Welcome to this week’s look at what has been happening in the world of children’s books. It’s been half term holiday for many so maybe you have missed some of the announcements, awards and research so I hope the items I’ve collected together here help a little.

What I’m reading…

Quiet Storm, (Usborne Books) Kimberly Whittam’s debut novel speaks to those children, of whom there are many, who are shy and quiet, those who struggle to speak up, to ask questions and to join in even when they desperately want to. Kimberly Whittam works in a secondary school as an assistant Special Educational Needs Coordinator and her background and experience are evident in the realistic depiction of the characters, both children and adults, and in the details of the school setting. Quiet Storm is perfectly timed to be a transition read dealing with some of the fears children may have about moving on to secondary school in a reassuring and practical manner.

Big written and illustrated by Vashti Harrison is a beautiful picture book, beautiful and compassionate, empowering and kind with an important message about the power of words to hurt and to help. A story told in spare text about a little girl with a big smile and big dreams who grows bigger and bigger. However as she grows the words used when people talk to her and to describe her make her feel small and out of place. Through powerful illustrations with clever use of subtle colour change and page space Vashti Harrison explores the child’s feelings and her gradual realisation that she is just right as she is. An excellent book for encouraging body positivity and self esteem this would be a valuable addition to primary school libraries.

News, articles and resources…

Children’s and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels – a concrete garden; a funny, uncompromising portrait of disability; an epic of ancient Greece; and the pick of new YA fiction are among the latest books chosen by Imogen Russell Williams for the Guardian. Imogen’s recommendations are always worth following up.

Double Acts and Children’s Graphic Novels – this latest blog by Roy Moss for Just Imagine provides an interesting insight in to the appeal of comedy, graphic novels and funny partnerships. The links between comedy on TV and in children’s books is fascinating. The videos included in the article are excellent. In just one of them Just Imagine reviewers Ben Harris, Roy Moss and Richard Charlesworth share some of their favourite graphic novels for the classroom. They found it very hard to pick from the wealth of exciting new books currently published.

Browns Books Timeline of Events plus Book Suggestions – huge thanks to school librarian Eileen Armstrong for sharing this valuable resource. Celebrations, sporting events, cultural events, national & international commemorative days, awareness weeks/months, literary birthdays and historical anniversaries are included in this handy month-by-month calendar. Whether they be educational or just for fun, each event is linked to handy, age-appropriate book selections or blogs chosen by the Browns Selection Team.

Patricia Forde announced as Ireland’s seventh Laureate na nÓg – An award-winning children’s author from Galway, Patricia Forde will hold the title from now until 2026, taking up the position from the outgoing Laureate, Áine Ní Ghlinn. By honouring an artist of exceptional talent and commitment, Laureate na nÓg champions and celebrates literature for children and young people, inspiring generations of writers, illustrators and readers.

Refugee Week Online CPD Session: Empowerment through compassion – on 21^st June online: 4.00 – 5.30pm join Helen McCord – UCL Centre for Holocaust Education, Tom Palmer – author of ‘After the War, From Auschwitz to Ambleside’ and Trevor Avery – Director of Lake District Holocaust Project for this free event. More information and booking is available via the link above.

The Reader Teacher Monthly Must Reads for May – another great selection from Scott Evans including one of my recent favourites, My Name is Sunshine Simpson by G M Linton. There are links to reviews of the books and a free poster to download.

Book Trust: New Children’s Books June – each month the Book Trust team compile a list of their favourite new books for children from babies through to teens. It’s great to see Jon Agee’s new picture book with Scallywag Press included plus Stolen History by Sathnam Sanghera Illustrated by Jen Khatun an accessible look at the British Empire and how it still affects our lives today. Lots more to choose from and well worth a browse.

Podcast: The Island of Brilliant Episode 2 with Maisie Chan – Nadia Shireen and Frank Cottrell Boyce welcome the fabulous writer Maisie Chan to the island to talk about some of her brilliant books – including ‘Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths’ and ‘Keep Dancing Lizzie Chu’. They also chat about the books they’ve been reading to pass their days in the sunshine and listen to Emily Drabble from BookTrust reviewing some of the best from the recent crop of new children’s books.

Shortlist for The Alligator’s Mouth Award 2023 announced – Five books have been shortlisted for The Alligator’s Mouth Award 2023, which champions both authors and illustrators of highly illustrated children’s fiction. Now celebrating its fifth year, the children’s book prize created by The Alligator’s Mouth children’s bookshop and The Bright Agency, celebrates the best books for 6-8-year-olds. You can find out more about the shortlisted books on the website above.

The Reader Teacher: Books I’m Most Excited About June 2023 – there are some fabulous books being published this month and Scott Evans provides a taste in his video. A great way of keeping up to date with new children’s books.

Middle-grade books with LGBTQ+ characters – June is Pride Month and all children deserve to see themselves and their type of family set-up depicted in books – but for many middle-grade readers, finding stories with LGBTQ+ characters can sadly be difficult. The Book Trust team have picked out their favourites.

Author visits in schools, and children and young people’s reading and writing engagement in 2023 – new research about the impact of author visits in school was released by the National Literacy Trust this week. Among the findings were: Children who attend author visits are more likely to enjoy reading and writing in their free time, but in 2023 just 1 in 5 children said an author visited their school; Schools with a high intake of pupils on free school meals are least likely to receive an author visit despite these children benefiting the most from these experiences, more children who attended an author visit read daily in their free time and make use of their school library. This valuable research report can be downloaded via the link above.

Alex Wharton named Children’s Laureate Wales 2023-25 – Literature Wales announced yesterday that poet and performer Alex Wharton has been selected as the next Children’s Laureate Wales for 2023-25. Founded in 2019 the Children’s Laureate Wales is a national ambassadorial role which aims to inspire and empower children and young people across Wales through literature. Alex Wharton’s list of aims for the coming months is impressive and like many I will be watching with interest.

Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye this week…

Until the Road Ends by Phil Earle – I love Phil Earle’s books and his latest published this week has been eagerly anticipated by many. Kate Heap’s review provides an idea of what to expect. “Phil Earle has an invaluable talent for helping children understand the reality of war and the loss experienced by so many – not only loss of life, but loss of their homes, belongings, family, loss of their history.”

The First Shadowdragon by Lee Newbery illustrated by Laura Catalan – this excellent review by Barbara Valentini for Just Imagine provides an overview of this new adventure incorporating magic and folklore. Barbara also provides suggestions of how this book could be used in the classroom both as a read aloud and to prompt discussion.

That’s everything for this week and I hope this week’s round up has been useful. A quick reminder not to forget Empathy Day on 8th June next week. On Monday I’m taking part in the blog tour to celebrate the publication of Michael The Amazing Mind-Reading Sausage Dog a funny book that has all the ingredients to encourage children that reading is for them, details below.