Find fantastic free resources and discover new books from award-winning authors

Fiction

Heartstopper – Teaching Notes

Topic: Empathy, English, LGBTQ+, PSHE & Citizenship

Age Range: 11-14, 14+

Related Book: Heartstopper Volume 1

Book Creator: Alice Oseman

Heartstopper is the multi-million-copy bestselling series by Alice Oseman.

These resources are based on Volumes One, Two and Three of Heartstopper and have been created by SHAPES for Schools.

Themes: LGBTQ+ | Diversity & Representation | Mental Health | Relationships

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Rabbit and Bear Series – Teaching Notes

Topic: Climate change, English, Geography, Modern Classic, PSHE & Citizenship

Age Range: 3-6, 7-11

Related Book: Rabbit and Bear: A Bad King is a Sad Thing

Book Creator: Jim Field, Julian Gough

Rabbit and Bear is the critically-acclaimed, brilliantly funny woodland tales by Julian Gough and Jim Field. Gorgeously illustrated and with a classic feel, these books are ideal for newly independent readers aged 5+ moving on from picture books.

Themes: Creative Writing and Comprehension | Geography | Animals | Drama and Arts

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Dark Lady resources

The Dark Lady – Discussion Questions

Topic: English, History

Age Range: 11-14, 14+

Related Book: The Dark Lady

Book Creator: Akala

Akala’s debut novel for teens, The Dark Lady, will enthuse and entertain teenagers and young adults, showing that reading is a true super-power.

Themes: Family | Magic | Loneliness | Elizabethan Era

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Harper Drew poster

Harper Drew – Poster

Topic: English, Growing up

Age Range: 11-14, 7-11

Related Book: What's New, Harper Drew?

Book Creator: Kathy Weeks

Packed FULL of mayhem and drama, What’s New, Harper Drew? is a laugh-out-loud series about discovering inner confidence and finding the funny in the everyday, from author Kathy Weeks with illustrations by Aleksei Bitskoff. For fans of Jacqueline Wilson and Dork Diaries.

Download this fun poster for your classroom.

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Harper Drew resources

What’s New Harper Drew? – Teaching Notes

Topic: English, Growing up

Age Range: 11-14, 7-11

Related Book: What's New, Harper Drew?

Book Creator: Kathy Weeks

Packed FULL of mayhem and drama, What’s New, Harper Drew? is a laugh-out-loud series about discovering inner confidence and finding the funny in the everyday, from author Kathy Weeks with illustrations by Aleksei Bitskoff. For fans of Jacqueline Wilson and Dork Diaries.

Themes: | Diary Writing | Comedy Writing | Funny Illustrations | Comedy Performances

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Nature Trail Activity trail

Nature Trail – Activity Trail

Topic: English

Age Range: 3-6

Related Book: Nature Trail

Book Creator: Nila Aye, Benjamin Zephaniah

Inspirational poet Benjamin Zephaniah has created a celebration of the garden in this rhythmic, rhyming picture book poem. The vibrant, detailed illustrations by Nila Aye are bursting with life, just like the garden and are full of flowers and fruits, creepy crawlies, sly foxes and thieving squirrels!

Themes: Understanding the World | Exploring the Outdoors | Plants & Animals | Habitats | Poetry | Sorting & Classifying

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Nature Trail activity sheet

Nature Trail – Activity Sheets

Topic: English

Age Range: 3-6

Related Book: Nature Trail

Book Creator: Nila Aye, Benjamin Zephaniah

Inspirational poet Benjamin Zephaniah has created a celebration of the garden in this rhythmic, rhyming picture book poem. The vibrant, detailed illustrations by Nila Aye are bursting with life, just like the garden and are full of flowers and fruits, creepy crawlies, sly foxes and thieving squirrels!

Themes: Understanding the World | Exploring the Outdoors | Plants & Animals | Habitats | Poetry | Sorting & Classifying

Download Resource

Nature Trail – Teaching Notes

Topic: English

Age Range: 3-6

Related Book: Nature Trail

Book Creator: Nila Aye, Benjamin Zephaniah

Inspirational poet Benjamin Zephaniah has created a celebration of the garden in this rhythmic, rhyming picture book poem. The vibrant, detailed illustrations by Nila Aye are bursting with life, just like the garden and are full of flowers and fruits, creepy crawlies, sly foxes and thieving squirrels!

Themes: Understanding the World | Exploring the Outdoors | Plants & Animals | Habitats | Poetry | Sorting & Classifying

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Paper Bird, Paper Boat – Teaching Notes

Topic: English, Life changes

Age Range: 11-14, 7-11

Related Book: Paper Boat, Paper Bird

Journey to Japan and discover the magic of the everyday.

This beautiful book by David Almond, the bestselling author of Skellig and My Name is Mina, is illustrated throughout in black and orange by Kirsti Beautyman.

Themes: Travel | Culture | Art | Friendships

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Leila and the Blue Fox – Teaching Notes

Topic: English, Geography, PSHE & Citizenship

Age Range: 11-14, 7-11

Related Book: Leila and the Blue Fox

A breathtaking story about one small fox’s journey across the Arctic … and one girl’s journey to find the mother she thought she’d lost.

This resource pack contains cross-curricular activites and discussion questions for use in the classroom or library reading group.

Themes: Family relationships | Migration |  Animals in the wild | Home | Climate change | Memories

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Swarm Rising – Teaching Notes

Topic: Climate change, English, Science

Age Range: 7-11

Related Book: Swarm Rising

Book Creator: Steve Cole, Tim Peake

From astronaut Tim Peake and bestselling author Steve Cole comes an exciting action-adventure series rooted in cutting-edge space-age science and technology. Perfect for 9+ fans of Alex Rider, Young Bond and Cherub!

Themes: Space | Adventure | STEM | Ecology | Technology

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Ghostcloud – Activity Sheets

Topic: English, Geography, History, Modern Classic, Race & identity, Science

Age Range: 7-11

Related Book: Ghostcloud

Book Creator: Michael Mann

A riveting, magical adventure set deep underneath a richly reimagined London for 9+ readers.

Themes: History | Science | Identity | Fantasy | Ghosts

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