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We’re delighted to welcome author Amanda Prowse as this month's guest blogger. I grew up in a house without books – apart from The Littlewoods catalogue and a copy of a Haynes car manual! My parents were young and working hard to support their four children and I don’t think they had the time to read at home. The day I was given my first library card was the day my life changed. I was six and remember learning about the Dewey decimal system and being told that I could choose not one, but a whole stack of books to take [...]

Children’s author Vivian French launched Reading Force activity at Colinton Primary School, Edinburgh, in March. Vivian, who has written over 300 books, including The Cherry Pie Princess and Robe of Skulls, became an author later in life as she was told at school she was no good at writing! At Colinton she told the children ‘You’re all authors,’ and guided them to create characters and conjure up their own story, asking what could happen next and giving pointers on what makes a good tale. The youngsters came up with a wonderful idea about Jeffrold, an anxious tiger and were challenged to [...]

         Ages 4 to 7 What’s Next Door? by Nicola O’Byrne  Interactive book which children step into, as they take part in the story and enter new environments from stormy seas to hot deserts and icy lands.     My First Mog 123 by Judith Kerr  Learn to count with the very lovable Mog!       Max Campion and the Great Race Car Robbery by Alexander McCall Smith When Max finds an old car with his surname on the bonnet – Champion – he discovers his grandfather used to make some of the best cars…and race them! [...]

“We have done scrapbooks for four years now. We love doing them. We usually choose to do them on books which are new to us. We like doing the scrapbooks as it’s a lovely way to spend time together. We take away the memories we have of creating them. The children have also learnt to work together and listen and see that everyone’s ideas matter.”   Mum of three, Pip Mahoney, first came across Reading Force in 2015 when her family were posted in Cyprus. “My daughter, Skylar, got her scrapbook from her school at the time, RAF Akrotiri, then I [...]

    On Wednesday 7th March Reading Force launched at Colinton Primary School, Edinburgh, with special guest author, Vivian French. Vivian has written 300 children's books, including The Cherry Pie Princess, the Knights in Training series, and most recently,  Robe of Skulls. To much excitement at the school, Vivian had been awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award by the Scottish Book Trust the day before her visit to Colinton. In morning assembly Head Teacher Sonja Brown gave Vivian as special certificate to recognise this prestigious award -  and Vivian was really pleased! As well as giving the children an inspiring and fun day [...]

Ben Club children in RAF High Wycombe were entertained by Storyteller extraordinaire, John Kirk, on 20th February. John told the story of The Twits, by Roald Dahl, in a hugely energetic performance which saw the children, aged 5 – 8, being squirted with water pistols, brushed with fake glue, doing monkey dances, and an awful lot of laughing! After the story, children and parents were treated to a tea party, and a VIP guest arrived – Ben Elephant, the RAF Benevolent Fund’s mascot. This special event was to celebrate the launch of Reading Force activity which will be piloted in five [...]

  Hello Reading Force families! Im Emma, I'm a Pad Brat and school librarian and I write a regular blog about reading and Forces life. With a New Year comes thoughts of new starts and military children experience more new beginnings than most adults do in their entire lives. I have lived in over 17 houses and been to five different schools and I was one of the lucky ones! It's a complex lifestyle having to start over again every few months or years – from making new friends, to exploring a new area, learning a new school layout and having [...]

  Books are an important part of family life for RAF mum and writer, Susie Buchanan. Susie says books have helped the family through some tough times, so when she heard about Reading Force she signed up for scrapbooks and books for her daughter and son. This is Susie’s blog about her family’s experience of doing Reading Force… By Susie Buchanan I came across a feature about Reading Force in Just For Families magazine and thought it was such a lovely idea to bring families closer together through the pleasure of reading. Whether you're all at home or apart, having something we [...]

Hello Reading Force families!  I'm Emma, I'm a Pad Brat and I write blogs for Reading Force about reading and Forces life. Last month I spontaneously decided to visit my old quarter in Wiltshire. The first thing to note is something exclusive to Forces children - our houses are secret! Yes, try searching your house on google maps, often they can't be found. Take a look at this picture of my old house: It was a quiet Saturday morning when I arrived, and I entered the area with trepidation. The houses were not on barracks but I was still slightly concerned [...]

Hello, I’m Annabel Hall, a Service Pupils' Champion in North Yorkshire.  The autumn term got off to a great start with the visit of award winning illustrator, Lynne Chapman, and Reading Force staff to two of our schools in North Yorkshire, Alanbrooke Community Primary School and Dishforth Airfield Primary School. Lynne kept the children riveted by her energetic and entertaining book readings and conducted drawing workshops to teach the children (and staff!) some basic skills in illustrating emotions - who would have thought that a few carefully positioned lines have such an impact in conveying the feeling of the characters! Lynne’s [...]