Search Results for: quiz
We’ve enjoyed reading… Brock by Anthony McGowan
Brock by Anthony McGowanThe team of quiz writers and editors working on Accelerated Reader quizzes read an awful lot of books. From time to time, a particular book or series stands out from the crowd as deserving of special mention. These are books that have been a pleasure to work on, and which we feel will be a great asset to libraries, classrooms and children's bedrooms. Recently, we've enjoyed reading... Brock by Anthony McGowan. Brock has widely been compared to A Kestrel for a Knave, the 1960s Barry Hines novel about a young lad and his unlikely bond with a bird of prey. There is a similarly Northern feel to the story, although it is badgers rather than birds that begin to transform the protagonist's life. Nicky has a tough lot in life; with his mother off the scene and his dad facing jail time, Nicky has to look after his little brother Kenny. Then he witnesses a cruelly violent attack on a badger sett. Read More
Why do some book levels seem so anomalous?
In the first in a series of Frequently Asked Questions, we’re looking at one of the most common causes for enquiries from customers: book levels. How can it be that a chunky 300-page novel has the same book level as a picture book? Managing Editor Cecelia Powell explains why these apparent anomalies are actually demonstrations of the accuracy of the ATOS formula. Read More
Michael Morpurgo Collections
Celebrate Michael Morpurgo Month this November with a range of popular titles from one of Britain's most prolific children's authors. Morpurgo's books regularly top charts of children's favourite books, and his 70th birthday is being marked with a special month of celebrations highlighting the popularity and breadth of his work. We have pulled together some books collected around some of the major themes he has addressed in his work, and indicated some non-fiction titles to complement them. These collections could form the basis of displays of Accelerated Reader-quizzed titles in your library or classroom, or be used alongside a teaching programme on the subjects covered. Read More
Rebecca Stead wins Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize
Congratulations to Rebecca Stead, who has won the 2013 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. Her book Liar & Spy impressed the judges with its sensitive depiction of teenagers facing difficult situations in life. Read More
Accelerated Reader primary experience
AR Primary will offer students a simplified, child-friendly interface that makes it easier to find books and quizzes. The aim of this update is for students to be able to better navigate the software on their own and to visually track and comprehend their progress. Read More
Happy Roald Dahl Day!
Roald Dahl's books have amused and entertained a whole generation of children. Some of them have been made into blockbuster films; many of his characters have become cultural icons. To celebrate Roald Dahl Day (his birthday), we have taken a look at the enduring popularity of his books. Read More
Bookbuzz 2013
Over 200,000 students in approximately 1500 schools will be receiving books as part of the Bookbuzz scheme this autumn. Run by Booktrust, Bookbuzz aims to get great books into the hands of Year 7 students. Each participating student will receive one of a shortlist of books as well as a bookmark, while each school will gain two copies of the books for their library and staff room. Twelve books form the core selection of available titles, and a further five books from a lower reading level are also on offer to struggling or reluctant readers. Almost all of the titles are already available to quiz with Accelerated Reader, with two deemed non-quizzable due to formats unsuited to reading practice quizzes. Read More
Carnegie and Kate Greenaway winners announced
Sally Gardner has just been announced as the winner of the 2013 CILIP Carnegie Medal for her book Maggot Moon. The Carnegie Medal was established in 1936 in memory of philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who funded libraries and promoted literature. Sally Garnder has been awarded a medal and given £500 to provide books to a library of her choice. The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal has been awarded to Levi Pinfold, for Black Dog. The Kate Greenaway Medal is awarded for distinguished illustration in a book for children, and is awarded along with a cash prize and a donation for books for a library. The medals were presented at an awards ceremony at the Natural History Museum in London. Congratulations to both of these worthy winners! Now that the judges' choice has been announced, the next question people are asking is: which books have proven most popular with children? We've been crunching the numbers to find out - with very interesting results. Read More
Malorie Blackman is the new Children’s Laureate
Congratulations to Malorie Blackman, who has been announced as the new Children's Laureate. She will hold the title for two years, during which time she says she will be hoping to see "more children reading more". The position is appointed partly in recognition of a lifetime’s contribution to children’s literature. Malorie has written books for children of all ages and reading levels, so there’s something among her work for every child to enjoy (and more than a few adults, too). To mark her appointment, we’re celebrating the breadth of Malorie’s writing by highlighting some of her most popular AR quizzed books at each reading level. Read More
Celebrate Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s birthday with some detective stories
A collection of Sherlock Holmes book covers, from Rare Autumn. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's was born on this day in 1859. To celebrate his birthday, we've collected together some titles inspired by his famous creation, Sherlock Holmes. Read More