I’m sure many of you are aware of the new online library launched by Oak National Academy, allowing children across the country to read free digital books from popular children’s authors during school closures. Working in partnership with the National Literacy Trust who support schools and communities to give disadvantaged children the literacy skills to succeed in life, children will be provided with free weekly access to a digital book from the library’s author of the week. The first book to feature is Dame Jacqueline Wilson’s The Story of Tracy Beaker.

We’re super excited about this announcement at LearningGrids, and we have some fantastic resources to support children in follow-up and extension work as part of an exploration of these – and any – books they read.

You might want to start with a Book Review – use our writing frame to help children construct a cohesive report. You can also use the Book Review Adjectives alongside this set to boost the use of appropriate and targeted language in the report. Or be a Book Cover Detective and analyse the information and first impressions given by the book’s cover.

Have a browse through the Characters and Settings categories in English/Creative Writing if you are searching for activities to explore or create your own fictional character and settings descriptions. And if children are inspired to write their own stories based on their reading, help them get started with our Storyboard planners (there’s a range to choose from, so you can choose the level that’s right for your children).

We also have lots of Story Writing frames and vocabulary banks to help get children started and get those creative minds working! Happy reading and do let us know if you use any of these ideas and have some great work to share – we’d love to hear!