Online Children’s Book Club: THE BOLDS

Online Children's Book Club: The Bolds

Welcome to our online children's book club for Years 3-4 children.

.

Summer Term Dates 2025

Option A: THE BOLDS, by Julian Clary
Time: Mondays 4.45-5.30pm
Dates: 2nd June, 9th June, 16th June, 30th June, 7th July, 14th July
NB: Please note there is no lesson on 23rd June.
Tutor: Becky

Option B: THE BOLDS, by Julian Clary
Time: Sundays 10-10.45am
Dates: 8th June, 15th June, 22nd June, 29th June, 6th July, 13th July
Tutor: Rachel C

..

Book Club Reading Information:

The Bolds by Julian Clary*

Pages to read before the lesson:
Lesson 1: Chapters 1 - 3
Lesson 2: Chapters 4 - 6
Lesson 3: Chapters 7 - 8
Lesson 4: Chapters 9 - 11.5 (up to the sentence "A short while later, carrying the bin liner full of bones and the torch, they set off, Mr McNumpty glowering at them from his bedroom window." For some books, this is p177)
Lesson 5: Chapters 11.5 - 12
Lesson 6: Chapters 13 - end

*Please note that we earn a small commission from purchases via this link.
.

Book Club Course Details:

Let's buzz with the joy of reading with our fabulous book club! We offer a carefully selected range of books to excite all young readers. 

Our Book Clubs are fully interactive and consist of the following:

• Independent Reading: Every week, the children have a set number of pages to read before the next lesson. This reading is to be done in their own time, in preparation for the lesson.
• Discuss and Debate: To develop speaking and listening skills, we will start each lesson with a discussion of what the children read. We will encourage children to express themselves clearly, sharing different interpretations and beliefs. 
• Quiz Whizz: Next, the children take part in a Kahoot quiz which focuses on different types of comprehension question.
• Word Warriors: To develop children's vocabulary, we pick out ambitious words used in the chapters and the children complete an activity based on these words.
• The Deep Dive: Here, we explore one aspect of the story more closely. This includes story analysis, writing skills, character study, critical and lateral thinking, exploration of feelings, debating dilemmas and exploring themes.
• Scribble and Sketch: The final challenge each week is something creative. Children will be encouraged to upload their Scribble and Sketch work to Google Classroom so that it can be commented on and shared in the following lesson.
  

Book Club General Details:

• Each session is 45 minutes, 6 sessions in total.
• There will be a maximum of 12 children per class.
• The course is led by a highly experienced teacher.
• It takes place online.
• It is fully interactive.
• £75 per 6 sessions (£12.50 per lesson). All course prices are inclusive of VAT. If you are based outside of the UK, the course price (without VAT) will be updated at checkout but you may be subject to additional bank charges, which are determined by your financial institution.
• Please choose to pay via PayPal at the checkout if you would like to pay in instalments.
• Once booked, places are non-refundable as stated in our Terms and Conditions.
• We have a specific waiting list for children who are eligible for free-school meals. If we have spaces on a course, these children will be offered a free space. Contact us if you would like to join this waiting list.
• We engage with self-employed tutors to run our courses on behalf of our business. The tutors running our courses are qualified teachers with exemplary references. All course tutors hold an Enhanced DBS Certificate and are signed up to the Update Service.

The Bolds by Julian Clary

Mr and Mrs Bold are just like you and me: they live in a nice house (in Teddington), they have jobs (like writing Christmas cracker jokes) and they love to have a bit of a giggle. One slight difference: they're hyenas. Yes, that's right - they're covered in fur, have tails tucked into their trousers, and they really, really like to laugh.

So far, the Bolds have managed to keep things under wraps, even when their children Bobby and Betty were born. But the nosy man next door smells a rat (or a hyena), and a trip to the local wildlife park, and the brilliantly wacky heist that results, could be the end of Teddington's best-kept secret. Whatever will the neighbours think?

"My two children and I all love The Bolds. An allegory for feeling like an outsider and is written in the most imaginative and sensitive way." (Kate Garraway)

"The animals are amongst us! This lovely book will have kids rolling on the floor with mirth while their parents roll their eyes in recognition of human folly." (Fay Weldon)

.

Why we chose this book:

We chose The Bolds because it is so funny! It was the first book that my daughter absolutely loved reading, and she is working her way through all of the books in the series. Parents would also find it hilarious, so it's a great book to read together!

What parents say about our book clubs:

"My son loved the online book club, he is a reluctant reader but the weekly sessions really helped encourage him to pick up the book and get to the next chapter. The teacher we had was super enthusiastic and the lessons sounded very fun. Thank you for another brilliant course! We will be back soon." (Gemma, Parent)

"My son loves reading, but I was looking for a course where he can develop that love for books even more. For me, it’s not just about reading — it’s important that he builds strong comprehension and understanding of the stories. That’s when I found Bright Light, and I couldn’t be happier with their service and book club. [My son] absolutely loved the book ‘The Bolds’ — such an amazing story for kids! As a mum, I appreciated everything about the program, and we have already registered for the next book club course. Highly recommend for any parent wanting a meaningful reading experience for their child!" (Nirvana, Parent)

"My daughter loves the book club. It is wonderful! She didn’t use to read at all, but this course has inspired her to start reading. The teacher is encouraging, and we’re looking forward to joining the next book." (Joyce, Parent)

Would you like to try out a Taster Lesson before booking? View our upcoming Taster Sessions.
Would you like to see more book clubs? View our upcoming Book Clubs.