This challenge is aimed at our whole school community - students, teachers, parents and carers. It is closely tied to our school's Rights Respecting Schools journey, and we are encouraging everyone to read books that highlight some of the articles in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child (UNCRC).
Each book selected for our booklists has been chose because it brings one of the articles of the convention into focus (this could be because the story involves a character who is being denied this right, or because to show a good example of the right being met through difficult circumstances).
The challenge is to read at least four of the books from our booklists and to post a short review about what you took away from each one.
We hope that by encouraging staff and parents/carers to get involved that we stimulate some excellent conversations both about the themes of the books and more generally about reading for pleasure and children's/young adult literature.
We are challenging students, staff, parents and carers to read four books from our booklists. We have selected books that highlights some of the articles from The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in some way.
We hope that each book provides some insight into the issues that impact children at home or around the world, and make us reflect on how the UNCRC can be used to provide equality and equity for all children.
One you have read a book, post a short review via the web form to let us kow what you thought. Once you have read all four books, write a small entry about how the challenge made you think about a UNCRC article in some way (this can be broad or focus on a single moment in a books). You will then receive a coveted pin badge!
The UNCRC
The UNCRC is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world, with all UN member states except for the United States having ratified the Convention. At it's foundation is the idea that every child should be recognised, respected and protected as a rights holder and as a unique and valuable human being. It applies to all persons under the age of 18.
A summary of the articles in the UNCRC can be found here.
Rights Respecting Schools
The Rights Respecting School award is about ensuring that children's rights are at the heart of student's school life, and embedded into the school's ethos and culture. The award recognises schools for putting the UNCRC into practice within the school and beyond. Schools are required to implement three evidence-based strands that cover the leadership of the school, knowledge and understanding of children’s rights, ethos and relationships and the empowerment of children and young people.
Find out more about Rights Respecting Schools here.
Browse the titles that we have selected for our Rights Respecting Reads challenge below. Copies of the books are available from PL Library and a selecion of others are also available as eBooks and eAudiobooks via Bolinda Borrowbox.
Please note that not all books are suitable for all readers. Books listed as suitable for older readers will contain mature content and themes. Some books contain upsetting subject matter and may list trigger warnings at the start of the book. We have attempted to make this challenge highly accessible and so our booklists contain a number of short dyslexia-friendly titles and several graphic novels.
Find out more about the titles on our booklists by clicking the links below to be taken to an external page with a summary and more information about each book.
Submit a book review for any book that you have read from our booklists.
This form can be used by parents and carers as well as PL students and staff. Reviews should be approximately 50 - 100 words in length and either can give your thoughts on the book or a summary (or both). Once you have read four books and completed four reviews, you can answer a short question about how any of the books relate to the UNCRC and earn your Rights Respecting School Pin Badge.