National Share-a-Story Month

NSSM National Share-A-Story Month (NSSM) is an annual celebration of the power of storytelling and story sharing, providing a fantastic opportunity to fulfil the core aim of the FCBG of bringing children and stories together. Across the country Federation book groups and individuals run a whole host of events. Each year we are inspired by a specific theme and work with different organisations to provide people with resources and opportunities.

National Share-A-Story Month 2016

Scroll down for great competitions and FREE draws with great prizes!!

 NSSM will take place during May 2016 and our theme for 2016 is ‘A Place for Stories’.  The idea is to encourage the telling and sharing of stories in unusual (but safe) places.  Anywhere from under a tree to aboard a canal boat or a cross channel ferry, in the depths of a castle, on a bridge or under a bridge, under the bed, in a café, at a stately home, in the depths of a forest, a tent, at the bottom of the garden, in a bird hide, on an island, at a museum, at a fairground, on the bus, on a park bench…the ideas are endless. Click here to see what exciting events are already planned. Let us know what you are doing at nssm@fcbg.org.uk. Do contact us too for any further information. Louise Stothard, NSSM co-ordinator at nssm@fcbg.org.uk.

The NSSM pack of ideas and activities for  ‘A Place for Stories’ is growing and we have made great links with The National Trust, The Canals and Waterways Trust, The Forestry Commission as well as The Wildlife Trust who are all keen to involve visitors in story sharing in unusual places.  Several Publishers are keen to be involved too. This is only one aspect of our initiative but should be fun to take up! As part of this every group will be sent a copy of Chris Lloyd’s Wallbook Timeline of British History which links to 10 National Trust properties where important events have taken place. Here’s a link to one of the earliest moments in the book about the Giant’s Causeway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcYmVMMpa8I

Click here for the full pack, downloadable as a zip file. You can also download each activity pack below:

Bloomsbury have published a wonderful picture book called ‘Are You Sitting Comfortably‘ by Leigh Hodgkinson about a boy looking for just the right place to read which fits in so well with our NSSM theme!  Here is a colouring sheet to go with the book. They have kindly offered a copy of ‘Are You Sitting Comfortably?‘ and a bundle of picture books as a prize for the photo of someone reading in the most unusual place. This lovely picture book fits so well with the NSSM theme!

Please send any photos with a short explanation to me, Louise Stothard, at nssm@fcbg.org.uk by Friday 3rd June and they will be entered into a draw for this excellent prize.

Detective Dog‘ is Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie’s exciting new picture book published by Macmillan. Nell is a very clever dog with an amazing sense of smell who comes to the rescue when all the books are stolen from the school library.  This is a great celebration of reading and and fits in well with NSSM. Macmillan have generously offered the prize of a signed copy and other goodies for our prize draw of the photograph of reading in an inventive space – with or without your dog!’

Please send any photos with a short explanation to me, Louise Stothard, at nssm@fcbg.org.uk by Friday 3rd June and they will be entered into a draw for this excellent prize.

We’re also looking forward to hearing about the story sharing events you have planned.

Look out for the new What on Earth? Wallbook Timeline of British History

Every book group will receive a copy signed by the author Christopher Lloyd

The latest Wallbook from What on Earth?, produced in association with the National Trust, takes a gargantuan voyage through the history of Great Britain using a giant illustrated timeline.  Readers will be taken on a journey, beginning with the first appearance of the dinosaurs 225 million years ago, then venturing through the construction of Stonehenge in 3000 BC, the Viking invasion of 793 AD, the Battle of Hastings, the Black Death, the War of the Roses, the Reformation, Civil War, Waterloo, Florence Nightingale, two World Wars, and right up to the present day with Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-ever reigning British Monarch. The new Wallbook features more than 1,000 illustrations and captions with key moments documented in over 40 newspapers stories, a crossword, letters to the editor and a 50-question quiz.

Groups or individual group members are invited to submit reviews (with a picture of the group if possible) about the new Wallbook to info@whatonearthbooks.com for publication on the What on Earth? website.  All reviews received by Friday 13th May 2016 will be entered into a free prize draw to win a What on Earth? Gift Pack containing all six Wallbooks: Big History, Nature, Science & Engineering, Shakespeare; Sport and British History.  The winner will be informed on Friday 20th May.

dragonsNSSM1

National Share a Story Month 2015

The theme for NSSM 2015 was Dragons!
Many thanks to all of you who have taken paert and celebrated with us. You can see reports from some of the events here.

The NSSM 2015 Pack is still available for you to use: 

 PRIZES!

The last Book groups have held their dragon inspired days of stories and craft activities, schools and libraries have sent photos of busy children wearing dragon masks and making wonderful displays, and across the country, dragon stories have been enjoyed by all.  The prize draw has finally taken place and we are delighted to announce the following lucky winners…

 

 

 

Oxted Children’s Book Group won the framed Dragon illustration by Korky Paul

korkypaul_copyright

Winnie the Witch © Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul, published by Oxford University Press © Winnie the Witch illustration Korky Paul

Ipswich Children’s Book Group won the framed Dragon illustration by Sarah McIntyre:

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North Somerset Children’s Book Group won the framed Dragon poem by John Foster, illustrated by Mario Coelho:

olddragon

 

Oxford Children’s Book group won a collection of Dragon Books.

Bishops Stortford College Prep school group won a collection of Dragon Books.

South Bucks Children’s Book Group won the Giant Egg Kit generously donated by Bookspace for Schools http://www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk

Reading Children’s Book group won a collection of Dragon Books.

Bridegewater Primary School, Newcastlle won a collection of Dragon Books.

Dereham Neatherd High School, in Norfolk won a collection of Dragon Books.

The FCBG would like to thank Korky Paul, Sarah McIntyre, John Foster and Mario Coelho for their generous donation of the dragon poem and illustrations.
We thank Bookspace for Schools for their wonderful donation of the Giant Egg Kit. http://www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk
Also many thanks to the publishers Orion, Random House, Nosy Crow and Orchard for their support and donation of books.

We have been delighted with the enthusiastic response to this year’s Dragon filled NSSM and we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part.  We are sorry there are not enough prizes for you all!

An exciting NSSM 2016 is being planned and there will be more news soon!

 

 

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National Share-A-Story Month 2014

50TH_CCF_Purple_Background250px The theme for National Share-A-Story Month in 2014 was ‘Imagination and Inventiveness’ as we joined with Dahl & Dahl and Puffin Publishers and celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the publication of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Book groups and individuals held a whole host of events based on ideas linked with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and many other wonderful Roald Dahl stories. Puffin provided activity packs, posters and competition prizes and the Dahl Literary Estate supported us too. We are grateful to Puffin, Dahl and Dahl, Spineless Classics and McLaggan Mugs for their generosity in donating this year’s prizes. We are now looking forward to NSSM 2015 and would welcome any ideas and suggestions for a new theme! Please email Louise Stothard, NSSM coordinator nssm@fcbg.org.uk Photos from Reading CBG’s 2014 National Share-a-Story Month events photo 3 photo 2 photo 1 Members of Reading CBG donned Willy Wonka style top hats and waistcoats for the Roald Dahl themed drop in activity at Reading Central Library on Saturday 10th May. Tables were spread with a variety of activities, information about the Federation and chocolate cake (to celebrate the 50th birthday of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). Even before the official start time, families started to arrive and before we knew it the library was heaving with 60 children plus their parents! As one of the events of the annual Children’s Festival, we were in the official programme and the inclement weather also worked in our favour. Children of all ages had a go at making ‘sweets that looked round’ and ‘luminous lollipops’, creating their own sweetie concoctions and entering a quiz about the author. Lots of interest in the group, smiley faces and full tummies – an unqualified success! Happy Birthday Charlie! Yeo Valley CBG’s event makes the local news! Local papers covered Yeo Valley’s very successful NSSM event. There is an article in the Weston Mercury, and this article was published in The North Somerset Times on 21st May: yeov_paper  Saddlesworth CBG

Mr Willy Wonka turned up as a surprise guest! He gave out Golden Tickets and chocolates to children who completed the quiz.  Book group members designed sweets and ice creams with imagination and flair, as well as making top hats fit for the most glamorous of Dahl occasions.  Willy Wonka judged all the design competitions and there were lots of books as prizes, some donated by Waterstones Oldham. Local Yorkshire author Roddy Brooks  came to the event and donated two copies of his book, The Journey, which he signed for lucky winners.
Children built a Great Glass Elevator, which became a popular play area for the entire event, and there were Augustus Gloop and Mike Teavee games to join in with too.
After all the crafts and games, storytelling and building, there was a chance for all the children to try Wonka’s Whipple Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight and many children also took home Stickjaw Toffee, for talkative parents.

All in all, it was a happy party atmosphere!

Special guest Willy Wonka!

Special guest Willy Wonka!

Stickjaw!

Stickjaw!

Launch event activities

Launch event activities

Launch event activities

Launch event activities

Great Glass Elevator

Great Glass Elevator

Oxted CBG

donkey derby photo 2014On a sunny June afternoon the Oxted Children’s Book Group ran a book stall at our local scout group’s Donkey Derby.  We hoped to raise awareness of the Group and so attract some new members, as well as selling books from previous testing years.  We were pleased to raise £200, half of which we have donated to Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity.
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