Debbie Thomas

An illustration by Sandhya Prabhat of a group of children reading with a teacher on the floor of a school library. Plus the words: "Webinar: Developing a culture of reading for pleasure. Why book choice matters for children. 4pm, Thursday 20 November." And the logos for BookTrust, and The Open University Reading for Pleasure

Are you joining us for our upcoming webinar about the importance of book choice in primary schools?

We'll be joined by our Writer in Residence Matt Goodfellow and @debbiethomas.bsky.social from @openuni-rfp.bsky.social for research, practical insights and more 👇

https://bit.ly/4qvcFv8

Oxfordshire-based school staff!
Chris is running a Teachers Reading Group again this year (without me as I am on maternity leave!). It's a wonderful group and Chris is so knowledgeable. Details below - please share!
@openuni-rfp.bsky.social
@debbiethomas.bsky.social
@kashleyenglish.bsky.social

Do read and share! Free and worth debating the individual- social and reflective ways forward rb.gy/4ih4ez @profsarahmcg.bsky.social @kashleyenglish.bsky.social @openuni-rfp.bsky.social @debbiethomas.bsky.social @debrakidd.bsky.social as well as the evidence on the associated benefits of reading!

If you’re nearby why not join Chris - he’s continuing great work with running an OU/UKLA Teacher Reading Group.

Booking now LiVE for our Oct. 18th Conference! tinyurl.com/bn6d2x3m Milton Keynes 🎈Do Join us! 🎈@openuni-rfp.bsky.social @jonnybid.bsky.social @readingrocks.bsky.social @kashleyenglish.bsky.social @debbiethomas.bsky.social An engaging reading community focused day 🎈@uklitassociation.bsky.social

YouTube video by Spark! School Book Awards If I Were Prime Minister - Trygve Skaug & Ella Okstad - Shortlist Spotlight - Picture Fiction

A Friday bonus! Our second spotlight video features both the author and the illustrator - here are @trygv.bsky.social & Ella Okstad on the inspiring 'If I Were Prime Minister' - shortlisted in our Picture fiction for Early Readers Category. @debbiethomas.bsky.social

youtu.be/_gkmzccPCSg?...

The winner of our longlist draw is... King Athelstan Primary School in Kingston! 🎉 Congratulations - you have won a set of longlisted books in the category of your choice. 🎄🎁📚 #Spark12BooksOfChristmas

We're thrilled to present our full Early Readers Longlist in the #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚
@debbiethomas.bsky.social

The #Spark12BooksOfChristmas are our longlists, 12 books in each category, specially curated by our panels of teachers and librarians. We will be announcing one book from each category for the next 12 weekdays. Without further ado, here are our first 5 books... 🥁

Exciting news! We will be posting the '12 Books of Christmas' (our longlist) for each category, one a day, starting on Monday 2 December. Watch this space... 🎄🎁📚

🔊 Our 7th annual #ReflectingRealities report is out now! This year’s report shows a significant drop in the presence of racially minoritised characters in books published for children in 2023 in the UK.

It’s tomorrow - do come along!

A warm welcome to the new schools who have signed up to the Spark! School Book Award, and to our returning schools! We're looking forward to seeing you at our Intro Meeting tomorrow. If you want more info before you sign up, you're also welcome to join us: www.sparkbookawards.co.uk/contact-us