Registration opens for Bookbuzz 2024 book gifting programme

BookTrust has announced the 16 titles which will be available as part of this year's Bookbuzz programme aimed at young teenagers. Schools can now register for the reading programme, designed for pupils in Year 7 and 8, which gives students the chance to discover and explore specially selected fiction or non-fiction books.  Last year, over 1,200 schools across the country took part in the programme.

The books (pictured) included in Bookbuzz vary in text complexity and challenge and include dyslexia-friendly options.  Books such as WWII novel, Code Name King Fisher by Liz Kessler and Fleur Hitcock's Murder at Snowfall, share the billing with titles including Like a Charm from multi-award winner, Elle McNicoll, and Angie Thomas's Nic Blake and the Remarkables.

Bookbuzz programme

Schools pay £3.45 per student for the Bookbuzz programme, which includes a book for every student to choose, take home and keep.  Every school that registers for Bookbuzz will also get two copies of all 16 titles in their free Launch Pack. 

Practical resources 

Schools also receive a launch pack, plus access to the Bookbuzz website, which include tips and ready-made resources, including posters, a film introducing the books, bookmarks and more, to help create a buzz around reading.

Registration for Bookbuzz is now open and closes on 20 September. Find out more on the Booktrust website.

Research into children's reading has shown that reading regularly and by choice can bring wide-ranging benefits. Children who read are more likely to overcome disadvantages caused by inequalities, are happier, healthier and experience better mental wellbeing. Reading can also help develop empathy and contribute to better exam results and progress across the curriculum.

The Bookbuzz list of 16 books, is chosen by an independent panel of experts, including teachers from both mainstream and special schools, librarians, BookTrust's disability consultant and other children's book experts. The books are then vetted by a group of 11 to 13-year-olds. The final list reflects a variety of genres, styles and reading levels.

Fleur Hitchcock, author of Murder at Snowfall, said: "Lots of children have choice in the books that they read and own, and lots don't. The brilliant thing about the Bookbuzz scheme is that it is democratic, every child in a class gets the opportunity to choose their own book that they will get to keep, and they get a brilliant selection to choose from so there's bound to be a book that suits them."