Spring term has always been the busiest on our calendar but this year more than ever it has been a joy to engage online with our schools, libraries, teachers, authors, partners and even a Hollywood Movie Producer (of Despicable Me fame), John Cohen (OK, it was one retweet – but, you know, WOW!).  From photos of dress-up days to books that are being enjoyed by children and everything in between, it’s been such a buzz to behold.

Lots of schools use World Book Day as a springboard to launch their Readathon and this year there was a hive of activity on Twitter. Here are some of my favourites (with, of course, the caveat in Len Goodman style, that you are all my favourites!).

We were absolutely enchanted by Sancton Wood School who handcrafted two giant books to float in their hallway. The children also made their own book spines to decorate and turn the schools into giant bookshelves. What a fairytale!

Rendcomb College hosted a wonderful Big Book Quiz night and Cirencester Deer Park School had hot chocolate and biscuits to reward a day of reading.

Burnt Mill Academy had 30 pledges to read at their launch, whereas Gateacre School‏ had over 50 students taking part in their sponsored read.

Filled with glee, Meriden C of E Primary School turned their classrooms upside down to fully enjoy the Readathon experience. I’m all for a bit of rebellion when reading, and indeed teaching, is involved.

It was wonderful to engage with Winterfold House bookworms, who wholeheartedly embraced World Book Day costumes as their Readathon came to an end. They raised over £2,000. That’s plenty of pages turned!

Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital hosted a Reading Assembly to reveal the amount raised for Readathon. The Librarian could not have been prouder of the boys involved and it was so heartening.

And finally, Framlingham College Prep who raised a staggering £2,650 in their first Readathon.

Phew! And this was just a small snippet of my day. There are so many more schools, libraries, authors and partners who engage with us daily.

I am ever so passionate about working for Readathon.  I have two children of school age – one an avid bookworm and frequent flyer of Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Books have been central to my daughter’s life in and out of hospital and has provided us both with much needed escapism and routine when all seemed quite out of control. My son is quite the reluctant reader but a lover of books, he is my rebel reader, much preferring Minecraft Annuals, Stampy Longnose sticker books and Roger Priddy’s Wallace the Dog, especially when the dog does something bad at the annual Summer Fayre!  Sometimes the book finds the child.

Seeing all these schools participate in our sponsored reads, as a Mum of two children, I can honestly say that no one size fits all! That’s the beauty of Readathon. You can make it whatever you need it to be, whenever you can fit it in and to all the schools that run it I must say, you certainly take on the challenge! You set our office alight with your ideas, photos and enthusiasm.

See you same time next year, if not before. In the meantime, a cuppa and book?

Jo Dury

Readathon Executive

jo@readforgood.org

Jo, Readathon Executive