At Coram Beanstalk, we're always trying to come up with ways to engage children with the idea of reading, especially those who wouldn't be choosing to pick up a book as their first choice of activity! And we know that it can be even harder to encourage reading in their spare time when there are so many competing distractions.
Which is why in this section of our website you'll find some really fun activities and exciting challenges.
We’ve just added some festive-themed activities and we’ve got a series of ideas involving books to help children Make it!, Tell it! Find it!, Play it!, Draw it! or Do it!, all of which you'll find below.
Or you can click on any of the special challenges that our author friends Joshua Seigal, Naomi Jones, Andy Seed, Jamie Smart, Dapo Adeola, Tọlá Okogwu, Matt Oldfield, the Really Big Pants Theatre Company, Abi Elphinstone, Joshua Seigal, Lisa Stickley and our friends at Whizz Pop Bang magazine have each set related to their books.
We've also got some super story dice illustrated by Nick Sharratt to print off, colour-in and make - and you can watch a film to help you decide how to play with them for endless story-telling fun!
Six weeks of challenges to get children reading it to.... draw it, find it, play it, tell it, make it and do it! Find out more here... Read more
Use our Story Dice to make up your own stories! Just print off the templates, colour in the beautiful Nick Sharratt illustrations, turn them into dice and the storytelling possibilities are endless! Read more
Poet Joshua Seigal introduces the 'Perform a poem' challenge and talks about his collection of poems, 'Welcome to my crazy life'. Joshua has lots of tips for writing and performing poems so why not take a look here... Read more
Author Naomi Jones introduces our 'Build a tower' challenge and reads from her, and James Jones' book, 'One more try'. Find how to have the best chance of building a great tower here... Read more
Author Andy Seed introduces our 'Go on a rainbow scavenger hunt' challenge and talks about his 'Nutty nature facts and jokes'. He even shares a few jokes and gives some helpful hints for your scavenger hunt. Read more
Author and illustrator Jamie Smart introduces our 'Make a graphic novel' challenge and gives some great advice on making your own graphic novels and comics… Read more
Author and illustrator Dapo Adeola introduces our Coram Beanstalk super summer challenge, 'Speak up and make a difference' and talks about his and Nathan Bryon's book 'Speak Up!'. He even gives some great tips to help make yourself heard... Read more
Author Tọlá Okogwu introduces our 'Find your own superpower' challenge and reads from 'Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun'. Can you find your own superpower? Read more
Why not try playing a new game or sport this summer? We asked Footie Heroes author, Matt Oldfield to help us set you a sporty challenge. Read more here... Read more
Fancy putting on a play or show this summer? We've got a great challenge from our actor friends 'The Really Big Pants Theatre Company' to get you off on the right foot. Find out more here... Read more
Get outside this holiday and find out more about the natural world around you. Our author ambassador, Abi Elphinstone sets a nature challenge for the whole family to enjoy. Read more... Read more
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