Publication Date: 30 April 2022

The Blurb

Developing Reading Comprehension Skills Years 3-4: Contemporary Children’s Literature contains 12 high quality extracts from modern children’s stories and is perfect for developing reading strategies as children move through Key Stage 2.

Each of the 12 extracts from contemporary children’s literature is accompanied by eight sets of questions based on the Key Stage 2 (KS2) Reading Content Domains and National Curriculum. This book provides opportunities to tackle more complex vocabulary, explore how authors use language to impact their readers and develop endurance for longer passages.

The Review

Developing Comprehension is a must-have resource for teachers seeking to invigorate their literacy curriculum with engaging and diverse texts. Kate’s deep understanding and knowledge of children’s literature shines through, offering educators, whether at school or at home, a rich assortment of texts spanning various genres. What sets this book apart from the plethora out there is not only its meticulous curation of texts but also the comprehensive guidance on how to effectively integrate them into teaching practices.

Each text is accompanied by targeted question sets, which are thoughtfully designed to stimulate critical thinking and discussion, ensuring that teachers can easily tailor their lessons to meet specific learning objectives. For struggling readers, the layout means it’s easy to dip into younger year groups for interventions without it looking young. With enough content for a week’s worth of lessons per text, teachers can confidently plan their instruction while fostering a deep engagement with the material.

From using Kate’s books myself, being able to pick up a book children will see in their school or local libraries, not only increases engagement in comprehension lessons, but also encourages them to go on and pick the book up to read for pleasure too. 

A brilliant addition to any school’s resources that empowers teachers to cultivate a dynamic and enriching literacy environment. With its diverse selection of texts, targeted question sets, and practical guidance, this book is sure to become an indispensable tool for teachers passionate about fostering a love of reading in their students, and if you are just starting to look at a reading spine, the texts featured in each book would provide a solid foundation for building a robust and engaging curriculum.

Developing Reading Comprehension Skills Years 3-4: Contemporary Children’s Literature is available to purchase now from Amazon.

Huge thanks to Brilliant Publishing for sending me a copy of Year 3-4 Contemporary Fiction, and Kate for inviting me to take part in the blog tour. Do make sure you check out all of the other books in the series featured on the blog tour.

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