The conference was chaired by the Guardian’s children’s books editor Julia Eccleshare. Piers Torday, winner of the Guardian children’s fiction prize 2014 and author of The Last Wild Trilogy (The Last Wild, The Dark Wild and The Wild Beyond), talked about writing for children. Mini Grey, author of The Adventures Dish and the Spoon (winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal), Biscuit Bear, the Traction Man series, Hermelin the Detective Mouse, and Space Dog, discussed creating and illustrating stories for younger readers. Martin Cooper from Mile Oak School shared a huge number of strategies and ideas on how the school has developed an outstanding community of readers. Prue Goodwin, lecturer in literacy and children’s books, discussed strategies to get children reading, learning and achieving.
There were good practice workshops on reading for pleasure in schools led by the Guardian children’s books team, Puffin Virtually Live, Mathew Tobin - Senior lecturer in English and children’s books at Oxford Brookes University, Shrewsbury Book Festival, The British Library’s learning team and Cafes for all.
The conference explored ideas for promoting enjoyment and engagement in reading, raising attainment, strategies to encourage whole school wider reading, the writing process and the lasting value of children’s books, being creative with books, working with different organisations that promote a love of reading and sharing good practice.
You can download a write up of the speaker sessions and workshops by clicking on the link below.
Reading for pleasure 3 July 2015 conference notes
Reading for pleasure 3 July feedback
I loved it! I am buzzing with ideas and I can’t wait to get reading myself. I got lots of ideas to inspire reluctant readers and to encourage children to gain a love of reading.
A super day, thank you - I got practical ideas to implement in the classroom and recommendations on the quality of texts.
The day was truly inspirational. I have come away with practical and achievable ideas that could be implemented in school.
I was inspired and am going home with some great ideas. There was a good mixture of entertainment, thinking, listening and talking. This is my fourth visit and I hope to come again.
Thank you – Great ideas. It reinforced my belief in the pleasure or reading for all.
Excellent - I got useful ideas for encouraging reading for pleasure and it will spread these to other colleagues.
I got lots of practical ideas that work to further the enjoyment of reading for all children. I will be adapting these ideas for my class.
Excellent - I got lots of different ideas, book suggestions and activities and am inspired to implement reading for pleasure in my classroom.
A very enjoyable and informative day - I got lots of ideas; it was great to meet authors and I was able to revaluate what I am currently doing.
It was interesting to hear how authors and illustrators come up with their ideas.
Excellently organised – thank you. I have lots of ideas to encourage reluctant readers.
A very useful and enjoyable day. I have practical ideas to help me change perceptions on why we teach reading and how we teach reading. It was great to network with other professionals.
An excellent and very useful day.
Really well thought out, amazing experiences and ideas.
Excellent – I got new ideas on promoting reading for pleasure.
I was inspired. Can’t wait to share ideas with staff.
Excellent – I was able to network and get further ammunition re reading for pleasure for readers for all ages.
It was an excellent experience. I got lots of information and inspiration.
Excellent, inspirational and realistic. I got lots of ideas to take into the classroom to promote reading for pleasure.
Inspiring, interesting with lots of information and ideas.
Excellent – I have lots of ideas to take away and think about.
It was really well thought out and presented. I have a lot of ideas to take away –many thanks.
Excellent – I learnt some inspirational ideas.
It was very useful and I have lots of practical ideas I can apply.
Excellent – I have gained ideas to stimulate and develop reading with children.
It was very useful in terms of activities and whole school reading initiatives.
I hoped to be inspired and I was. It was a great day – thanks so much.
