Chatterbooks is a reading group for 8-12 year olds which was launched in Scotland on 26th November 2002 by well-known author, Jacqueline Wilson and is sponsored by the Vodafone Orange.
I have been looking to start up a lunchtime or after-school reading club for sometime now and when I heard about Chatterbooks I was just delighted and thought it was a great way to bring different age groups together to discuss books and reading, I think it's good that the library has something like this on the go as libraries play a crucial role in bringing reading and learning to children. Each month we decide on a theme for the book we are going to read which we then discuss at the next meeting and the group writes reviews which will be displayed around the library, the group will also help organize book activities within the library, e.g World Book Day in March and help organize author visits etc.
The group consists of 16 members, 8 from Secondary 1 and 8 from Primary 7. We had our first meeting on Wednesday 5th February 2003 and have decided to have a meeting on the first Wednesday of each month from 2.30-3.30. At our first meeting each group member was given a pack to take home which each consisted of a reading diary, 'post-it' review notes, fortune tell book choice game, pencil, bookmark and stickers all in a bright Chatterbooks reading group wallet to create a real sense of belonging to something special.
The group can only hold up to 16 members as that is all the packs available and also a fine number for discussion and plus we only have an hour, so have decided to make it available to pupils from P7 & S1, this is a good way for the P7s to meet the S1s before they come into Secondaries.
Written by Marie Reid, School Librarian
