Build a

Book Club

A step by step guide to creating a successful and much-loved book club in your school, community or online.

JOIN NOW

I’ve been in adult book clubs on and off since my late teens and found them a wonderful source of literary goodness, scrumptious food and lifelong friendships.

I’ve applied the same model of book clubs to younger readers and I’ve set up countless book clubs over the years for tweens, teens, English as an additional language students, Harry Potter obsessives and groups of family friends. I’ve made all the mistakes I assure you! I want to help you create a book club which is the buzz of the school or your local community.

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In Build a Book Club I’ve distilled all my learnings, research and resources

into a six week course.

I’m a big believer in books as doorways

into other worlds

and other ways of understanding the world we live in.

I see books as conversations starters with peers and amongst generations…I’ve had so many parents comment that sharing and talking books with their tweens and teens has opened conversations they never imagined being able to have.

Books offer refuge from worries and a quiet place to escape to when life is busy. Book clubs offer the same, with the added bonus of a social event on the calendar, the possibility of new friendships cemented over shared interests, closer connections with your child or students and the anticipation of chocolate, cake and tea!

Is whether or not your child becomes ‘a reader’ based on luck? Or can you actively make choices and decisions which will greatly improve their chances of seeing reading as an important part of their life? I believe book clubs and finding books that your child (and yourself) connect with can tip the balance in your favour.

JOIN NOW

He won’t tell me how his day was, and I often get eye-rolls and grunts instead of conversation. But when he saw me reading our Book Club book last night, there was a flicker of interest and we talked over dinner and instead of homework about the World War 2 themed book and the main characters relationship with his mother. Wanted to thank you so much, this book gave us a focus and a reason to talk.

RT, Parent

ok, start thinking about possible members for your 

Book Club?

While you ponder membership and cake recipes, let me take the legwork out of the organisational aspect of it, after all, I am a librarian and we are known for our skills in curating content!

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What Can You Expect from Build a Book Club?

Build a Book Club is a step by step guide to creating a successful and much-loved book club in your school, community or online. All the best groups start (and have longevity) where there is a strong foundation and some key objectives underpinning it!

Modules:
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The Basics of Bookclubbing

The how and why of bookclubbing. Why start or join a book club and covering all the basics you need to consider before opening your first book club read!

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Balance in All Things

A balanced literary diet – a feast of genres. Just like we talk about eating a balanced diet and balancing screen time with time outdoors, we need to find balance in what we read as a bookclub.

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#ownvoices

Acknowledging and reflecting on diversity and the power of reading books by authors with lived experience of race, disability, sexual and gender diversity.

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Tech and Reading

Will we read in print, as an ebook or though audio? There is an element of apprehension amongst parents and educators about reading in the digital age but on the upside, technology means we are now more connected to the stories of others, worldwide and in our local community, than ever.

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The basics are done. Now to add the Frills.

Admit it. You’re here for the food and the drinks as much as the books! How to take your book club to the next level with themed literary food, craft options (glitter is not going to kill you I promise) and planning social outings to bookstore and library events.

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Resources and Read on

Like a good librarian does, I’ve curated the best content I could find and put it all in the one place. Here you’ll find links to websites for further reading, ideas for magazines you might like to subscribe to and links to some of my favourite authors…

The material in this e-course is especially useful for students in years three - eight or your child aged approximately 9 – 15 years old. Content is aimed at adults and all book recommendations should be perused for suitability for your reader.

Each week

you will receive;
  • A video welcome from me, outlining the module
  • Comprehensive module notes
  • Suggested books and reading links
  • Actionable points
  • A recipe idea to stash away for future meetings

You will be welcomed into the 26,000+ strong Facebook Group, Your Kid’s Next Read – moderated by authors Allison Tait and Allison Rushby and myself, where the conversations can continue.

I see my Tween book club as a way to ‘transition’ young readers from primary school age reading material to middle grade and YA reads in a gentle and really fun way. We talk, laugh and learn about books suitable for tweens and teens and though the focus is on nurturing reading enjoyment in the students, the parents/carers usually enjoy the books just as much – because quality writing for tweens and teens is ageless.

Megan

Speaking at the 2019 Softlink Conference

Book Club are an Extra-curricular Activity

with a Twist
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As parents we drive and drop off our children to dance, sporting pursuits and the local speech and drama studio or Girl Guides hut. Build a Book Club is about establishing an extra-curricular activity with a bit of a difference whether you are an educator, parent, librarian or bookstore owner looking to set up a social group – you get to enjoy the book, the food and the emerging friendships. Book Clubs are not a drop and go activity, they are all about connections – with others and with books. If you’re lucky? Book club might just become your favourite extra-curricular activity.

Many moons ago I was in Megan’s Year Six Book Parent/Child book club. We enjoyed it so much that we still meet, now monthly, and for me it’s become a fantastic way to make myself read books and it’s helped *** and I keep in touch through the teen years. These are not a group of peers *** would have otherwise connected with, but it’s certainly widened the widened the friendship group

IW, Parent
Just for Readers?

Heck no My Friends!

In fact with my school based book clubs I specifically target reluctant readers and those kids for whom reading is a challenge. The ‘readers’ will flock in droves to your book club…it’s the rest of the little people we want to engage! Story can be accessed in so many formats and books can be read aloud, listened to on audio or even in movie form. I am really passionate about every child developing an identity as a reader – whatever that looks like them for them.

Photo Credit: Ruby Olive

Girl Zone Book Club was initially daunting for my daughter who finds reading a struggle but I get teary thinking about what it has done for her. She has learnt how to ‘talk books’ with her peers and we’ve discovered that we love reading together. Yes I’ve done most of the reading, but she’s been next to me absorbing all the words and the arc of the narrative.

LO, Parent
Build a

Book Club

A step by step guide to creating a successful and much-loved book club in your school, community or online. All the best groups start (and have longevity) where there is a strong foundation and some key objectives underpinning it!

Build a Book Club

$100
  • Six modules, covering everything from the basics right up to adding the frills!
  • Comprehensive module notes
  • Suggested books and reading links
  • Actionable points
  • A recipe idea to stash away for future meetings
JOIN NOW
JOIN NOW