The World of Graphic Novels

Get ready for the new term

Let's start the new academic year together, exploring and celebrating the exciting and popular world of graphic novels and comics with 7 to 14 year olds from across the UK.

This dynamic reading format encourages reluctant and confident readers alike, and this challenge will kick start the Autumn term with an inclusive reading for pleasure focus.

Sign up!

Sign up today to get involved in the reading challenge and we will keep you updated on when the resources are available. If you sign up before September you could also be one of 100 lucky schools to win a set of books from our partner Amazon to support the delivery of the challenge in school.

About the challenge

In September, The World of Graphic Novels reading challenge will go live with a full set of resources. These will include:

• Teacher Guidelines with detailed and supportive suggestions for both teachers and students to maximise delivery and understanding of the graphic novel form
• Age-appropriate booklists that suggest titles from the amazing array of content on offer
• Classroom-ready worksheets to help frame the challenge and support learning and outcomes
• A certificate to congratulate every student that takes part
• Outstanding prizes to be won for the school if you complete the challenge and enter the competition

Why get involved?

Taking part in this challenge will help develop:

• Inclusion: Recognition of the importance of visual literacy and the specific skills of interpreting images
• Oracy: Encouraging booktalk and debate throughout activities
• Awareness: Understanding of the complex ways that comics build meaning through the combination of words and image as well as the immense variety of this genre
• Reading for Pleasure: Through exploration of the medium of comics and graphic novels, students are introduced to different types of books that may appeal to them

How to proceed and plan delivery

1. Sign up today to get involved and we will remind you when the resources are live and you could also be one of 100 lucky schools to win a set of books from our partner Amazon
2. Be ready for all the resources to be available for download from Tuesday 17 September
3. Run the challenge during the Autumn term at a time that suits you
4. If you wish to enter the competition, all entries are to be submitted by Tuesday 10 December
5. Prize winners will be announced at the end of January 2025

Sign up here

In partnership with Amazon

We are delighted to be working with our partner Amazon for the second 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. Amazon provided 100 schools with book donations and £5,000 worth of prizes for winning schools to transform their libraries and book selections.

Now, in 2024, Amazon are back supporting another superb reading challenge and providing a team of Amazon employees who are volunteering to judge all the competition entries we receive for The World of Graphic Novels reading challenge.

Once again, 100 schools will receive a box of carefully curated books to support the delivery of the challenge in school and there are incredible prizes to be won. Your school could be one of the lucky schools to win funds to transform your reading space in 2025!

National Literacy Trust Reading Champions is supported by ALCS.

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.

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