All the Better to Read You With

What if the key to improving reading attainment isn’t more pressure, but more pleasure?

This unique handbook provides a practical, classroom-ready teaching resource to help your pupils develop a genuine love of reading. By combining the rich anthology of short stories with tips for reading aloud from an Oxford Owl storyteller, you'll engage even the most reluctant readers – and keep them coming back for more.

This is not another comprehension scheme in disguise. Drawing on nearly two decades of professional storytelling practice and aligned with current research, the book offers practical, repeatable strategies proven to inspire reading for pleasure. Suitable for a wide range of abilities across the primary range, each story is paired with ready-to-use lessons designed to build engagement, deepen curiosity, and encourage independent reading habits.

Whether you’re a classroom teacher, literacy lead, or home tutor, this book provides everything you need to turn reading into something your pupils will actively choose. The result is not only improved literacy outcomes, but a lasting shift in how young people see reading.

See your pupils go from reluctant readers, to recreational readers!

This second edition includes a new foreword from Prof Teresa Cremin as well as additional tips for involving parents and adapting the lessons for one-to-one tuition.

Chip Colquhoun began storytelling professionally in 2007. He has since presented Traditional Tales for Oxford Reading Tree, toured six UK family theatre shows, performed at Glastonbury Festival, represented Roald Dahl on ITV, and set a Guinness World Record with the World Storytelling Café. Oh – and also written many children’s books, and trained hundreds of teachers worldwide to inspire a love of literacy. He lives in Cambridgeshire with his wife Emma and two kittens.

Rebekah Owen held various roles during her 20 years at Cambridgeshire’s Little Paxton Primary School before becoming headteacher in 2024. She has taught across the primary age range, always with a strong focus on ensuring that her learners receive a rich and varied reading diet. She is passionate about supporting trainee teachers and staff at all career stages, and has been a trainer with the Cambridge Training School Network’s School Centred Initial Teacher Training programme since its inception.

Korky Paul began his career scribbling for an advertising agency in Cape Town. His first illustration job was a book teaching English, then a pop-up called The Crocodile and the Dumper Truck – but it was his work on Winnie the Witch that won the Children’s Book Award in 1987 and made him a much-loved figure in the world of children’s books. He’s since illustrated for Oxford University Press, Penguin, Random House, and others. He lives in Oxford with his wife Susan.

Mario Coelho was born on the Brazilian island of Florianopolis. He worked as an artist and designer in textiles before moving to England in 1985. He’s since won the 2024 Royal Dragonfly Award for Best Picture Book Illustrations, and provided illustrations for the poet John Foster.

Prof Teresa Cremin CBE is Professor of Education (Literacy) and Co-Director of the Literacy and Social Justice Centre at The Open University. A former primary teacher and local authority staff development coordinator, she has extensive experience in higher education, working with trainee teachers and practising professionals. Her current work focuses on research, consultancy and knowledge exchange, alongside teaching, leadership and management.

Ros Wilson entered the teaching profession in 1965 and has served continuously since. Her experience spans primary, middle, and secondary education, including work with SEND and EAL pupils, senior leadership, and leading a primary department overseas. She has also been a local authority advisor, primary strategy manager, independent consultant, AST assessor, and Ofsted inspector, and is the creator of Big Writing (Oxford University Press). She holds qualifications from Leeds and London Universities.