For over 20 years Barrington Stoke has been publishing super-readable and award-winning books for young readers. We believe that every child can be a reader and, alongside brilliant and engaging stories from the best writers, our books contain a whole host of specialist features designed to ensure an accessible and enjoyable read for all. Our quality short fiction is the perfect choice for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers or as great quick reads for more confident bookworms.
How we do it:
All of our books are written and illustrated by household-names because we believe that all children deserve the best stories regardless of reading level
We keep our books short and punchy with lots of chapter breaks to tackle short attention spans and reward readers
Our tinted paper, super-readable font and spacious layouts offer a smoother read for everyone including young people with dyslexia and reading problems
Our careful editing ensures age appropriate stories are available to less confident readers
Got a reluctant reader at home? You are not alone!
We know it can be daunting and stressful when reading is a challenge, and recent studies have shown that over 40% of children don’t enjoy reading. There can be many reasons why a child might struggle with everything from lack of access to books to competition from other media having an impact. But there are also many ways to encourage reading and any small changes you make can make a big difference to a child’s reading journey.
How you can help:
Always take a positive approach to reading – talk about books, visit the library and ensure adults are seen reading too.
Separate learning to read from loving to read. Don’t let homework be the only experience of reading.
Let them choose what they want to read. Reading is reading whatever the format.
If they try a book and don’t like it, don’t insist they finish it.
Let them read the same book over and over if they want to. There’s comfort in familiarity.
Read to them and have them read to you. There’s no ‘right’ age to stop reading with them.
Georgina Atwell
Toppsta
2019-08-23
2017-02-07
Reluctant Readers - Tips from Barrington Stoke
Matching the right book for the right child:
Every reluctant reader is an individual with individual tastes but below we’ve picked out a few of our super-readable short novels that could help kick-start the reading journey. All of these titles are included in our 8 to 12 range and have reading ages of 7, 8 or 8+.
If you would like more information about our books, what we do, or specific recommendations for your readers please get in touch or head to our website: www.barringtonstoke.co.uk
Georgina Atwell
Toppsta
2019-08-23
2017-02-07
Reluctant Readers - Tips from Barrington Stoke
Books for action fans
Georgina Atwell
Toppsta
2019-08-23
2017-02-07
Reluctant Readers - Tips from Barrington Stoke
Gamer
Street kid Scott jumps at the chance to be a Virtual Kombat gamer. If he can battle his way up the ranks, the ultimate prize will be his. But then his friend Kate goes missing in the battle arena, and Scott's dream turns into a nightmare … Blade Runner meets Mortal Engines in this fast-paced action thriller.
Claire is keen to find out what her dad has been working on in his lab. He's been really excited about it and Claire knows it must be something that will make him even more famous. But the big reveal isn't at all what she expected and now Claire has a dilemma on her hands - what do you do when your dad has created a monster...?
Luke's always been good at knowing things. He could guess at a right answer in class or pick up on things other people couldn't. But now it's sharpened into something much more. Now Luke can actually hear people's thoughts. And there's a weird new girl hanging around who seems to know exactly what he can do. She wants something from him but can he trust her?
Laura Norder lives her life by the Golden Rules and so should everybody else. But being Sheriff of Butts Canyon at the age of ten is a big job to handle, and when a no-good rule-breaking bandit causes chaos in the town, enough is enough! It's time for Laura to step up to the plate and catch the masked mischief-maker before he breaks any more of her rules!
Desirable, by Frank Cottrell Boyce (bestselling author of Millions) is another hilarious book guaranteed to bring giggles.
George is so unpopular that even his own grandad won't come to his birthday party. Instead, his grandad sends him a bottle of aftershave that expired years ago. But the aftershave seems to have developed extra properties since its sell-by date...Now George is irresistible to all the girls in school - and even the teachers can't get enough of him!
Ant might seem to have an odd attraction to insects, and it's weird that he doesn't know anything about footie, but these aren't the strangest things about him by a long way. What really sets him apart is what's hiding behind the ginormous sunglasses that he refuses to ever take off. When his science teacher catches a glimpse behind the oversized green lenses, Ant is in grave danger. Can his friends Zac and Tulisa, along with an army of tiny helpers, save the day?
Chichico can't believe his luck when a talent scout spots him playing football on the beach and asks him to try out for Santos Brazil. All he has to do is turn up, bring his boots and show off his skills. But there's one problem ... Chichico doesn't have any boots. When his friend Davi steps in to lend a helping hand, can he save the day - or will his actions spoil Chichico's chances of becoming a football star forever? Particularly suitable for struggling reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+
First title in a rugby trilogy. Borderlands is no ordinary school - all of the students boarding there have parents in the armed forces, and the UK is drawing perilously close to war in the Middle East. New boy Woody is desperate to escape the school and find his way to his dad's military base, but his dad has been mobilised. He's gone. Worried and unhappy, Woody turns to the only thing that could help get him through - rugby. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+
Sam's team are edging closer to the bottom of the league this season and team captain Jordan's bad attitude isn't helping anyone. When Sam spots Hasan playing on the refugee team, he can see that Hasan's got talent and invites him along to practice. Hasan and his friend Faisal prove to be exactly what the team need - but Jordan's not going to accept his new teammates so easily. Can Sam get the boys to pull together and win? Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+
Lily has lots of worries. She's struggling to compete in her fell-running races and, worse, she's losing her gran to Alzheimer's. But then she discovers her great-great-grandfather's diaries from the First World War. Could his incredible story of bravery help her reconnect with her gran and even give her the inspiration she needs to push through and win?
A crumbling stone soldier sits on a bench in the park. Only Owen understands how important he is. At home, Owen and his mum are struggling and there's nobody he can talk to. Hidden away in the park, Owen feels free to be himself. When the war-weary soldier is listening, his worries slip away. But nobody else cares about the soldier, and the town council want to tear him down. Owen's the only one who can save him but can he find the courage to speak up before it's too late? A touching story of loss and remembrance from Lisa Thompson, the award-winning author of The Goldfish Boy. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+
Being at home is hard for Hannah. With Mum, Dad and Vix always fighting they've got no time for her or her worries, she might as well be invisible. But when she finds an abandoned diary in the park containing snippets and photographs of the colourful life of the mysterious Sami Star, Hannah hopes she's found the real friend she always needed. Little does Hannah know Sami needs her too... A heart-warming story of finding friendship in the most unlikely of places. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+
Music is the most important thing in Mark's life and he never misses band practice ...until new baby sister Amber turns life upside down. She screams all day and all night and nothing Mum, Dad or anyone else does makes a difference! But when Mark is left holding the baby, he turns to the only thing he can to help him through - music. And it might just be that it's the key to Amber's happiness too. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 7+
Bella has a secret - one that she is very good at keeping. That secret is a den hidden on a little muddy hill, wild amid the trees and nestled beside some foxes with a den of their own. But soon the secret is betrayed, and the foxes' lives are put in danger... Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 7+
Izzy and Asha need a space to call their own, away from difficult families, the Skull brothers and the trouble they bring. But the derelict building site where they stake their claim already belongs to something else, a wilderness they never expected and an injured wolf that desperately needs their help. Can they reconnect to the wild and save the wolf? Or is their pack too weak to fight much stronger powers? A stunning tale of our lost connection to nature and the wild that hides in us all, from renowned storyteller Gill Lewis. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+.
When horse-loving Kami is invited to spend the summer at best friend Macy's family ranch, Kami is shocked to discover one of the horses being hobbled and whipped by Molly's brother. What is behind Wes's increasingly cruel treatment, and can Kami save Storm Cloud? Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+
After a toad lands on his head as he leaves his house one morning, Leo is determined to find out where it has come from and why. Together with his friend Rosa, he needs to come up with some answers before the angry residents of Upper Dab take matters into their own hands and the toads become toast! A brilliantly quirky comedy caper with a diverse and inclusive cast of characters. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+
The Peachey family is in crisis. No one cooks dinner, no one picks up the dirty washing and thekids are always late for school. All because Mum has resigned from being Mum and taken up yogainstead. She's in the tree pose; everyone else is in the doghouse. Except McTavish, a rescue dog witha difference, on a mission to sort his new family out...Filled to the brim with Meg's wry humour and beautiful prose, this is a story for the young and the young at heart.
Race to the Frozen North: The Matthew Henson Story
Matthew Henson was simply an ordinary man. That was, until Commander Robert E. Peary entered his life, and offered him a chance at true adventure. Henson would become navigator, craftsman, translator, and right-hand man on a treacherous journey to the North Pole. Defying the odds and the many prejudices that faced him to become a true pioneer. This is his incredible and often untold story. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+
The war is won but for Tony there is little to celebrate. His brother never returned from no man's land and has died not as a hero but executed as a coward. Refusing to believe that his brother was a traitor, a grief stricken Tony is pushed to the edge in his dark quest to uncover the horrifying truth. A thrilling narrative of intertwining perspectives, particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+
Jack can't wait for the school trip to the D-Day landing beaches. It's his chance to learn more about the war heroes he has always admired - brave men like his dad, who is a reserve soldier. But when his dad is called up to action and things at home spiral out of control, everything Jack believes about war is thrown into question. Finding comfort only in the presence of his loyal dog, Finn, Jack is drawn to the heart-wrenching true story of one particular D-Day paratrooper. On 6 June 1944, Emile Corteil parachuted into France with his dog, Glen - and Jack is determined to discover their fate ...
