National Year of Reading 2008

It’s easy to forget just how much reading we do every day, from cereal boxes to newspapers and washing instructions, not to mention the time we spend surfing the web.

The National Year of Reading in 2008 celebrates reading in all its forms. What do you like to read? Where do you like to read it? Add your ideas to the discussion forum on the National Year of Reading website.

Here's a selection of events and activities at a venue near you.

October theme – 'Word of mouth'

Welcome to the seventh monthly theme for the National Year of Reading, focusing on storytelling and reading out loud.

• Libraries events – ahoy there! Celebrate National Children’s Book Week and National Bookstart Day with pirate and ghost stories.
• Author talk at Hastings Library – Richard Pitcairn-Knowles talks about the history of the town and his photographer grandfather.
• Arrow FM – listen to local schoolchildren talk about their favourite books, and win an inflatable Captain Underpants.
• Reading groups – what did you think about the last book you read? Get together with other adults and children to discuss books.
• Plays – ever thought about putting on a play? You can borrow a single play or a set of scripts from libraries.
• Talking books – hire a book on CD, or get it free if you have a visual impairment.
• Poetry competition – our annual poetry competition starts on National Poetry Day. Whether you’re a budding poet or you’ve never written a poem before, write and tell us what work and play mean to you.

Are you good at telling stories? Find out how to enter the Telling Tales competition or join a poetry slam by visiting the NYR website – 'Word of mouth' .

Monthly themes – November to December

Look out for books and events which tie in with other monthly themes later this year:

• November – Screen reads
• December – Write the future

Team Read

During the summer holiday, kids took part in our summer reading challenge 'Team Read'. Everyone who read six books by Saturday 6 September won a gold medal and entered our draw for tickets to Legoland and Chessington.

• Team Read – summer reading challenge

Eastbourne Big Read

From March to June we invited you to read and talk about 'Animal Farm' and 'Charlotte's Web'.

• Eastbourne Big Read

Quick reads

Specially published to celebrate World Book Day, these books are quick and easy to read for adults who find reading difficult. You can read or listen to the first chapter online, and borrow them from your nearest library:

• Quick reads 2008
• BBC RaW Reader

Join your local library in 2008

Saturday 26 April was National Join a Library Day. Application forms were printed in newspapers and distributed around the country. You can also download the form online.

Just fill in a form and take it to your nearest library any day during the Year of Reading.

• National Join a Library Day – application form
• Joining the library in East Sussex

Help with reading

• BBC RaW website
  RaW is a BBC campaign to help families across the UK read and write better.

• Volunteer Reading Help
  Help disadvantaged children develop a love of reading and learning – working in schools but outside the classroom.