All the Better to Read You With: Stories & Lessons to Inspire Reading for Pleasure
“An engaging book with stories, lessons, and skills that provide us with a way to ‘teach’ reading for pleasure that works.” – Toria Bono, Year 4 lead and author of Tiny Voices Talk: Education, Engagement, Empowerment
NB: This is not a comprehension scheme in disguise. Nor will you need an expensive CPD training package. This book contains everything you need to cultivate a Reading For Pleasure mindset among your learners, including:
- 9 short stories to read aloud and quickly captivate your learners
- 18 lesson plans to cultivate enthusiasm for reading (NB: not comprehension lessons in disguise)
- top tips for ‘reading like a storyteller’ – so you can engage your learners, even if you fear performing
See description below for more details…
“At last! A fresh, accessible guide to storytelling as an encouragement to young people to read for the joy of it. Should be part of every teacher’s toolkit.” – Ian Whybrow, award-winning author of the Harry and the Dinosaurs series
All the scientific evidence says reading for pleasure boosts academic achievement far more than any other factor. Yet enjoyment of reading is on the decline, and teachers everywhere speak of a stressful struggle trying to engage their learners with the idea. After all...
...how can you teach ‘reading for pleasure’?
This book holds proof that the answer lies in a teaching method with around 40,000 years of success:
Storytelling.
This is a book unlike any other. Part illustrated story anthology, part educator's handbook on storytelling, part lesson scheme, it’s designed to help you swiftly and easily enthral your learners – with wondrous tales that will inspire them to seek the joys of books.
Written by a traditional storyteller who‘s performed for hundreds of thousands of children worldwide alongside one of Cambridgeshire’s most experienced teacher trainers, here are the tools to help your learners switch from reluctant readers...
...to recreational readers.
12 reviews for All the Better to Read You With: Stories & Lessons to Inspire Reading for Pleasure
Claire Fayers, author of ‘Welsh Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends’ –
This is a much needed book: entertaining, inspiring, and full of practical ideas to get children excited about stories. It’s a must-read for anyone working with children.
Emma Vandore, Head of Content, the Bett Show (global EdTech exhibitions) –
Infused with sing-song magic, this charming book shows how storytelling encourages reading, which in turn boosts learning across a wide range of subjects, including maths. The authors share a wealth of tips for harnessing the power of story to see greater engagement, with easy-to-follow lesson plans designed to develop a reading for pleasure mindset.
Camilla Chester, author of ‘Call Me Lion’ –
I loved this new approach to using our innate storytelling ability to teach a love for books. This guide will help educators invigorate a love of reading for pleasure within the school environment.
Sarah King, Y6 Teacher, Jeavons Wood Primary School in Cambourne –
The book was great for engaging the children. As soon as we started reading it, you could see that they were completely engaged, and they listened straight away. Even the children who usually don’t listen as carefully as some of the others were totally involved in it. The variety of short stories appeal to lots of different children’s interests.
Lesley Armstrong, Y6 teacher, Charles Kingsley’s Primary School in Eversley –
This book has been a lifesaver!
Clare Winterbottom, the Assisted Reading for Children charity –
The stories in this book are beautifully written and really grip you. I hope teachers pick up this book and use it to its full advantage. It holds many wonders to be discovered!
Karen Baines, Assistant Head, Christ Church Primary School in Skipton –
I tried a couple of these lessons with my Year 1 and 2 children, and they are now well and truly addicted! Thank you for this book!
Andrea Dixon, Y5/6 Teacher, Castleside Primary School in Consett –
I absolutely LOVE THIS BOOK! I have applied some of the techniques to see much greater engagement in other subjects too, such as history. As I said at the beginning, I LOVE IT!
Jane Bower, writer for BBC’s ‘Play School’ –
Specifically designed for reading aloud, this book promotes storytelling as the supremely powerful teaching tool, learning medium, and lifesaver it can be. It’s full of excitement, delight, motivation, and joy in words.
Mrs Murphy, Y4 Teacher, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Hook –
Thanks to this book, reading for pleasure in my class is higher than before. I’ve been teaching for 34 years, but this book got me to look at reading differently and make it more meaningful. Rather than racing through to hear everyone read, I now engage the children in conversations as we go along. The advice on that area alone has proved invaluable.
Jo Philips, Headteacher, Wyton-on-the-Hill Primary School –
There’s a great deal to love about this book! It demystifies everything about encouraging reading for pleasure, and makes it all appear within reach.
Vixstar (via waterstones.com) –
Staff were totally reinvigorated for telling stories once they had worked with Chip. He was able to answer their questions and give practical examples of how to make this work in the classroom. The book has been our guide since then. Staff are fighting over who will get to use it next.