UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL THURSDAY MAY 24
New programme that gives pupils a book of their
choice set to create a buzz around reading in
secondary schools
Inaugural Bookbuzz titles revealed
www.booktrust.org.uk/bookbuzz
A new reading programme from Booktrust will roll-out this September to secondary
schools across the country. Bookbuzz offers secondary schools the chance to give their
Year 7 pupils the choice of a book from a specially selected list of 17 titles that include
fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Bookbuzz aims to support independent reading for
pleasure as children make the sometimes difficult transition from primary to secondary
education as well as encouraging a whole school reading culture.
The programme, which – thanks to generous support from participating publishers –
costs just £2.50 per pupil, is designed so that there is a book that will appeal to every
child, whatever their ability or interests, crucially chosen by the pupil and supported by
the Bookbuzz schools pack. The element of choice in Bookbuzz is key to its success: in
a survey of Year 7 pupils 71% stated that the fact they had chosen a book
themselves made them more likely to read it.
Professor Guy Merchant, Professor of Literacy in Education at Sheffield Hallam
University comments: ‘Bookbuzz will play a key role in a school’s policy drive to
improve the student reading experience. Giving them the chance to choose and keep a
book can be a unique and empowering experience, offering reluctant readers the
encouragement they need to begin to enjoy reading. Bookbuzz will also give students a
positive introduction to their school library early in their transition to secondary
education, the beneficial effects of which cannot be underestimated. The enhancement
of the programme with a whole school reading kit is important; where a strong school
reading culture is established, this combination of aspiration and support can have a
significant impact on students’ life chances.’
An independent expert panel selected the Bookbuzz titles from a wide range of books
submitted by publishers for consideration, whittling it down to 17 quality titles from 10
different publishers that offer a breadth of genre and reading level. The inaugural
Bookbuzz list includes a former Blue Peter Book of the Year winner, a collection of short
stories about real-life heroes and a book about child exploitation in the Dubai world of
camel racing from a former Carnegie shortlisted author.
The inaugural Bookbuzz book list:
A Most Improper Magick by Stephanie Burgis (Templar Publishing)
Journey to the Centre of My Brain by James Carter (Macmillan Children’s Books)
Rivets: Lifters by Joe Craig (Franklin Watts Edge)
Heroes by Paul Dowswell (Usborne Publishing)
The Messenger Bird by Ruth Eastham (Scholastic Children’s Books)
Twelve Minutes to Midnight by Christopher Edge (Nosy Crow)
Small Change for Stuart by Lissa Evans (Random House Children’s Books)
Shadow Forest by Matt Haig (Random House Children’s Books)
The Secrets Club: Alice in the Spotlight by Chris Higgins (Puffin)
Lost Riders by Elizabeth Laird (Macmillan Children’s Books)
The World of Norm: May Contain Nuts by Jonathan Meres (Orchard Books)
Don’t Wipe Your Bum with a Hedgehog by Mitchell Symons (Random House
Children’s Books)
Spook Squad: The Beast of Hangman’s Hill by Roger Hurn (Ransom)
Boffin Boy and the Temples of Mars by David Orme and Peter Richardson (Ransom)
The Dragon Machine by Helen Ward and Wayne Anderson (Templar Publishing)
Call Me Gorgeous by Giles and Alexandra Milton (Boxer Books)
Hello Dudley by Sam Lloyd (Templar Publishing)
Additional resources provided for free to all participating schools in the Bookbuzz school
packs include two sample sets of the 17 titles – one for the classroom to inspire pupil
choice and one for the staffroom so that teachers can read alongside the pupils – free
downloadable resources to encourage classroom activity around the Bookbuzz books
and an online video which teachers can stream in class to help aid pupil book choice.
Schools wishing to take part in September 2012 should register by Friday 20 July.
Secondary schools can register for and find out additional information about Bookbuzz
by visiting www.booktrust.org.uk/bookbuzz
Melanie Flynn, Head of Schools at Booktrust comments:
‘At Booktrust, we are excited to announce the launch of Bookbuzz, which gives every
secondary school in the country the opportunity to sign up to an affordable reading
programme that allows their Year 7s to choose and keep their own book to read for
pleasure. We are very proud of the inaugural titles for Bookbuzz, and are very grateful to
the panel members who debated and enthused and read a LOT of books to come up
with the final 17 titles. Huge thanks are also due to the participating children’s publishers
who through their generous support are helping us to put these engaging and vibrant
books into the hands of 11 year-olds across the country.’
A Booktrust panel – including school librarians, teachers, a blogger and a children’s
book author – selected the books, which are intended to stimulate reading for pleasure,
and reflect a diverse range of interest and styles.
This year’s selection panel comprised:
Carol Webb (chair), Librarian at Forest Hill School and School Librarian of the Year
2011; Mike Conaghan, English Teacher and Director of Pastoral Care at Lambeth
Academy; Jon Mayhew, author and specialist teacher; Mélanie McGilloway, Librarian
at Churchill Academy and book blogger (www.librarymice.com); Tammie Wisnia, Key
Stage 2 Leader at Allfarthing Primary School; Alexandra Strick, consultant in books and
disability issues
***Interviews and images are available
For further information about Bookbuzz please contact Alice Ingall on
[email protected] or 020 8875 4827 or Will White on
[email protected]
Notes to Editors
About Booktrust
Booktrust is an independent charity dedicated to encouraging people of all ages and
cultures to engage with books. The written word underpins all our activity and enables
us to fulfil our vision of inspiring a lifelong love of books for all. Booktrust is responsible
for a number of successful national reading promotions, sponsored book prizes and
creative reading projects aimed at encouraging readers to discover and enjoy books.
These include the Orange Prize for Fiction, the Children’s Laureate, the Roald Dahl
Funny Prize and Bookstart, the national programme that works through locally based
organisations to give a free pack of books to young children, with guidance materials for
parents and carers. See www.booktrust.org.uk