Services for Schools

Author Visits

We organize school visits by storytellers, poets, authors and illustrators. Please give us at least two months notice, though in the case of very popular authors more notice may be needed. Fees for these visits can vary but are generally around £300 for a whole day plus travelling, though this can change depending on author and time.

We will provide the author's books on a sale or return basis. Please email us with your requirements. You can visit author's websites from our Links page

We are fortunate enough to have contacts with a series of relatively local authors, for whom travelling is less of an issue.

Local Authors:

• Jeremy Strong (The Hundred Mile an Hour Dog, There's a Viking in my Bed)
• Eileen Browne (Handa's Surprise, Handa's Hen)
• John Foster (Performance poet extraordinaire)
• Geraldine McCaughrean (Not the end of the world, Kite Rider, Stop the Train, Peter Pan In Scarlett)
• Jamila Gavin (Grampa Chattergee, Coram Boy, The Robber Baron's Daughter)
• John Foster (Performance poet extraordinaire)
• Sophy Williams (Illustrator The Nativity)
• Mark Robertson (The Moon In Swampland, The Egg, Big Brave Brian)

Authors we have organised in 2008.

• Jenny Nimmo (Charlie Bone Series)
• Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson)
• Geraldine McCaughrean (Not the end of the world, Kite Rider, Stop the Train, Peter Pan In Scarlett)
• Beth Webb (Stardancer, Fire Dreamer)
• Julia Golding (Cat Royal Series, Darcy Lock Series,Companions Quartet)
• Sally Grindley (Spilled Water, The Feather Wars)
• Ari Berk (Giants)
• Chris Ryan (Alpha Force Series)
• Cathy Forde (Skarrs, Sugar Coated, Fat Boy Swim)
• Malcolm Rose (Traces Series)
• Judith Nichols (The Sun In Me: Poems about our Planet) 
• John Dougherty (Zeus On The Loose and Zueus To The Rescue)
• Mini Grey (Traction Man, Biscuit Bear)
• John Foster (Dragon Poems, Football Poems, Pet Poems)

Swindon Festival

1. Kate Cann
2. Tony de Saulles
3. Bali Rai
4. Julia Jarman
5. Michael Rosen
6. Sam Enthoven
   

Illustrators we have organised in 2008

• Jackie Morris (The Snow Leopard Illustrator)
• Korky Paul (Winnie The Witch Illustrator)
• Rodney Matthews (Alice In Wonderland Illustrator)

Book Bazaars

Our bazaars consist of a very wide range of books from all major children's publishers, which combine traditional and classical elements with the latest titles to promote good quality literature appropriate to the age and ability range of the children. Our books are not second hand or remaindered and you will not receive filofaxes, hair braiding kits, or Barbie books in your boxes. We can tailor your exhibition to support cross-curricular themes and can include non-fiction and a selection of books for teachers if you wish.

We use sturdy stand-alone shelving for your exhibition, which displays all titles face on and can be arranged to fit into almost any space including foyers, halls, corridors or any other secure area. Delivery and erection are free at this time and most schools have the exhibition for a week though we can offer shorter or longer periods of display.

We offer 20% of total sales as commission can be taken in two ways

Either: Selecting books from the shelves of your bazaar
Or: Selecting books from the shelves in the shop at a later date

We provide cash box and float with the requisite stationery, posters, and other publishers' materials.

School Libraries

We advise on the stocking and maintenance school libraries. Please e-mail us with your requirements so we can arrange a consultation.

Guided Reading Lists

On our Book Lists page we have selections of books for Key Stages One and Two. The lists are neither definitive nor exhaustive but are based upon the experience of teachers in Wiltshire and Hampshire. The lists include fiction, poetry, plays and traditional tales. Although we have included dictionaries and thesauruses, we have not suggested any titles for the non-fiction component since our own preference would be to link with topics in Science, Geography, PSME or History. All prices are correct at the time of going to print but may change without notice.