Our latest news, tips, and advice
Read what's happening with Reading Chest, along with advice on how to help your child on their reading journey.
Bright Ideas for Bonfire Night: Spark Imagination Through Reading
November 1, 2025
Bonfire Night, celebrated every year on November 5th, is a time of dazzling fireworks, glowing bonfires, and cozy family gatherings. While the night is bursting with excitement, it’s also a brilliant opportunity to weave reading and storytelling into your celebrations....
Spooky Stories and Reading Fun This Halloween
October 24, 2025
Halloween is such a thrilling time of year for children — full of imagination, creativity, and just the right amount of spooky fun! Between the costumes, pumpkin carving, and trick-or-treating, it’s also the perfect chance to add a sprinkle of...
World Teachers’ Day: Thanking the Teachers Who Spark a Love of Reading
October 3, 2025
World Teachers’ Day (5 October) is the perfect time to celebrate the incredible teachers who help shape young minds — and hearts. Among the many things they teach, one of the greatest gifts they give is a love of reading....
Celebrate Black History Month: Explore Stories of Courage and Culture
October 1, 2025
Black History Month is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate, learn, and reflect. It’s a time to shine a light on the stories, achievements, and history of Black individuals and communities — and to help children understand the importance of diversity,...
Celebrate Libraries Week: Discover, Read and Imagine Together
September 29, 2025
It’s Libraries Week – the perfect excuse (as if we needed one!) to celebrate one of the best inventions ever: the library. Whether it’s the smell of well-loved pages, the excitement of finding a new story, or the quiet magic...
Cosy Up With Reading Chest This Autumn
September 18, 2025
September means new shoes, fresh pencil cases… and the return of the school run (deep breath!). It’s also the perfect moment to set good habits for the year ahead. Reading regularly at home can give children a real boost as...
Ahoy Matey! Bringing ‘Talk Like a Pirate Day’ to Life with Reading Activities
September 11, 2025
Ahoy there! Every September 19th it’s time to dust off your best “Arrr!” because Talk Like a Pirate Day is here. It’s a brilliant excuse to add a splash of silliness to your child’s reading and spark their imagination. Whether...
Whizzpopping Ways to Celebrate Roald Dahl Day
September 10, 2025
Every year on September 13th, families everywhere celebrate Roald Dahl Day. It’s the perfect excuse to dive into the whiz-popping worlds of one of the greatest children’s authors of all time. Dahl’s books have been making kids laugh, gasp, and...
How to Keep Kids Reading All Summer (Without a Battle)
July 17, 2025
Ah, summer. Long lazy mornings, sticky ice lollies, the smell of suncream on everything. And the perfect time for children to... completely forget how to read? OK, not quite. But the “summer slide” is real—kids can lose a surprising amount...
Stories That Spark Creativity: Fun Ways to Mix Reading and Art for Children’s Art Week
June 29, 2025
Children’s Art Week is the perfect excuse to get out the crayons, splash a bit of paint around (hopefully not on the cat), and let creativity run wild. But it’s also a brilliant time to weave in some reading —...
Words That Wow: Fun Ways to Celebrate National Writing Day
June 23, 2025
National Writing Day is the perfect excuse to grab a pencil (or a glittery gel pen) and let your child’s imagination run wild. It’s all about celebrating the magic of storytelling — and showing kids just how powerful their words...