Interested in joining Goodwin Academy's Sixth Form in September 2025? Visit our Admissions page for more details or email us at admin@goodwinacademy.org.uk if you have any questions. 

The Book Nook

Welcome to Goodwin Academy’s Book Nook, a webpage dedicated to reading for pleasure.

At Goodwin Academy all staff are making it a priority for students to read regularly and widely to ensure that they have the literacy skills needed for success in all their school subjects and for the world beyond school.

However, we also recognise that reading for pleasure, in school and at home, has significant benefits for students, academically and socially.

The Book Nook has been created to support students with their journey to becoming confident readers who enjoy a wide range of reading.

Reading for Pleasure: The Research

  • Reading enjoyment has been reported as more important for children’s educational success than their family’s socio-economic status (OECD, 2002).
  • Students who read for pleasure make significantly more progress in vocabulary, spelling and maths than children who read very little (Sullivan and Brown 2013)
  • Evidence suggests that there is a positive relationship between reading frequency, reading enjoyment and attainment (Clark 2011; Clark and Douglas 2011).
  • Reading for pleasure has many non-literacy benefits and can increase empathy, improve relationships with others, reduce the symptoms of depression and improve wellbeing throughout life (The Reading Agency 2015).
  • Reading for pleasure has social benefits as well and can make people feel more connected to the wider community. Reading increases a person’s understanding of their own identity, improves empathy and gives them an insight into the world view of others (The Reading Agency 2015).

Top tips for parents and carers to encourage reading for pleasure at home

  • Read to your child.
  • Read with your child.
  • Listen to your child read.
  • Discuss books and magazine or newspaper articles with your child.
  • Make a point of being seen reading yourself.
  • Give books or book vouchers to your child and/ or encourage others to do so.
  • Have a wide range of books, quality magazines and quality newspapers in the home.
  • Visit libraries and bookshops with your child.
  • Choose books with your child.
  • Use your Amazon Prime account to get free e-books.
  • Use Audible for children. They have made a wide range of audiobooks available free.
  • Encourage older children to support younger children with their reading.
  • Stress the important of reading to your child.

Recommended Reading: Themes

Diverse Reads

Explore our Diverse Reads

Gothic Reads

Explore our Gothic Reads

Holocaust Memorial Day Reads

Explore our Holocaust Memorial Day Reads

LGBTQIA+ Reads

Explore our LGBTQIA+ Reads

Dystopian Reads

Explore our Dystopian Reads

Sci-Fi Reads

Explore our Sci-Fi Reads

Class Readers: Years 7 - 9

Year 7

Explore our Year 7 Class Reads

Year 8

Explore our Year 8 Class Reads

Year 9

Explore our Year 9 Class Reads

Book Trust Bookfinder

Looking for your next favourite read? 

Discover the BookTrust's Bookfinder, the perfect tool to explore the very best books for Children and young people. From magical mysteries to astonishing adventures, there's something for everyone.

Discover the Bookfinder here

Books to read if you love Football

Looking for a book based on your interest? 
We will be sharing books throughout the year based on the things you love.

If you love football, this is the reading list for you! 

Explore Football Themed Books here

Review a Book

We want to hear from you! Do you have a book you recently read and loved, and would like to recommend it to others? Why not leave a review?

Find one of the books from the recommended list, books read with your teacher or recommend a book yourself.
Click on the link and complete the form.

It will take you just a few minutes.

Review your latest read here