Needle, Patrice Lawrence’s latest YA novel for Barrington Stoke is a compelling and unforgettable read exploring the issues and difficulties faced by young people growing up in care. A short but profoundly affecting novella this is a book to read in one sitting and talk about at length.
Cover artwork by Andy Gellenberg
Fifteen year old Charlene has lived in foster homes since the death of her mother and has been separated from her younger sister, Kandi, since then too. Grief stricken and angry Charlene comforts herself by knitting, the counting and concentration calming her troubled thoughts. She is knitting a special dinosaur blanket for Kandi, a true labour of love, every stitch made with care and thoughts of the sister she so wants to be reunited with.
Moved from home to home as things don’t work out Charlene is now living with her foster mother, Annie, who is understanding and supportive. However Annie’s son who is usually away at university resents Charlene’s presence and when on a trip home he taunts her and destroys the blanket which means so much to her Charlene explodes with the anger she can not control and finds herself in police custody. The odds are now stacked firmly against her and her future looks bleak.
Told in a first person narrative Charlene’s voice has a powerful intensity coupled with a heartbreaking neediness hidden beneath the surface which is utterly compelling. Needle is a book that I opened standing in the kitchen, wandered to a chair to read further and did not look up until I had finished. The writing makes you care and want things to be better for Charlene. There were times when I felt frustration at some of the choices she made, however when you look at her back story her choices are understandable. She has lost the security she craved and her life feels out of control. The characterisation is excellent, both of the young people involved and the adults making the decisions on their behalf.
This would be an excellent book to use from Year 8 upward to provoke conversations and thoughtful discussion about our criminal justice system, social care and society’s expectations and attitudes.
Barrington Stoke have ensured that this book is accessible to a wide range of readers and is presented in a dyslexia friendly format. Although suitable in content for aged teens it has been edited to a reading age of 8. Perfect for readers who struggle a little but also a quick read and engaging read for more confident teens too.
I should like to thank the publishers for my proof copy. Needle was published on 5th May and is available to purchase on the Barrington Stoke website.
Welcome to this week’s look at what has been happening in the world of children’s books. There have been awards announcements, details of forthcoming events, helpful book lists and reviews you may have missed so I hope this selection of links is helpful.
What I’m reading…
One of my favourite recent reads was published on Thursday this week, Seed by Caryl Lewis. As promised in the last Reading Matters my review is now up on the Just Imagine website. I can wholeheartedly recommend this, it’s a delight and a fabulous book to read aloud to children in Upper KS2, encouraging children to believe in themselves, to be kind and to have hope in the future.
Another book I read and reviewed for Just Imagine is Major and Mynah by Karen Owen and Louise Forshaw. This is great fun and is both inclusive and accessible in content and presentation and would be great for lower KS2. Both this story and Seed feature protagonists who wear hearing aids or cochlear implants and in both cases this aspect is described with sensitivity and positivity.
Regular readers of the blog will know I enjoy historical fiction and this week I was pleased to be able to take part in the blog tour marking the publication of Claire Mulligan’s English debut, The Hunt for David Berman. If you are looking for a new children’s book set during the Second World War I can recommend this one.
I have just finished reading The Map of Leaves by Yarrow Townsend, a beautifully atmospheric and original debut that truly does give nature a voice. My review for Just Imagine will be available next week but this is definitely one to look out for. So many great books being published at the moment!
News, articles and resources…
Children’s and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels – I missed this last week and in case you missed it too I have included it in this week’s collection. Imogen Russell Williams’ excellent selections in the Guardian are always worth browsing as they are wide ranging in age appeal and content.
The Reader Teacher May 2022 Books I’m Most Excited About – each month Scott Evans compiles a ‘coming soon’ video highlighting his most eagerly anticipated books. I’m delighted to see Seed and The Hunt for David Berman included and like the sound of Fake by Ele Fountain and Peter Bunzl’s new book, Magicborn.
National Share a Story Month Book Lists – National Share-A-Story Month is an annual celebration of the power of storytelling and story sharing, providing a fantastic opportunity to fulfil the core aim of the Federation of Children’s Book Groups of bringing children and stories together. This year’s theme in belonging and you can found out more and see the helpful book lists compiled on this year’s theme on the official website above.
Neil Gaiman: The Books of My Life – author Neil Gaiman interviewed in the Guardian on the books that have influenced him. I found his comments about “these lovely friendly asides to the reader” in the Narnia books interesting as it is something I have noticed during my recent re-reads and wonder if I was aware of it as a child. He also mentions Nicholas Stuart Gray, an author I don’t know of so must now investigate.
The 2022 Little Rebels Award Shortlist – now in its 10th year the Little Rebels Award celebrates radical fiction for readers aged 0-12. The award is given by the Alliance of Radical Booksellers and was established in conjunction with Letterbox Library. This year’s shortlist includes titles that tackle complex social issues and makes them accessible for the youngest of readers.
CLiPPA The CLPE Poetry Award Shortlist Announced: The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education this week announced the shortlist for the UK’s leading award for published poetry for children. The list illustrates the diverse energies of children’s poetry and a new confidence amongst publishers and poets. It is possible for schools to register for the excellent Shadowing Scheme via the website. You can found out more about the books on the shortlist, the judges, the shadowing scheme and forthcoming events linked to the award via the link above.
The 2022 Empathy Conversation 25th May 7.00 – 8.15pm – In the lead-up to Empathy Day 2022 (9th June), Empathy Lab invite you to join them for a thought-provoking debate about empathy, our human superpower. The panel of leading authors includes Lemn Sissay, Katherine Rundell, Manjeet Mann. They will be joined by Professor Robin Banerjee, Head of Psychology at Sussex University. The event will be hosted on Zoom. Register for your FREE tickets via Eventbrite through the link above.
Book Trust New Books We Love for May – Every month, BookTrust review dozens of books for children and teenagers. The ones they like best in May are suitable for toddlers to teens and are divided into age categories as a rough guide to suitability although of course there will be an overlap.
The Sunday Times Sports Awards – the shortlists for these awards, in several categories, were announced this week. The titles on the Children’s Book of the Year in association with The Reading Agency include Marcus Rashford’s You Are a Champion and Run Like a Girl by Danielle Brown. You can see the full list plus details of the other categories via the link above.
YALC – the UK’s Young Adult Literature Convention – YALC returns 8th – 10th July bringing you a 3 day celebration of the very best in young adult books and authors. YALC has fast become a popular event bringing together fantastic authors, publishers and readers for three packed days of YA events, writing workshops, book signings, book-themed activities and more.
Books for the Classroom Free Webinars – In May and June, Nikki Gamble is joined by teacher and librarian guests for a series of webinars looking at the principles of book selection for different year groups. There will of course be plenty of new book suggestions too. The first one, CHOOSING BOOKS FOR YEAR 1 with special guest Sam Keeley on Monday 16th May 4.15 – 5.00 can be booked via the link above, and the second on Tuesday 17th May 4.15 – 5.00 CHOOSING BOOKS FOR YEAR 2 with special guest Kiran Satti can be booked here.
The Young Quills Shortlist 2022 – The Historical Association announced the shortlist for the Young Quills, the annual awards for children’s and young adult historical fiction this week. There are three age categories, 5-9yeaes, 10-13 years and 14+. The Young Quills books for each year must be published for the first time in English in the year preceding the competition and this year’s selection is brilliant. I’m delighted to see Tom Palmer, Phil Earle, Hilary McKay and Lesley Parr included and am keen to read all the other books too.
Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye this week…
A Perfect Spot by Isabelle Simler – I love the look of this beautiful picture book and Paul Watson’s helpful review includes a glimpse of the stunning illustrations and advice on how to use the book in the classroom.
The Station Cat by Stephen Hogtun – another beautiful picture book this time reviewed by Tom Griffiths. The blurb describes it as “ a story of hope” and Tom says “The Station Cat is a story of kindness and hope, underpinned by connection and the power we have in sharing with others.” I’m finding this one hard to resist.
Middle Grade Spring Collection – this is a really helpful round up of reviews of recent fiction from Kate Heap. Her selection includes mystery, social issues, humour and time travel so something for a range of tastes here.
Super Questers: The Case of the Stolen Sun by Lisa Moss and Dr. Thomas Bernard illus. by Amy Wilcox – this new series of interactive, STEM related books is the sort of thing I know would be popular in school libraries. They are the type of books that encourage children to share and talk about what they’re reading. This helpful blog post includes Jo Cummins’ look at the first of the series and an interview with the authors and founders of a new children’s publishers.
That’s everything for this week and I hope it’s been useful to you. I’m hoping to tackle my enormous pile of books to review this weekend in between doing battle with the garden. Happy reading!
The Hunt for David Berman, a debut by Claire Mulligan is an adventure set during World War 2 with a touching bond between two boys from very different families at the centre of its exploration of how war affects families. Although a story set in the past it is a compelling and relevant one with which today’s young readers will empathise.
In Britain Robert, like many children in 1940, has been evacuated from his home in London and is now staying with his grandparents in Scotland while his father is away fighting in the army and his mother working on an important and secret job with the Wrens. Meanwhile in Berlin at the Gestapo headquarters there is concern that an Enigma code book has gone missing and has been hidden in a suitcase. Children have been fleeing Berlin to escape the Nazis carrying with them one small suitcase each. Back in Scotland whilst Robert is exploring the caves on the beach near his grandparents’ farm he discovers a boy hiding in them. David, dirty bedraggled and hungry, is a Kindertransport child fleeing his cruel foster parents. These story threads twine together in an exciting and at times extremely moving adventure as the two boys cope with David’s predicament, news from the front and the appearance of a sinister stranger.
Robert and David are wonderful characters about whom young readers will quickly care and their friendship is at the centre of this story full of rich historical detail and suspense. The assured writing style ensures this has a feel of wartime classics enjoyed by children for many years and the gradual reveal of information, the dual settings and use of flashback will ensure young readers want to read on to find out what happens. There is intrigue, family relationships, loss and courage running through this page turner giving it more layers and depth of meaning. A story with an added poignancy as almost unbelievably Europe once again witnesses children fleeing to safety from war.
This is ultimately a story of hope and the power of friendship, loyalty and helpful kindness to make even the darkest times better. Highly recommended for young readers who enjoy books by Emma Carroll or the historical novels by Tom Palmer.
Guest Post by Claire Mulligan Author of The Hunt for David Berman
In the novel the main character, David, has arrived in Britain from Germany as a Kindertransport child during WW2. Here Claire talks about the important research she did into this movement and how it inspired her writing.
When I started writing The Hunt for David Berman I did quite a lot of general reading around the subject of World War 2 as I wanted the details in the book to be as authentic as possible. When I made the character of David into a Kindertransport child I was brought into a moment in history that was only for a short period of time – from late 1938 to 1940 – but one which had a profound impact on the lives saved and the families who were left behind.
Approximately 10,000 children were saved through the Kindertransport movement – a rescue effort to remove as many predominantly Jewish children from Nazi Germany and German-occupied territories as possible. In the wider context of the war where one and a half million Jewish children perished, 10,000 may not seem to be a huge number but for every life saved future generations got a chance to live. As I read about the Kindertransport I came across many heartbreaking accounts from the children who had to leave parents, siblings and loved ones behind, and in many cases they were the only members of their family to survive the Holocaust. The organisations and agencies responsible had to fund the Kindertransport operation themselves in order that the children were not a financial burden to Britain. Children chosen to travel were from a variety of backgrounds and circumstances – some had been in concentration camps, or were in danger of arrest or deportation, others were orphans.
Children eligible to travel were under the age of 17 and were unaccompanied by adults. They travelled mainly by train with only one piece of luggage and were not allowed to take anything valuable with them. I came across one fantastic story of a child who was determined to bring her stamp collection with her. This would not have been allowed as stamps could be valuable and could be sold on. But she managed to put every single stamp into her officially sealed suitcase and get them to England with her. That delighted me so much I put it into the book and in it David smuggles his beloved stamp collection out of Berlin.
In the book David brings photographs of his family, a notebook to keep as a diary and a stuffed toy bear. These are some of the things that Kindertransport children brought with them, along with practical items like clothing and shoes. Everything had to be packed into a suitcase that a child could manage to carry themselves. The children wore identity labels around their necks with a number on them and the same number was pasted on to their luggage.
Once the children had arrived in England many faced the added difficulty of not being able to speak English. In the book David’s father had taught him a little English but he had to learn the language quickly. Even after reaching the relative safety of England life was difficult for the Kindertransport children. Some of them did not have foster families to come and collect them immediately on arrival and many went to Dovercourt Refugee Camp where they stayed until they were placed with adoptive families. They had to learn to be adaptable – settle into new families, learn a new language, make friends, become accustomed to different customs and foods, all while struggling to retain their own identities and not knowing what had happened to their parents and loved ones back home. In the book David shows himself to be resilient and resourceful, just as the Kindertransport children had to be.
Many of them had left believing that they would see their parents again soon or that they would be reunited after the war. Sadly most children of the Kindertransport who had travelled so far by train, boat and plane never saw their parents again.
There is a real danger that as time marches on the stories of these children will slowly fade. Yet the Kindertransport movement was an act of complete faith – the faith of parents who puttheir children on to trains hoping that the arms of strangers would open to receive them, faith that the hand of war would not touch them, faith that they would be safe in another country. I hope the children who read The Hunt for David Berman understand something of the Kindertransport and the difficulties faced by children during the war, but ultimately I wantthe message to be one of kindness and friendship.
Indeed, in the book David’s immediate future is tied to his friend Robert, someone who has tried to help in so many ways. David, finally, has a chance of a safe place to live with support and friendship from people who value him and we can imagine David feeling ‘at home’ in Robert’s family. One of the joys of writing fiction is being allowed some artistic licence and granting a happy ending!
I hope the book will spark discussion around difficult subjects such as war, The Holocaust, anti-Semitism, refugees (in the past and present day), and how we choose to treat one another. Initially Robert is quick to judge David when he finds out that he’s German – he can’t believe he is friends with the ‘enemy’ but then when he understands a little more about David’s life he realises that he and David are very much alike and he shows himself to be a trusted and loyal friend. I hope that the reader will see that friendship and kindness are so important for all of us and that even small acts of generosity can make a huge difference.
The Hunt for David Berman by Claire Mulligan is published by The Moth today, 5 th May 2022, £8.99 paperback
Thank you very much to Claire for this interesting and thoughtful article. If you have missed any of the previous posts on this tour I can recommend catching up with them and full details are given below.
Welcome to the first of my weekly round ups of children’s book news of the Summer Term. I hope you had a good Easter break and were able to enjoy some of the lovely sunshine. Since the last Reading Matters I have enjoyed a couple of days at the Federation of Children’s Book Groups Annual Conference at Woldingham School in Surrey. A packed programme of events and the chance to meet up with online book buddies in real life for the first time in what feels like forever to me. It was a real treat and a big thank you to the organisers for creating such an enjoyable event.
What I’m reading…
With immaculate timing I received a copy of Tom Palmer’s new book, Resist, the day before the FCBG conference in which Tom was taking part. On the Sunday evening I stayed up late to finish reading it. It is a remarkable and moving story, meticulously researched and relevant today. I tried to do justice to it in my review and would highly recommend getting hold of a copy when it is published in August.
Another brilliant book that I enjoyed reading over the last few weeks is Seed by Caryl Lewis. This has a feel of a modern fable and is so full of wisdom, kindness and hope that I think everyone, children and adults, would gain something from it. My review for Just Imagine will be available to read nearer the publication date of 12th May so I’ll share it next week.
Retuning to historical fiction I also read a great debut by Claire Mulligan, The Hunt for David Berman, a story set during the Second World War featuring spies, the Kinder-transport, family relationships and a friendship between two boys with very different backgrounds. I am pleased to be participating in the blog tour to mark its publication on 5th May and would recommend catching up with the tour which features some interesting guest posts from the author.
Years ago I used to search desperately for football themed books for my sons and this month I read and reviewed a couple of great new children’s books for football fans from Barrington Stoke that would have been just right. Over the last few days I’ve been re-reading The Horse and His Boy by C S Lewis prompted by Chris Lovegrove’s Narniathon21 on his blog. This is the book from the series that I had probably the least vivid memories of from childhood but even in the first few chapters I recognised lines and passages from all those years ago. I find it fascinating how those books we read as a child stay lodged in our minds even when we don’t realise their lasting impact.
News, articles and resources…
David McKee obituary – the much loved creator of Elmer the Patchwork Elephant and Mr Benn died at the age of 87 at the beginning of April. His books have been shared by parents, grandparents and in schools for as long as I can remember. This is a lovely obituary by Julia Eccleshare expressing why his work is so popular.
Open University Reading Schools Programme 2022-2023 – free briefing 4 May – it’s not too late to sign up for this event. Hosted by Teresa Cremin and suitable for school leaders in primary, junior and infants schools. The OU’s year-long Reading Schools Programme will enable you to build a rich reading culture and curricula that will impact on children’s life chances.
Nikki Gamble’s Book Blast for April 2022 – if you missed this event live it’s now available to watch via YouTube. A blast through some of the best books published in April. This video is organised into chapters so you can find the sections that interest you, or watch over a number of sessions.
The Reading Agency’s April Booklist for Children and Young People: Autism – the Reading Agency have worked with Autistic Uk on the creation of this list of books for children and young people written predominantly by autistic authors and representing a diverse range of experiences, stories and voices. The list can be downloaded via the link above.
Jhalak Children’s & Young Adult Prize – shortlists announced – The shortlists for this year’s Jhalak Prizes, the nation’s premier awards for British and British-resident writers of colour, have now been revealed. The winners will be announced on Thursday 26 May. You can see both the shortlists and the long lists via the link above.
How school leaders can get the most out of their libraries – an article by Elizabeth Hutchison for TES highlighting the many benefits of a thriving school library for the school community and the role of SLT in ensuring that this happens.
Windrush Learning Resource for Schools – Seven Stories (the National Centre for Children’s Books) has put together a new Windrush learning resource which highlights the contributions of Caribbean and British Caribbean writers to British children’s literature. The resource features John Agard, Grace Nichols, Valerie Bloom and Grace Hallworth .
CLPE An Evening with Michael Rosen – to open the celebrations for its 50th anniversary CLPE is hosting an evening with Michael Rosen. Michael has just published What is a Bong Tree?, a collection of his articles written and talks given over the last five decades and will be performing some of his poems. A ‘real life’ event taking place in London.
Books for Topics Updated Year Group Book Lists – these updated lists include more graphic novels, some hot-off-the-press new titles, a few more dyslexia friendly books, more laugh-out-loud choices in upper KS2 and some brand new high-interest non-fiction. Well worth a browse for ideas.
Non-Fiction or Not Non-Fiction – that is the Question… by Mini Grey – this is a great guest post by Mini Grey on the Picture Book Den blog. It prompts questions about the labels we apply to books and provides an insight in to the creation of her new book, The Greatest Show on Earth. Which, incidentally, is now on my shopping list. I also really like Mini’s favourite ‘non-fiction’ picture books.
The Branford Boase Award Shortlist Announced – this is another fantastic shortlist from the organisers of this award which recognises both new talent and the role of the editor. From a longlist of 24, the judges have chosen eight to shortlist, making this the longest shortlist in the award’s history. As ever, the subject matter is very broad and there are books for readers aged 7 to 17: family dramas, fantasy adventure, science fiction and anarchic comedy. More information about the shortlist and the award itself is available on the official website linked above.
Tom Palmer Poster Pack – the ever helpful Tom Palmer has made a special pack of posters, bookmarks and signed material linked to his historical fiction available to schools. You can sign up to receive this via the link above.
Jackie Morris Talks About Mrs Noah’s Song – I love this sneaky glimpse of the new book due out in June from Jackie Morris and James Mayhew. Mrs Noah is one of my favourite picture book characters and I think this video is one and a half soothing minutes of gentleness.
CILIP Famous Faces Posters – Author, naturalist and conservationist Dara McAnulty has given his support for libraries by joining the CILIP Famous Faces Campaign. This campaign poster is free to download and display in your library along with previous posters via the link.
The Meaning of Life(stories) Roy James Blog for Just Imagine – I’m very much enjoying Roy’s regular blog posts for Just Imagine and this one about biographies for children is fascinating and gave me a great deal to think about. Nikki Gamble thought so too and her own reflection on the subject added as a postscript is equally interesting.
The Reader Teacher April Must Reads – another tempting selection from Scott Evans this month including Mini Grey’s The Greatest Show on Earth mentioned in the non-fiction post above. There is a free poster to display available to download too.
The School Library Association Member Meet-up: Primary Schools – this event takes place on Thursday 12th May from 3.30pm – 4.30pm and is free for SLA members. Whatever your primary school library space looks like and whatever your role this is an opportunity to meet other members online to share ideas, challenges and successes.
Longlist Announced for 2022 SLA Information Book Award (IBA) – Now in its twelfth year, the IBA aims to emphasise the importance of non-fiction by highlighting and celebrating the high standard of children’s information books. The awards are divided into three age categories, judged by a panel of educators. Children will then also have the opportunity to vote for their favourites in each group, as well as their favourite overall, to determine four additional Children’s Choice winners. You can see the books listed in each of the three categories via the link.
Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye recently…
Don’t Ask the Dragon by Lemm Sissay illustrated by Greg Stobbs – Rachael at Picture Book Perfect has hosted a fascinating interview with Greg Stobbs alongside her review of this new picture book. This is well worth a read as it provides an insight into the collaborative nature of creating picture books and a lovely look at the early drafts of the illustrations.
The Boy who Grew a Tree by Polly Ho-Yen; illustrated by Sojung Kim-McCarthy – another wonderful review by Ben Harris. The themes of this book, caring for our environment and each other, are important ones and as Ben says “I am just so pleased to read a short novel of this quality and thoughtfulness aimed at the younger junior age-range.” He has also included some excellent prompts to encourage children to think and talk about the story.
If You Read This – Kereen Getten – although not published until September this sounds like a book to make a note of for the future. Although it covers the subject matter of grief and loss this description by Karen in her review made me smile, “At 192 pages, If You Read Me is short but perfectly formed”
The Good Turn by Sharna Jackson – this contemporary mystery published next month sounds great. Veronica Price’s review reveals just enough to whet our appetite without giving too much away. Veronica says, “I utterly applaud Sharna Jackson for engaging readers, young and old, with a compelling and captivating narrative which delivers such a powerful message, prompting us all to look beyond our privilege and ally ourselves with those who need a voice.”
That’s everything for this week and I hope something here has been helpful to you. The bank holiday weekend should give us all a chance to relax and catch up on some reading. I hope so anyway! Happy bank holiday weekend and ‘see’ you next Saturday.
In the mid 90s I used to scan the local library shelves for children’s books even slightly linked to football in an attempt to find something to satisfy my two football mad sons. I needed something that wasn’t too overwhelming in length or complexity, that featured the game they loved but in a book that felt like a ‘real story’ and would be enjoyable to read. Sadly Barrington Stoke did not exist at that time or they could have solved the problem for me with these two books published this month.
All to Play For by Eve Ainsworth illustrated by Kirsti Beautiman
All to Play For tackles themes of poverty and grief threaded through a story of one boy’s love of football and his desire to achieve his ambition somehow. A positive and rewarding read that is just right for footie fans and may convert others to the beautiful game.
Lewis loves to play football. He needs to have a ball at his feet, to run with it, to practise getting his shots right. The problem is that he has to practise in secret, in his “happy place” the strip of grass behind the block of flats where he lives with his mum and he uses an old football given to him by his friend. Lewis’s mum doesn’t want him to play football partly because it is expensive to buy the kit, pay for the training and get to the games but maybe more importantly because she blames football for the death of Lewis’s dad. Despite her opposition Lewis can’t stop, his love for the game makes it impossible for him to give up his hopes and ambitions despite his close and loving relationship with his mum. When Ash, a local football coach, notices Lewis practising he sees the young boy’s potential and Lewis can’t keep his secret from Mum any longer.
Eve Ainsworth has thoughtfully centred this story on the inequalities that exist in society and sensitively brought in the subject of family loss and grief too. Despite these emotionally charged topics this is an exciting and enjoyable read. The drama of a closely fought football match between school boys is conveyed with all the importance of a premier league top of the table clash! The friction between those of a competitive nature and the importance of positive male role models are also incorporated without this feeling like an ‘issues book’. I would highly recommend this for readers aged 8+.
Football Mad: Teamwork! by Paul Stewart illustrated by Michael Broad
The final instalment of this action packed series sees Dale Juniors football team captain Scott face a dilemma when an unexpected event forces him into a position where his loyalties are put to the test and the expression ‘a good team player’ takes on a special meaning. Full of football action this will appeal to readers who prefer their reading to be fast paced and relatable.
Friendships are put to the test in this story. Scott and his team are already bracing themselves for a challenge as the charity match against their rivals, the school’s girls football team, approaches. Then on the day itself an accident results in the girls being a player short and it is decided that one of the boys will play for the opposition. Scott is horrified when his name is pulled out of the hat and he has to play against his friends.
This story raises interesting questions about loyalty and teamwork and children will be intrigued to see how Scott handles his tricky situation. The fact that the rival team is made up of girls adds another layer to the plot and I think this book could well prompt thought and debate. The exciting match with its fluctuating fortunes of play will keep young football fans completely enthralled. Although this is the final book in a series I think this story works perfectly well as a stand alone but I imagine children will want to read all the adventures of Scott and his friends if they have not already done so.
All to Play For and Football Mad: Teamwork! both have a dyslexia-friendly layout, typeface and paperstock so that even more readers can enjoy them and they have been edited to a reading age of 8.
I should like to thank Emma O’Donovan and Barrington Stoke for my review copies. Both books were published on 4th April and can be purchased on the Barrington Stoke website.
Tom Palmer writes meticulously researched historical fiction that always respects both his subject and his young readers; his new novel Resist is a shining example of his care. A book inspired by the teenage years of Hollywood star Audrey Hepburn this powerful story set in WW2 portrays the immense courage and humanity some are capable of in the face of the most unimaginable horror.
Cover design by Tom Clohosy Cole
In 1943 the Netherlands is occupied by the Nazis and life for the ordinary people is hard and full of fear. Food is scarce and everyone lives with the knowledge that at any moment they could be arrested and sent away for hard labour or worse. Teenager Edda tries to help by volunteering at the local hospital after school but is then prompted by events that affect her immediate family to assist the local resistance movement. Tom Palmer enables us to accompany Edda as her involvement escalates to dangerous missions amidst an increasingly desperate situation for her family, neighbours and friends.
Resist is a compelling read from its opening pages onwards capturing both the darkness of life for those trapped in a Nazi occupied country and the bravery and determination of those who stood up against the invaders. In the first chapter Edda is delivering newsletters on behalf of the resistance and has to negotiate a German checkpoint. It is sometimes tempting to describe a character as being brave or fearless but what we immediately become aware of in Resist is that real courage is doing something extremely dangerous despite being afraid. Edda is terrified but persists in her task. Instantly the reader feels empathy for her and will follow her story wanting her to succeed.
The tension is built up so carefully and well that it would be a shame to give away too much of the plot, however Tom Palmer draws on many of the experiences of the remarkable woman who inspired the book. There is her love of dance, the events involving her mother, a Nazi sympathiser before the war, and the near starvation she experienced included within the story in addition to her work for the resistance. The research, attention to detail and the inclusion of real people gives this book an authenticity. Sometimes ‘historical fiction’ is a story set against an historical background, Resist is history brought to life. The reader is made aware that people in the past were no different to people now and the connections to those who lived before us are made clearer . This is a remarkable story told well and also told with understanding and care of the people involved. Tom Palmer has a knack for conveying great depth of emotion in a few words which I think increases the impact. What he could never have anticipated is that scenes of terrified families hiding in cellars and innocent people fleeing their homes as bombs fall would be repeated in Europe in the year this book is published. This inevitably gives the story an added emotional impact yet this book also provides hope in its portrayal of the power of the human spirit to survive and fight against evil and to protect others from it.
This is historical fiction bringing a different aspect of war to young readers and is a compelling story of an immensely brave teenager who showed strength of character and determination. Inspirational is a word used increasingly to describe people and stories but is apt in this case. It prompted me to research further into the Dutch resistance and Audrey Hepburn’s role in it and I believe it will encourage other readers to do the same. A novel of under two hundred pages this is most definitely a brilliant example of less is more. Long after I turned the final page of this moving and important story I was thinking about Edda, her courage and those she lived and worked alongside.
Resist is published by Barrington Stoke so is expertly produced and edited to ensure it is accessible to all and is part of their Conkers range. Resist is published in August with a stunning cover designed by Tom Clohosy Cole. I should like to thank Tom Palmer, Emma O’Donovan and Barrington Stoke for my proof copy. There will be a range of resources linked to Resist available on Tom’s excellent website so it’s worth keeping an eye out for when these appear. There is already a Cover Prediction Worksheet available to download here which would be a great way of introducing the book. If you are tempted by Resist and can’t wait until August you may like to try one of Tom’s other books which I highly recommend and I’ve reviewed several of them including After the War, Armistice Runner, Arctic Star and D-Day Dog.
Finally Barrington Stoke have produced this trailer below to whet your appetite still further.
Who can resist the idea of a treasure hunt? This latest offering by award winning author David Long for Barrington Stoke taps in to that desire to search and find, to follow maps and clues in search of long lost, fascinating items. Published to coincide with the one hundredth anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb this book is full of interesting facts and background information supported by Stefano Tambellini’s black and white illustrations incorporating helpful maps and diagrams. Tutankhamun’s Treasure would be a great addition to school library and classroom bookshelves.
David Long begins his book with a look at the role of archaeologists, at the way in which their discoveries shape our view of the way in which people lived their lives hundreds or thousands of years ago. Readers are then introduced to Ancient Egypt and its evolution, the pyramids and the Valley of the Kings with the text complemented by Tambellini’s illustrations. The author then moves on to the heart of the story, Howard Carter’s fascination with Egyptology and his partnership with Lord Carnarvon that was to yield success eventually.
As with his previous titles for Barrington Stoke, Tragedy at Sea: The Sinking of the Titanic and Survival in Space: The Apollo 13 Mission, David Long presents his information in an accessible and immensely readable manner. There is sufficient background detail given to enable young readers to gain an understanding of this event in an historical context but it also includes the personal element portraying the frustration felt by both men at the time it took to achieve their goal and the fact that luck and circumstance played a part in the discovery. The inclusion of labelled illustrations of the artefacts, diagrams of the rooms of the tomb and illustrations of the valley and a map of Egypt all provide a visual learning aid for readers which is helpful.
This would be a valuable book for primary schools studying Ancient Egypt and an enjoyable read for history lovers or budding archaeologists. This book has a dyslexia-friendly layout, typeface and paperstock so that even more readers can enjoy it. It has been edited to a reading age of 8. If you want to find out more Barrington Stoke have created this taster of the first chapter below.
I should like to thank Emma Harrison and Barrington Stoke for providing my review copy. Tutankhamun’s Treasure is out now and can be purchased on the publisher’s website.
The websites listed below have information on Ancient Egypt presented in a child friendly way. Just click on the images to access the sites…
Can it really be ten years since we met George? This month marks the publication of a special ten year anniversary edition of this hilarious, clever picture book by Chris Haughton so it is a good time to explore what makes George and his adventures so popular.
Ten years ago when a copy of Oh No, George! landed on my desk in the school library his face was frankly impossible to resist. This was never going to be a picture book you put to one side to explore later, George’s expression demanded that I opened the cover to read his story.
For those who have not yet read this fabulous picture book George is quite simply a dog who wants to be good but struggles to be. Temptation lurks around every corner in the form of delicious cake to eat, cats that need chasing, soil crying out to be dug up by eager paws. It is all a bit much for George who gives in to temptation while his friend Harris is out of the house. When Harris returns there are inevitable repercussions and George is truly sorry for his actions. So the two friends try again and go out for a walk with George working hard at resisting temptation. All is well for a while then a new temptation is spotted. A rubbish bin. Can the reformed George resist?
Every single child I have introduced to this book has loved it. Really that is the best single sentence review you need I suppose. They love the bold, simple outlines of the illustrations, the psychedelic colours used, the questions the texts asks of the reader or listener but most of all they love George. Do they identify with George? Quite probably. But what makes this really work, the bit of genius that makes it stand out, is the ending with its final question. What will George do? I will never forget the expressions on the very young children’s faces the first time I read this aloud to them in the school library. That open ending, the possibility that George may choose the ‘wrong’ option is brilliant. There is a little bit of George in all of us and that is part of his appeal.
The press release accompanying this anniversary edition includes 10 facts about George which prompted me to visit Chris Haughton’s website to find out more about his research when he started this book. Please do visit this page where Chris shares the video of Denver the dog who inspired George’s irresistible guilty expression. Apparently George is also inspired by the author’s childhood dog Tammy, a Jack Russell-Labrador cross who one year ate all of Chris’ sister’s Easter Eggs. One whole cake no longer seems quite so greedy!
You may also like to watch this special ten year anniversary Oh No, George! trailer below:
The publishers Walker Books have also provided some activity sheets which you can download from their website by clicking on the picture below. Also the excellent LoveMyBooks website has suggestions for activities linked to this picture book which are definitely worth investigating.
I should like to thank Louisa Danquah and the publishers Walker Books for providing my review copy. The special anniversary edition of Oh No, George! by Chris Haughton is published on 7th April.
Welcome to this week’s look at what has been happening in the world of children’s books. As the busy end of term takes place across the country no doubt you may have missed some of the news and I hope this collection of links will help you catch up a little.
What I’m reading…
The books that I have to read and review for both The School Librarian journal and Just Imagine have arrived within a couple of days of each other and this week I have concentrated on the picture books. A wide range of types, subjects and narratives were among this selection and it has been interesting to compare styles and approaches. From an interactive board book for toddlers to stories with themes of mental health and well being, empathy and family they have highlighted the importance of picture books for conveying important messages and themes.
Over the last few days I have also read The Hunt for David Berman, a debut by Claire Mulligan which I thoroughly enjoyed. An adventure set during WW2 with a touching bond between two boys from very different families at the centre of its exploration of how war affects families. It is published at the beginning of May so watch out on the blog for more about David’s story soon. I have also finished reading The Infinite by Patience Agbabi and can understand why this book has been so popular. The story is original, Elle is a great character and the representation of neuro-diversity is wide ranging and not stereotypical. I found it an eye-opening read.
News, articles and resources…
Children’s and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels – I missed this brilliant selection reviewed by Imogen Russell-Williams last week. She has included Nour’s Secret Library, which I think is beautiful, and The Secret Sunshine Project a book I found brimful of positivity and thanks to Imogen’s comments I have added Beyond Belief to my personal wish list.
UKLA Book Awards 2022 Shortlists – there are extremely strong shortlists in each of the three categories this year. Once again small presses dominate and inclusion and diversity are key features of all the lists. There are a host of UKLA debut appearances with Nadia Shireen the only previous winner. These are definitely awards worth keeping an eye on and I don’t envy the judges having to decide between these excellent titles.
An Evening with Michael Rosen – Andersen Press and Nikki Gamble invite you to An Evening with Michael Rosen to celebrate the publication of Rigatoni the Pasta Cat, the latest in the Rosen and Ross series for fledgling readers. They will be discussing ways of supporting readers to become confident, independent and enthusiastic readers at this important phase in their reading development. Tuesday 5th April at 7pm and you can register via the link above. Tickets have been going quickly but there may be some left if you’re quick!
Pepper pots and Kaleidoscopes – The Secret of the Treasure Keepers by A.M. Howell – last week I reviewed this latest book by A M Howell but I had to include this review from Ben Harris. It is much more than a review it is an exploration of the appeal of historical fiction and a simply wonderful reading guide to this lovely book which will be of great value to those working in schools. It gave me a lot to think about and I am tempted to re-read The Secret of the Treasure Keepers now.
The Alligator’s Mouth Award for illustrated early fiction – Ten books have been longlisted for The Alligator’s Mouth Award 2022, which champions both authors and illustrators of highly illustrated children’s fiction. Now in its fourth 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.
The Hay Festival Programme for Schools – the festival organisers this week announced the Programme for Schools, with in-person events for pupils in Key Stage 2 on Thursday 26 May and Key Stage 3 andr Key Stage 4 on Friday 27 May. The brilliant line-up includes Piers Torday, Alex Wheatle, Ben Garrod, Nadia Shireen, Cressida Cowell and Jeffrey Boakye. If you can’t make it in person, all the events are also available to watch online on the day, and will be free to watch again on Hay Player.
March Book Blast With Nikki Gamble – if you missed Nikki’s excellent round up of new books for this month it is now available on YouTube. This selection includes picture books, non-fiction and novels all described and displayed to give you a taste of the best books around at the moment.
Library Lives: Katie Kinnear, Camberley – this month’s British Library “Library Life” features a public librarian, Katie Kinnear, Strategic Manager for Development and Support Services at Surrey Library Service. Without our public libraries many more children would be missing out on books and reading so it is, I think, important to share articles such as this one highlighting the work they do. I love Katie’s quote: “You cannot be a half-hearted librarian!”
The Reader Teacher Monthly Must Reads March 2022 – Scott Evans’ choices for last month include The Comet by Joe Todd-Stanton and I think this would be one of my books of the month too. Click on the link to find out more about the other titles and download this month’s poster.
No Shelf Control March Newsletter for Teachers and Parents – Dean Boddington’s latest newsletter includes an interview with Jennifer Killick whose latest book Dread Wood is out now, a selection of poetry to read aloud and other new titles to whet your appetite including Benjamin Dean’s The Secret Sunshine Project which I think is lovely. You can download a PDF version via the link.
The 14 best football books for teenagers – I know that this would have been helpful to me when my own sons were teenagers so I’m sharing this feature from Goal Magazine as I have a feeling it may be helpful to others too.
Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2022 – huge congratulations to Hannah Gold who is this year’s overall winner with her book, The Last Bear. The other winners were Harry Woodgate for Grandad’s Camper and Ciara Smyth for Not My Problem. Full details of the winners and the shortlists in the three categories can be found in the link above.
The Reader Teacher Coming Soon Video for April – Scott Evans has chosen his selection of books he’s most excited about for the coming month and has shared them on YouTube. More for our shopping lists!
Danish Company Creates Children’s Book to Make Ukrainian Refugees Feel at Home – a positive story from the Good News Network is the final link this week. Denmark has taken in thousands of refugees from Ukraine and the Mediabrands branch was inspired to write and create a free children’s book for Ukrainian-speakers called “Welcome to Denmark”. The booklet introduces refugees to the country, while highlighting the cultural similarities of the two nations, to help make the new refugees feel safer and more at ease. What a thoughtful idea.
Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye this week…
I Am The Subway by Kim Hyo-eun , translated by Deborah Smith Illustrated by Kim Hyo-eun – I do love the sound of this picture book reviewed by Kate Hitchings for Just Imagine. Kate says that, “This is a book that has huge capacity to build empathy, and to engender an awareness of the lives of others.” A day in the life of a train on the record-breaking Seoul subway, this is a picture book to read aloud, share and discuss.
Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tọlá Okogwu – this book due to be published in June sounds exciting. An action packed new middle-grade super hero title with plenty to recommend it and Fabia Turner’s excellent review has whetted my appetite for a genre that is not normally my first choice. “Themes of acceptance, belonging, family and friendship run throughout the exciting story, and with pacy high-stakes action, deceptive villains and a sequel-demanding ending” In addition the author’s knowledge of Nigeria will ensure that readers gain an understanding of Western Africa.
The Hunt for the Nightingale by Sarah Ann Juckes – I have noticed several people recommending this book online this week so looked up some reviews to find out more. This one on the Bookbag website, always a reliable source of information I think, provides an outline of the plot and more importantly explains why the book works well. Ruth Ng also says, “I have long been of the opinion that children’s books are not, and should not be seen as exclusively for children, and this is a very good example of one of those books that is a moving and poignant read for readers of any age.” Definitely going on my list!
That’s all for this week. I know that most schools have now broken up for Easter and I hope everyone enjoys a well earned relaxing break if possible. Reading Matters will be taking an Easter break too as I have lots of reading and reviewing to catch up on. Next weekend I am going to the Federation of Children’s Book Group National Conference on Saturday and Sunday and am looking forward to it very much. If any regular readers of this weekly newsletter are going to be there it would be lovely to say hello! Happy Easter and I hope to bring Reading Matters back after the break.
Welcome to this week’s round up of what has been happening in the world of children’s books.
What I’m reading…
The Secret of the Treasure Keepers by A M Howell is the type of fiction I loved as a child and still do. It is a mystery with a real sense of time and place that is a pleasure to read and I was impressed at the subtle way in which the author incorporates both the historical detail and the important emotional themes. There are many links to social history that mean that The Secret of the Treasure Keepers would be of value in the classroom too. It ticks lots of boxes!
At the moment I am reading The Infinite by Patience Agbabi in readiness for next week’s ‘Audience With’ this author, hosted by Nikki Gamble. It’s different to my usual reading choices and I’m enjoying the original idea and the unpredictability of the plot.
Lastly, this week in my capacity as a committee member of the Surrey Branch of the School Library Association we held our Spring Term meeting at which author Jo Cotterill was our guest speaker. Jo is such an engaging speaker, interesting and entertaining and I think we all left inspired by the discussion about the work of Empathy Lab, their Empathy Collections and the Empathy Day itself. I would highly recommend signing up for the newsletter on their website to find out more and to keep updated. You can find out more about Jo Cotterill, her books, school visits and work with Empathy Lab on her website.
News, articles and resources…
Just Imagine Discover Undiscovered Voices – Undiscovered Voices is an initiative from SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Illustrators and Writers) which gives a platform to up and coming voices in children’s writing. In this podcast Nikki Gamble caught up with two of this year’s authors, K L Kaine and Andrew James, along with Sara Grant from the organising committee to find out more about the project, how it supports new writing and the success it has had to date.
Making the most of your primary school library webinar – The School Library Association believes that every pupil is entitled to effective school library provision. To create an instant buzz about books in your school, join teacher and library consultant, Kate Spurrier, for this webinar on Wednesday 30th March 4-5pm.
Mr Dilly Meets – Sophy Henn and Steven Lenton – a free event taking place on Wednesday 27 April 11am – 12:15pm Discover the music with Sophy Henn & Draw a Long with Steven Lenton in this Mr Dilly Meets Author Illustrator Creativity Special. Plus the Mr Dilly Meets poet in residence Jonathan Humble from children’s poetry site The Dirigible Balloon is back with another wonderful poem to inspire and delight. Suitable for all primary aged children and everyone who loves story-telling and drawing.
Books for Keeps March edition – another wonderful selection of articles and reviews from the BFK team. I always enjoy this online magazine and the latest issue includes Joanna Nadin, Kate Read, Winnie and Wilbur, Lissa Evans, the latest Beyond the Secret Garden article which is always illuminating, a look at Joan Aiken’s books and lots of new children’s book reviews. A must read!
Shorter Chapter Books – as a primary school librarian I was constantly on the look out for this type of book. Erin Hamilton’s selection of new illustrated shorter fiction is perfect for newly independent readers and the wide range here should appeal to many different tastes.
Exploring Human Rights Through Children’s Books – a guest post on the CILIP website by Rowena Seabrook, Human Rights Education Manager at Amnesty International UK about ways of using children’s books as a means for discussing and exploring Human Rights. The suggestions would be excellent to use with pupils involved in shadowing the Carnegie and Greenway Awards and the article includes links to resources on Amnesty’s website.
Bologna 2022: Marie-Aude Murail and Suzy Lee Win 2022 Hans Christian Andersen Awards – the International Board on Books for Young People has announced the 2022 winners of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international distinction given to authors and illustrators of children’s books, France’s Marie-Aude Murail, for writing; and Suzy Lee, from the Republic of Korea, for illustration.
Yoto Carnegie Greenaway Award Videos – This year’s Yoto Carnegie and Kate Greenaway shortlisted authors and illustrators have each set a challenge for Shadowers to get involved with. The videos available via the link above share creative ideas inspired by the shortlisted books for the Shadowers to try. There are tons of great ideas to get your Shadowers engaged with the 2022 shortlists and to inspire creativity.
Love My Books March/ April Newsletter – the latest newsletter from this excellent website includes a feature on picturebooks which provide insight into children living in conflict, the current Book in Focus: Dragon Mountain by Katie and Kevin Tsang, Jon Biddle on the importance of independent bookshops and links to new activity pages. Both the website and the regular newsletter are fabulous to share with parents and carers being full of helpful suggestions and advice.
Exploring Manga: In Partnership with Peters Booksellers – Manga is becoming one of the most popular formats in school libraries. Are you seeking some guidance on things like stock, suitability, and budget? This School Library Association webinar, (free for members, £24 for non members) will guide you.
Max Counts to a Million – Jeremy Williams Q&A with the author – as part of this week’s blog tour teacher Rich Simpson reviews this book set during the pandemic lockdowns and interviews the author. It is an interesting and thoughtful read. Another book now on my wish list!
Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye this week…
Saving The Butterfly by Helen Cooper illustrated by Gill Smith – a picture book that deals with a cruel reality of our world with a kind and gentle touch is well worth seeking out. This lovely review on the Fallen Star Stories blog has ensured that I will be making sure I read this as soon as possible.
Kitty and the Woodland Wildcat by Paula Harrison, illustrated by Jenny Løvlie – this series sounds great fun and illustrated fiction is so important in encouraging young readers who are just becoming independent in both their choices and ability. Veronica Price’s positive review suggests it is perfect for that transition from KS1 to KS2 and includes links to her reviews of other titles in the series.
The Rewilders by Lindsay Littleson – I have heard and read only positive things about this new book and this review by Nicki Cleveland tells us a little more about its appeal. “This is a celebration of our natural world, a reminder of the delicate balance of ecosystems, and that we must take responsibility for looking after the world we live in before we damage it beyond repair.”
Perfectly Weird, Perfectly You by Camilla Pang – it can sometimes be hard to make self-help guides for children and teens attractive to their intended audience but Erin Hamilton’s review suggests that this one has got it right. “For some children, those guides to growing up can be daunting, overly body focused and cringe-worthy…but this book is about finding out who you are, what you love and what you want to focus on in your life.”
I hope that these links are helpful to you and that one of the books mentioned has caught your eye. Happy reading!
Library Lady 