

I’m a big reader and always have been. It’s funny, people often talk about reading as a hobby, and that’s not really how I experience it. I read every day. The only way I can think to describe it is, as the life of the mind, where we kind of have these external lives, where we are, out and about, doing things, engaging with the world, talking to other people.

And then we have these internal lives which are more private. They’re about our thoughts, feelings and our experiences. And for me, reading is integral to that life of the mind. One of the reasons that I wanted to be involved in Reading Well is because it’s been enormously helpful for me in the past when I’ve been able to see my own experiences reflected in something that I’ve read. Especially when it’s articulated in a way that I hadn’t been able to find the words for, or that I hadn’t quite been able to conceptualize or even fully understand what I was experiencing. And that sort of helps it helps you to understand your own experiences and to understand yourself.

The Importance of Reading & Resources

How do you think that reading can support parents and carers during pregnancy and the early years?

I remember as a new mum myself, I was very earnest about wanting to give my son the best possible start in life and to make the best choices for him when he was to still too little to make any choices for himself.

And there’s an awful lot of information on the internet, but the quality of that information does vary.

Also, in the early days of parenthood, you are quite often trapped under a baby that is either sleeping or feeding. That can be quite a good time for reading, because actually, how many, how many other times in our lives do we take time to sit down and stay in one place for an hour? Probably not very often.

And some people would potentially feel some guilt in taking that time to sit down and do something for themselves, but, if you have a baby on top of you, it gives you the excuse to take the time then.

What do you hope the parents and carers take away from the to the list?

I hope they take away that they are not alone. Seeing your own experiences on the pages, there’s something very validating about that. I hope that people will feel kind of seen and represented by the range of books because we’ve certainly done our best to be as inclusive as possible.

“Seeing your own experiences on the pages, there’s something very validating about that.”

Looking Ahead

What would you say to a parent or carer who is struggling but hasn’t thought about turning to books for support?

I would stress that there’s enormous variety amongst books and literature and that perhaps what they’ve encountered in the past might not be reflective of the full range of what’s out there. You know, I think it’s quite common for, some of us to be put off books and reading when we’re at school. So I would just suggest that they keep an open mind because there is a huge range out there to suit most tastes.

Explore the Reading Well for families booklist here.

Reading Well for families co-production was supported by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance.

The post Laura’s Story appeared first on The Reading Agency.

Lancashire Libraries: Empowering Young People Through Poetry and Reading Well

Alexander Turton — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 08:00:00 +0000

As part of the Reading Well Community Champions pilot, Lancashire Libraries partnered with local poet Nathan Parker to deliver creative poetry workshops in high schools. Here, John Haigh from Lancashire Libraries shares his experience of running these powerful sessions.

As part of the Community Champions pilot, we met with young people aged 13–19 at the very beginning of the project to discuss which events and activities could effectively promote the Reading Well for teens collection and support their health and wellbeing. A recurring theme was the challenges they faced with school, exams, and mental health.

Working with local author Nathan Parker and high schools, we aimed to raise awareness of Reading Well for teens and the benefits of cultural activities on health and wellbeing.

To date, five schools have taken part in the creative poetry sessions, with two more lined up in the coming weeks.

How We Ran the School Wellbeing Sessions

The sessions followed a standard format but were adapted to meet the health and wellbeing needs of the young people. Each session lasted between two and three hours depending on the school, and each group attended two sessions: one in school and one in a local library where possible, subject to staffing and transport.

Schools had freedom to select pupils to attend, but most focused on those already working with the school wellbeing team due to challenges around neurodiversity, emotional regulation, and external factors. Participation was voluntary and all pupils were from year 9 (13 -14 years old).

What We Saw and Heard

One teacher told me:

“Of the 13 students who took part, 5 are neurodivergent or undergoing assessment and 7 receive regular targeted support in school for mental health or emotional difficulties. To have these kids engaging in any way with this sort of thing is massive in and of itself. The sessions far exceeded my expectations of what the students would be willing to do, which is a testament to the set up.”

At the start of each session, I introduced Reading Well for teens, the library service, volunteering opportunities, and the wider value of cultural activities. We showed them the Reading Well books and let them know the collection was being donated to the school library. The Reading Well book most students had already heard about was A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness.

Nathan then talked about his own background and the challenges he faced growing up. We began with games and then moved into what makes a poem – its theme, message, emotion, and technique. We’d read a couple of poems together, including Nathan’s 21st Century Prison about social media, which linked well with Reading Well themes.

We focused on similes and metaphors and encouraged the young people to write short poems using the emotions they had identified earlier. If they felt comfortable, they read them aloud. Finally, we worked together on a group poem around a theme chosen by the participants.

Nathan read his poem You Taught Me…, about his older brother, which led us into talking about grief and how to share powerful emotions. The group then wrote poems in the same style, about people who had taught them something. These pieces really resonated, expressing a mix of positive and painful feelings.

One pupil’s parent even messaged Nathan afterwards to say:

“Hello, you recently went into my son’s school to do a creative writing workshop and he had a recording done of him reading the poem he wrote. I was just wondering if this is going to be published anywhere as I would love to hear it. I also want to thank you for working with him – he absolutely loved the sessions and got so much out of it, and I even benefited with a Mother’s Day poem! I was honestly amazed with how emotional his poems are after he’s had a tough time this year. It was so good to see him have an outlet for that. Thank you again.”

At another school, the students had experienced the loss of a peer between the two sessions. They engaged amazingly well, producing some extremely emotive pieces. They commented that expressing their feelings through poetry was difficult but helped them feel better afterwards. It was wonderful to see them support each other and care for each other in those moments.

Each session was unique because of the themes the young people chose to focus on. These included anxiety, depression, social anxiety, fears about social media, appearance worries, identity, LGBTQIA+ topics, and grief.

Time and again, young people said the sessions helped them feel more confident expressing themselves and asking for help if they needed it. They told us they often felt unheard, and these sessions gave them a voice.

One teacher summed up the school wellbeing sessions beautifully:

“What a fantastic project this was. Nathan and John gave our pupils a voice – a voice that felt valued and listened to. Pupils who often struggle in class thrived at writing their own poems, and it was so lovely seeing their confidence grow. They discovered the positivity in poetry – the way it helps you communicate your feelings and make sense of challenges. The poems were so fabulous we put them together in a booklet in our school library.”

One young person’s poem from a grief-focused session has stayed with me:

“You taught me how to read and write
You taught me how to walk and talk
You taught me to be happy and sad
You taught me to smile even when I’m mad
You taught me to be strong even when times got tough
Like when you left and it got rough…

…

I miss you mum, we had so much fun
But when my time comes to an end I am done
We will reunite at last just like the past.”

Seeing these young people use poetry to find their voices and share their stories has been an incredible experience. I feel proud to have been part of it and to see how Reading Well for Teens, paired with cultural activities, can make such a meaningful difference.

Find out more about Reading Well here.

Comfort Reads and Comfort Foods: The Big Tasty Read Staff Picks

Alexander Turton — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 07:59:00 +0000

At The Reading Agency, we know that food and books both have the power to comfort, connect, and nourish us. So, as part of the Big Tasty Read, we asked some of our staff to share their favourite comfort reads and the foods they love most. From classic novels to childhood dishes, these pairings show how stories and flavours can bring warmth in every season.

Alex

Senior Marketing & Communications Manager

Favourite comfort read: Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

“A psychological thriller is probably not a typical ‘comfort’ read but I can be completely immersed in the shadowiness of the story and the description of the cliffs and crashing seas remind me of home.”

Favourite comfort food: marmite on toast

“I don’t have a story for this but marmite on toast is a cure for any ill!”

Amy

Programme Manager, Reading and Health

Favourite comfort read: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

“My favourite comfort read is probably Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. I’m not usually into coming-of-age stories, but there’s something about Anne’s imagination and optimism that just resonates with my inner child!”

Favourite comfort food: chocolate gâteau

“My favourite dessert growing up was always chocolate gâteau, and then when I moved away to go to university, every time I felt run down or homesick, I would always get myself a chocolate gâteau. Now as an adult, whenever I’m feeling unwell, I always end up buying myself a chocolate gâteau and will eat the full thing to myself which always seems to help me get better sooner, or at least that’s what I like to tell myself!”

Becky

Research and Evaluation Manager

Favourite comfort read: Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien

“I specifically listen to the audiobook narrated by Andy Serkis to help me fall asleep. I’m going to buy the illustrated version of the Lord of the Rings trilogy soon because the pictures in them are beautiful and very soothing to look at.”

Favourite comfort food: Earl Grey tea with krówki

“My friend’s mum made Earl Grey tea for me on a camping trip when I was in primary school – she put plenty of sugar in it, and I’ve loved the sweet perfumy taste ever since (Parma Violets are delicious and I will die on this hill). Krówki are a type of Polish fudge with a liquid centre; I tried them when visiting my son’s grandparents in Kalisz and I can’t get enough of them. Thank goodness they sell them in England!”

Emma

Programme Manager, Community and Schools Engagement

Favourite comfort read: Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

“Life After Life is a book I return to again and again, for despite its harrowing depictions of war and violence, it’s such a comforting idea that we could travel back and try to live life again. We might not literally be able to reset, like Ursula, but we can learn from the past, trust our instincts and ultimately make the world a better place.”

Favourite comfort food: tuna pasta bake

“Creamy tuna pasta bake, with peas and sweetcorn, topped with crushed crisps and cheddar cheese- the taste of my 80s/90s childhood!”

Hannah

Programme Officer, Reading and Health

Favourite comfort read: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Favourite comfort food: tinned fruit cocktail

“A bit of a retro one! My gran used to give this to me and my sister whenever we went to her house after school as a treat. We both liked the cherries best and she always made sure we got exactly the same amount each (there were never many in the tin, so she’d often have to cut them in half to avoid any arguments!)”

Find out more about the Big Tasty Read here

The post Comfort Reads and Comfort Foods: The Big Tasty Read Staff Picks appeared first on The Reading Agency.

Costanza Casati wins the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2025 for Babylonia

Campaigns — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 10:23:02 +0000

The Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation has announced that the winner of the 2025 £10,000 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize is Babylonia by Costanza Casati (Penguin Michael Joseph).

Set in 9th-century BC Assyria, Babylonia follows Semiramis, an orphan who rises from obscurity to claim the ancient throne, navigating love, war and betrayal in a world obsessed with power.

Hand-picked from the six-strong shortlist featuring British, Filipino, Italian and Jamaican authors, Babylonia is the second consecutive historical fiction title to take home the Prize, following 2024’s winner, Saltblood by Francesca de Tores.

Casati was revealed as the winner at a private reception hosted at Foyles, Charing Cross Road, London on Thursday 11th September.

Niso Smith, Founder, said:

“As a writer, Casati begins with character which is abundantly clear in Babylonia. Semiramis is the driving force of this novel – an ambitious, resilient young woman who will not let the world stand in her way.

Great adventure novels let us see the world through others’ vivid imagination, and Babylonia is a reminder that we have the power to make what we want of our lives. There’s passion, power, and truly transportive storytelling – inspired by history, Casati has taken all the ingredients for an adventure, and woven them into a mesmerising modern epic. My sincere congratulations to Costanza!”

Babylonia was selected by judges Nathan Gray, former high-risk test pilot and one of Britain’s most decorated military aviators; Keme Nzerem, journalist, filmmaker and co-founder of Opening Up The Outdoors; Francesca de Tores, author and winner of the 2024 Adventure Writing Prize; and Corinne Turner, literary IP consultant and former Managing Director of Ian Fleming Publications.

The decision-making process begins with a panel of librarians and library staff from across the UK, who are responsible for selecting the long and shortlists each year, bringing their own taste, and that of their communities, to influence the selection of titles and champion a list that offers, ‘An Adventure for Everyone’.

Of Babylonia, one panellist said:

“Ancient Assyria is a culture shock in many senses. The juxtaposition of the beauty and excesses of those in power and the brutality meted out to those without is breathtaking […] Semiramis’s tale feels wholly unique—bold, rarely told, and brought to life with ferocious intensity. I haven’t read anything quite like this. Casati takes a semi-mythical figure and gives her depth, rage, love, and vision—elevating the narrative beyond the usual rise- to-power arc.”

Over the summer, libraries accessed digital and physical posters and resources, and readers were able to listen to interviews with each of the shortlisted authors in featured episodes of the That Wilbur Smith Show podcast.

Twelve book clubs, from Glasgow to Cornwall, shadowed the judging, reviewing the shortlisted novels and discussing them with the authors in a private book club meeting. The judges took their views into consideration, along with the results of an open-to-all reader’s vote, equating to one seat on the judging panel. Find out what they thought of the books.

Brighton-based book club, Boozy & Bookish, told the Prize:

“We have particularly enjoyed feeling a part of something and it’s been exciting to think that our little group has even a smidgen of influence […] It’s also nice to have a book chosen FOR us rather than by us, especially when it’s a book none of us may have picked up otherwise and so many of us ended up thoroughly enjoying.”

Both a vital part of the UK literary infrastructure, book clubs and libraries are knowledgeable, passionate spaces which succeed in getting books into the hands of more readers. This year, the Prize supported over one hundred book clubs and libraries across the UK.

With Casati at the helm, we encourage readers to engage with all the 2025 books and experience the very different adventures they offer.

Judge, Keme Nzerem, said:

“This years’ authors do the concept of adventure proud. The beauty of reading books for me is in being transported deep into someone else’s world; to be weighed and moved by their mores; to taste their troubles; and raised by their joys.

The irrepressible centenarian ganja farmer in A House for Miss Pauline, the misunderstood and much maligned healer in the eponymously named Sycorax, the audacious survival and vim of Babylonian Queen Semiramis – what a delight it was to get to know the characters in this crop of wonderful novels. All of them embarking on ripsnorting adventures that had me hooked from beginning to end.”

More about this year’s Adventure Writing Prize

Did you see which books were on the brilliant shortlist? Discover them today.

Twelve of our book clubs from across the UK read and reviewed the shortlist, with the exciting opportunity to meet the authors to discuss the books. Meet the groups and find out what they thought.

Get Involved

If you work in a library or workplace and would like to promote the prize, you can download a free digital pack from our shop.

Share your thoughts with us on Facebook, X and Instagram using #AdventureWritingPrize.

Want to make sure you never miss the latest reading group news? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter.

The post Costanza Casati wins the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2025 for Babylonia appeared first on The Reading Agency.

Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2025 Shortlist – What Did Our Book Clubs Think?

Campaigns — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 16:05:19 +0000

The Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation invited twelve book clubs to shadow the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize shortlist. Read on to find out what they thought of their allocated title!

The shortlist

Babylonia by Costanza Casati

Sycorax by Nydia Hetherington

Redemption by Jack Jordan

A House for Miss Pauline by Diana McCaulay

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis

The winner for Best Published Novel award will be revealed on 11 September at a private ceremony in London, UK. Also being celebrated will be the New Voices award for aspiring writers and the Author of Tomorrow award for writers aged 21 years and under who have completed a short piece of adventure writing.

Suze’s Reading Group

Suze’s Reading Group is an online book club who meet up on the first Thursday of each month to discuss their book of the month, as well as chatting about their latest reads. They read A House for Miss Pauline by Diana McCaulay.

They noted that the book club all reacted in different ways. Members seemed to have different experiences depending on if they were reading the printed book or listening to audio.

Many members enjoyed the use of Jamaican patois and slang and how the ‘house was a really interesting metaphor throughout and provided the reader with a little supernatural eeriness.’

St Barbara’s Book Group

St Barbara’s Book Group are a mixed gender wide-ranging book group, varying greatly in age and experience, evolving from a church bible study group where we kept finding ourselves getting distracted and talking about books instead. They read A House for Miss Pauline by Diana McCaulay.

Every member engaged well with the book, and all really enjoyed it. But some reacted in different ways to, for example, the use of patois without a glossary, the need or otherwise for maps and had different views on these more detailed aspects of the book.

They have noted more details about their discussion in a blog post.

Gin Club with a Book Problem

Gin Club with a Book Problem are a group of gin-loving bookworms who believe the best stories are shared with friends—and maybe a splash of tonic. They read Babylonia by Costanza Casati.

Overall, the book club loved, and enjoyed reading, their allocated book. They found it easily accessible to read, process and reflect upon.

Members described the title as captivating from the beginning, with many noting they were impressed that the author has ‘clearly immersed herself in the historical research and mythical life of her main character; the time spent researching this story has paid off in the historical description and character portrayals that are so cleverly depicted in the narrative.’

Read with Yeovil

Read With Yeovil is a very mixed group who meet monthly for a 2 hour lunchtime session where they discuss two books, and talk about whatever else we’ve read that month. They read Babylonia by Costanza Casati.

All members had excellent engagement with the book and all really enjoyed it, and overall noted that ‘Costanza Casati has written a remarkable book full of myths, legends, facts, history all woven deftly together.’

Some noted that they were initially overwhelmed by the glossary at the beginning, however never needed to refer back due to how well written the book was. The novel also included extra notes and author’s notes about the Assyrian way of life, beliefs and explaining the facts from fiction which the group found helpful.

One member summed up the book as ‘beautifully written, with both visual and sensory descriptions, which complemented the fast pace of the narrative with its intrigue.’

The Three Horseshoes

The Three Horseshoes reading group was formed over 10 years ago with a mission to support their village pub by using it as their venue and their local library through the loan scheme for book clubs. They read Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis.

It was noted that the group had differing opinions. Two of the members did not appreciate the humour or the portrayal of the main character, and therefore struggled to connect positively with the book. However, the rest of our group were fascinated by the hoops that need to be jumped to get anywhere near improving the lives of ISIS brides.

One member noted that one of the ‘novel’s strengths is the way that it raises awareness of radicalisation, ideologies, ethics and corruption, amongst others, by amalgamating them within the text. It addresses politically sensitive issues, and encouraged reflection of personal values and beliefs—which I consider a positive eﬀect of reading a novel.’

Another said ‘the subject matter was handled with a light touch; a story that is complex and nuanced, which could cause offence to all parties if not treated with the utmost sensitivity’ but concluded it ‘was depicted with honesty, wry humour and empathy.’

One member simply put that ‘this book made me laugh; it made me cry; it made me angry; it made me sad. It shocked me, entertained me and educated me. That’s pretty much all you can ask of a novel, no?’

Boozy & Bookish

Boozy & Bookish are a lively book club that meets once a month in a small function room above a pub in central Brighton. They read Redemption by Jack Jordan.

Overall, it was noted that the book club all engaged well with, with plenty to say about it—not just at their
meeting, but also in their WhatsApp group chat whilst the book was being read. Members definitely didn’t all feel the same way about it, but this always makes for more interesting discussion!

The group loved the thick and immersive atmosphere—’hot, sandy, and suffocating in a way that perfectly matches the tension of the Nevada desert setting. It’s not just a chase across physical terrain but also an emotional one, where female rage and grief take centre stage.’

One member did describe the novel as ‘relentless. That’s not to say it’s not gripping—it absolutely is. But between the multiple murders, questionable decisions, and moments of suffocating grief, it sometimes feels like you’re being emotionally bludgeoned’. However, this was seen as fitting as it is paired with ‘a world that feels both claustrophobic and terrifyingly vast: mundane motels become bloodbaths, and repetitive roads set the scene for long-awaited confrontations.’

Methley Bookgroup

Methley Bookgroup are a large, friendly book club, based in Methley, near Leeds. The group was founded in 2012, and continues to attract new members on a regular basis. They read Redemption by Jack Jordan.

Overall, the book did divide opinion—some loved the book, some didn’t, but there were so many interesting aspects of the book to chat about, such as themes, characters, plot, pace, setting, symbolism and more, that everyone enjoyed the process, even if they hadn’t loved the actual book.

Members enjoyed that ‘each protagonist in their own chapters which enabled the reader to learn more about the motivations and backgrounds of each of them.’ This was paired with ‘scenes of the unfolding chase against the backdrop of Death Valley with wildfires,’ which ‘are brilliantly written and evocative and the tension builds continually, becoming a page turner to find out what happens next!’

However, some note there were ‘moments or events that were at times unbelievable’ but these were ‘obviously set up to continue the story, and I was OK with that. It added to the cat and mouse element, the fast pace and the drama.’

2 Bee or Not 2 Bee

2 Bee or Not 2 Bee are a lively bunch that meet once a month at The Endeavour, an award winning and welcoming pub in the heart of Chelmsford, Essex. They read Sycorax by Nydia Hetherington.

Overall, the group engaged really well with the book. It sparked discussion, and those that attended were eager to share their thoughts, especially about the themes that were explored. It held their interest and gave them plenty to talk about, from the background of the story to the authors’ own personal experience—this encouraged everyone to reflect more deeply.

One members ‘absolutely loved this book from start to finish. I thought that the writing was sharp and engaging, and every chapter had something that pulled me deeper into the story. The author’s style just clicked with me, and I found myself completely absorbed, like I was living inside the world they created, which is really strange as I haven’t read anything like this before. It’s one of those books where you keep sneaking in extra reading time because you can’t wait to see what happens next, it was very easy to read.’

Members thought the characters were a huge highlight. Not only Sycorax, but everyone felt so real and well-developed, with personalities that actually grew and changed as the story unfolded. The only improvement for some would be that the character of Yamma was mentioned more, due to their connection and genuine care for them.

Busy Lizzies

Busy Lizzies consists of 14 members that are very involved with local community improvement projects and family commitments, and therefore seldom have a full house for their monthly meetings in Bishopton Library. They read Sycorax by Nydia Hetherington.

Overall, Sycorax sparked lots of group discussion exploring their differing views about the storyline and the style of writing.  Those who loved the book loved everything about it: the magic and fantasy, the development of the main character, the references to Shakespeare’s “Tempest”, the affinity with the natural world, and following the adventure of the main character. Others noted some inconsistencies and found it a bit slow in places.

Members ‘admired the strength and resilience of the main character and the way she found joy and usefulness in the world around her.’ The group also discussed how relevant it was to our world and drew parallels to the treatment today of people who appear different e.g., people with disabilities and neurodiversity, as well as asylum seekers.

Filipino Mothers UK Book Club

Filipino Mothers UK Book Club is a vibrant online community of Filipina mums who find joy, connection, and strength through stories. They read Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao.

The book sparked loads of reactions—some were totally swept away, while others raised an eyebrow or two (in the best way) about certain parts of the book. ‘We didn’t all feel the same, which made the discussion so much fun and engaging. It was interesting to see how individual experiences shaped our interpretations.’ Overall, the book brought out a fantastic mix of opinions and made for a really stimulating session, with a majority of the group loving the book and the way it sparked intense and lengthy discussion. It opened a window into Italy’s historical situation during World War II, something that the group wasn’t aware of before.

One member noted they found the writing rich and prose beautiful, and ‘found the world-building for a fantasy book of this length amazing.’ Another described it as ‘such a literary gem for those enchanted by atmospheric fantasy with emotional resonance’.

To put simply, one member put ‘it’s less about high-stakes plot and more about the beauty found in introspection, regret, and the delicate magic of choice.’ Overall, it’s lyrical quality and evocative imagers will linger long after the final page.’

Coundon Library Book Club

Coundon Library Book Club have been running for 2 years and are a mixed group of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, who meet to make friends, get back into reading, and just share books with like-minded people! They read Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao.

The group loved reading the same book together for the first time, and enjoyed the discussions of fantasy, settings, characters and tropes they had together. Overall, the book garnered mixed reviews from members.

One member said ‘this has to be one of the most profound books I have ever read.’ With other members following this with enjoyment of ‘how the story explored choices, regrets, and second chances. It made me think about the decisions we make in life and how they shape who we are, but the story stayed hopeful and uplifting,’ as well as ‘the imagery and level of detail included in this book was absolutely incredible and I never felt I needed to work hard at picturing the storyline or characters. The author is clearly a mastermind of ideas and conveys them incredibly.’

Some members struggled with the book due to it not being their usual style, but all would ‘highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to read a fantasy tale with exceptionally beautiful descriptions of another time and place.’

Get involved

Are you interested in reading any of the shortlisted titles? Find out more about the shortlist here.

If you work in a library or workplace and would like to promote the prize, you can order free display packs from our shop.

What do you think of the 2025 shortlisted titles? Which have you read and what will be added to your TBR pile? Add your comments below, or click any title above to leave a review.

Share your thoughts with us on Facebook, X and Instagram using #AdventureWritingPrize. Don’t forget to follow and tag The Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation (@Wilbur_Niso_Fdn) and The Reading Agency (@readingagency)!

Want to make sure you never miss the latest book club news? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter.

The post Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2025 Shortlist – What Did Our Book Clubs Think? appeared first on The Reading Agency.

Join in with Book Club Day UK on 11 September

Reading Partners — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 08:53:14 +0000

Book Club Day UK: Stories you love, people to meet, a day for book clubs.

Join us in celebrating the power of shared reading on Book Club Day UK on 11 September 2025! The day is for all types of groups – adults, young people and children – so make sure you inspire everyone to join in.

What is Book Club Day UK?

Book Club Day UK is a moment to share the joy of being part of a book club and to encourage new clubs to form so that even more people will discover how book clubs build stronger, more connected communities. It’s your chance to promote your club, discover fresh resources from The Reading Agency, and welcome new readers into your circle.

How to join in

During the weeks leading up to Book Club Day UK and on the day, we would love for you to help us celebrate communal reading and book clubs to create a nation of readers. Ahead of the celebration we will be highlighting the importance of social cohesion and the positive effects of being in a book club (as demonstrated through our own research findings).

One focus of Book Club Day UK is to encourage those who may not already be part of a book club to join one in September to see if they’d like to join on a more regular basis or to support readers with starting their own club. Can your book club members each invite someone new to join your September meeting?

The aims of Book Club Day UK are to:

Provide libraries and book club leaders with the opportunity to promote your book clubs and to diversify their September meet up by inviting new readers to join (if you would like to do this)

Strengthen the partnership between libraries and book clubs by creating space to highlight the services available to clubs (reserving book club sets to borrow, lending via apps, space you have available for clubs to use, newsletters you run which they can subscribe to etc.)

Encourage readers to start their own book club if they can’t find one that is a ‘perfect’ fit

Demonstrate how our Book Club Hub and the resources on the platform can help tackle life’s big challenges

Recommend books you have in stock to existing library users and book club members

Promote how book clubs are a way of connecting people

Plus! Become a Book Club Hub Rep

The Book Club Hub team will be creating a group of Book Club Hub Reps of leaders of book clubs across the UK. The Book Club Hub Reps will have the chance to:

Join a WhatsApp Broadcast Group where we will be sharing opportunities from The Reading Agency and publishers for your book clubs

Join a Book Club Hub Reps meeting in January 2026 where we will be sharing information about our plans for the Book Club Hub and will also give you the opportunity for you to have your say and help shape the offer

Join a database of information about book clubs who connect with the website so that we can get in touch with you directly for exclusive offers from publishers (your contact information will never be shared with publishers for this, without your permission)

Ways you can celebrate Book Club Day UK

Use The Reading Agency’s social media assets in our Communications Toolkit to:

Share the benefits of being in a book club

Celebrate your book club/s and what makes them special

Highlight your book recommendations for clubs to try

Advertise book clubs to invite new members to join

Ask each of your book club members to bring a friend with to your September meeting

Host an event for local book clubs to meet each other and share recommendations

Support a local organisation or company to set up their own book clubs supported by the library to access books

Get involved

Download our free Communications Toolkit.

Share your thoughts with us on Facebook, X and Instagram using #BookClubDayUK.

Keep up with all the latest news by joining our Book Club Hub Bulletin.

The post Join in with Book Club Day UK on 11 September appeared first on The Reading Agency.

What Teachers Gain from the Teachers’ Reading Challenge

Alexander Turton — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Keeping up with the latest children’s literature can be a challenge for busy teachers. That’s where the Teachers’ Reading Challenge comes in. The Challenge gives staff the chance to set their own goals, discover new and diverse books, and reconnect with the joy of reading.

We spoke to three teachers from across the UK, Emma, Ruth and Paula about how the Challenge has shaped their reading lives, boosted their confidence in making book recommendations, and helped them inspire a love of reading in their pupils.

What motivated you to take part in the Teachers’ Reading Challenge?

Emma Dunkin, Year 1/2 Class Teacher and English Lead: As the school’s Phonics and Reading Lead within our school, I conducted research into the habits of the teachers’ and teaching assistants’. We learned that adults within school had a very limited knowledge of up-to-date authors and texts. We also found that diversity was lacking in our classroom libraries. As a reading lead, I felt it was my role to help support and encourage the teachers with developing this area within school and to help our school’s reading for pleasure culture too.

I decided to do the Teacher’s Reading Challenge to further my own personal knowledge of up-to-date children’s texts and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it! Our head teachers always take part, as well as approximately 50% of the staff too which is a fantastic uptake every year!

Ruth Settle, Year 6 teacher: I love reading but I sometimes find that I struggle to make time to read so I thought that this would motivate me. I also thought it would set a good example to the children.

Paula Fernandez, Deputy Head and Reading Lead: I took part in the Open University’s Reading for Pleasure Teacher Reading Groups initiative and heard about the Teachers’ Reading Challenge through that. Every year at my school, we encourage the children to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge, read at least six books and tell us about it when they come back to school in September. Taking part in the Teachers’ Reading Challenge is a great opportunity to show children that their teachers read for pleasure too and are enthusiastic about reading. It’s motivating to be part of a wider reading community and hear about the books and authors that other teachers are reading.

What impact did the challenge have on your reading habits or professional practice?

Emma: It has allowed me to access newer authors and books that have more up to date themes that children often encounter themselves. It has given me the confidence to be able to recommend newer authors to children and teachers that they may not have encountered themselves, but to also point people in the direction of more diverse texts. It has also encouraged me to join more school-based reading for pleasure groups on social media to look for recommendations myself to then pass on in school!

Ruth: It encouraged me to read regularly and I actually increased my initial target. I was also able to read some new texts, which I could recommend to my new class.

Paula: I’m someone who always has a book or two on the go but doing the Teachers’ Reading Challenge got me into a regular reading routine over the summer and through September. Every year it’s an opportunity for me to get out of my comfort zone and read books that appeal to children in different age groups from the one I teach. I’ve gone on to use some of the books I’ve read during the Challenge in class.

“Showing children and young people that their teachers are committed readers is one of the most powerful tools we have for encouraging them to read”

Can you share one book you discovered during the challenge that really stuck with you?

Emma: Pax by Sara Pennypacker. This was a book I read during last year’s Teacher’s Reading Challenge which I had been interested in reading for a long time and I’m SO pleased that I did! It was genuinely one of the only children’s books that has made me cry as it was written so well and was such a wonderful book!

Ruth: I really enjoyed Front Desk by Kelly Yang.

Paula: Rook by Anthony McGowan is a book that I read during the first Teachers’ Reading Challenge and which has really stayed with me. That opening chapter is so dynamic and arresting! I’d never read anything like it in a book for young people. I grew up not far from where the book is set and loved that I recognised some of the places mentioned. I felt a real personal connection to the book and to the main characters. I’m not really one for following a book series all the way through but after reading Rook, I had to go back and read the two that preceded it, Brock and Pike.

How has taking part influenced how you promote reading with your pupils or colleagues?

Emma: It has given me more confidence to promote books that would be suitable for specific children, as well as encouraging teachers towards using more up-to-date authors and texts. I have also used some of the texts read in my own class and children have then gone out and bought these books for themselves which has been so wonderful to see!

Ruth: As a keen reader, I feel that it’s really important for me to set a good example and it is great to be able to make recommendations based on my personal experiences.

Paula: I definitely talk more with children about what I’m reading. If I’ve read something great that I think someone in my class will enjoy, I’ll definitely tell them why and recommend it. I haven’t always enjoyed the books I’ve read during the Teachers’ Reading Challenge and it’s good to bring those honest opinions into book talk with children. They’re allowed not to find a book interesting or relevant to them so it can be helpful to hear their teachers be honest about what they’ve read too.

What would you say to someone thinking about joining the Challenge this year?

Emma: Do it! As someone who loves children’s books but also loves receiving certificates and awards for my hard work (I am like a child in that respect!), the Teachers’ Reading Challenge provides opportunities for both of these things. It is such a rewarding, fun way of accessing children’s texts.

Ruth: Absolutely go for it! You set your own target so you can be realistic with your expectations and you could either use it as a chance to get up to date on children’s texts or make time to enjoy adult books.

Paula: It’s definitely something you should do! There are no rules on what kinds of books you have to read – you don’t even have to read books for children or young people either. It can take as little or as much time as you are able to give it. Showing children and young people that their teachers are committed readers is one of the most powerful tools we have for encouraging them to read too.

Why not give it a go yourself? Sign up for the Teachers’ Reading Challenge today and discover just how valuable reading for pleasure can be for both you and your pupils.

Join the Challenge today

The post What Teachers Gain from the Teachers’ Reading Challenge appeared first on The Reading Agency.

How Reading Well Books Are Supporting Dementia Care in Solihull Care Home

Alexander Turton — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 08:34:58 +0000

Royal Star & Garter recently made the Reading Well for dementia book collection available in their Solihull care home, using the resource to support residents, staff, and families living with and caring for people with dementia. The care home has around 57 residents and 115 staff and focuses on care and support for veterans and their families, living with disability or dementia.

We spoke with Shirley Hall, Director of Care & Wellbeing, and Katie McCauley, Home Manager, to learn more about their experience.

How have you shared the Reading Well for dementia collection?

The books have been introduced to colleagues, residents and family members. Staff created a display in the care home’s reception area, featuring Reading Well books, leaflets and bookmarks. It means they are visible, and people can choose whether they want to pick one up or not. Having the books on display provides a good talking point. One example the team shared was a gentleman who visits his wife, at the end of his visit he waits in reception for his son to pick him up and he reads, so Katie suggested a book from the Reading Well for dementia collection.

How have the books been used so far?

The Reading Well books have been used by a wide range of people in the home. At least eight have been borrowed so far, with others frequently browsed, including the books for children with family members affected by dementia. The range of formats and perspectives mean the collection has a broad appeal to residents, family members and staff, who have found them a useful tool to support residents. Katie gave the example of a woman living with dementia who never leaves her wing, the team managed to get her downstairs and knew she likes poetry so read The Practical Handbook of Living with Dementia with her as it includes poetry. As the team explain:

“She would normally get agitated and go upstairs. For her to be engaged in this because she enjoys poetry, I think that definitely contributed to her staying longer. She read out the whole thing. I remember because I got took a picture of them because it was so special.”

How have the books supported families of people with dementia?

The books act as a conversation starter about dementia.

Shirley and Katie recalled a moment during an open day at the care home, where the books played an important role in supporting a family considering long term care for a loved one living with dementia.

“… I said to her, ‘Come and have a look at these books on dementia because you seem to be really struggling with the diagnosis,’ and she was very tearful. She took one of the books and it was a good conversation starter with the family member about dementia… We want to encourage the conversation so that it was just a really good segue for a couple who had never seen the home before to get talking about mum living with dementia.”

How do the books support your strategic aims?

The Reading Well for dementia pilot aligns with the care home’s broader vision of supporting all those affected by dementia and offers value in the wider message that having the collection on display sends.

“We’re all about encouraging our staff, visitors, residents and relatives, to get involved. We’re setting up dementia working groups soon. We’re just trying to create that more open culture and support relatives. So for us, it was an easy no-brainer. […] It increases our community engagement, which is really important in terms of the local authority and CQC seeing that we’re involved with different organisations. Providing access to relevant information—especially for people living with dementia—is so important. We’re really grateful.”

What’s next for Royal Star & Garter’s Reading Well journey?

Looking ahead, the team hopes to create a small library area in reception, continue promotion of the books to staff, and look at more opportunities to use the books with residents and relatives. They also plan to look at how the books can support carers and families with the transition from diagnosis to moving into the care home. They’re also exploring how the books can support staff learning, particularly in preparation for dementia training at their Worthing home.

“I think it benefits the home in loads of different ways. The fact that books are just available to people, you don’t know what situation anyone’s in. They might not be able to have access to books. So just that they’re there is just really nice.”

Explore the Reading Well for dementia list here.

Shop the dementia books on our shop.

The post How Reading Well Books Are Supporting Dementia Care in Solihull Care Home appeared first on The Reading Agency.

Meet the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2025 Book Clubs

Reading Partners — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 15:00:00 +0000

This year, the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize is celebrating the exceptional 2025 shortlist by inviting twelve UK-based book clubs to shadow the 2025 Best Published Novel award. Read on to meet each of the groups, find out what makes them special and what titles they’ll be reading.

Suze’s Reading Group

We are an online book club who meet up on the first Thursday of each month to discuss our book of the month and chat about our latest reads. We have been fortunate to have enjoyed chats with several authors, reading their book as our book of the month, and then chatting to them about it. For the Wilbur Smith Award we are so excited to be joined by two of these authors, Jane Bettany and John Delaney! As we are online, we are all dispersed throughout the country and are always keen to recruit new members.

St Barbara’s Book Group

We are a mixed gender wide-ranging book group, varying greatly in age and experience. The group originally evolved from a church bible study group where we kept finding ourselves getting distracted and talking about books instead, so decided we should set up a separate book group! The group has since expanded to include people outside the group and outside the church and is always welcoming to new members. Many of us had lost the habit of reading and found the group to be instrumental in getting us back into the rewarding routine of regular reading, as well as expanding our reading horizons, getting us to try out new books we might not have read otherwise. Reading has been a valuable form of escape for many members of the group through the difficulties of the last few years. We love reading new and interesting books and find lots to say about them. We first met in November 2018 are based in Coventry and meet roughly monthly. We love sharing our views through our blog and are looking forward to going on this new adventure.

Suze’s Reading Group and St Barbara’s Book Group are reading A House for Miss Pauline by Diana McCaulay.

Gin Club with a Book Problem

A group of gin-loving bookworms who believe the best stories are shared with friends-and maybe a splash of tonic. From heated plot debates to uncontrollable laughter over character choices, our club is where great reads meet great company. Whether it’s fiction, memoirs or a scandalous thriller we gather monthly in Cornwall to sip, chat and celebrate the joy of reading together.

Gin brought us together, books keep us coming back

Read with Yeovil

Read With Yeovil is a very mixed group, with quite a wide age range of both men and women, who meet monthly for a 2 hour lunchtime session where we discuss two books and talk about whatever else we’ve read that month. Our group is very collegiate as we don’t have a set leader, members simply volunteer to lead the discussions. We also aim to have visits from local authors to talk about their own books. We are regularly spoiled by the wonderful providers of cakes and drinks. We actually celebrate our birthday each August having formally become RWY 3 years ago.

We have a membership of 20+ and enjoy each other’s company so much that we actually plan outings together. This year alone some of us went to Athelhampton House after we had read Joanna Quinn’s The Whalebone Theatre. Others are off to Florence in Italy this summer on a tour of Still Life by Sarah Winman. We are lucky enough to live in an area where writing talent flourishes and have several local authors as members. They join us when their schedules and literary appearances allow. In February this year we accepted a challenge from the Mayor to arrange a day during the half term week to run a Storytelling Day for 90+ children. We managed to scrounge, beg and put pressure on enough locals that we were able to run a totally free event which included 5 children’s authors, a picnic lunch and a new book for each child.

Read with Yeovil and Gin Club with a Book Problem are reading Babylonia by Costanza Casati.

The Three Horseshoes

Bookclub

The Three Horseshoes reading group was formed over 10 years ago with a mission to support their village pub by using it as their venue and their local library through the loan scheme for book clubs.

The literary lunches are held once a month and most meetings are usually punctuated with raucous laughter. Books have been a wonderful form of escapism as well as providing great topics for learning and discussion.

Westacre Book Group

The group has been founded for more than 20 years and adds another element to a small rural independent theatre. We are a very mixed group in terms of age and experience and we all love books and reading, Our book list is created each year by suggestion from the group which has to be reduced and curated carefully to ensure a good mix of books from most genres and authors. We meet once a month on the first Wednesday evening 7-9pm, and we try to source our books through the local library when possible depending on the choices.

We always have a respectful debate on the book and it is always best when someone really did not enjoy the book, we laugh a lot and love to consider other points of view. Having people in the group who have moved from other parts of the world and have widely travelled brings great perspectives to the discussions. We break for coffee, taking the opportunity to break into smaller groups and catch up with everyone’s lives as we have all become close as a result of the group and the lovely members. After the break, we may continue the discussion or move onto other books we have read and wish to rave about and pass on – notebooks are out and the scribbling begins, titles furiously recorded for future reference and additions to TBR piles while simultaneously groaning at the sheer size of their TBR piles. It is a curse we have all been struck with. We also use this time to pass on any information regarding local author events, film adaptations of books we have read, authors we have heard on the radio and new releases. This prompts more jotting down and we all are sad to pack our notebooks and books away and leave at 9.15-9.30pm, wishing we had another two hours! This process is repeated month on month and very long may it continue!

The Three Horseshoes and Westacre Book Group are reading Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis.

Boozy & Bookish

Boozy & Bookish are a lively book club that meets once a month in a small function room above a pub in central Brighton. They formed in May 2024 after an advertisement on Instagram successfully brought them together. None of them knew each other before joining, but they have quickly become a tight-knit group of friends who share a passion for both books and tipples! Their meetings have a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, making it easy to discuss their book of the month, while sharing drinks and laughs.

They participated in this process last year very shortly after their formation and found it a fun and exciting experience to be a part of that really helped build on their friendships, so they are thrilled to be part of the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize again this year.

Methley Bookgroup

We are a large, friendly book club, based in Methley, near Leeds. The group was founded in 2012, and we continue to attract new members on a regular basis. There are often 20 or more of us at our monthly meetings, held in the lovely Rivers Meet Café.

We enjoy reading books from a wide variety of genres which we choose from Leeds Libraries readers’ group collections or from members’ recommendations. We always look out for literary offers from The Reading Agency, so we are very excited to be given the opportunity to shadow the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize.

Boozy & Bookish and Methley Bookgroup are reading Redemption by Jack Jordan.

2 Bee or Not 2 Bee

Our book group is a lively bunch that meets once a month at The Endeavour, an award winning and welcoming pub in the heart of Chelmsford, Essex. We first met back in December 2016 at Foyles bookshop, and since then, our journey has been anything but ordinary. From in-person chats to virtual meetups during lockdown, we’ve powered through over a hundred books and made countless unforgettable memories along the way.

This group is more than just a book club, it’s a community. Over the years, we’ve celebrated weddings, welcomed a new baby, and toasted to lots of new grandchildren! Our get-togethers often spill over into dinners out and long, laughter-filled evenings. We all joined to broaden our literary horizons, and we have done that! We rarely agree on the books we read, but that’s exactly what makes the discussions so spirited and fun. Every meeting is a chance to dive into new genres, challenge each other’s opinions, and see things from a fresh perspective.

Now, we’re absolutely buzzing to be reading Sycorax by Nydia Hetherington. With all the rave reviews it’s been getting, we can’t wait to read it, and we’re thrilled at the chance to discuss it with Nydia herself!

Busy Lizzies

Our 14 members really are ‘Busy Lizzies’, very involved with local community improvement projects and family commitments, and therefore we seldom have a full house for our monthly meetings in Bishopton Library. We vary the days on which we meet in order to accommodate everyone. We are all keen to read a variety of novels and to take turns at leading our very lively discussions over tea/coffee and cake. Most of us have been friends for many years having lived in this beautiful rural area in Scotland just south of the River Clyde with views to the Kilpatrick Hills beyond.

2 Bee or Not 2 Bee and Busy Lizzies are reading Sycorax by Nydia Hetherington.

Filipino Mothers UK Book Club

Filipino Mothers UK Book Club is a vibrant online community of Filipina mums who find joy, connection, and strength through stories. Based across the UK, we gather to read books that spark conversation—whether they reflect our heritage, explore motherhood, or simply offer a well-deserved escape. More than a book club, we are a sisterhood that celebrates our identity, nurtures our voices, and shares the joys and challenges of life away from home.

Coundon Library Book Club

Hello! We are Coundon Library Book Club! We have been running for 2 years, and we formed after I ran a book club in my old workplace which ran for 5 years – I missed it and started a public group which has been very successful! We’re a mixed group of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, who meet to make friends, get back into reading, and just share books with like-minded people! 

We’ve been on several outings as a group including to the cinema and you’ll often spot us at our library book sale – you can never have enough books. We always bring books to our group and swap between us, so we never seem to have less books! 

We read a mix of recommendations and popular titles and it’s fantastic when we all have such strong opinions! We meet in our tiny local library in Coventry, and we always have a great laugh and giggle. We are so excited to have the honour of taking part in the Prize!

Filipino Mothers UK Book Club and Coundon Library Book Club are reading Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao.

Get involved

Are you interested in reading any of the shortlisted titles? Find out more about the shortlist.

If you work in a library or workplace and would like to promote the prize, you can order free display packs from our shop.

What do you think of the 2025 shortlisted titles? Which have you read and what will be added to your TBR pile? Add your comments below, or click any title above to leave a review.

Share your thoughts with us on Facebook, X and Instagram using #AdventureWritingPrize. Don’t forget to follow and tag The Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation and The Reading Agency!

Want to make sure you never miss the latest book club news? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter.

The post Meet the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2025 Book Clubs appeared first on The Reading Agency.

Let Imaginations Bloom: Spotify Supports The Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge 2025

Alexander Turton — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 08:00:48 +0000

This summer, The Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge invites children across the UK to step into the Story Garden – a celebration of nature, imagination, and adventure designed to help children grow their love of reading.

In a landmark move to widen access, Spotify and a group of leading publishers have joined forces to make a curated selection of Summer Reading Challenge audiobooks available for free to all! Families across the country can now listen to selected titles from the official Summer Reading Challenge booklist via a special playlist on Spotify, with no subscription required.

Duncan Bruce, Director of Partnerships & Licensing at Spotify said: “Many in the Audiobooks team at Spotify grew up doing the Summer Reading Challenge, so it’s an initiative close to our hearts. Audiobooks are a powerful way to help children discover the joy of books in ways that work for them – whether at bedtime, in the car, or curled up in the garden. We’re proud to support the Summer Reading Challenge’s mission to spark a lifelong love of books in every child, regardless of background, ability, or learning style.”

Karen Napier MBE, CEO, The Reading Agency said: “This partnership with Spotify helps us bring the Summer Reading Challenge to even more families, in ways that are flexible, accessible, and inclusive. It supports our core belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to become a reader – and that stories should be available to children in the formats that work for them.”

Now in its 26th year, the Summer Reading Challenge is the UK’s biggest free reading-for-pleasure initiative for children. In 2024, it reached nearly 600,000 children and generated more than 13 million library book loans. This year’s theme, Story Garden – Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors, encourages children to explore magical new worlds while building their confidence, curiosity, and reading skills.

With only 1 in 3 children today reading for pleasure, inclusive approaches to reading are more important than ever. Audiobooks can play a vital role in literacy development – especially for children who are neurodiverse, visually impaired, or simply prefer to listen.

Audiobooks available on Spotify:

Hamza’s Wild World – Hamza Yassin, illustrated by Louise Forshaw (Macmillan Children’s Books)

Rabbit & Bear: The Lake is Fake – Julian Gough and Jim Field (Hachette – Hodder Children’s Books)

Robin Hood Aged 10 3/4 – Ben Miller, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books)

Angel of Grasmere – Tom Palmer (Barrington Stoke)

Tidemagic: The Many Faces of Ista Flit – Clare Harlow, illustrated by Karl James Mountford (Penguin Random House)

Superhero Plants – Chris Packham, illustrated by Jake Williams (Farshore – Redshed)

Green Kingdom – Cornelia Funke and Tammi Hartung, illustrated by Melissa Castrillón (DK Children’s)

Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery – Laura Ellen Anderson (Farshore)

Hedgewitch -Skye McKenna, illustrated Tomislav Tomic (Hachette Children’s – Welbeck Children’s Books)

Land of the Last Wildcat – Lui Sit, illustrated by David Dean (Macmillan Children’s Books)

Super Happy Magic Forest and the Distant Desert – Matty Long (Oxford University Press)

Magicalia: Race of Wonders – Jennifer Bell (Walker Books)

The Whisperwicks: The Labyrinth of Lost & Found – Jordan Lees, illustrated by Vivienne To (Penguin Random House)

Wildlands – Brogen Murphy (Penguin Random House)

Bigfoot and the Wild Boys – Jenny Pearson, illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff (Barrington Stoke)

Finding Hope – Nicola Baker (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books)

Shipwrecked – Jenny Pearson, illustrated by Nick East (Usborne)

Families can access the audiobook playlist here or by searching “Summer Reading Challenge” on Spotify.

To find out how to sign up and explore more digital rewards and activities, visit summerreadingchallenge.org.uk.

Happy listening!

The post Let Imaginations Bloom: Spotify Supports The Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge 2025 appeared first on The Reading Agency.

The Reading Agency

Laura’s Story

Co-Production Process & Impact

How important is it for schemes like this to be developed with direct input from people with lived experience?

Do you consider yourself a reader?

The Importance of Reading & Resources

How do you think that reading can support parents and carers during pregnancy and the early years?

What do you hope the parents and carers take away from the to the list?

Looking Ahead

What would you say to a parent or carer who is struggling but hasn’t thought about turning to books for support?

Lancashire Libraries: Empowering Young People Through Poetry and Reading Well

How We Ran the School Wellbeing Sessions

What We Saw and Heard

More Reading Well news

Laura’s Story

Comfort Reads and Comfort Foods: The Big Tasty Read Staff Picks

Alex

Amy

Becky

Emma

Hannah

Costanza Casati wins the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2025 for Babylonia

More about this year’s Adventure Writing Prize

Get Involved

Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2025 Shortlist – What Did Our Book Clubs Think?

The shortlist

Suze’s Reading Group

St Barbara’s Book Group

Gin Club with a Book Problem

Read with Yeovil

The Three Horseshoes

Boozy & Bookish

Methley Bookgroup

2 Bee or Not 2 Bee

Busy Lizzies

Filipino Mothers UK Book Club

Coundon Library Book Club

Get involved

Join in with Book Club Day UK on 11 September

What is Book Club Day UK?

How to join in

The aims of Book Club Day UK are to:

Plus! Become a Book Club Hub Rep

Ways you can celebrate Book Club Day UK

Get involved

What Teachers Gain from the Teachers’ Reading Challenge

What motivated you to take part in the Teachers’ Reading Challenge?

What impact did the challenge have on your reading habits or professional practice?

Can you share one book you discovered during the challenge that really stuck with you?

How has taking part influenced how you promote reading with your pupils or colleagues?

What would you say to someone thinking about joining the Challenge this year?

How Reading Well Books Are Supporting Dementia Care in Solihull Care Home

How have the books been used so far?

How have the books supported families of people with dementia?

How do the books support your strategic aims?

What’s next for Royal Star & Garter’s Reading Well journey?

Meet the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2025 Book Clubs

Suze’s Reading Group

St Barbara’s Book Group

Gin Club with a Book Problem

Read with Yeovil

The Three Horseshoes

Westacre Book Group

Boozy & Bookish

Methley Bookgroup

2 Bee or Not 2 Bee

Busy Lizzies

Filipino Mothers UK Book Club

Coundon Library Book Club

Get involved

Let Imaginations Bloom: Spotify Supports The Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge 2025