Welcome to the first Reading Matters of the new school year. I hope everyone has enjoyed a good summer however you spent the time and that those working in education enjoyed a well earned rest. Perhaps you are new to the joys of reading children’s books, if so I hope that Reading Matters will be helpful.

Regular readers of this blog will know that this news update has been published on a weekly basis during term time since I first started it three and a half years ago. Changes to my commitments mean that I don’t think I will be able to continue on this basis. The needs of my 92 year old Dad and my very nearly 1 year old grandson are top of my list and therefore I’m planning on trying to provide a monthly Reading Matters newsletter in future instead. This does all rather depend on the 92 year old and the 1 year old fitting in with my plans! I’ve enjoyed being part of the children’s book community so much that it’s hard to ‘let go’ so I hope to post occasional reviews too and maybe share what ‘Tiny Tommo’ is enjoying. He already has a big library! I hope that this will work for those who have used Reading Matters in the past and am extremely grateful for the lovely feedback, the kind comments and the rewarding book chat.

What I’m reading…

My good intentions to make a serious dent in my huge reading mountain weren’t quite as successful as I had originally hoped but nonetheless I have read some great books over the summer. My summer reading round up includes titles for everyone from tinies to teens and all of them were an enjoyable read for me.

One reason that I will never clear my ‘to review’ list is that I’m unable to resist temptation and find myself buying books too. In the case of Nightjar by Katya Balen I’m ever so glad that I did. It was one of my favourite summer reads. A beautiful story of mending a broken bird and mending a broken relationship between father and son too. The atmospheric illustrations by Richard Johnson are just right for the fabulous writing. Another gem from Barrington Stoke.

There are many fabulous books for children being published in September and one that I would recommend is Finding Wonder by Lauren St John. Featuring stunning cover artwork by Levi Pinfold and interior illustrations by Marie-Alice Harel, this is a perfectly plotted mystery with a love of horses and a compassionate exploration of families threaded through its pages. A wonderful adventure full of hope and positivity and simply perfect for horse lovers. It is published by Faber on 7th September.

Turning to new information books All Bodies are Wonderful by Beth Cox and illustrated by Samantha Meredith is a helpful exploration of all aspects of the human body full of positivity and presented in an engaging style. Brimful of facts, thoughtful comment and advice it shows that differences are completely natural because they are caused by science. Encouraging and inclusive this would be an excellent addition to primary school libraries being useful for both curriculum teaching and for prompting discussion. This was published by B Small Publishing on 1st September with design by Vicky Barker and expert consultation provided by Professor Deborah MacKay.

News, articles and resources…

The Literacy Year: Calendar of Events – this resource from the Literacy Hive is such a useful starting point for anyone interested in children’s books. Sian Hardy has collated an extensive range of events, awards, initiatives and more on a database that is searchable by resource type, age, area and cost. The website is also worth bookmarking for future reference with helpful information and advice on the regular blog.

Jon Biddle’s Reading for Pleasure Padlet – another fabulous resource from this reading for pleasure guru! The recently updated Diverse Picture Book Assemblies and ideas for staff meetings sections will be immensely useful to schools and the rest of the Padlet includes free to download reading surveys, classroom reading ideas, links to articles and many valuable suggestions.

Library Lesson Resource Pack – this is an absolutely brilliant resource from former school librarian of the year Lucas Maxwell. A year’s worth of library lessons for children aged 11/12 in one pack plus bonus resources aimed at helping librarians promote themselves and connect with staff. A huge thank you to Lucas for generously creating and sharing this.

Unpacking the DfE Reading Framework for School Librarians – there has been a great deal of online discussion regarding the new Reading Framework and its implications. It is disheartening that there has been little mention of school librarians and their role in this process. Collaboration between teachers and school librarians is important if we want children to become ‘readers’ and not only able to read. I am extremely impressed by this blogpost by fellow Surrey SLA committee member Cathi Woods and school library consultant Elizabeth Hutchinson. The downloadable guide is also brilliant. A vital read for school librarians and a post I hope teachers read too.

Be Inspired by … Sally Hamerton: Primary School Librarian of the Year 2023 – Do you need inspiration for making the most of your primary school library? Join Primary School Librarian of the Year 2023 Sally Hamerton as she shares her top tips for making an impact and what has worked well in her school. Hear what can be achieved with limited time and resources and Sally will answer your questions. There will also be an opportunity to hear how Authors Abroad (sponsors of the award) can support your school. 2:00 – 3:00pm Tuesday 12^th September online.

Book Trust: Books We Love in September 2023 – each month the Book Trust team select some of their favourite books for a range of ages. The titles for September are excellent, including some such as Finding Wonder and I Am You Are, both of which I’d recommend too. I’ve read lots of good things about The Final Year which on my wish list.

Children’s and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels – A very grumpy toddler; poems for the planet; ancient demons unleashed; and a moving YA trafficking tale are amongst Imogen Russell Williams’ latest selection of new books for children of all ages. Imogen’s regular reviews are well worth looking out for.

World Kid Lit Month – World Kid Lit guest editor Charlotte Graver shares some tips on how to travel the world with kidlit in September, the annual celebration and promotion of world literature for children. We have the chance to explore the world through books for children and teens. Where will you travel to by book? This helpful website includes book lists, links to books by country and information about translated texts. There is a special section highlighting resources for libraries.

Reading is Magic Festival – the Reading is Magic Festival is returning in October. Many writers, illustrators and poets including Cressida Cowell, Benjamin Dean, David Almond and Elle McNicoll are taking part in the five-day festival which will be beamed straight into schools and homes across the globe. The festival guide can be found on the link above and provides event information, resources and accessibility details.

Love My Books – this site contains a wealth of free resources linked to wonderful children’s books. It is for parents, carers, teachers, schools, and early years staff, created by literacy experts. Free and ad free with over 250 activity pages full of creative book-based ideas. Definitely worth a browse and signing up to receive the regular newsletter too.

CLPE’s Back To School Support 2023 – CLPE’s teaching team have created a FREE, 2 week long, whole school unit of work for Early Years through to Year 6. The notes will use the book In Our Hands by Lucy Farfort (Tate Publishing) to inspire children and teachers to understand what ‘In Our Hands’ means.

Klaus Flugge Prize Shortlist Videos – the winner of the Klaus Flugge Prize will be announced in Wednesday 13th September. You can find out more about the creation of the shortlisted books in some special videos created by the illustrators and shared on the Klaus Flugge Prize YouTube channel above.

Nikki Gamble has some fabulous free online events organised this month that are just right for anyone interested in children’s books. Details of each are given below and you can book any or all that take your fancy via the links.

An evening with Annelise Gray – Zephyr & Just Imagine invite you to an evening with Annelise Gray to celebrate the publication of Circus Maximus: Rider of the Storm. Annalise will be in conversation with Nikki Gamble 6th September 2023 7.00 – 8.00 pm. This event is for adults, but children may watch with you.

An evening with Nicola Davies & Petr Horacek – Otter-Barry Books & Just Imagine invite you to an evening with Nicola Davies & Petr Horacek to celebrate the publication of The Star Whale. This free online event in which Nicola and Petr will be in conversation with Nikki Gamble takes place on Thursday 7th September from 7-8pm and promises to be a treat.

An evening with Dave Shelton – David Fickling Books & Just Imagine invite you to an evening with Dave Shelton to celebrate the publication of Monster in the Woods. Dave will be in conversation with Nikki Gamble on 14th September 2023 7.00 – 8.00 pm in this free online event. This event is for adults, but children may watch with you.

An evening with Philip Reeve – David Fickling Books & Just Imagine invite you to an evening with Philip Reeve to celebrate the publication of his new book, Utterly Dark and the Tides of Time. This free event takes place on 21st September from 7 – 8pm.

An evening with AF Harrold & Dom Conlon – Otter-Barry Books & Just Imagine invite you to an evening with AF Harrold & Dom Conlon to celebrate the launch of Welcome to Wild Town. This event takes place on Thursday 28th September from 7-8pm.

Free virtual author events with the ReadingZone Bookclub – The ReadingZone Bookclub is aimed at classrooms and libraries that are keen to develop a love of reading and the events are aimed at students aged five to 12 years. These events are open to schools and classrooms, and are free to join. Each event includes a half hour author event, followed by an author Q&A via Chat. This term’s authors include Sophie McKenzie, Tracy Corderoy and Steven Lenton, AF Harold, Atinuke and Natasha Farrant

5 top tips from SF Said on making every child a reader – SF Said’s time as Book Trust’s Writer in Residence has flown by and has been marked by so much good advice. He will be a hard act to follow! These top tips are well worth saving and using as a guide to help you encourage the children in your care to enjoy reading.

The Reader Teacher August 2023 Must Reads – Scott Evans compiles a list of his favourite reads each month and provides a free to download poster too. I love the look of the picturebook, Doris.

Discover Irish Kids Books – this new initiative has progressed quickly over the last few weeks. The aim of Discover Irish Children’s Books is to highlight and celebrate Irish children’s books. Champion of Irish children’s books, Sarah Webb, has increasingly realised that the Irish children’s top ten bestseller list rarely features ANY Irish books. In creating the Discover Irish Children’s Books campaign, Sarah hopes to fix this situation by bringing Irish children’s books and their authors and illustrators to the attention of young readers and their grown ups. She has brought together a crack team of children’s book experts to help. The brand new website is extremely comprehensive and well worth exploring to learn more.

The Reader Teacher September 2023: The Reader Teacher Books I’m Most Excited About – another tempting selection from Scott Evans highlighting some of the best books being published this month.

The Island of Brilliant with Katherine Rundell – Frank Cottrell Boyce and Nadia Shireen chat with award winning author Katherine Rundell in the latest edition of this podcast. Emily Drabble of Book Trust recommends some new books to try too. I’ve earmarked this to listen to over the weekend.

Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye recently…

Stuntboy, In-Between Time by Jason Reynolds and Raúl the Third – when Ben Harris rates a book highly I always pay attention and this superb review has whetted my appetite to find out more about this one. Definitely one for graphic novel fans and will probably convert others to the format too.

Books and the People Who Make Them by Stéphanie Vernet and Camille de Cussac, translated by Paul Kelly – this sounds like the perfect book for bibliophiles of any age. Veronica Price’s positive review suggests this is a must buy and perfect for school libraries.

That’s everything for this week and for this month. I hope that this bumper back to school issue will be helpful to you. Good luck to everyone as the children return to school, I hope it goes well for the staff, the parents and the children. This weekend I’m hoping to finish reading The Secret of the Blood Red Key by David Farr which is brilliant so far. I’m also going to be sorting out the baby book shelf! See you next month for more Reading Matters but do look out for some reviews and updates before then.