Author Sparks

Author Sparks is a programme (funded by Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants) to enable more children to benefit from ‘meeting’ an author/illustrator in a more accessible and sustainable way. This programme is for primary schools and is completely free.

Here’s how Author Sparks works:

You borrow a class set (17 books) from one of Oldham’s Libraries.

You receive a short film via email to play for the class in which the author introduces themselves, asks pupils to read their book and sets a fun and creative task.

The class then reads the book together and carries out the task.

They then come to one of Oldham’s libraries, of your choosing, for a 1.5 hour creative workshop (co-created with the author) to bring the book to life through different activities and watch a longer film to learn more about the author. Don’t forget to bring the results of your creative task and your books.

You can then email the author about the visit sharing the things the class created and learned, the author will then reply to the class.

We have sessions available for all age groups, see our selection of authors and books below:

Years 1-2: Sharon Davey – I don’t like books. Never. Ever. The end. – A picture book (fiction) that is a great introduction to the magic of books, brilliant for one of the first visits to the library. This is the perfect session to drum up enthusiasm about reading. We look at the idea of “falling into” books and what equipment we would need in our “story suitcases”. Please note the lending set for this title is only one copy of the book for the teacher to read aloud and a pdf copy that can be shared on a screen.

Years 3-6: Oliver Sykes – We are Family. A book of poems that connect to tell the story of Oliver’s childhood. A beautiful book that is a great introduction to talking about poetry and those closest to us. We focus on celebration and those who mean the most to us comparing our experiences to Oliver’s through his poetry. We use the session to create a “close to me” tree and discuss mischievous behaviour.

Years 4-6: Rashmi Sirdeshpande – How to change the world. A non-fiction book about different groups using their power as a collective to change the world. We focus on teamwork, empathy, kindness and inspiration in fun and interactive ways. We touch on the suffragettes’ banners and slogans and students will work together to build their own pyramid out of cups without using their hands.

Years 5-6: Dan Worsley – Eric Appleby: Zero to Hero. A fiction chapter book about a regular schoolboy who manages to save the day when his school is taken over by robots. An enjoyable relatable read for slightly older kids. We focus on adjectives and think about our everyday heroes through a craft session.

The time to read each book in class can vary, our primary school steering group recommended 3 weeks for Sharon Davey’s book and up to a full half term for the others.

Again the programme is completely free and you can take part at the library closest to your school.

Benefits of the Author Sparks Programme

A chance for exposure to creative professionals from a range of backgrounds with different skillsets.

Encouraging students to think more deeply around books and the work that goes into creating them.

Helping encourage and develop reading for pleasure and promoting wider reading outside the classroom.

Exposure to fiction, non-fiction, poetry and illustrations and encouraging students to link these back to their own experiences through multi-sensory sessions.

The chance for strong enrichment outside of the classroom that fosters a partnership with the library.

We have additional resources to help SEN and EAL students participate in sessions.

If you would like to book on to the programme or ask any questions please don’t hesitate to email andrew.gibson@oldham.gov.uk