Kids' bibliotherapy

As anyone who has to read regularly to children knows, it can be extremely hard to find books that will capture their imaginations and develop a taste of reading that will last them for years to come. Charlotte Raby, our children’s bibliotherapist, can recommend books for all ages and in all categories. She’ll source the perfect title for a five-year-old with an interest in skyscrapers or some stories guaranteed to interest a nine-year-old who thinks only of computer games and declares an all-encompassing hatred for books.

What does it cost?

A half-hour session for parents or children on their own or together costs £35. This is followed up by a beautifully designed ‘reading prescription’ sent to your child in the post. The School of Life can source and send you any of the books recommended, packaged in a way which turn even the most book-shy child into a budding junior librarian. Charlotte usually meets children at The School of Life but is often willing to travel. She can also do consultations by phone or e-mail. Prices to visit schools cost from £100. Please call The School of Life on 020 7833 1010 if you want to discuss this.

Kids' Book Boxes

What to give the eight-year-old who fancies himself as the next prime minister, or the twelve-year-old who has already had their heart broken? How to find books that will survive getting wet in the bath or that you won’t mind being asked to read aloud time after time? Just ask and we’ll assemble the perfect book-based gift box for any child.
The image on this page shows our Monster Gift Box, ENTER AT YOUR PERIL! This box contains creatures from other worlds, and the following titles:

Contents:
Not Now, Bernard by David McKee
I’m Coming to Get You by Tony Ross
There’s a Nightmare in my Closet by Mercer Mayer
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Make Your Own Monster Kit by Donna Wilson
A can of chocolate worms

RRP £50.  Recommended ages 3-5.

Our kids' bibliotherapist

Charlotte Raby is unembarrassed to admit that children’s literature forms the main part of her reading diet. She has always loved books but finding authors such as Philip Pullman, Neil Gaiman and Jerry Spinelli, who write with such directness and intelligence for children, added huge pleasure to her life.

After reading English, Drama and Education at Cambridge, Charlotte tried to become an anthropologist but children’s literature dogged her at every turn. She has run a tiny pre-school in Zimbabwe and reawakened various unloved school libraries in London and Brighton, searching high and low to find books to to bring delight to even the most reticent readers. She has also worked with parents to help them become story-tellers who are confident and expert at sharing the joy of a good book with their children. Charlotte writes literacy resources and non-fiction books for children and has three children of her own of various ages to share her addiction with. She lives in a small village in a home overflowing with books.