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Book-related activities for children
By - 18 May 2020 - 15:50pm
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Inspire and entertain your children with these brilliant book-related activities. Let their imaginations run wild!
Di Smith is a former primary school teacher and Literacy Consultant who devised and co-ordinates the Derby Children's Picture Book Award and, with our Education team, organises the Festival's Meet the Author events for schools each year. Di has a wealth of knowledge about children's books and has put together these book-related activities for children (and adults too!)
1. Poetryline readings by authors
Poetryline has some great performances from children’s poets such as Allan Ahlberg, Roger McGough, Joseph Coelho, Rachel Rooney, A F Harrold and Michael Rosen.
2. Podcast reading of Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham
Kenneth Grahame’s jolly riverside romp with the eccentric Mr. Toad and his animal chums is available on BBC sounds, read by Michael Bertenshaw.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07snwbt/episodes/guide
3. CBeebies Sounds
CBeebies radio offers plenty of poems, stories, nursery rhymes for 3-6 year olds.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:cbeebies_radio
4. British Library - Discovering Childrens Books
The British Library website has a section specifically for those wanting to discover childrens books. There are plenty of activities here, whether you want to know How to draw a Gruffalo, Write an animal tale, Make a miniature book or you're interested in learning How to develop a character.
https://www.bl.uk/childrens-books
5. Exploring author websites
If there's an author you love, why not see if they have their own website? There's plenty to explore. You could start with the writers who took part in our Meet the Author events?
6. Draw with Rob
Award-winning author/illustrator Rob Biddulph has launched #DrawWithRob. Rob posts a draw-along video every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am and you can follow along!
7. Reading Zone
There's plenty to try here, from making your own bookmark, writing a review or doing a wordsearch.