Junior
Book Club
Stories, reading, conversation and creative activities at The Last Bookstore On Earth.
Choose the programme designed for your child’s age group. Both programmes help children enjoy books in a relaxed, social and supportive setting.
Junior Book Club
Expressive storytelling, supported reading, conversation and imaginative activities for younger readers.
Junior Book Club
Guided and independent reading, book discussion and creative responses for older children.
A relaxed place to become a reader.
Junior Book Club gives children time to listen, read, notice, question, imagine and talk about books with other young readers.
Sessions are facilitator-led and lightly structured, with space for children to participate at a level that feels comfortable.
Children of different reading abilities are welcome. No child will be required to read aloud, perform or share an answer before they feel ready.
Listen, read, imagine and create.
Each session begins with an expressive read-aloud led by our facilitator, followed by independent or paired reading, conversation and a creative activity inspired by the story.
Welcome
Children settle in, meet the other young readers and are introduced to the featured story.
Read-aloud
Our facilitator reads expressively, bringing the characters, humour and ideas in the story to life.
Reading time
Children read independently or with a partner, explore the illustrations or ask the facilitator for support.
Conversation
The group talks about the story, characters and choices. There are no single correct answers.
Create
Children draw, act, design, build or imagine something new inspired by the featured story.
Read closely. Think independently. Share an opinion.
Each session combines guided reading, independent reading, facilitated discussion and a creative response to the featured story or extract.
Introduction
The facilitator introduces the featured book, author, setting or central question.
Guided reading
The group explores a selected section and notices details, choices, clues and ideas in the writing.
Independent reading
Children read at a comfortable pace, continuing the featured text or exploring a related book.
Book discussion
Children compare interpretations, explain opinions and respond respectfully to different points of view.
Creative response
The group rewrites, debates, designs, recommends or creates something inspired by the reading.
What might children do at Junior Book Club?
Activities change from week to week depending on the featured book, the age group and the ideas that interest the children.
What happens next?
Use clues from the story to imagine what might appear on the next page or in the next chapter.
Become the character
Consider what a character might feel, choose or say in a difficult or surprising situation.
Make a story map
Turn the places, events and discoveries in the story into a visual journey.
Change the point of view
Rewrite a moment from another character’s perspective or create a completely different ending.
Make the case
Decide whether a character made the right choice and explain the reasoning behind that opinion.
Add something new
Design a character, book cover, missing chapter, newspaper report or new setting inspired by the story.
Confident readers and children still finding their way in.
Children who already enjoy reading
They can discover new books, talk about ideas and experience reading as something social.
- Children who read independently
- Children who enjoy discussing stories
- Children who like imagining and creating
Children building reading confidence
They may listen, read with a partner, explore illustrations or ask the facilitator for support.
- Children who prefer listening to stories
- Children returning to books after losing interest
- Children who feel more comfortable in a small group
No one is required to perform
Children will be encouraged to contribute, but no child will be forced to read aloud, act in front of the group or share an answer before they feel ready.
A water bottle and an open mind.
Children may bring a favourite book from home, although this is not required.
- A water bottle
- Comfortable clothing suitable for sitting and creative activities
- A favourite book from home, should they wish to bring one
- Please arrive a few minutes before the session begins
Register your child for Junior Book Club.
Complete one form for each child. We will contact you to confirm the selected age group, session day and availability.
Give your child time inside a good story.
A story continues in the questions children ask, the pictures they draw, the ideas they discuss and the new stories they imagine for themselves.