Reading

Books for children and young people

Summary: Books available for young people from the RNIB Library

• What you can borrow
• Finding the right book
• BookStream book club
• Books for learning
• Birthday books
• RNIB websites for teenagers and students
• For parents and teachers

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"Quite simply I love to read. I read at school, on the bus, in the park - I can't get enough of it." Nia, aged 14

Whether you're a young bookworm or a teenage book addict, we've got something for you at the library. We recommend that you join the library yourself, rather than just through your school or college, so that you can enjoy everything we offer directly. Contact us by email at cservices@rnib.org.uk or call 0845 762 6843.

We don't have books for the very youngest children (ages 0-4) - these are provided by ClearVision or find out if your local library can help.

What you can borrow

• A choice of over 2,000 books in giant print, braille or audio
• Borrow up to six books at a time. Postage is free.
• Lots to choose from - adventure, love, fantasy, funny stories, stories about animals, families or underpants and aliens!
• You can also borrow poetry and non-fiction books on topics like cookery, pets and sport.
• Borrow classic stories like Thomas the Tank Engine, James and The Giant Peach and Watership Down. Or find books by favourite authors such as Jacqueline Wilson, Garth Nix and J.K. Rowling.

Finding the right book

• Our Children’s Librarian can help you find the books you want to read and suggest others you might never have thought of trying. Send an email to liz.farrell@rnib.org.uk or call 0161 355 2061
• You can search our catalogue on the website at Library Catalogue or download our book lists on themes like relationships, detective stories and sport.
• Pick up tips and ideas in the 'Bookbox' section of our Read On magazine. ‘Bookbox’ is just for young readers and is full of book reviews and interviews with your favourite authors.

Books of the month

Some spooky books this month:

• The Poltergoose by Michael Lawrence. Giant Print 1v. Suggested reading age 8-11 years.
  Something's after Jiggy McCue! Something big and angry and invisible. Something which hisses and flaps and stabs his bum and generally makes his life a misery. Where did it come from? Jiggy calls in his best pals, Pete and Angie, and together the Three Musketeers - one for all and all for lunch! - set out to send the poltergoose back where it belongs.
• The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb by R.L. Stine. Braille 3v. Suggested reading age 12-14 years.
  Gabe and his know-it-all cousin Sari can't wait to explore the pyramids of Egypt with his favourite uncle, an archaeologist, as their personal guide. Gabe had never realised how big pyramids are, or how many hundreds of tunnels they have. It's too easy to get lost, and end up face-to-face with an ancient mummy. But there's no such thing as a curse - is there?

BookStream book club

You can read many of our audio books right now over the internet with the BookStream book club. All you have to do is choose a book, add it to your personal bookshelf, select the stream button and in a few seconds you'll be reading. You might need the help of an adult to set this up for you.

Books for learning

If you’re trying to get an answer for your homework, or you want to know more about a hobby, we can help. In addition to non fiction books, we offer free online reference services including newspapers, magazines, dictionaries and encyclopedias.

Birthday books

We send all our young readers a birthday book up to the age of 12 so that you can build up a collection of favourites to keep at home. Each year on your birthday, you will receive a book token and a list of books to choose from in giant print, braille or audio.

RNIB websites for teenagers and students

Why not visit the RNIB's teenager's site and student site; both include lots of stuff about books.

For parents and teachers

We welcome enquiries from parents, teachers and other professionals working with blind and partially sighted children.

Our Children's Librarian can provide advice about supporting the reading needs of children with sight loss.

RNIB National Library Service does not loan text books although many of our fiction and non fiction titles do support the National Curriculum. For information on school subjects and curriculum issues, email our Curriculum Information Officer suzy.mcdonald@rnib.org.uk.

Conference: Great Expectations 12 November

2008 is the National Year of Reading. How much do children with visual impairment have to celebrate in this vital area of their education? This conference provides an important opportunity to review established policies and practices in the light of new research, changing pupil needs and developments in technology.

This will be of interest to anyone working with children with little or no sight, including teachers, teaching assistants, literacy specialists, local authority and voluntary agency managers, ICT officers, librarians, education policy makers and parents. Find out more about the Great Expectations conference.

Other sources of help

• Ways of Reading is a free leaflet designed to help you find reading materials in accessible formats for children of all ages who are blind or partially sighted - for pleasure, information or school work.
• Parents’ Place is a safe place to meet other parents, pick up tips and advice, and get information about health, rights and services.
• Curriculum Clipboard provides information for education professionals.

Content author: megan.gilks@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13