Dive into a good book!

Sketch of a woman and child sat reading a book together.

Dear Andrew,

Fancy getting a free book? This week, we’re excited to launch our Young Readers book club! By signing up, Young Readers will have the opportunity to receive exciting new publications and have their review featured in our Remus Magazine. There will be regular opportunities to get involved throughout the year, with books aimed at different ages and exploring history from across the globe.

Our first pick is Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses, a new British Museum and Nosy Crow collaboration. Keep reading for more details on how to get involved!

In this weeks email you can...
? Learn from a master storyteller
? Create your own Bengali scroll
? Go on a Museum Mission

And for older Young Friends, join curator Ilona Regulski for top tips on reading hieroglyphs. Plus, pop on your detective hat to find the connection between three famous authors and the British Museum.

Plan your visit to the Museum for the May half-term and enjoy a free afternoon of family activities. Inspired by our major exhibition Ancient India: living traditions (until 19 October 2025), the whole family can enjoy a range of colourful, sensory and atmospheric activities. Find out more below.

Read on to discover more!

The Young Friends and The Schools and Young Audiences Teams

Young Readers book club

Cover artwork of 'Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses'.

Want to join our new book club? Our first choice is Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses (suitable for ages 7+). With permission from their grown-ups, Young Friends can apply to take part in the club. If successfully chosen, they’ll receive a copy of the book and their review will then be published in the Young Friends’ Remus Magazine.

The buttons below include more information about our first pick and the application form. The deadline to register your interest is Wednesday 11 June and successful applicants will be contacted shortly after that date. To give everyone a fair chance, selection will be random.

Discover the book

Apply now

Activities to try at home

Portrait of Murasaki Shikibu, an author, seated at a writing desk.

Learn from a master storyteller

Discover the story of Murasaki Shikibu, author of The Tale of Genji - believed to the world's first novel. And get inspired to write your own short story!

Get reading

A colourful scroll painting depicting miracles.

Create a Bengali storytelling scroll

Scroll paintings date back to the 13th century and are often based on folk tales and myths. Get inspired and create your own scroll at home.

Get crafting

These articles are taken from Remus. Visit our digital archive to dive into new and past issues of our magazine for young people.

Find the connection in the collection!

These three authors have written some classic stories. They also all have something in common related to the British Museum - can you guess what it is?

Answers are below, so don't read ahead!

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Best known for creating the clever detective Sherlock Holmes, who solves tricky mysteries. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also wrote exciting adventure stories.

Beatrix Potter

Beatrix Potter wrote and illustrated beautiful stories about animals, like Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle-Duck. She loved nature and was a pioneer of conservation.

Bram Stoker

Bram Stoker wrote the classic English novel, Dracula. The spooky story is about a mysterious vampire who moves from Transylvania to England, and has sold several million copies.

Photograph of the Enlightenment Gallery (Room 1) in the British Museum.

Museum Missions

Discover the oldest room in the Museum, originally built to house the library of King George III.

Find out more

Older Young Friends

Ages 14+

Collection of hieroglyphs carved in stone.

Curator's corner

Learn how to read Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs

Join Curator of Ancient Writing, Ilona Regulski, for a lesson on how to read your first sentence in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Watch now

More to explore at the Museum

Collection of woodblock prints on floral fabric.

Discovering Ancient India: living traditions

Get the family to the British Museum this May half-term for free, fun family activities inspired by Ancient India: living traditions.

Across this two-day event you can explore Indian woodblock printing, discover South Asian fashion and get hands-on with exciting objects.

Thursday 29 May
Friday 30 May
10.00–16.30

Find out more

Connections answer

?️All three authors visited the Round Reading Room in the British Museum!

Whilst we don’t know the exact books they read whilst at the Museum, we do know that many authors visited the Round Reading Room for inspiration! On your next visit to the Museum why not look for inspiration for your own short story – from cutesy bunnies to terrifying vampires, there’s lots to discover.

?️Inspired for your visit to the Round Reading Room, the button below shares more history on the space which is open for visitors!