The Verse Novel Challenge

Aim of the reading challenge

Supported by our partner Amazon, The Verse Novel Challenge is open to all UK schools and is for students aged 8 to 14 years.

The challenge celebrates reading for pleasure and helps build confidence with an accessible and engaging format as well as fostering an interest in a diverse range of books.

Get involved

Resources to support the challenge

Detailed resources are available to download and include:

• Teacher guidelines with clear and supportive ideas on how to deliver this reading challenge in school
• Benefits of reading verse novel literature
• Ideas on how to read verse novels aloud
• Reading response framework for students
• Recommended reading lists in categories 8 to 12 years and 11 to 14 years showcasing diversity of voices and themes
• Certificate for all participants to celebrate their involvement

Links to the resources will appear when you scroll down on this page. You will need to have as a minimum, free membership of the National Literacy Trust to be able to access the resources.

Prize Draw

There will be a prize draw for this competition that is generously funded by our partner Amazon. Ten schools with winning entries will be selected to receive a £500 donation from Amazon to support and diversify their library offering.

Terms and conditions of the competition

How to enter

Full details for preparing your entry are given in the teacher guidelines.

Entries must be submitted online and a form for submissions will be available on this page from Friday 17 October.

The deadline for submitting entries will be Friday 12 December.

If you have any queries about our Reading Champions Reading Challenge series then don’t hesitate to contact us at competitions@literacytrust.org.uk.

In partnership with Amazon

We are delighted to work with our partner Amazon for the third year running on the Reading Champions Challenges.

In 2023, we brought to life the incredible world of picturebooks for an older audience with the Picture This! reading challenge. In 2024, Amazon supported The World of Graphic Novels challenge both through volunteer judging and fantastic prizes.

With the reading challenge partnership, Amazon have provided hundreds of schools with book donations and £10,000 worth of prizes for winning schools to transform their libraries and book selections.

National Literacy Trust Reading Champions is supported by ALCS.

Find out more about the National Reading Champions Quiz and Challenges.

Explore useful teaching resources developed by ALCS to support understanding and communication about copyright with guides for children, young people and teachers.

Watch this ALCS animation as a great starting point to helping your students understand copyright in a fun and interactive way. Karl Nova uses his voice and talent to bring the importance of copyright for writers and artists to life in this video from ALCS.