BookPenPals

What is BookPenPals?

BookPenPals pairs UK authors and illustrators with UK schools to make book recommendations via postcards. Schools reply with a postcard of their own. The Pen Pals pairings last for one school year, and the joys of reading, writing and drawing multiply.

How it works

Authors and illustrators pair up with up to three schools of their choice and recommend other people’s books to a class, over the course of a school year. They can also send occasional writing advice or drawing tips. Schools reply to let their Pen Pals know if they’ve enjoyed the recommended books. Lovely relationships between schools and authors/illustrators develop!

At the end of the school year, the author or illustrator can retire from the programme or switch to a new school. BookPenPals is a free, volunteer-run programme.

Schools benefit from discovering a wide range of books from experts in children’s literature, while being inspired through regular contact with an author/illustrator. In some cases, the relationship leads to an in-person or Skype visit.

Author/illustrator guidelines

Author/illustrator Pen Pals agree to send a minimum of six postcards over the course of the school year (September to July) to their class(es). The postcards contain reading recommendations appropriate to the year group of the class. The recommendation can be of a classic, a less well-known book you know and love, a brand-new release, or anything in between. We also encourage Pen Pals to send writing/drawing prompts or tips.

Pen Pals can take up to a maximum of three schools, and the partnership lasts for one academic year.

We encourage everyone to send a private review of their Book Pen Pals experience at the end of the academic year, so we can highlight where things are working and fix anything that isn’t.

School guidelines

Schools commit to sending a minimum of four postcard replies to their author/illustrator Pen Pals over the course of the school year. Tweeting or other social media, in line with your school policy, is encouraged and appreciated.

Schools must not register more than one class or group for the Book Pen Pals programme in any school year. This is due to demand outstripping supply in Pen Pals! Schools can register with a single or a pair of year groups (e.g. Year 1 or Year 1/2), to help Pen Pals choose schools with age groups that match their expertise.

As authors and illustrators may take on more than one school, please note that they cannot accommodate multiple replies from students unless special arrangements are made.

We encourage everyone to send us a private review of their Book Pen Pals experience at the end of the academic year, so we can highlight where things are working and fix anything that isn’t.