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  • May 2022

    May 2022

    Our #BeanstalkBrilliant book of the month for May is 'Song for a Whale' by Lynne Kelly. This year 2nd - 8th May is Children's Book Week and Deaf Awareness Week so we thought we'd highlight some Beanstalk Brilliant Books featuring characters who may have experienced hearing loss or who wear hearing aids. Read more

  1. Reading resources
  2. Book of the month

Book of the Month

At Coram Beanstalk, we pay a lot of attention to detail when selecting and recommending books because ALL children deserve the chance to find books they love. We are mindful that to really connect with books, children need to see themselves and their lives reflected, they need to have their experiences validated and be made to feel like they belong. 

It is equally important that children are exposed to books exploring our shared humanity. Give a child the opportunity to read and talk about books that broaden their understanding of the world and the diverse range of people in it, and you give them the tools to build empathy, tolerance and respect.

Children need a diversity of choice too; the journey to becoming a reader involves exploring their own reading preferences. It's important for children to feel that they have the freedom to choose what to read and that their choices will be respected.

We have handpicked a selection of books we think are brilliant at both helping children fall in love with reading and showcasing a diverse range of characters and situations.  Each month we will share our chosen Book of the Month and recommend other equally brilliant titles with a similar theme or style.

May 2022

May 2022

Our #BeanstalkBrilliant book of the month for May is 'Song for a Whale' by Lynne Kelly. This year 2nd - 8th May is Children's Book Week and Deaf Awareness Week so we thought we'd highlight some Beanstalk Brilliant Books featuring characters who may have experienced hearing loss or who wear hearing aids. Read more

Published: 27th April, 2022

Updated: 4th May, 2022

Author: Kate- Loynes

April 2022

April 2022

Our #BeanstalkBrilliant book of the month for April is 'We All Celebrate' by Chitra Soundar. In a month when several religious festivals are traditionally celebrated our theme is around brilliant books which can help us all learn something new about religion. Read more

Published: 23rd March, 2022

Updated: 3rd May, 2022

Author: Kate- Loynes

March 2022

March 2022

Our #BeanstalkBrilliant book of the month for March is 'To Wee or Not To Wee' written by Pamela Butchart, illustrated by Thomas Flintham. Our Shakespeare theme this month celebrates Shakespeare Week taking place 21st - 28th March with a little help from our sister charity, Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation! Read more

Published: 7th March, 2022

Updated: 3rd May, 2022

Author: Kate- Loynes

February 2022

February 2022

Our #BeanstalkBrilliant book of the month for February is 'Chocolate Milk, X-Ray Specs and Me' written by Bethany Walker, illustrated by Jack Noel. Our theme this month is 'books about reading' - which we hope illustrate the value of reading and why it can be so helpful! Find out more and hear from the author herself! Read more

Published: 1st February, 2022

Updated: 4th April, 2022

Author: Gill Worrall

January 2022

January 2022

Our #BeanstalkBrilliant Book of the month for January is 'The Jamie Drake Equation' written by Christopher Edge and fits perfectly with our theme of science fiction books. Find out more about the book and how being opened-minded about the books we offer children, regardless of our own preferences, is important! Read more

Published: 2nd January, 2022

Updated: 7th February, 2022

Author: Gill Worrall

December 2021

December 2021

Our #BeanstalkBrilliant Book of the Month for December is 'The Ultimate Animal Joke Book' written by Sadie Gardner and our theme for the month is using jokes and riddles. Find out more about how books of jokes and riddles can really help a child's comprehension skills! Read more

Published: 29th November, 2021

Updated: 3rd February, 2022

Author: Gill Worrall

November 2021

November 2021

Our #BeanstalkBrilliant Book of the Month for November is 'The Vanishing Lake' written and illustrated by Paddy Donnelly. Read more about this beautiful story based on a regular occurrence at this real lake in Ireland and hear from the author himself! You'll also discover more Beanstalk Brilliant books that help children explore fact through fiction. Read more

Published: 9th November, 2021

Updated: 7th February, 2022

Author: Kate- Loynes

October 2021

October 2021

Our #BeanstalkBrilliant Book of the Month for October is 'My Name is not Refugee' by Kate Milner. Read more about this incredibly moving book and discover our suggestions for books which can also help build empathy in children. Read more

Published: 30th September, 2021

Updated: 7th February, 2022

Author: Kate- Loynes

September 2021

September 2021

Our #BeanstalkBrilliant Book of the Month for September is 'Grandad's Secret Giant' written and illustrated by David Litchfield. Click here to find out more about this month's choice! Read more

Published: 6th September, 2021

Updated: 29th November, 2021

Author: Kate- Loynes

August 2021

August 2021

Our #BeanstalkBrilliant Book of the Month for August is 'The Great (Food) Bank Heist' by Onjali Rauf, published by Barrington Stoke. Find out more about this month's choice here... Read more

Published: 4th August, 2021

Updated: 6th September, 2021

Author: Kate- Loynes

July 2021

July 2021

Our #BeanstalkBrilliant Book of the Month for July is 'The Perfect Fit' by Naomi and James Jones. Find out more about this month's choice here... Read more

Published: 13th July, 2021

Updated: 6th September, 2021

Author: Kate- Loynes

June 2021

June 2021

Our #BeanstalkBrilliant Book of the Month for June 2021, is 'Interview with a Shark' by one of our author supporters, Andy Seed. Find out more about this interesting non-fiction book here... Read more

Published: 4th June, 2021

Updated: 13th July, 2021

Author: Kate- Loynes

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  • As a retired teacher with dyslexia I knew immediately I had to be involved!

    As a retired teacher with dyslexia I knew immediately I had to be involved!

    One of our recently trained reading helpers talks about why she chose to join our Coram Beanstalk reading community...

  • Coram Beanstalk publishes Impact Report for 2021-22

    Coram Beanstalk publishes Impact Report for 2021-22

    After two years of disrupted service in schools, Coram Beanstalk are delighted to publish their latest Impact Report for the year 2021 - 2022. Read stories from across the Coram Beanstalk community of children, schools and volunteers - and see our latest impact statistics.

  • May 2022

    May 2022

    Our #BeanstalkBrilliant book of the month for May is 'Song for a Whale' by Lynne Kelly. This year 2nd - 8th May is Children's Book Week and Deaf Awareness Week so we thought we'd highlight some Beanstalk Brilliant Books featuring characters who may have experienced hearing loss or who wear hearing aids.

  • Win books for your school library!

    Win books for your school library!

    Coram Beanstalk, The Alligator's Mouth Book Shop and The Bright Agency are offering schools the opportunity to win a set of the ten books longlisted for The Alligator’s Mouth Award 2022, which champions both authors and illustrators of highly illustrated children’s fiction. Nominate a UK-based school to win a set of the ten longlisted books for their school library here...

Most read

  • Become a volunteer reading helper

    Become a volunteer reading helper

    Ready to take the first step to becoming a reading helper? Check you can meet some practicalities and fill in our application form here.

  • Frequently asked questions

    Frequently asked questions

    You may have some questions in your mind before you fill in your application form. Here are answers to our most commonly asked questions. If your question isn't answered here you can find out how to get in touch with our team.

  • The benefits of being a reading helper

    The benefits of being a reading helper

    We know from our volunteers that being a reading helper brings purpose and enjoyment into their lives. Find out more about the benefits of being part of our reading community here.

  • Our approach

    Our approach

    Find out more about how we work and our approach to reading support.

  • Thank you for applying to be a Beanstalk reading helper

  • Literacy charities join forces

    Literacy charities join forces

    On 1st November 2017 Reading Matters merged with the national children’s literacy charity Beanstalk.

  • Story Starters training

    Story Starters training

    Our early years programme offers a unique approach to equipping adults in your setting to help children develop all six crucial pre-reading skills plus the communication, concentration and confidence they need to ‘catch the reading bug’.  Read more about how our unique programme Story Starters can help you ensure that children start their primary education ready to be taught to read.

  • Current vacancies

    Current vacancies

    Click here to view our current vacancies.

  • Volunteer agreement

    Volunteer agreement

    Find out more about how we will do the best we can to make your volunteer experience with us enjoyable and rewarding.

  • Our Trustees

    Our Board of Trustees hold decades worth of high-level experience which they use to govern Coram Beanstalk and direct our strategy.

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Coram Beanstalk is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Copyright © 2019 Coram Beanstalk. Coram Beanstalk, Coram Campus, 41 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AZ.
Registered Charity No. 296454 (England and Wales).
Registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales No. 2101719.
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