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| Little Big Book Club | |
|---|---|
| Name | Little Big Book Club |
| Formation | 2010s |
| Type | Literary nonprofit |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Region served | International |
| Leader title | Founder |
| Leader name | Maria Johnson |
Little Big Book Club is a nonprofit literary organization focused on promoting reading among children through curated book selections, community events, and partnerships with schools and libraries. Founded in the 2010s, the Club has developed a reputation for accessible programming and outreach that connects young readers with authors, illustrators, and cultural institutions. Its work spans local initiatives in the United Kingdom to collaborative projects with international partners.
The organization operates as a membership-driven club that curates monthly reading lists, coordinates author visits, and supports literacy campaigns. It collaborates with prominent institutions such as the British Library, Tate Modern, National Literacy Trust, British Council, and UNICEF on literacy and cultural projects. The Club’s programming has engaged stakeholders including BBC, The Guardian, Channel 4, Sky Arts, and arts festivals like Hay Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Partnerships extend to publishers and cultural organizations including Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Scholastic Corporation, Bloomsbury Publishing, Faber and Faber, and international partners such as UNESCO.
The Club was founded by Maria Johnson after a career in children’s publishing and educational outreach, drawing on networks in the publishing world including contacts at Walker Books, Nosy Crow, Hachette Book Group, and Macmillan Publishers. Early activities included pop-up reading sessions in venues like Southbank Centre and school tours modeled after outreach programs by BookTrust and Read Write Inc.. Expansion occurred through collaborations with foundations such as the Wellcome Trust and Paul Hamlyn Foundation, enabling pilot projects in partnership with municipal authorities including London Borough of Hackney and Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The Club’s timeline includes appearances at major book fairs and markets like the Frankfurt Book Fair and the London Book Fair.
Membership comprises parents, educators, librarians, and young readers, and it interfaces with professional bodies such as the National Association of Head Teachers and Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. Enrollment models draw from subscription practices used by The Reader Organisation and community trusts like Arts Council England-funded groups. The Club’s volunteer base includes university students from institutions such as University College London, King's College London, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge, and trainee teachers affiliated with Teach First programs. Special membership tiers have been offered to cultural partners including Royal Opera House and Museum of London.
Core activities include curated book boxes, author-and-illustrator visits, reading circles, and summer literacy camps inspired by formats used by Imagination Library and Summer Reading Challenge. Programs often feature collaborations with creators and estates associated with authors and illustrators like Roald Dahl, Beatrix Potter, Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen, Philip Pullman, Anthony Browne, Chris Riddell, and Liz Pichon. Educational workshops reference curricula frameworks used by institutions such as Department for Education (UK) and museums like Victoria and Albert Museum. The Club also hosts events at festivals and venues including Southbank Centre, Barbican Centre, RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce), and regional centres such as Manchester Central.
The Club issues monthly reading lists, newsletters, and occasional anthologies in collaboration with publishers including Faber and Faber and Bloomsbury Publishing. Media coverage has appeared in outlets like The Guardian, The Times, Daily Telegraph, The Independent, The Observer, and broadcast features on BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 2, and ITV. The Club’s digital platforms produce podcasts and video content inspired by formats from producers at Channel 4 and Sky Arts, and it has provided content for educational platforms such as TES and National Literacy Trust campaigns.
Independent evaluations and impact reports have cited improvements in reading engagement among participant cohorts, with case studies resonating with models used by National Literacy Trust and BookTrust research. Reception among critics and educators has ranged from praise for community reach—echoing successes of Imagination Library—to calls for broader geographic scaling similar to initiatives by First Book and Room to Read. Cultural commentators in outlets including The Guardian and The Times have highlighted the Club’s role in sustaining author visibility alongside institutions such as Hay Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Governance is overseen by a board including representatives from publishing, education, and cultural institutions, reflecting connections to organizations like Arts Council England, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and corporate funders such as National Lottery Heritage Fund partners. Funding sources include membership fees, grants, sponsorships from publishers such as Penguin Random House and Scholastic Corporation, and project-specific support from charitable trusts like Comic Relief and The Clore Duffield Foundation. Fiscal oversight aligns with charity regulations comparable to guidelines from the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
Category:Literary societies Category:Children's literature organizations