Spotlight
Spotlight is our new children's reading promotion, which we are running in collaboration with our Children's Reading Partners project, the library/publishing consortium.
Spotlight is the result of an unprecedented cross-industry collaboration, drawing on the expertise of children's librarians to highlight the very best that children's publishing has to offer. And we are very grateful to everyone who has come together to make this happen.
How will it work?
Ten times a year, six titles selected by specialist children's librarians from across the UK will be promoted through public libraries, and school library services. Spotlight aims to introduce children to the best new writing and expand their reading horizons, help parents make informed reading choices for their children, and enhance libraries' promotion of current children's literature.
The promotion will feature three layers each month:
- The six Spotlight titles
- Front and backlist titles from that month's Spotlight authors
- 'If you liked this, you'll like this...' themed titles across all the publishers related to that month's selection.
Spotlight titles
Spotlight titles are a genuinely eclectic mix of haunting fable, gross-out humour, moon exploration, dark historical drama and swashbuckling adventure. Fiction and non fiction sit together on a list that includes established, award winning authors like Philip Reeve, Philip Ardagh and Elizabeth Laird and exciting new authors such as Katie Cleminson. There are beautifully illustrated new picture books for younger readers and dense, engrossing reads for teens. Spotlight titles currently cover key stages 1, 2 and 3. May titles are listed here and the full details can be downloaded from the resources column.
If you liked those... try these...
If you've enjoyed the monthly Spotlight titles then download our suggestions for other titles you might enjoy.
Other titles by Spotlight authors
If you have enjoyed the books by our featured Spotlight authors then you might also enjoy some of the other books they have written. Download the booklists to find out about other titles by our Spotlight authors.
Key Stage 1
Giddy-up, Winnie! by Laura Owen
Box of Tricks by Katie Cleminson
Key Stage 2
Stinking Rich and Just Plain Stinky by Philip Ardagh
Percy Jackson & the Last Olympians by Rick Riordan
Key Stage 3
Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve
The Witching Hour by Elizabeth Laird
Background to Spotlight
Spotlight will be implemented in two phases. From May to September, libraries signing up to Spotlight can get a free starter pack containing posters and headers to accompany library displays. They can also download ideas for the supplementary promotion of author back lists and feedback on the development of the project.
Once initial feedback has been reviewed, more materials will be available from September 2009. Libraries will be able to buy extra Spotlight promotional materials and get free access to reader development resources to support linked reading group activities. Some Spotlight authors will be available for library events.
May 2009
- All UK libraries can request a free starter pack containing one generic poster and one header.
- They will be able to buy stickers to differentiate the books.
- They will be able to download information and images of the titles to include in their displays.
From September 2009
- Librarians can download materials to support reader development activities based on the titles and suitable for reading groups for children and parents.
- Librarians can purchase additional materials such as belly bands and additional posters
- Spotlight event packs will be available to librarians to support the promotion of Spotlight author events.
We are planning a launch event in September 2009 so check back here for details. We will post them as soon as they are available.
