Weekly Round-up 11th June 2026
- Anna Bond
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Hi Everyone,
As a former teacher and parent, I know how easily reading slips when routines change over the summer - but it doesn’t have to! Pageticker helps children choose and log books they love with simple tools which make reading visible and joyful. The best part? Pageticker is completely free for families - even if their school isn’t using it. Parents can download the free app, track reading at home, and get personalised book recommendations.
This week’s round-up is packed with engaging book recommendations, new fantasy picks and a Windrush booklist to coincide with National Windrush Day on the 22nd June. You’ll also find a spotlight on our challenge feature, which allows teachers to set class, year group or whole school challenges.
Happy reading,
Nicola, Founder
“No matter what gains children make during the school year, if they don’t read over the summer, their learning stalls or regresses.” - Cooper, Borman & Fairchild, 2010
Handpicked Suggestion
Our weekly handpicked suggestion is Grumpfort by Jamie Hammond. This book is suitable for children aged 8+.
Mo is the worst monster hunter ever!
He never wanted to be a Warden, but after getting thrashed by a goblin on his first patrol, he’s determined to prove himself.
Heading into the forbidden woods, he meets Grumpfort, a secret monster fortress under threat from the fearsome Grumpsnatcher.
Mo now has to lead a monster hunt with a troll, a gnome and a fire-breathing snotwoggle. Can Mo save the day?
This is a funny illustrated book, which will be popular with fans of the Loki or Grimwood series.
Notable New Release
The notable new release this week is Amari and the Metalwork Menace by BB Alston. It’s suitable for children aged 8+. It’s the final book in a four-book series.
After the Bureau of Supernatural Investigations’ war with Dylan Van Helsing and the magicians, Amari is really ready for a normal life. But when a deadly curse starts turning people into machines, she’s forced back to make a hard decision.
She’s offered a place on an elite agent programme or the chance to walk away and forget everything. But her choice vanishes when the curse strikes someone she loves. To save both worlds, she must uncover the truth… even if it means trusting an old enemy.
Suggested Reading Themes
June - Pride Month (see our booklist)
11 June - Football World Cup begins
6-14 June - Great Big Green Week
8 June - World Ocean Day
22 June - Windrush Day (see our booklist below)
24 June - International Fairy Day
29 June-12 July - Wimbledon Fortnight
30 June - Asteroid Day
5 July - Thank You Day
5 July - NHS Day
Take a look at the events for the National Year of Reading and The Reading Agency.
Pageticker Booklist - Windrush Day
The booklist is a brilliant way for children to connect with this history, building empathy and curiosity about the diverse communities that make up modern Britain.
Pageticker Resources - Summer Reading List
We’ve put together a ready‑made summer reading list you can use straight away - no planning, no extra workload, and plenty of choice to help children find books they actually want to read once term ends. Just click the button below to access the PDF.
June Giveaway is open:
This month, your school has the chance to win eight brilliant books - a bundle packed with stories, inspiration, and page‑turning fun! Hit the button below to enter, and we’ll pick one lucky winner at random. Good luck!
This giveaway closes on the 26th June 2026 (12 p.m. BST). Full T&Cs here.
Pageticker Spotlight - Challenge Feature
Pageticker’s 'Challenge feature' lets schools set simple, high‑impact reading challenges for a class, year group or whole school. It works brilliantly in term time or over the holidays, and here’s a short video explaining how to get started.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
Create a challenge for a class, year group or your whole school
Share a link or code with families – they download the free app
Children log their reading at home; staff can see progress at a glance
No spreadsheets. No paper logs. No extra marking. Just a simple way to keep reading going over the holidays.
“Pageticker is easy and not time-consuming. It is minimal effort for the impact.” - Claire Richardson, Literacy Lead, Victoria Academy
(Read the full case study here)
Book a Demo
If you’d like to see Pageticker in action, you can book a short demo. In 20–30 minutes, we’ll walk you through how teachers track reading at home and in class, how families use the free app, and what the data looks like for reading leads and SLT. It’s also a chance for you to ask questions.
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.
Have a great week,
The Pageticker Team
