In depth teachers’ notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education to accompany Tony Bradman’s ‘Viking Boy’. An action-packed blend of historical adventure and fantasy for junior readers; a blast of uncensored Viking adventure. Perfect for a Vikings history unit!

In-depth teachers’ notes written by the CLPE to accompany A sparky non-fiction guide to the Viking world, told by the hero of Tony Bradman’s bestselling novel Viking Boy! Take a real-life tour of the everyday world of Gunnar, a teenage Viking boy: find out how the Vikings lived, what they believed, how they travelled and fought, and gained their legendary reputation as warriors. Gunnar tells us the real story of growing up as a Viking in an exciting first-hand account, introducing us to family and friends, famous warriors, sea-raiders and even a Norse god! Packed with historical facts, figures and anecdotes, with illustrated information panels on topics from Viking poetry to battle and bloodlust, this is a brilliant new read for Viking fanatics, both at home and in the classroom.

Clearly structured, detailed and beautifully designed teahers’ notes to accompany the stunning and wonderfully informative A First Book of the Sea by Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton. From Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton, the multi award-winning team behind Tiny and Lots, comes a spellbinding collection of poems about the oceans of the world and their shores. With this book, children can swim alongside dolphins and flying fish, pore over rockpools and sail from pole to pole and back, learning about everything from phosphorescence and plankton to manta rays and puffins – all in the comfort of their bedroom. Emily Sutton’s exquisite watercolours capture the breathless excitement of a child’s first glimpse of the sea, the majesty of ancient trading ships and the sheer, staggering wonder of the humpback whale. The perfect companion to international bestsellers A First Book of Nature and A First Book of Animals, this book is sure to enthral and inspire readers of all ages.

A simple and beautiful step-by-step teaching resource! A modern classic named one of the best culturally diverse picture books in the UK, this is the story of Handa, who’s part of the Luo tribe in south-west Kenya. Handa decides to take seven pieces of delicious fruit to her friend, Akeyo, who lives in the neighbouring village. But as Handa wonders, I wonder what fruit Akeyo will like best?, a series of sneaky animals steal something from Handa’s basket, which she’s carrying on her head… When Handa reaches Akeyo, will she have anything left to offer her friend? Richly-illustrated, brimming with luscious fruit and cheeky wild animals, this mouth-watering story is for the youngest of readers. In the best pantomime spirit, children will long to tell Handa what’s happening right behind her!

Created by Marcia Williams, this is a fantastic resource for anyone studying Shakespeare, art or drama! Create your own comic strips for The Tempest, Romeo & Juliet, and more!

A great resource to engage even the most unwilling readers in one of the most exciting spy adventure series… ever! Encourage pupils to become reading spies and to take their writing to the next level with the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz – suitable for children ages 9+. The lesson ideas in this Teachers’ Pack include free extracts that have been taken directly from the books, corresponding discussion questions and cross-curricular activities that stimulate ideas around important themes in the series. The material included is aimed at developing descriptive and creative writing at KS2/3, including exploring different genres, writing strong lead characters, devising mission files, developing settings, and creating pacey stories.

An in-depth and engaging teaching resource to accompany a topical and funny picture book about plastic in our oceans! Children use their toothbrush each morning and evening, and get new ones every few months. That’s billions of toothbrushes! What happens to them all when they’re no longer needed? And if toothbrushes take thousands of years to break down, what does that mean for our planet? With a fun cast of plastic characters, from pirate-ship bottles to dancing shampoos, and even an inquisitive albatross, The Tale of a Toothbrush is a positive and heart-warming story to help children explore the impact their choices have on our planet.

An in depth classroom resource written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education to accompany Tony Bradman’s ‘Anglo-Saxon Boy’. The story of one Anglo-Saxon boy’s journey to the Battle of Hastings in 1066: Key Stage 2 History brought to life as battle-packed adventure.

An engaging discussion guide for class reads or book clubs! Many people go their whole lives without noticing anything that is afoot, amiss, or even untoward; without ever experiencing that toe-tingling, stomach-twisting sensation that a mystery is about to unfold. Not Bonnie Montgomery – the world’s best detective. Not that anyone (other than Grampa Banks) has heard of her… But they might have heard of the great Montgomery Bonbon, the well-dressed gentleman detective who (apart from the hat and moustache) looks suspiciously like a 10-year-old girl. Their newest case: solving the mystery surrounding a highly suspicious death at the Hornville Museum. Together they’ll interview some dodgy witnesses, scour the scene for clues and – above all – hope no one notices that Bonnie and Montgomery are never in the same room at the same time…

Packed with doodles and cartoons, this is the wry, witty and very funny diary of Norse god Loki and the trials of being trapped on Earth as a weedy eleven-year-old boy. In-depth teachers’ notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, perfect for KS2 and KS3 classrooms!

An engaging an in depth discussion guide for The Gifts That Bind Us the second in an exciting Young Adult series! Perfect for book club and classroom discussions. Maeve and her friends have uncovered their powers and banded together as a coven: Roe can pick locks, Lily sends sparks flying, Maeve can read minds and Fiona can heal any injury. And even better than their newfound talents? Roe and Maeve are officially an item. But with strange things happening at school, and old enemies appearing in new places, it soon becomes clear their powers are attracting all the wrong attention. It’s not long before Maeve’s gift start to wane, drained by someone – or something – that��s hiding even from her second sight… With witty, authentic and engaging prose, and flawed but fiercely likeable characters, this is a superb second instalment in the Hidden Gifts series.

Angie Thomas’ debut novelThe Hate U Give launched straight onto the New York Times bestseller list and has sold over a million copies worldwide. In the UK, it was awarded the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, Children’s Book of the Year at the British Book Awards and the Amnesty CILIP Honour for the Carnegie Medal. The book was adapted into a movie, starring Amandla Stenberg and released by 20th Century Fox. Her third novel Concrete Rose looks back in time to the lives of characters fromThe Hate U Give in the 90s, namely Starr’s father Maverick as he becomes a dad for the first time as a teenager. This is a brand new discussion guide for The Hate U Give with thoughtful and engaging new questions, plus joint discussion points forThe Hate U Give andConcrete Rose together! The perfect book club and classroom guide to help you discuss all the brilliant aspects of these fantastic books.

A fun and engaging activity pack for home and classroom learning! Adventurous, magical and brilliantly funny third book in the House at the Edge of Magic series. “Magically mischievous and sparkling with wit and charm, The Bookshop at the Back of the Beyond is an enchanting and delightful read. I absolutely adored it!” - Jo Clarke

Enagaging and in-depth teachers’ notes to accompany Michael Rosen’s powerful new poetry book. Michael Rosen and Sir Quentin Blake join forces for a landmark new collection, focusing on migration and displacement. Michael’s poems are divided into four: in the first series, he draws on his childhood as part of a first-generation Polish family living in London; in the second, on his perception of the War as a young boy; in the third, on his “missing” relatives and the Holocaust; and in the fourth, and final, on global experiences of migration. By turns charming, shocking and heart-breaking, this is an anthology with a story to tell and a powerful point to make: “You can only do something now.”

An accessible and creative teaching and learning resource for Malamander, a wonderfully written, adventurous and witty middle grade novel! Extracts of the novel are provided so even if you don’t have a copy of Malamander with you, no need to fret! (Although we’re certain you’ll want to read the whole novel once you’ve had a taste!). Herbert Lemon, Lost-and-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel, knows that returning lost things to their rightful owners is not easy – especially when the lost thing is not a thing at all, but a girl. No one knows what happened to Violet Parma’s parents twelve years ago, and when she engages Herbie to help her find them, the pair discover that their disappearance might have something to do with the legendary sea-monster, the Malamander. Eerie-on-Sea has always been a mysteriously chilling place, where strange stories seem to wash up. And it just got stranger…

An engaging and educational teaching resource for one of our favourite children’s books! A fun and interactive way to help teach younger students a few key English lessons. We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one. Will you come too? For thirty years, readers have been swishy-swashying and splash-sploshing through this award-winning favourite. Follow and join in the family’s excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river, squelch through the mud and brave their way through the swirling, whirling snowstorm in search of a bear. What a surprise awaits them in the cave on the other side of the dark forest!

Struggling to engage reluctant readers? We have the answer to your problems! Our Football School series is hugely popular with young readers of all abilities and these teachers’ notes are a great way for teachers and parents to push the discussion further. A groundbreaking new series from two bestselling writers that teaches you about the world through football. The first book is packed with awesome true stories, real science and fascinating facts and will make you laugh loads. When do footballers poo? Can you play football on Mars? What is a magic sponge? You will find the answers to these questions and more in chapters on subjects such as history, geography, biology and maths. Illustrated throughout with hilarious cartoons and filled with laugh-out-loud gags this is the perfect book for any boy or girl who loves football. Your coaches at Football School, Alex Bellos and Ben Lyttleton, are journalists, broadcasters and award-winning science and sports writers. Their knowledge, enthusiasm and engaging writing make them the perfect team to teach you how to score with your head.

Nevertell by Katharine Orton is a gorgeous, snowy adventure, set in the wilds of Siberia, full of magic and wonder, for junior readers. Our Nevertell teachers’ notes are incredibly thorough, detailed and engage not only the fiction aspects of the novel, but also the non-fiction context! A perfect teaching and learning resource for middle grade readers. Born in a Soviet prison camp, Lina has never seen the world outside until the night she escapes with her best friend, Bogdan. As the pair journey across a snowy wilderness, they are pursued by a vengeful sorceress and her pack of shadow wolves. The children will need every ounce of courage – and a whisper of magic – if they are to survive…

An in depth teaching guide with questions, discussion points and additional resources to accompany Michael Rosen’s non-fiction title, The Missing. “Rosen shows children every shade of life – dark and gloomy or bright and dazzling.” Guardian By turns charming, shocking and heart-breaking, this is the true story of Michael Rosen’s search for his relatives who “went missing” during the Second World War - told through prose and poetry. When Michael was growing up, stories often hung in the air about his great-uncles: one was a clock-mender and the other a dentist. They were there before the war, his dad would say, and weren’t after. Over many years, Michael tried to find out exactly what happened: he interviewed family members, scoured the internet, pored over books and travelled to America and France. The story he uncovered was one of terrible persecution – and it has inspired his poetry for years since. Here, poems old and new are balanced against an immensely readable narrative; both an extraordinary account and a powerful tool for talking to children about the Holocaust.

An in-depth discussion guide and activity resource to accompany a thrilling young adult novel! Featuring an author interview and an extract from the novel. Pip lives on his wits in the city of Clarel. When he pickpockets the wrong man, he finds himself in possession of a strange object – a heart in a silver casket. What’s more, the heart seems to be trying to communicate with Pip, and the royal officials who lost it will stop at nothing to get it back. Pip has unwittingly broken an ancient spell, and his theft will have far-reaching consequences for the whole city. As the ancient war between the Spectres and witches of Clarel reignites, the heart prepares to seek revenge for all it has suffered… Alison Croggon conjures a rich, immersive world with brilliant and memorable characters in this captivating story of loyalty, courage and friendship.