On Thursday 18 September the Reading and Child Development Applied Research Group at Coventry University and Waterstone’s bookshop launched a joint book club initiative to encourage children in Coventry to rediscover a love of books.
The book club is aimed at children of all ages who live in and around Coventry. The club is free to join and the children receive a welcome pack and monthly newsletters which feature their own work, and includes competitions with prizes. The children also become eligible to receive review copies of new books to read and write about for the book club. There are also special events in the campus bookshop for book club members to attend, which include activities, more competitions and book readings.
In addition, the team behind the book club is supporting local schools by running themed events for schools, tailored to their needs.
Dr Clare Wood, director of the research group, said: "The book club is essentially promoting the same outcomes as those that our research is also aiming to achieve: it’s about helping children to become confident and competent readers who see books as enjoyable and relevant to them. It has coincided with the National Year of Reading, and the recent ‘Boys into Books’ government initiative, but we want this to be a longer lasting contribution to children’s reading development and to the local schools that continue to help us with our work."
Emma Jackson (pictured at the launch) is a research assistant who is volunteering her time to support the book club activities. She says: "This is such a fantastic project to be involved with. The children I have met with so far are really enthusiastic about the club, and you can see how it is going to really engage them with reading outside of school".
Joy Court, Learning Resources Manager for Coventry City Council, who also attended the lauch, said: "This is a really exciting opportunity for children, families and schools in Coventry and a marvellous example of partnership between the academic sector and local business and all with the aim of increasing the enjoyment of and involvement with books and reading. The perfect National Year of Reading project!"
If you would like to join the Coventry Children’s Book Club, go to www.coventry.ac.uk/childrensbookclub to sign up.