Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on October 29, 2022 by alibrarylady

Welcome to this week’s look at what has been happening in the world of children’s books.

What I’m reading…

Last week I mentioned The Haunted Hills by Berlie Doherty, an emotional story told with an understanding of human nature and of our native landscape and folklore. I have attempted to convey its impact in my review. A wonderful book and highly recommended for readers of about 11+.

The Flower Boy by Keith Campion features a character, eleven year old James, with whom many young readers will probably identify. A quiet child who feels a little different to his classmates James finds it difficult to make friends and as the end of his time at primary school approaches his worries mount. This is a story incorporating many themes including dementia, local history and transition to secondary school but it highlights the importance of acceptance and kindness to others. I particularly liked the depiction of friendship across the generations and the caring attitude of James’s teachers. This would be a reassuring read for children of a similar age to James.

News, articles and resources…

Remembrance Day Free Resources for Schools from Author Tom Palmer – A wealth of free Remembrance Day resources for schools are now available for schools on Tom Palmer’s brilliant and extremely helpful website. These include: video assembly for 2022 (Commonwealth topic). Posters.Stories. Certificates. Black out poetry. Videos on location from the battlefields. And lots more. Plenty to explore before Remembrance Day on 11th November.

National Non-Fiction November – a reminder that this annual celebration of information books for children organised by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups starts next week. The whole month celebrates all those readers that have a passion for information and facts and attempts to bring non fiction celebration in line with those of fiction. The theme this year is communication and there are events, a blog tour, suggested book lists, a competition and much more to look forward to. Please check out the website linked above for details.

Children’s and teens roundup: the best new picture books and novels – this month’s selection from Imogen Russell Williams for the Guardian includes a pet rhinoceros; a young guide to emotions; an intrepid aviator; and a YA debut to please Buffy fans. I’ve also added Nicola Penfold’s new novel to my wish list.

Jamie Oliver and Geri Halliwell-Horner become the latest celebrities to announce children’s books – this article in the Guardian about the arrival of more ‘celebrity children’s books’ in shops around the country includes contributions from Piers Torday and literary agent Alice Sutherland-Hawes.

The Diverse Book Awards Winners 2022 – this article in Books for Keeps provides full details of both the winners and the runners up in both the Children’s and YA categories.

Recreational reading. Reading for learning. Reading for life. – an interesting article by School Library Consultant, Elizabeth Hutchinson that includes a link to a podcast of the recent discussion on this subject.

Astrid Lingdren Memorial Award 2023 Nominations – Have a look through the complete list of nominees for the 2023 award—a full 251 names from 64 countries including some of the world’s foremost creators of literature for children and young people, as well as reading promoters.

Olga da Polga: Paddington Bear author’s much-loved guinea pig comes to the small screen – Michael Bond’s 1971 creation – inspired by his daughter’s pet – is starring in a new CBeebies series this autumn.

Supporting reading for children with ADHD – Rachel Varney from the ADHD Foundation shares some useful tactics for helping children with ADHD enjoy reading.

Journeying Back: A Conversation with Catherine Johnson – In an online event hosted by Listen to This Story! on Thursday 3rd November 6pm – 7pm, author Catherine Johnson (Freedom 2018; A Nest of Vipers 1999) will read from her latest book, Journey Back to Freedom: The Olaudah Equiano Story (2022) and discuss aspects of British history with Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor.

Evaristo and Cadwalladr among 2022 CILIP Honorary Fellowships – although not featured in the headline for this article I was delighted to read that Caroline Roche, Chair of the CILIP School Libraries Group since 2017 and co-Chair of the Great School Libraries campaign since 2020 has been rewarded for the tireless work she has done for so long advocating for school librarians. Congratulations and thank you, Caroline.

Waterstones Book of the Year 2022 – now in its tenth year the 2022 award shortlist features a middle grade title, Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A.F. Steadman and Heartstopper vol 1 by Alice Oseman (the first graphic novel to make it onto a Waterstones Book of the Year shortlist).

The Three Rs by Roy James for Just Imagine – not the traditional three Rs but reduce, re-use and recycle. In this interesting and informative article Roy suggests titles both fiction and non-fiction on this subject for children with an emphasis on reducing our impact on the environment.

Open University Reading For Pleasure Case Study: Staff Book Club – Have you ever thought about setting up a staff book club? Year 6 teacher and reading lead Helen Morgan from the South West London TRG at St Mary’s University outlines how she set up a ‘Staff Book Club’ in this example of RfP practice.

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

Non-fiction to Make You Think – if you are looking for information books to share during Non Fiction November this selection reviewed by Kate Heap would be an excellent place to start. They cover subjects including space, habitats, climate change.

How To Be More Hedgehog by Anne Marie Conway Illustrated by Danielle Dey – I like the sound of this book very much and think it would be a valuable addition to primary school libraries. The story features a protagonist with a stammer and as Jayne Truran in her positive review says, “We could all learn a lot from this little gem of a story.”

Pizazz Vs Everyone by Sophy Henn – I like the sound of this latest instalment in this highly illustrated, comic strip style series featuring a super hero with wide appeal. In her review Nicki Cleveland says, “This would make for a fantastic class read…with massive scope for discussion around personal strengths, making good choices and being kind to yourself.”

The Boy Lost in the Maze by Joseph Coelho illustrated by Kate Milner – this new verse novel by our Children’s Laureate blends Greek myth with contemporary quest and follows his successful novel, The Girl Who Became a Tree. Nick Swarbrick’s review for Just Imagine says “this new work is even better.”

That’s everything for this week. Happy reading!

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The Haunted Hills by Berlie Doherty

Posted on October 26, 2022 by alibrarylady

The Haunted Hills is an atmospheric story exploring childhood friendship, loss, grief and guilt set in a landscape that adds much to this multi-layered and thoughtful book.

Cover illustration by Tamsin Rosewell

When we meet Carl he and his parents have recently arrived at a lonely cottage in the Peak District and it soon becomes apparent to the reader that this is not a typical family holiday. Carl is recovering from a personal tragedy and his mum and dad have brought him away in the hope that a period away from home and the constant reminders will enable him to recover. However local stories of a ghostly local lad soon have an effect on Carl with the losses of the past quickly becoming entwined with his own loss and he becomes enveloped in his sadness and guilt. The reader accompanies this young boy as he struggles to learn how to cope.

I found this an emotional read as the characters had a relatable quality and a depth that increased my engagement with the story. As Carl deals with the aftermath of the death of his best friend, Jack, in an accident it is clear that this loss is also felt by Jack’s parents. Their primary concern however is the impact this tragedy has had on Carl and the attempts by them to help their troubled son are touching. As an adult reader I empathised with their desperation to make things better for him and their frustration at their own inadequacy to do so. April, the girl who works at the neighbouring farm, is an interesting and slightly elusive character yet she has an important role in Carl’s stay in the Peaks.

It is Berlie Doherty’s own knowledge and love of the local landscape and folklore that gives this story its greater depth. The brooding scenery around the cottage and the nearby farm, the stories of Joseph, the lost lad, and his dog, combine with Carl’s own sense of desolation to give this story a haunting and atmospheric air. The mist, the darkness and the rugged mountains perfectly fit the mood of the characters and their personal difficulties.

The Haunted Hills is a multilayered tale full of emotion. It is an exploration of grief and loss and its impact on our lives yet told with a touching understanding of human nature and our capacity both for healing and for resilience.

The Haunted Hills was published on 6th October by Uclan Publishing and I should like to thank the publishers for my advance proof copy. The finished copy has a stunning cover and artwork by Tamsin Rosewell.

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Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on October 22, 2022 by alibrarylady

Welcome to this week’s look at what has been happening in the world of children’s books.

What I’m reading…

The Last Post by Keith Campion is a slender book that belies its emotional impact. Told in a series of letters between father and son this story of life in the trenches in World War 1 is both deeply poignant and important. The author, a primary teacher, understands how to provide hope to his young readers yet still conveys the horror and waste of war effectively. This would be perfect to share in the classroom to mark Remembrance Day and the suggested activities and discussion ideas at the end of the book are an added bonus. A little gem that I would highly recommend for both upper KS2 and KS3.

The Haunted Hills is an atmospheric story exploring childhood friendship, loss, grief and guilt set in a landscape that adds much to this multi-layered and thoughtful book. I found this an emotional read as the characters had a relatable quality and a depth that increased my engagement with the story. Its links to folklore were written with care and an obvious love and knowledge of the local area. I will try to write a more detailed review over the next few days.

Cover illustration by Tamsin Rosewall

News, articles and resources…

PeriodiCOOL by Roy James – I’m very much enjoying Roy’s regular blogposts for Just Imagine and this one explores the long-standing popularity of magazines and comics for children. His recommendations are well worth following up.

Q&A With Author Emma Carroll – school librarian Emma Suffield finds out about Emma’s writing process, favourite books and more in this latest in her series of interviews with children’s authors.

Book Trust Writer-Illustrator in Residence Nick Sharratt launches new competition – children are invited to use their imagination to ‘Invent your own Animal’. Entries should take the form of a picture, showing just what your creature looks like. It could be a drawing, a painting, a collage… any kind of artwork. There are three age categories and the closing date for entries is 11pm on Friday 30 December, 2022.

Picture books for children – reviews – Imogen Carter’s latest selection for the Guardian includes a magical zebra, fat cats in lockdown and a bus-riding chipmunk.

Halloween Fright Night with author Serena Patel – Authors Aloud UK & Usborne Books invite you to join author Serena Patel for a spooky Halloween event to celebrate publication of Fright Night, her new book in the Anisha, Accidental Detective series. Suitable for Years 3,4,5. October 31st 10:00 AM. Full details and how to register via the link.

Book Clubs in Schools: Q&A with Alex Wheatle and Jason Reynolds – this interview which took place in the summer is free for schools to watch until 11th November if you subscribe to Book Clubs in Schools newsletter via the link above. After that date it will be available to subscribing member schools. You can find out more about the scheme on their website.

2023 Branford Boase Award Judging Panel Announced – this week the organisers of this award that rewards the most promising new authors and their editors announced that the judges of the next award will be Maisie Chan, winner of this year’s award, Sajeda Amir, an English teacher and KS3 coordinator, Darren Matthews a Primary Advisory Teacher at the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, Joanne Owen, a writer, reviewer and workshop presenter and Julia Eccleshare, a regular contributor to Radio 4’s Front Row and Open Book programmes and children’s director of the Hay Festival.

How to use books to explore worries about siblings – in this article for Book Trust Jion Sheibani, author of The Worries series, explains how parents can use reading and drawing to help children articulate their feelings about anything.

Toby Jones, Harriet Walter and Noah Alexander to star in The Dark Is Rising from the BBC World Service – Robert MacFarlane as adapted Susan Cooper’s classic novel, The Dark Is Rising, for a 12-part audio drama/podcast on the BBC World Service in December. This should be a Christmas treat. It is the first time in 25 years that Cooper’s cult 1973 book – which has sold millions of copies worldwide – has been dramatised for radio and podcast by the BBC.

Books for Topics Book List: Politics and Democracy – it’s impossible to avoid the subject of politics in the media at the moment and if children are asking questions this helpful list of books on the subject may be a good place to start.

The World Cup Reading Challenge – LIVE – taking place on 18th November 10.30 – 11.00am this online event is ideal to share with pupils aged 7 to 11 (Years 3, 4, 5 and 6). Full details of the event, the related book lists and how to register are all available on the Literacy Trust website link above.

An Post Irish Book Awards Shortlist 2022 – The shortlist for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2022 features a diverse mix of exceptional writing from new and established writers across 18 categories, including, Children’s Junior, Children’s Senior, and Teen and Young Adult

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

Cress Watercress By Gregory Maguire & David Litchfiel – any book illustrated by David Lichfield draws my attention. Bruna De Luca in her review on My Book Corner describes it as , “At times humorous and always touching, this story manages to be both timeless and modern, and would make a wonderful gift for fans of Charlotte’s Web and Wind In The Willows.” Definitely one for my list.

Edie and the Flits in Paris by Kate Wilkinson, illustrated by Joe Berger – I have been on the lookout for illustrated fiction that may appeal to the younger end of the ‘middle grade’ audience and for those who find longer books a bit daunting and this sounds just right. Veronica Price sums it up in her review: I cannot recommend this story highly enough for anyone of 8+…With half-term arriving, put this story into the hands of a young reader and let them travel by book this holiday period!

The Butterfly Club: The Mummy’s Curse by M A Bennett – a review with added extras! Erin Hamilton includes her own questions for the author of this book, second in the series, plus questions from Year 5 at Cliff Lane Primary School and a link to discussion notes to use in the classroom.

The Vanishing of Aveline Jones by Phil Hickes & Keith Robinson – this spooky story is perfectly timed for Halloween and dark winter evenings. In her review Kate Heap says, “This is truly creepy book. Expect shivers and goosebumps as you follow Aveline into a world of tricksters, traps and torture.”

That’s everything for this week and I do hope that it’s helpful to you. Wishing a happy half term break to those who are on holiday at the moment.

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Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on October 15, 2022 by alibrarylady

Welcome to this week’s look at what has been happening in the world of children’s books recently. Before we move on to the links and reviews I wanted to mention the new best practice guide produced by CILIP with funding from Martin Lewis. Started as a public library initiative, CILIP hopes it will be helpful to any organisation looking to set up warm and safe spaces this winter. You can view an article about this initiative and download the guide here.

What I’m reading…

The highly anticipated new novel Tyger by SF Said illustrated by Dave McKean was published earlier this month and last weekend I devoted some time to a slow read, savouring every page. There’s been a lot of chatter about this story and I’m delighted to agree with all the positive comments I have read recently. This is a wonderful book, a book that highlights why children’s books matter so much. It draws children in, it inspires and encourages whilst also introducing them to ideas and literary references that will stay with them into adulthood. I tried to do justice to it in my review which I think avoids spoilers too.

The Zeki series of books published by Alanna Max are, I think, the perfect first books to share with babies and toddlers. This month sees the arrival of Zeki Rise and Shine and Zeki Sleep Tight created by Anna McQuin and Ruth Hearson. They encompass the family rituals familiar to many and are wonderful for encouraging early learning and talk too. You can find out more in my reviews here.

News, articles and resources…

Jake Hayes’ Interview with SF Said – this is a fascinating interview providing an insight into the writing of Tyger by this award winning author. I found learning about the influences and links added to my understanding and appreciation of this remarkable book.

Nikki Gamble’s Book Blast For October– if you missed this month’s edition a recording is now available for you to watch. Nikki’s selections are always worth exploring.

Oliver Jeffers grew up in Belfast hating violence. Now he wants children to see how futile it is – Donna Ferguson interviews Oliver Jeffers for the Guardian and discusses his childhood in Belfast and his hopes for his new picturebook, Meanwhile Back on Earth.

The Farshore Reading For Pleasure 2022 Award Winners – The Farshore Reading for Pleasure Teacher Awards 2022, in association with The Open University and the UK Literacy Association (UKLA), celebrate how teachers (and a school librarian!) have found innovative ways to inspire reading for pleasure in the classroom. You can view the award winning initiatives via the link above.

Top Texts for October 2022 – Alice Visser-Furay has selected powerful texts for Secondary for the Open University Reading for Pleasure website. All three of the books chosen by Alice are published by Barrington Stoke and having read them too I think they have a broad appeal.

Celebrating Black British History – this is a thoughtful blog post by Rickella Griffiths for HFL Education. Her comment, “With the new texts that are being published, it’s clear that we are in a period of transformation. It brings me so much joy to witness the shift from a history that focused on past struggles to one that honours achievements.” is a hopeful and optimistic one.

Beyond Books: One Home with Hiba Noor Khan – if you are local to Birmingham this event sounds excellent. Hiba will take children and families on a glorious journey across the globe to meet some of the eighteen inspiring young activists from One Home who are taking a stand against climate change. October 26th at 2pm at Ladywood Share Shack.

Reading Well Book Lists – Reading Well helps you to understand and manage your health and wellbeing using helpful reading. The books are chosen by health experts and people living with the conditions covered. They are sorted into categories including Children, Teens and Children’s Mental Health.

BooksForTopics: the benefits of Recommended Read packs – this guest post by Alison Leach for Peters Books highlights the ways in which schools, teachers and young readers can benefit from the Books for Topics selections. Reading for Pleasure, increasing teachers’ book knowledge and diversifying children’s book choices are included.

8 Great UK Middle Grade Books Students Will Love – this selection of books chosen by secondary school librarian Lucas Maxwell for Book Riot is well worth browsing for ideas.

Overcoming the barriers to reading – guest post on the Book Trust website by S F Said who shares his tips for overcoming barriers to reading.

Malorie Blackman shares PEN Pinter Prize 2022 with Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace – The PEN Pinter Prize was established in 2009 by the charity English PEN, which defends freedom of expression and celebrates literature, in memory of Nobel-Laureate playwright Harold Pinter. The former Children’s Laureate is the first children’s and YA writer to be awarded the PEN Pinter Prize.

Books That Help: Resources and Free Webinar for Writers – Books That Help has announce a mentorship for one writer or writer-illustrator. To help you prepare your story and to talk you through the application process, you are invited to join Little Tiger’s Editorial Director, Ellie Farmer and mentor, Clare Helen Welsh, for a webinar on Zoom. The webinar takes place on 19th October at 7pm and full details of the scheme and the webinar are available via the link.

New Partnership between The Reader Teacher and Reading Rocks – Scott Evans ((The Reader Teacher) and Reading Rocks have recently partnered up to offer schools the chance to purchase Scott’s Top 100 Recommended Reads lists (from Nursery to Year 6) as full packs with special schools discount. These lists have been updated for 2022 and feature a range of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, picture books, graphic novels, classics, new, inclusive and diverse books. You can order via the Reader Teacher website by clicking on an individualist and following the link or direct through the Reading Rocks website.

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

My Rhinoceros by Jon Agee – I have a copy of this book published by Scallywag Press and think this review by Mat Tobin for Books for Keeps eloquently describes the appeal of this humorous story. “Agee excels in telling so much through the rhino’s eyes – a few black lines and the exasperated, withering look from the rhino are clear.”

I Am a Poetato: An A-Z of Poems About People, Pets and Other Creatures by John Hegley – this new poetry collection is suitable for younger primary school children and sounds a lot of fun. This helpful review by Jacqueline Doherty provides ideas on how this book could be used in the classroom but this may be enjoyable to share aloud at home too.

Bookworms By Nyanda Foday (author), Joelle Avelino (illustrator) – I find any book that encourages children to become bookworms irresistible so had to include this LoveReading4Kids Book of the Month review. Written by former Birmingham Young Poet Laureate Nyanda Foday this is an introduction to the vital need for every child to see themselves in the books they read.

The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair by Natasha Hastings – despite telling children to never judge a book by its cover for years, it was the gorgeous cover by Alex T Smith that caught my attention. However having now read this review by Tom Griffiths I now want to read the story.

That’s all for this week. I hope it’s been useful to you. Happy reading.

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Zeki Rise and Shine and Zeki Sleep Tight – two new books for babies by Anna McQuinn and Ruth Hearson

Posted on October 14, 2022 by alibrarylady

A double helping of Zeki is hugely welcome and these two delightful new books published by Alanna Max perfectly start and end the day for little ones. They encompass the family rituals familiar to many and are wonderful for encouraging early learning and talk too. Perfect little packages created with care.

Zeki Rise and Shine

It is morning and as Zeki wakes in his cot his mummy pulls back the curtains and the sun shines in beckoning the baby to start his day. We bounce along with Zeki as he shakes himself and his cereal, munches and splashes, wriggles and shimmies making the most of the sights, sounds and sensations of his busy day. Zeki is loved and secure, involved and happy throughout this celebration of family routine and togetherness.

Repeated readings of this book have highlighted the care and consideration that has gone into the detail. Each time I look notice more. The text, perfect to read aloud, is lush evoking the sounds and sensations the baby is experiencing. “He munches on crunchies. He sips zingy juice.” The joyful illustrations contain detail for young children to identify enabling vocabulary learning. Some elements in the pictures are repeated prompting recognition; the sun in Zeki’s book and hanging from the cot, the toy rooster on the window sill and on the logo on the Daddy’s cereal box. There is humour also as the crocodile on Zeki’s bib looks as though he wants to share breakfast. Eagle eyed readers may spot the little seahorse who features in the other Zeki books too.

Zeki Sleep Tight

Perfectly complementing Zeki Rise and Shine this comforting book encourages a slower read and gentle moments as Zeki settles down to sleep. Sipping warm milk, a bath time soak, a snuggly towel and sleep suit, a quiet story then hushed and cosy Zeki winds down and rests surrounded by his favourite toys. The tone and feel of this second book is calm, reassuring and just like the morning version full of family love and care.

The language again evokes both the mood and the sensory experience of the bedtime rituals families with small children know and share. The choice of words such as “dreamy cream” and “snuggly hug” are perfect for calming toddlers as they listen to this read aloud. The text uses tools such assonance and alliteration to give this story a lyrical feel almost like a lullaby. It’s beautifully done. The illustrations work in harmony with the text adding much to the enjoyment. Just a few examples are sleeping sheep on Zeki’s sleep suit, a dozing bear on a book cover, a sloth on the bedside cabinet echoing Zeki’s shape nestled on his daddy. The detail is wonderful and there is much to recognise and talk about within this little book.

Both Zeki Rise and Shine and Zeki Sleep Tight are produced in sturdy card with rounded corners perfect for small hands. These titles are published in October and come highly recommended for both Early Years settings and new parents. I would like to thank the publishers, Alanna Max for my review copies.

If these books appeal you may also like to try another in this wonderful series, Zeki Loves Mummy.

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Tyger by SF Said illustrated by Dave McKean

Posted on October 12, 2022 by alibrarylady

We remember the important books we read in our childhood many years later as adults. It is as adults that we understand those books in a subtly different way, their influence shapes us and our understanding of our world. Tyger is a wonderful example of why children’s books matter and will, I think, be a book that today’s generation of young readers will remember and refer back to as adults.

Cover illustration by Dave McKean

It is 2021 in London but in an alternate world, where the British Empire has never ended and where slavery has not been abolished. It is a world of ghettos and oppression. A young boy called Adam lives in the Soho ghetto and on an errand for his parents discovers something incredible in a rubbish dump in London. A mysterious, mythical, magical animal…a TYGER. The tyger is in danger, hunted by the evil Sir Mortimer Maldehyde and his four huntsman on horseback. Adam and his new friend Zadie join together to try to save the tyger’s life and ultimately their own world from destruction.

The nine years taken to create this remarkable story have paid off in some style. Within pages this dystopian world feels both real and frighteningly familiar in some ways. The manner in which Adam is treated as a ‘foreigner‘ because of the colour of his skin, asked “Where are you really from?’ despite having lived in London all his life resonates with news items we may have watched or read. In the second chapter Adam meets the tyger and such is the impact of this meeting that one waits with baited breath for their next encounter as one reads. The creature’s presence is tangible in the story even when the tyger is absent from the pages.

There are obvious influences from the work of writer William Blake. His poems Tyger and Jerusalem are part of our literary heritage with phrases from them used in our language frequently. The Isles of Wonder segment from the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony referenced his work and the images created in response to his words lingered long in my memory. They resurfaced as I read sections of Tyger. The description of the city of London from the countryside to the north where Adam meets the shepherds guarding their flock and in the distance sees the towering chimney stacks and power stations, belching clouds of smoke echoes the poem and song so many of us learned in childhood. The descriptions of the Tyger, “her eyes burned like liquid golden fire.” (Pg11) although subtly different encourage a sense of the familiar, that comforting feeling of recognition when we read something that reminds us of words lodged in our minds from years past.

However a reader does not have to be familiar with Blake or the other literary references interspersed within the text to enjoy this incredible adventure. The rich language, the vivid descriptions combine in a story told in relatively short and gripping chapters. This is not a daunting read for a young reader but one with depth of meaning and emotion. There are big ideas included yet this is at heart a story of friendship, loyalty and bravery all of which children find appealing in the books they read. They will be encouraged, just like Adam and Zadie, to learn and to understand, to use their powers of perception, empathy and imagination and to follow their dreams to create a life and a world that they believe in. This does sound overly optimistic perhaps but there is so much hope in SF Said’s words that even a slightly cynical adult reader can believe in a world of infinite possibilities. We all need a little hope at the moment.

My proof copy has beautiful black and white illustrations by Dave McKean for the first few pages and the finished copy will have them throughout the hardback version. I should like to thank the publishers David Fickling Books and Phil Earle very much for my review copy. I simply loved this story and will be re-reading it often. Tyger was published on 6th October.

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Reading Matters- children’s book news

Posted on October 8, 2022 by alibrarylady

Welcome to this week’s look at what has been happening in the world of children’s books. Over the last few days we have marked both Dyslexia Awareness Week and Libraries Week plus Saturday 8th is National Bookshop Day all of which are important to book lovers of all ages.

What I’m reading…

Books are not always something that you curl up in the corner with, sometimes books are a prompt to explore, to learn and to create. This week I reviewed two new nature books for children from Nosy Crow, Birds of a Feather by Lauren Fairgrieve and Kate Read and 2023 Nature Month-by-Month A Children’s Almanac by Anna Wilson illustrated by Elly Jahnz produced in collaboration with the National Trust. I would highly recommend both of them and think they would make fabulous presents.

Turning to adult fiction for a change, several friends had recommended Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers to me and last weekend I finished reading it. I’m glad I listened to those friends as this tenderly told story set in 1950’s London suburbia was affecting and thoughtful. It reminded me a little of the style of Anne Tyler or Barbara Pym in the way those small moments of people’s lives were noticed and conveyed with understanding. I loved the reflective style and will be on the lookout for more books by this author now.

News, articles and resources…

The Reader Teacher: October 2022 Children’s Books I’m Most Excited About – Scott Evans’ latest coming soon video includes picture books, non-fiction and new fiction for the middle-grade age group. This would be useful to share with both children and their parents as a way of keeping up to date.

Farshore School Reading Champion winner for 2022 Lucas Maxwell and The Bookling Book Award – congratulations to school librarian Lucas for winning this award last weekend at the Open University Reading for Pleasure Conference. You can download details of his winning initiative via the link.

World Cup 2022 Reading Game with Tom Palmer – With the men’s football World Cup running from 20th November- 19 December 2022, Tom Palmer is offering a special virtual World Cup version of his popular Football Reading Game for your classroom or home in partnership with The Thoughtful Spot bookshop. You can find out how this works via the link above which gives full details. There is also information available on Tom’s website.

Book Trust Great Books Guide 2022: best new children’s books – the Book Trust team have put together this guide full of books they think are brilliant, chosen to engage and excite children all the way up to age 11. You can download the full guide or select by interest age via the link above.

CLPE Black History Book List – October marks Black History Month and if you are searching for quality books for your school library or classroom collections this list would be an excellent place to begin. Suitable for Early Years to Year 7

The Reading Agency October 2022 Children’s and Young People booklist – Brilliant books by Black authors and illustrators – The Reading Agency have also created a booklist of 125 books created by Black authors and illustrators. There is something for everyone with poetry, graphic novels, fiction and non-fiction titles arranged in categories and free to download.

Funding your Reading for Pleasure campaign – a guest article on the Literacy Hive website by Adam Porter, Assistant Head at Holden Clough Community Primary School. Adam discusses his school’s funding aims, initiatives, both long term and one off events, plus provides links to other sources of advice and information. A helpful article.

Empathy Action Month – this week Empathy Lab UK announced the line-up for Empathy Action Month 2022 this November. There are five authors and four school groups discussing how they put empathy into action, inspired by the books they have written or read. Phil Earle, Patrice Lawrence, Kate Milner, Ben Davis and Rashmi Sirdeshpande talk about empathy in their books and how their stories can inspire change. Find out how you can participate via the link above.

Where Are All the Children’s Books Featuring Kids With Down Syndrome? – coinciding with Down Syndrome Awareness Month this thoughtful article by Amy Julia Becker asks questions about inclusivity in children’s books. “Just as we have seen the benefits of greater racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual identity representation in children’s literature, we need an array of characters with both physical and intellectual disabilities within our books.”

Poetry Prompts with Joseph Coelho – Poetry Prompts is Joseph Coelho’s flagship project as the Waterstones Children’s Laureate and is a celebration of the power of poetry in all its forms. Through the campaign, Joseph aims to break down the fear often associated with reading and writing and show why poems are for everyone, alongside the joy that writing, reading and performing poetry can bring to our lives. The first video on the theme of The Sounds of the Environment is now available.

Books Are My Bag Readers Awards 2022 – The shortlists for this year’s awards, now in their seventh year, include six categories curated by a panel of booksellers and voted on by the public, with the Readers’ Choice award – decided entirely by booklovers – completing the set. The categories include both Children’s and YA plus children’s book lovers will be interested in the Breakthrough Author shortlist.

Mr Dilly Meets Andy Shepherd and Kate Wilkinson – Step into a world of fantasy, fun, adventure and wonder on 19th October at 11.00am as Mr Dilly Meets children’s authors ANDY SHEPHERD and KATE WILKINSON in this FREE event aimed at PRIMARY SCHOOL children everywhere. As long as you’ve registered you will be able to watch on catch-up for up to two weeks after the live event using your viewing link.

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

Miraculous beyond measure: Themes and Thinking in S.F. Said’s “Tyger” – an excellent exploration of both the long awaited Tyger, its themes, ideas, and many layers plus the importance of children’s literature by Ben Harris. Much, much more than ‘a review’ this is a thought provoking and fascinating read. It’s spoiler free too. Thank you, Ben.

Nibbles The Bedtime Book by Emma Yarlett – Nibbles the Book Monster was always a sure fire hit for me at storytime in the school library and this latest picture book featuring Nibbles sounds like fun too. A Book for Keeps Book of the Week so it must be good!

Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston – the second in this magical series for readers aged 9+ published last month is getting rave reviews. This one by Veronica Price provides an insight into why this and its predecessor are so popular. “Reading this series has given me the same sense of excitement at entering an alternative universe as I had when reading the Harry Potter books to my children more than 20 years ago.”

Powered by Plants by Clive Gifford Illustrated by Gosia Herba – an information book about a subject not often covered, how plants have informed, designed and influenced major creations in our world. This helpful review for Just Imagine by Lucy Timmons provides advice on how teachers could use this book in the classroom. In summary Lucy says, “Powered by Plants, is a very necessary very relevant information book.”

Spooky Season 2022 – Kate Heap has reviewed a selection of picture books, chapter books and middle grade stories sure to give you chills. Perfect for Halloween and dark winter evenings!

That’s everything for this week and I hope that it’s been helpful to you.

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New Nature Books for Children from Nosy Crow

Posted on October 6, 2022 by alibrarylady

Birds of a Feather by Lauren Fairgrieve and Kate Read

Produced in collaboration with the National Trust, Birds of a Feather combines information and an interactive element in a book that would make a beautiful gift to treasure. Perfect for children interested in nature and a valuable addition to family bookshelves.

Covering everything from habitats and diets to myths and legends this is a beautifully presented and interesting introduction to a variety of European birds. The range of information included will pique children’s interest and encourage them to find out more. For example there is mention of pigeons being used to carry messages during the First and Second World Wars, and that there are records of starling murmurations during Ancient Roman times. Some of the birds may be familiar to readers from their back gardens or local parks such as blue tits, black birds and wood pigeons and others like barn owls and woodpeckers that they may not have seen themselves. A double page is devoted to each bird with key details about them given in paragraphs arranged around colourful, collage work illustrations.

It is the sturdy press out pieces at the front that give this book an added dimension. They are illustrated on both sides and once removed slot together to create 10 different birds that may be hung up, a hole is thoughtfully provided for string, as decorations or returned to the board pages to be re-assembled again and again. Kate Read’s illustrative style is quite distinctive and you can find out more about her work and her other books for children on her website.

A brilliant book to give as a present to any nature loving or curious child but I can see this book being useful in the school classroom too. This book was published in September and is aimed at the 6+ audience. Less confident readers will probably need a little help with the text.

2023 Nature Month-by-Month A Children’s Almanac by Anna Wilson illustrated by Elly Jahnz

This is a wonderful guide for children including facts about each month, things to look out for, activities to do, recipes to make, animals and birds to spot and festivals to celebrate. It is a lovely way to mark the passage of time in a way that connects the reader to both their surroundings and to other people.

This fifth edition of this annual guide published in collaboration with the National Trust is fully illustrated and packed full of information, ideas, suggestions and inspiration. Although aimed at a target audience aged 7+ this, I think, has appeal for those considerably older than that. The way in which the reader is encouraged to notice and appreciate all that is going on around them is equally valuable to a wide age range and as an adult I learned things I did not know before.

Important days each month, be they religious festivals or traditional events, are highlighted as are anniversaries and these are accompanied by anecdotes and popular sayings fitting the month or the season. This is a lovely way to travel through the year as the cycle of life and events are portrayed and discussed accompanied by cheerful, colourful illustrations. Children are encouraged to become involved in nature, conservation and practical activities both indoor and outdoor. In addition to nature readers learn about the weather, astronomy and astrology, different faiths and cultures all in an engaging and involving manner. The activities are many and varied ranging from cooking rhubarb crumble to making leaf confetti, from making a garden in an egg cup to building a bug hotel.

This is definitely a book to return to often and one that could act as a guide for the whole family and would be a great present. Highly recommended.

Birds of a Feather was published on 1st September and 2023 Nature Month by Month on 6th October. I should like thank the publishers, Nosy Crow, and Catherine Ward for my review copies.

If you are looking for books for slightly younger children I would recommend these perfect picture books for inspiring a love of nature.

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Reading Matters- children’s book news

Posted on October 1, 2022 by alibrarylady

Welcome to this week’s look at what has been happening in the world of children’s books. But first, don’t forget that Libraries Week takes place between the 3rd and 9th October, celebrating the nation’s much-loved libraries and the central role that libraries play in supporting life-long learning. There will probably be special events taking place at your local library so it’s definitely worth having a look so you don’t miss out. You can keep up to date on Twitter by following @librariesweek and #LibrariesWeek.

What I’m reading…

There are some fabulous picture books being published at the moment covering a wide range of themes. This week I selected three which I think are worthy of close attention and that I would like to recommend. My Favourite New Picture Books for Children include titles that I think may appeal to adult readers too. Together these books cover things that are important to us all; the value of noticing the small things, our love of home, family and heritage and the beauty of our natural world.

This week I have also been reading my latest batch of books to review for TSL, the School Library Association quarterly journal. Among them was Mouse and Mole Clink, Clank, Clunk! by Joyce Dunbar and James Mayhew, the latest in this charming series features three short stories about the special moments in the everyday life of these two friends. Mole’s tendency to worry is highlighted and the stories contain a reassuring message for younger readers. There is warmth and gentle humour in the stories and this is highlighted in the beautiful illustrations which capture and convey the personalities of the characters superbly. A lovely book to read aloud or few newly confident readers to enjoy as a solo read.

News, articles and resources…

The Importance of Reading Choices by Alison Tarrant CEO of the School Library Association – in my own experience one of the most important factors in promoting reading for pleasure is providing a wide range of books and encouraging and enabling choice by the child. This blogpost by Alison Tarrant on the Reading Is Magic Festival website discusses research supporting this and provides ideas, links and suggestions to help facilitate it. A must read!

CLPE announce collaboration with Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho – CLPE are collaborating with Waterstones Children’s Laureate and CLPE Patron Joseph Coelho, to create a host of teaching resources to accompany his ‘Poetry Prompts’ campaign being launched on National Poetry Day. The resources will be available to download on the BookTrust website and free for use in schools, libraries and at home to encourage further learning and exploration of poetic form and literacy.

CLPE: Journey Back to Freedom: A blog from Catherine Johnson – October is Black History Month and in this blogpost for CLPE by one of their new patrons, Catherine Johnson describes the importance of books such as her new one for Barrington Stoke, Journey Back to Freedom all year round and not only for one month.

National Literacy Trust Take 10 Challenge – The Take 10 Challenge encourages everyone to read for 10 minutes every day to improve their wellbeing and support their literacy skills. On Monday 10 October the Trust will be be hosting a series of activities for schools and communities to mark World Mental Health Day. Find out more via the link above.

The Dog Blog: by Roy James for Just Imagine – the latest in this series of blogposts by Roy James explores the place of man’s best friend in children’s literature and is a lovely read. Roy also discusses the role of dogs in therapy and within school settings. Thank you, Roy, I enjoyed reading this.

National Poetry Day The Lost Words Competition – Inspired by 5 years of The Lost Words book by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris we are inviting children to write an acrostic poem about their favourite plant or animal. The Competition is open to children in two age categories:
7 – 9 (years 2 – 4); and 10 – 12 (years 5 – 7). Deadline Friday 4th November.

The Bookbug Picture Book Prize Shortlist – Every year, The Bookbug Picture Book Prize celebrates the best new Scottish picture books, and the winner of the prize is chosen by children across Scotland. You can find out more about the books on this year’s shortlist via the link above.

Longlists for UKLA 2023 Awards Announced – there were a staggering 494 submissions for these awards, the only one judged entirely by teachers. This year there are just over 100 judges covering the four categories and they have until mid-March to read the longlisted books, discuss them with their group leaders, and share them with pupils. The lists are well worth exploring as they provide a taste of the quality of books available for young readers at the moment, both fiction and information.

Picture This: New reading guide is a celebration of illustration – this week Children’s Books Ireland celebrates the launch of its new reading guide celebrating picturebooks and illustration. Picture This features over 230 recommended reads for children and young people aged 0–18, which have been reviewed by experts in children’s literature. Each review is accompanied by a ‘Read also’ recommendation, bringing the total of books included to over 450. The article and the guide, which is free to download, is well worth a look.

The Diverse Book Awards 2022 Shortlists Announced – Created by award-winning author Abiola Bello and award-winning publicist Helen Lewis to highlight the best of the diverse voices published in the UK & Ireland and now in its third year. The shortlists in the three categories, Children’s, YA and Adult, were announced this week and can be viewed via the link.

The power of short reads: quality reading experiences when time is short by Martin Galway – an extra special guest blog by Martin Galway for HFL Education. When time is short, short stories offer up opportunities for rich and diverse reading experiences. Martin shares the power of novellas and also includes a list of stunning recommended reads to enjoy. A valuable read for any lover of children’s books.

In the Reading Corner Podcast with SF Said – SF Said is one of Nikki Gamble’s distinguished guests for this year’s An Audience With… Much anticipated, it is a deserved highlight of 2022. In the meantime, you can hear SF discussing Tyger in the latest episode of In The Reading Corner with Nikki.

The Reader Teacher Monthly Must Reads for September 2022 – Scott Evans’ selection for September includes That’s Nice, Dear by Owen Gent, one of my favourite picture books of the month featured above. Scott has created a poster to download and there are links to reviews of the books too.

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

The Little Match Girl Strikes Back by Emma Carroll & Lauren Child – this wonderful pairing of author and illustrator was always going to attract attention and Kate Heap’s great review has tempted me further. “The sense of hope and determination that runs through the story paints a whole new picture of the “Little Match Girl”, taking her from a character of pity to one of strength.”

Agent Asha: Operation Cyber Chop by Sophie Deen Illustrated by Priyanka Sachdev – the second in this series for readers aged 7+ has an interactive element that should appeal to many. In her review as part of this week’s blog tour Jo Cummins says, “There are so many clever elements to this story which encourage readers to dig deeper and really get involved with the themes in hand.”

Britannica’s Word of the Day by Patrick Kelly, Renee Kelly and Sue Macy Illustrated by Josy Bloggs, Emily Cox, James Gibbs and Liz Cox– reviews by Martin Galway are always worth reading and this one for Just Imagine has sold the concept of this book to me. “The endpapers, typography, illustrations, colours and composition combine to make this a feast for the eye as much as the mind.” It sounds like a wonderful addition to primary school libraries.

That’s everything for this week and I hope you have found it helpful. Time permitting I plan to read Tyger by SF Said over the coming days and listen to his discussion with Nikki Gamble too. Happy reading!

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My Favourite New Picture Books for Children – September 2022

Posted on September 28, 2022 by alibrarylady

That’s Nice, Love by Owen Gent (Book Island)

That’s Nice Love is a beautiful picture book about noticing, sharing and treasuring the magical moments. If I could share just one new picture book with parents I think it would be this one. Its important message for us all is conveyed with kindness and understanding.

A small child and an adult wander into the park. The little boy is keen to explore, to discover and to enjoy his surroundings. The parent meanwhile is looking down at their phone. The child experiences joy and hidden treasures among the trees, his imagination adding to the excitement and surprises. Every so often the adult responds with a distracted, “That’s nice, love.” Once they return home the adult finally listens and the excited child recounts his adventures and, wonderfully, the adult responds.

Comparisons with Not Now, Bernard, the David McKee classic, are inevitable but this, I think, has a kinder more hopeful tone. We are all guilty to some extent of not paying attention, of being distracted by our technological gadgets, of not listening enough, or indeed of looking enough. This thoughtful book reminds us of what we are missing. The illustrations are wonderful, including the clever endpapers which are so much part of the story. I like this book very much and have learned from reading it. A book and a message to hold on to.

Still This Love Goes On by Buffy Sainte-Marie and Julie Flett (Greystone Kids)

Based on the Cree singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie’s song of the same name this book is a celebration of home, family, love and the traditions of the Indigenous community. The eye-catching illustrations by Julie Flett portray this life well, capturing the scale of the landscape and lives of the individual people. The animals, the birds and the seasons all feature in both the text and the pictures but it is the feeling of home and family that is conveyed most strongly in this lovely book. It highlights the importance of our heritage, our background and where we come from and the joy we experience when we are reunited with those things that matter most to us. This something with which everyone from any background can recognise and empathise with. The cover is beautiful and invites the reader to explore more. As we turn the pages we experience the passage of time and also the writer’s love for her subject.

The lyrical text is perfect to read aloud at the end of the book sheet music for the song itself is included enabling it to be sung too which is a lovely bonus. The thoughtful notes from both the writer and the illustrator add to our understanding and enjoyment of this beautiful book.

Old Oak and Little Acorn by Elena Mannion Illustrated by Erin Brown (Pikku Publishing)

This follow up to last year’s The Happy Hedgerow is another visit to our natural world for young readers, this time looking at the life cycle of the oak tree. Little acorn is growing safe and secure within the care of the old oak tree but when a string wind blows and he is carried away from the safety of the tree to the ground he is fearful of the changes this will bring. As the seasons slowly change the acorn is carried away by a squirrel, buried within the earth and must survive the threats that winter brings. Finally in the spring the little acorn gradually emerges as a young sapling growing in the field not far from the aged and kindly oak from which he fell.

This lovely story is a wonderful way of nurturing an interest in and love for our natural environment. The personification of the acorn provides an appealing hook for a child who will be encouraged to care about the fate of this small seed. His adventure and the happy outcome despite his trepidation will reassure and comfort too. The depiction of the countryside, the flora and fauna found in the rural landscape, in the detailed illustrations is carefully presented in a rich palette subtly changing with the seasons. As our countryside faces steadily increasing threats from different sources this picture book is a great tool to encourage a connection with nature. Old Oak and Little Acorn could be shared equally well in both educational settings and the home. A book with a traditional appeal but of great value to a contemporary audience.

Each of these books were published this month and I should like to thank the publishers and Catherine Ward for providing my review copies.

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