New “Beano Booktopia” book subscription service launched

By John Freeman on October 24, 2019

Art by Nigel Parkinson

Beano has today launched Beano Booktopia – a new book subscription service for kids offering newly published books across a wide range of authors and genres.

The tailor-made programme will include fiction and non-fiction books specifically chosen by Beano experts based on the individual child’s given interests and reading ability.

Booktopia encourages children to expand their reading horizons with new books that fans of the Beano will love, the books selected for the service following the winning Beano formula that has won over children for three generations – by combining spot-on humour, captivating stories, relatable characters and amazing visual storytelling.

Multiple studies have shown that children who read for enjoyment do significantly better at school than their peers and make more progress in maths, vocabulary and spelling, making reading for pleasure one of the most effective ways of helping children to reach their full potential.

“Beano has been making kids laugh for over 80 years whilst all the while secretly helping them on the first crucial step on their reading journey,” notes Emma Scott, CEO of Beano Studios. “Thousands of parents tell us ‘Beano is the only thing my kids will read’ and we’re constantly awed by the British creative icons who credit the Beano with getting them reading, writing, drawing and even standing up on stage!

“Beano Booktopia offers kids a monthly chance to immerse themselves independently in amazing stories with the Beano seal of approval to help launch a lifetime love of reading.”

• For more information on Beano Booktopia and to purchase a subscription visit beanobooktopia.com

How Booktopia works

1. Pick a plan: Choose one of Beano Booktopia subscriptions with a book arriving every month for either 3, 6, 12 or 24 months – starting from £24.99

2. Name a kid: Name the lucky kid who will become part of Beano’s Booktopia club

3. Booktopia Quiz: Children answer a few simple questions outlining their interests. What do they love? Fact or fiction? Adventure or mystery? Books with pictures as well as text?

4. The Adventure Begins! Beano masterminds hand-pick a book a month to match each kid’s passions and reading ability

• For more information on Beano Booktopia and to purchase a subscription visit beanobooktopia.com

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.