Your weekly digest about what's going on in the world of children's literature.
Hi there,
In case you are wondering, the In The News section (below) is curated by Carrie, our product researcher (former primary teacher, literacy lead and avid bookworm), as part of what she shares every day with our product team. It always makes fascinating reading - or viewing. If you have a spare five minutes today then you’ll enjoy the Youtube video at the top of this week’s list: it makes a compelling case for why children should read from books, not screens.
We also have some exciting news to share: Pageticker has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Bett Awards in Primary - Digital Learning Product - Language & Literacy. Alongside attending the awards, we will also be at the Bett Show UK next week, from January 21st to 23rd, at stand FS37. Come meet us there and receive free bookmarks for your class, among many other goodies.
Tom (co-founder) and the Pageticker Team.
In the News/Useful Links
BookTrust is holding free virtual author workshops for schools
IBC Awards 2026 Shortlist Announced
Harper Collins is offering schools free access to a library of children’s books to use in breakfast clubs until April
Insights From Our Data
As the educational world falls back in love with reading for pleasure, with an increasing recognition of the impact it has on learning, we wanted to know, how much do children read for pleasure as opposed to reading for homework?
It depends on the year group, but in KS1, the significant majority of reading logged on Pageticker is for phonics books and reading schemes. This changes as we go through the years, as you’ll see from the graph below.
For 75% of children in KS1, phonics books and reading scheme books make up more than 80% of reading. With such books, children have little choice in what they read. Consequently, for us, the takeaway is that it is imperative that publishers make these books entertaining and pleasurable if we are going to nurture readers for life.
Monthly Giveaway
This month's giveaway contains books from your January Author Spotlight, celebrating the excellent work of Owen Davey and Jon Klassen.
To enter:
That’s it, you’re in!
The giveaway closes on January 26, 2026 (12:00 p.m.GMT).
One winner (randomly selected) will receive all of the following books:
Crazy About Cats by Owen Davey
Smart About Sharks by Owen Davey
This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
We Found A Hat by Jon Klassen
Entrants must be UK-based, over 18, and must still be following @pageticker at the time of the draw.
Full T&Cs here.
Inspiring Initiatives
Jenny McLachlan, author of The Land of Roar series, is hosting a free Friday Book Club for schools from 2:00-2:30 p.m. on Fridays. It’s mainly aimed at Key Stage 2.
Each week will be focused on a different topic, from dragons to villains, friends to monsters. They are designed to inspire creativity and a love of stories.
She describes the sessions as her doing a little bit of talking and the children doing a lot of doing. It’ll start with a short activity, followed by a mini story time and then another activity so students can see the power of using their imaginations. Finally, they will have the opportunity to meet a special guest author. There’ll also be a chance for audience questions.
Here are the upcoming themes for her sessions:
• (23rd January): Amazing Creatures
• (30th January): Friends
• (6th February): Cartoons
• (13th February): Ghosts and Monsters
• The last session is on the 13th February
Handpicked Seasonal Suggestion
Sticking on the theme of humour in January, this month’s pick is sure to make children chuckle as well as possibly squirm with disgust! It’s suitable for children aged four and above.
We featured this book ages ago on our blog, and it has since been named Waterstone’s Children’s Book of the Year. Our pick is The Cafe at the Edge of the Woods by Mikey Please. There’s also now a sequel to this book, which is The Cave Downwind of the Cafe.
The Cafe at the Edge of the Woods is a humorous book about Rene, who opens a cafe beside an enchanted wood. Together with her waiter Glumfoot, she is ready to serve an amazing cuisine. For a while, no one visits the cafe, until one day an ogre comes to the cafe. The ogre wants pickled bats and very different food to what Rene had imagined. What will Rene do?
This book is very funny and children will enjoy hearing all of the disgusting food that the ogre is looking to eat! As well as Glumfoot's clever way to ensure that everyone stays happy. The illustrations throughout really add to the meaning and humour of the story.
Notable New Release
This week, we are focusing on a book for animal lovers from Year Four and above. Hannah Gold’s The Lone Husky is an absolute treat.
April Wood (who also features in Hannah’s other books such as The Last Bear) lives in the Arctic and her best friend is a polar bear. When she volunteers for the polar race, she wonders if she might have bitten off more than she can chew.
To get to the finish line, she’s going to need all of the help and friends that she can get. April has something the other teams don’t. A solitary husky called Blaze, who may well be her key to success.
This book will be loved by children and parents alike. We’d highly recommend it to any animal lovers or children simply looking for a cosy read.
Sunday Times Children's Bestsellers
1. A Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Partypooper by Jeff Kinney (7,755)
2. Donut Squad: Make a Mess by Neill Cameron (7,650)
3. Dog Man 14: Big Jim Believes by Dav Pilkey (5,615)
4. Bunny VS Monkey: Intergalactic Monkey Business! by Jamie Smart (4,160)
5. Beano Annual 2026 (3,900)
Pageticker Booklist
Harry Potter books are undoubtedly some of the most read by children, and the series has produced a lot of spin-off books. So here are Pageticker’s most read Harry Potter books in the last 12 months… that aren’t by J. K. Rowling.
1. The Unofficial Harry Potter's Weasingly Witty Joke Book by Susanna Geoghegan
Delve into the magical world of wizardry with 'The Unofficial Harry Potter's Weasingly Witty Joke Book' by Susanna Geoghegan. This enchanting collection is brimming with hundreds of jokes, puns, and riddles inspired by the beloved Harry Potter series. Perfect for young readers and Potterheads alike, this book promises to cast a spell of humour over all who open its pages.
2. LEGO Harry Potter The Magical Guide to the Wizarding World by Elizabeth Dowsett
A magical journey through LEGO® Harry Potter™. Discover your favourite minifigures, explore iconic locations like Hogwarts Castle, and relive memorable moments such as thrilling Quidditch matches and eerie adventures in the Forbidden Forest. This book is the perfect companion for Lego fans eager to delve deeper into the Wizarding World.
3. James Potter and the Curse of the Gatekeeper by G. Norman Lippert
A summer of change brings James Sirius Potter back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with a new perspective. Confident that last year's adventures are well behind him, James prepares for the more prosaic challenges of schoolwork, trying out for the Quidditch team, and keeping an eye on his brother Albus and cousin Rose
Upcoming Dates
• 15 January - National Year of Reading Introductory Webinar for schools
19 January - National Year of Reading Primary Webinar
20 January - Early Years Webinar for the National Year of Reading
21-23 January - Bett Show (come and visit us on stand FS37)
2-8 February- National Storytelling Week
5 March - World Book Day
19 March - Decline in Volitional Reading - Free Seminar with the Open University
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Pageticker is the UK's top-rated digital reading diary designed to help children develop habits that will fuel their curiosity and learning for life. Find out more.
