Links

Achuka: http://www.achuka.co.uk
Lively site with a wide range of children's books, Achukachat, a discussion forum for adults. Reviews, author interviews and recommended books.

Barrington Stoke: http://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk
Publisher specialising in fiction and resources for reluctant, dyslexic and under-confident readers and their teachers, with useful resources and advice for teachers, children and parents. Authors include big names such as Michael Morpurgo and Malorie Blackman.

BBC Online: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/dynamo/parents/index.shtml
The BBC's helpful DynaMo programme for parents who want to help their children learn at home. The site features advice and dynamic learning games and will help you as a parent to get involved in your child's learning as you join in the activities and games together.

Bookbox: http://www.channel4.com/learning/microsites/b/bookbox
Good-looking Channel 4 website which aims to put children in touch with authors and books. The site features nearly 30 of the most popular children's authors, with a few poets and illustrators. There's also a Writer's Toolkit with tips from the authors delivered in audio, so it's good for young writers.

Books for Keeps: http://www.booksforkeeps.co.uk
Website for highly respected magazine which reviews children's books for parents and teachers. reviews archive available on the site.

Booktrust: http://www.booktrusted.com/
Online children's magazine run by Booktrust which recommends books, provides resources for teachers and excellent updates about what's going on in the children's book world.

Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education: http://inclusion.uwe.ac.uk
UK site which works internationally to promote inclusion and end segregation and is good on inclusion for parents/teachers/carers.

Children's Books UK Info: http://www.cbuk.info/index.php
Slightly basic-looking site which offers recommendations of new children's books according to age group, but its helpful if you are looking for books for children of any age.

Children's Laureate: http://www.childrenslaureate.org
The new Laureate is the much-loved Jacqueline Wilson. This website provides information about Children's Laureates past and present, as well as details of activities by the current Laureate, competitions, reviews and information on children's literature generally.

Click Thinking: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/clickthinking/default.htm
The Scottish Executive's website on safe Internet use for children, this is intended for teachers and other professionals, but its clear information would be welcomed by any adult concerned about this issue.

Cool Reads: http://www.cool-reads.co.uk
Very successful site which was set up by Chris (15) and Tim (14). 10 to 15 year olds review work by their peers. It's a great site for young writers and the idea has rung a bell all over the world.

Count me in Calendar: http://inclusion.uwe.ac.uk
Whitbread-sponsored website with useful information for school assembly planners and librarians, in effect a free listing of charity awareness and fundraising campaigns, some international, organised by the week.

Department for Education and Skills (UK): http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/schoollife/helpyourchildrentolearn
Official website with many useful free information sheets, including one entitled Help your children to learn.

Groovy Child Writer: http://www.groovychildwriter.co.uk
Another enjoyable website hosted by two children, Sophie and Emma, who invite other young people to send in their stories and poems for online publication. Your kids can watch to see if their own entries appear on the site, or browse work by other teenagers and children.

Guardian Unlimited Books: http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/childrenandteens/front/0,6000,95692,00.html
This brilliant website has excellent pages on children's books.

International Association of School Librarians: http://www.iasl-slo.org
There's a mass of global information on this site for school librarians, teachers, librarians and others who are responsible for library and information services in schools.

Keeping Safe on the Net: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2538491.stm
Helpful guidelines from the BBC to help you make sure that children are using the net
safely.

Kids on the Net: http://kotn.ntu.ac.uk/
Writing, reading and lots of fun for children on this popular site, which is still accepting some children's work.

Kids Own Publishing: http://kidsown.ie/about-us/
Arts Council-funded operation which aims to raise the status pf children's creative skills as writers and artists by publishing their material.

Kids' Review: http://www.kidsreview.org.uk
Would your child like to review fiction? This site contains over 9,000 reviews by children of the books they have read and enjoyed. It's a subscription-based site, intended primarily for schools and libraries.

Learning and Teaching Scotland:http://www.ltscotland.org.uk
Public body which provides support for teachers and those working in education.

Literary Dreams: http://www.literarydreams.net
Similar in format to Cool Reads (see above), this site contains reviews for over 200 titles, organised by subject, and is aimed at teenagers.

National Grid for Learning: http://www.ngfl.gov.uk/
Portal to education websites and information on the web. Of international interest, although it contains some UK-specific material.

Check out the three educational websites
recommended by Chris Holifield of the Children's Poetry Bookshelf on
their site. http://www.ngfl.gov.uk/features.jsp?sec=15&cat=99&res=89873

Poetry Corner: http://www.childrenfirst.nhs.uk/kids/life/poetry_corner
A place for children to get involved with poetry which is part of Great Ormond Street Hospital's 'Kids first for Health' site

Poem Hunter: http://www.poemhunter.com
Useful American site which can help you locate poems and poets.

Poetry Society: http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk/education/youngpo/ypindex.htm
Young poets' section of the Poetry Society which offers membership for teenage writers.

Poetry Zone: http://www.poetryzone.co.uk
Lively site which publishes children's own work and reviews.

Random House: http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/childrens/home.htm
UK publisher's website dedicated to teen readers. Includes thousands of books for teens, plus excerpts, reading group guides, contests and author biographies.

Reading Matters: http://www.readingmatters.co.uk/index.php
Enthusiast Jill Marshall reviews and recommends a wide range of children's books.

Scottish Poetry Library: http://www.spl.org.uk/youngpeople
Site specially designed for young people in Scotland, run by the CPB's partner, the Scottish Poetry Library, which runs school tours and professional development courses for teachers.

Show me: http://www.show.me.uk
Superb site provided by a group of British museums which provides lots of entertaining games and other fun for children.

Write Away!: http://improbability.ultralab.anglia.ac.uk/writeaway/frame.htm
Regularly updated site which encourages children to read and write, with reviews and author interviews.

Write Here, Write Now: http://www.writehere.org.uk
UK Department for Education and Skills site which runs competitions for years 4 and 5 (8 to 10).

Writing Together: http://www.booktrust.org.uk/writingtogether/index.html
Booktrust-run scheme providing resources for teachers, visits by writers and encouraging young people to write.

Young Cultural Creators: http://www.youngculturalcreators.com
Library-inspired and run website for librarians, museums and educators which encourages young people to develop their reading and creativity.