About Story Deck
Every secondary school in Scotland can receive Story Deck, our new tool for starting conversations about books, completely free! Explore this page to find out more about Story Deck and how to get your set.
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This page explains what Story Deck is and how to access it.
Find out more about how to get the most out of Story Deck and access resources here.
Watch: The school librarian and S1 pupils at Forfar Academy explain how Story Deck helps them.
What is Story Deck?
Story Deck is a set of cards designed to spark structured conversations with young people about stories, books, films, games and more. Created to support anyone who works with young people aged 11–18, Story Deck is based on three years of research with young people and librarians about young people and reading for pleasure.
Young people can use these cards to explore what they might enjoy and to tell each other, and the adults in their lives, more about what stories they like.
Story Deck can support:
- Librarians and learning professionals to get to know the young people that they work with
- Young people to get to know each other, discover shared interests, and recommend books to one another
- Librarians and learning professionals to make tailored book recommendations for pupils which are relevant to their interests
- Young people to gain and share a vocabulary for describing their interests and seeking out stories that they like
How to get Story Deck
Every secondary school and ASN setting working with 11–18-year-olds in Scotland is eligible to receive a set of three Story Decks.
Please request yours using this Microsoft Form(this will open in a new window). For help and enquiries, please email schools@scottishbooktrust.com(this will open in a new window).
Who can use Story Deck?
We believe these cards are suitable for use with young people age 11+ from any background, with any level and interest in books and reading – including none!
Some images do have a level of detail and may not be accessible for young people who are sight impaired.
Story Deck may be used to support:
- Young people who have English as an additional language and dyslexic young people. The cards are wordless; they do not require a particular reading level to be used effectively. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ interpretation of each card. Images can be interpreted in many ways.
- Autistic young people. Story Deck does not rely on verbal communication and can be used individually, in pairs, or as part of a small group. Story Deck activities also provide prompts for structured conversations.
- Young people with ADHD. Story Deck offers a tool to hold that is tactile. The use of cards also encourages making connections and building associations freely, with no ‘correct’ interpretation of each card.
- Anxious or shy young people. Story Deck can work as a prompt for discussion and facilitate conversations about common interests.
- Young people who have had fewer opportunities to build a common language with their peers about current books and media (e.g., those with less or no access to streaming services or games at home for any reason). Story Deck discussions don’t require up-to-date knowledge of contemporary media and users can draw upon their interests outside of books/media in discussions with peers.
Find out how to use Story Deck
Contact and feedback
We want to know how you’re using Story Deck and what you, and the young people in your school, think of it. Get in touch anytime with schools@scottishbooktrust.com(this will open in a new window) – we would love to hear your feedback or see pictures of cards being used!