Tips for CKG Shadowing in 2021

January 27th 2021

Shadowing is a fun, flexible, reading for pleasure activity that can take place in any location! You can decide how you want to run your own Shadowing Group to explore the 2021 Carnegie and Kate Greenaway shortlists and share outstanding books with your students. The simplest way is to work with a small group, reading and discussing books, through regular meetings, either in person or online.

The Carnegie and Greenaway books offer outstanding reading experiences that inspire lively debate, discussion and creative responses in young people. Your group can come together to share their thoughts on what they are reading, write reviews and create artwork which they can share online. Shadowing is a national reading scheme so there are also great opportunities to collaborate with other local groups to set up larger scale events or networking. From online quizzes to a joint ceremony to celebrate your group’s favourites; this could be done virtually or in a shared space (Covid-guidance permitting).

Getting started

Every Shadowing group is different, but if you’re looking for a jumping off point to start your shadowing, you can use the following structure as a template. The most important thing is making sure your readers are engaged in and excited by the books, so don’t feel constrained to follow the rules − adapt to suit what the children enjoy to help them foster a lifelong love of reading!

1. Welcome

The first shadowing session is a great chance for the group to get to know each other, introduce themselves and perhaps share which book they are most looking forward to reading or a book they have enjoyed in the past, if they feel confident doing so. If your Shadowers are taking part at home you might like to set them a task to record a short video clip about the book they are most looking forward to read or perhaps an audio recording from which you could create a podcast for your Shadowing Group.

For subsequent sessions, you can explore the detailed Shadowing Resources to discover new activities to try. Inviting your Shadowers to take it in turns to introduce the books they are reading at the start of each session is a great way to get the conversation started.

2. Read aloud

If you are shadowing the Kate Greenaway shortlist you might be able to read through a whole picturebook with your group in one session, but for the Carnegie shortlist, you may like to focus on significant passages that can be read aloud to inspire group discussion. Key passages are identified in the reading resources for each shortlisted book to help you to get started. And look out for videos with our Carnegie authors reading aloud sections from their book as well as interviews sharing insights into their creative process.

3. Activity

Try one of the activities suggested in the Shadowing Resources, check out the creative activities as part of our competitions or make up your own! You will find suggestions to bring in cross-curricular themes and use multi-media for variety. Look out for exciting new Shadowing Tasks set by the author or illustrator in the video interviews released weekly. You can also find inspiration from other shadowing groups on social media by following @CILIPCKG and searching #CKG21.

4. Review

Depending on the length of the book and the time you have allotted to shadowing, you may not review books during every group meeting, but try to encourage the group to reflect on what they are reading and how the books compare within the shortlists and encourage them to prepare their reviews at home. Again, they might like to record their views through video or audio clips to share with their peers and to contribute to your own Shadowing Group’s podcast or video channel.

5. Finish

Involve your Shadowers in planning your next shadowing meeting, deciding on what to read next and what activities they might like to try. With book giveaways and prizes to be won by taking part in the various competitions you may like to factor in a session to work on competition entries or help your students to explore some of these in their own time.

Top activities for all groups to try:

1. Review first chapters and front covers. This can be a great way to introduce a selection of books to choose from. It can spark a debate about “judging books by their covers” and decide which books look the most interesting. Compare results at the end of shadowing to see if people’s predictions about the books were right.
2. Brand your meetings. Download free materials including colourful membership cards, certificates and bookmarks to give out at meetings. If taking part online, look out for our CKG virtual backgrounds.
3. Run competitions. Could you develop some of your own competitions and award small prizes for best reviews, best book cover re-designs, word-searches, crosswords, quizzes etc.?
4. Make a video or podcast. Encourage your students to share audio clips talking about the books they are reading and their predictions. When you come together in the classroom or library you could try creating a video diary to track your group’s progress or create book trailers for your favourite books.
5. Video chats. Try connecting with other shadowing groups via Skype or Zoom to discover their thoughts on the books and arrange virtual events such as quizzes and debates. You can set up a virtual visit from the CKG judge in your region and maybe even a chat with a shortlisted author or illustrator!
6. Meet up with other shadowing groups. Whether virtually or in a shared space (Covid-guidance permitting), meet with other groups to discuss and vote for your favourite titles. Organise a special debate or shadowing celebration with a neighbouring school or library. Use the Shadowing in Your Area map to discover local groups. And remember to share your special events and any photos or video content to #CKG21.
7. Watch videos of the shortlisted authors and illustrators talking about their work by visiting the book pages (new videos posted each week once the shortlists are announced in March).

Useful links

Register to take part in the 2021 Shadowing Scheme and your free Awards Publicity Pack here.

Pre-order the longlisted or shortlisted Carnegie and Kate Greenaway packs.

If you are looking for more reading for pleasure resources for your students or children, you can visit the CKG Archive which is full of in-depth teaching resources on the outstanding books that have been shortlisted for the Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals over the past 10 years: https://carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/archive/. All previously shortlisted books are available to buy from Peters.

See our Carnegie Greenaway book packs

Hints and tips written by the CILIP team