About Chatterbooks

Six years ago with Orange, The Reading Agency started the first ever nationally co-ordinated libraries’ reading group project for children. Today over 7500 children take part in over 400 Chatterbooks reading groups run in 140 different library services.

The contract with Orange has now come to an end and The Reading Agency is taking Chatterbooks forward with new look packs and promotional materials, now available for Chatterbooks library authorities from the Reading Agency shop at http://shop.readingagency.org.uk/productslist.aspx

Chatterbooks encourages children aged between four and twelve to visit libraries with their families, read adventurously and become confident about talking about books. Every child joining a Chatterbooks group gets a blue Chatterbooks bag with a reading diary, Post-It review pads, stickers and Chatterbooks pen.

You can sign up to Chatterbooks by contacting resources@readingagency.org.uk.  

For dates and information about a series of Chatterbooks training days in 2009, visit The Reading Agency

Available on this site for library services signed up to Chatterbooks is a range of resources including 

• The Chatterbooks Handbook – guidelines and tips for running your groups
• Special themed Chatterpacks with ideas and book recommendations for Chatterbooks sessions
• Templates for session record sheets
• Questionnaires to use in evaluating the impact of your groups
• Chatterbooks Newsletters

You will also find more general information about running reading groups in the Reading Groups section on this website.