Reading Well
The 5 Reading Well schemes include 2 for school aged children:
Reading Well for children (ages 7-11)
Reading Well for teens (ages 13-18) New Oct 2022
Reading Well for children and young people provides quality-assured information, stories and advice to support mental health and wellbeing. Books have been chosen and recommended by leading health professionals and co-produced with children and families.
The children's booklist is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 (aged 7-11), but includes titles aimed at a wide range of reading levels to support less confident readers, and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers.
Reading Well for teens recommends expert endorsed books about mental health, providing 13 to 18 year olds with advice and information about issues like anxiety, stress and OCD, and difficult experiences like bullying and exams.
The books have all been recommended by young people and health professionals, and are available to borrow for free from public libraries.
The scheme, launched nationally and in Wiltshire in 2016, is part of the ‘Reading Well Books on Prescription’ which began in 2013.
Reading Well for children (7-11) Booklist leaflet
Reading Well for children (7-11) Overview of the titles
Reading Well for teens (13-18) Booklist New Oct 2022
Reading Well for teens (13-18) interactive leaflet New Oct 2022
The Reading Well website http://reading-well.org.uk/
How it works
Professionals supporting children and young people, including school staff, school nurses and GPs can recommend helpful reading using the booklists.
The scheme can also be used on a self-referral basis as the books are available on the open shelves in public libraries and free for anyone to borrow.
The books
The books cover a wide range of topics or conditions including general information and advice on supporting well being and resilience plus common conditions such as anxiety, depression, autism, mood swings, eating disorders and self harm as well as difficult life experiences such as bullying and school/exam pressure.
The books are written for children and young people by authors who are either experts by experience or profession. The list includes fiction and non-fiction, different formats including graphic novels, and caters for different reading levels.
Availability
Wiltshire libraries have multiple copies of titles.
Visit the Wiltshire Council library website and select 'suggested reads', then 'children' and 'reading well' to see titles available.
All the books can be reserved from any Wiltshire library or online for free and will be available to borrow initially for 3 weeks (longer if not reserved). Library staff are briefed on the scheme and be able to signpost to further support.
Some of the books are available as eBooks, for more information on accessing this service and borrowing eBooks visit: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/libraries-ebooks
For more information about library services to young people contact Sarah Hillier, County Development Librarian – Children and Young People sarah.hillier@wiltshire.gov.uk
Additional support materials for working with teens
Reading Well in Wiltshire for teens - Assembly presentation slides (pdf version)
email nick.bolton@wiltshire.gov.uk if you need the editable PowerPoint slides
Reading Well in Wiltshire for teens - book covers poster
Frankie's World - lesson plans for year 5 & 6
A Monster Calls - Teachers' Notes
A Monster Calls - Discussion Guide
When Shadows Fall - Supporting Resources
Be Happy Be You - Body Picture
