At Value for Schools, we believe in bringing learning to life through creativity, curiosity and real-world skills. Our partnership with Pickatale reflects this shared vision and a commitment to inspiring a genuine love of reading in young people.
Since 2022, Baasit Siddiqui has worked closely with Pickatale to create engaging, meaningful experiences for pupils. One of the first collaborations was Books on the Box, an in-school workshop where children celebrate their favourite books by working in teams to create a trailer. This experience builds confidence, encourages collaboration and develops digital literacy skills.
The initiative has since evolved. Pupils now work in small groups to create their own original stories using Pickatale’s platform before turning them into trailers. This shift empowers children not just as readers, but as creators, giving them ownership of their ideas and a deeper connection to storytelling.
The partnership has grown even further through Mr Siddiqui’s Curious Careers, a six-book series written by Baasit Siddiqui and available on Pickatale. The series follows Mr Siddiqui as he explores lesser-known careers and the jobs of the future, transforming a group of children into “Super Skilled Heroes” who use real-world skills to solve problems in Career County.
Each story introduces pupils to different industries and roles, from marketing and sustainability to engineering, AI, history and cybersecurity. Across the series, key themes include teamwork, curiosity, problem-solving and using skills to make a positive difference in the world.
Together, Baasit Siddiqui and Pickatale are also supporting the National Year of Reading, helping schools place reading at the centre of their culture in a way that feels relevant, exciting and accessible to all learners.
This partnership works because it combines storytelling, technology and purpose. It supports schools in developing confident readers while also opening young people’s eyes to future possibilities.
Explore the links, resources and blogs below to see the impactful work Pickatale are doing to support reading, creativity and learning in schools.
Free access to over 200+ high quality digital books for the National Year of Reading
Sign Up For Books on the Box in Person Delivery & Access the Resources Here
Read about improved reading outcomes & increased love of reading with Pickatale.
