All the Better to Read You With

Chip Colquhoun began storytelling professionally in 2007 alongside Amy Scott Robinson. He's since performed in 10 countries, presented Traditional Tales for the Oxford Reading Tree online, performed regularly at Glastonbury Festival, and represented the Roald Dahl Story Museum on ITV. He also wrote the EU's guidance on using storytelling in schools. He lives in the former residence of Samuel Pepys, England's most famous diarist, up in Cambridgeshire with his wife Emma and kitten Tito. During her 20 years at Cambridgeshire's Little Paxton Primary School, Rebekah Owen has held various roles, and is currently Deputy Head. She has taught classes throughout the primary age range, but her first passion is always ensuring that her learners receive a rich and varied reading diet. Her second passion is in supporting both trainee teachers and various members of staff through the various stages of their careers, and she has been a trainer with the Cambridge Training School Network's School Centred Initial Teacher Training programme since its inception. So she was excited and delighted to blend these passions by becoming a regular contributor to the Happily Ever Teaching podcast soon after she met Chip during the 2020 pandemic. Korky Paul began his career scribbling for an advertising agency in Cape Town. His first illustration job was a book teaching English, then a pop-up called The Crocodile and the Dumper Truck - but it was his work on Winnie the Witch that won the Children's Book Award in 1987 and made him a much-loved figure in the world of children's books. He's since illustrated for Oxford University Press, Penguin, Random House, and others. He lives in Oxford with his wife Susan.

"At last! A fresh, accessible guide to storytelling encouraging young people to read for the joy of it. Should be part of every teacher's toolkit."- Ian Whybrow, award-winning author of Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs"I loved this new approach to using our innate storytelling ability to teach a love for books. This guide will help educators invigorate a love of reading for pleasure within the school environment."- Camilla Chester, award-winning author of Call Me Lion"This is a much needed book: entertaining, inspiring, and full of practical ideas to get children excited about stories. It's a must-read for anyone working with children."- Claire Fayers, award-winning author of Welsh Fairy Tales"Specifically designed for reading aloud, this book promotes storytelling as the supremely powerful teaching tool, learning medium, and lifesaver it can be. It's full of excitement, delight, motivation, and joy in words."- Jane Bower, writer for BBC's Play School"An engaging book that helps educators understand how to use storytelling in the classroom to develop our children's joy of reading. The stories, lessons, and skills provide us with a way to 'teach' reading for pleasure that works."- Toria Bono, Year 4 Lead and Author of Tiny Voices Talk: Education, Engagement, Empowerment"The stories in this book are beautifully written and really grip you. I hope teachers pick up this book and use it to its full advantage. It holds many wonders to be discovered!"- Clare Winterbottom, the Assisted Reading for Children charity"There's a great deal to love about this book! It demystifies everything about encouraging reading for pleasure, and makes it all appear within reach."- Jo Phillips, Headteacher, Wyton on the Hill Primary School"I tried a couple of these lessons with my Year 1 and 2 children, and they are now well and truly addicted! Thank you for this book!"- Karen Baines, Assistant Headteacher, Christ Church Primary School in Skipton"The book was great for engaging the children. As soon as we started reading it, you could see that they were completely engaged, and they listened straight away. Even the children who usually don't listen as carefully as some of the others were totally involved in it. The variety of short stories appeal to lots of different children's interests."- Sarah King, Y6 Teacher, Jeavons Wood Primary School in Cambourne"Thanks to this book, reading for pleasure in my class is higher than before. I've been teaching for 34 years, but this book got me to look at reading differently and make it more meaningful. Rather than racing through to hear everyone read, I now engage the children in conversations as we go along. The advice on that area alone has proved invaluable."- Mrs Murphy, Y4 Teacher, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Hook"I absolutely LOVE THIS BOOK! I have applied some of the techniques to see much greater engagement in other subjects too, such as history. As I said at the beginning, I LOVE IT!"- Andrea Dixon, Y5/6 Teacher, Castleside Primary School in Consett"This book has been a lifesaver!"- Lesley Armstrong, Y6 teacher, Charles Kingsley's Primary School in Eversley