The Most Important Animal of All by Penny Worms illustrated by Hannah Bailey

Posted on November 16, 2021 by alibrarylady

The Most Important Animal of All is a beautifully presented book that highlights the value of some of our most treasured creatures. Through thoughtfully presented facts and discussion it encourages young children to think critically, to learn about the interconnectedness of the natural world and, importantly, to protect it.

Endorsed by the British Ecological Society this high quality book is an excellent source of information but it is the approach to conveying this information that increases its appeal to children. It is an inspired touch to open the book with a classroom session on learning about animals and the instruction to the children to decide which animal is the most important of all. Young readers are instantly engaged and through text, beautiful illustrations by Hannah Bailey and photos they will learn enough to help them make an informed choice. From elephants to bees, sharks to tigers, bats to beavers the range of animals is diverse and interesting. Each creature’s features, habitat and its role in the ecosystem is explained carefully through detailed description and annotated illustrations. Visually this book is both attractive and informative being inviting to browse through and to study in more detail. Penny Worms explains both the importance of the different creatures and what is being done to protect animals under threat.

Illustrations by Hannah Bailey – Mama Makes Books

The discussion is left open ended for the readers to decide which they think is the most important. Will they agree with the experts? Which ever they decide upon they will have learned a great deal through the process. The final pages include information and photos of keystone species and ecosystems and the opportunity to find out more about each of the creatures via links to online sources of information. There is also a helpful glossary and index. The Most Important Animal of All would be an excellent addition to school libraries, valuable in the classroom and interesting to share at home. A really lovely non-fiction book and highly recommended.

There are some excellent free teachers’ resources written by Kerry Fitzpatrick, a Year 2 class teacher and Science Lead, available to download on the Mama Makes Books website here.

The Most Important Animal of All was published by Mama Makes Books on 19th August and is available to purchase online at Bookshop.org I should like to thank the publishers for providing my review copy.

Disclosure: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

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Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on November 13, 2021 by alibrarylady

It has been another busy week in the world of children’s books with some important awards news. I hope this week’s round up includes something special you may have missed or a new book to tempt you.

What I’m reading…

I was interested to see Wolf Road, Richard Lambert’s highly acclaimed YA novel, included in the Carnegie nominations list this week as I had only just finished reading his first novel for children, Shadow Town. This is the first in a new fantasy series and is a compelling and thoughtful read that I would recommend to readers of 11 plus.

Illustrated fiction can be perfect for encouraging children to read for pleasure especially when it is designed to be accessible to a wide audience. Swop the Satsuma-Sized Secret is a good example. A charming debut from Lucy Noguera it combines fun with reassurance and increases awareness of deafness and signing in a positive way. Sasha and the Wolf is a lovely reissue of classic stories by Ann Jungman with gorgeous new illustrations by Gaia Bordicchia. The setting in snowy 19th century Russia makes this a perfect wintry read and these two stories of friendship would be good for newly independent readers or as a class read aloud for Years 2 and 3.

This week’s non-fiction recommendation for Non-Fiction November is We All Celebrate by Chitra Soundar illustrated by Jenny Bloomfield. This is a joyful look at celebrations from all around the world. Crammed full of detail, every page bursting with colourful illustrations this picture book is a true celebration of both unity and diversity and a thoughtful guide to religion, history and heritage.

News, articles and resources…

Nominations announced for the 2022 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals – an annual highlight for children’s book lovers is exploring the nominations for these prestigious awards. This year’s selection is excellent and I am delighted to see some of my favourites included. I don’t envy the judging panel who have to reduce these to a long-list by February.

Nikki Gamble’s Book Blast Christmas Special – Friday 3rd December at 7pm is a special date for your diary. Nikki will be previewing her personal picks of the month. Suitable for all adults interested in children’s books and reading. Attendance is free and you can register via the link above.

Books to Boost – Jo Cummins has selected a range of books that will helped boost children’s well being and provided helpful guidance on content and suitability. There are books to encourage confidence, to help cope with their emotions and to help children become more self award.

The Reader Teacher Christmas Book Gift Giving Guide – if you want to give a book to a child as a Christmas present this year Scott Evans has produced guides for different age groups. They include, classics, brand new titles, picture books, poetry, and non-fiction. Lots of suggestions for a variety of tastes.

John Agard, the first poet to be awarded BookTrust’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award – This award celebrates the body of work of an author and/or illustrator who has made an outstanding contribution to children’s literature. John Agard has published more than 50 books, including poetry for all ages, stories, and non-fiction. In 2012, he was presented with the Queen’s Gold Medal for poetry. You may like to read John’s interview with Emily Drabble too.

Books Are My Bag Readers Awards 2021 – This year’s awards, now in their sixth year, included six shortlists chosen by booksellers across the UK and Ireland, while the Readers’ Choice Award – nominated and chosen entirely by readers – completes the set. When the Sky Falls by Phil Earle won the children’s fiction award and I’m delighted that it did as this is definitely on my own favourite books of the year list. You can read about the other awards and watch the ceremony via the link.

Unleash your Creative Monster: Children’s writing workshop – workshop for 9 to 12 year-olds, organised by the National Literacy Trust during which Andy Jones and Olaf Falafel, author and illustrator of Unleash your Creative Monster, will provide inspiration and practical advice on writing stories that will keep readers hooked. The workshop is free to attend and takes place on Friday 26th November 10am-11am. Full details via the link.

David Olusoga: It is ‘critical’ to talk about black and imperial history – article in The Irish News in which the historian discusses the reasons for the publication this week of the children’s version of his book, Black and British: An Illustrated History. “We can’t have a history that makes sense, that is functional for the country that we are, if we don’t include the stories of black and brown people from the Empire, and from Britain’s entanglements with other parts of the world.”

Branching Out: Reading for Pleasure – an online debate about the limited range of books stocked in supermarkets this week reminded me of this excellent resource from Alison at Books for Topics. From Harry Potter and Tom Gates to Rainbow Magic and The Worst Witch and David Walliams these Branching Out booklists are free, printable display posters have suggestions to tempt children to read more widely.

Make Black History part of every month – this article on the School Library Association website refers to their partnership with the Inclusion Hubs and includes links to a variety of resources and sources of information.

Blue Peter Book Awards 2022 Shortlist Announced – there are six brilliant books shortlisted, three for Best Story and three for Best Book with Facts. All the books on this year’s shortlist are aimed at children aged between 6 and 12, a vital time when children discover which books they like and build their own independent reading habits. You can see which books made the list via the link above.

Finding kind words in great literature during Anti-Bullying Week – Anti-Bullying Week takes place from 15th – 19th November 2021 and in this excellent post by Michelle Nicholson on the Herts Primary English blog she recommends some quality books to share with children.

Scottish Book Trust November Book Discovery Guide – produced bi-annually these guides are full of book recommendations for primary and secondary school pupils, including, new highlights from Scottish publishers, recommendations from booksellers, librarians, themed booklists and top picks from Scottish Book Trust staff

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

The Curiosities by Zana Fraillon illustrated by Phil Lesnie – I, like many others, found Wisp, a picture book written by this author, profoundly moving and this latest title sounds equally affecting. The glimpses of the illustrations by Phil Lesnie are stunning too. In his review Matt at Word About Books says. “The Curiosities is an open invitation to celebrate our own differences and to wholeheartedly embrace and accept the differences of others.” That sounds perfect.

Elisabeth and the Box of Colours by Katherine Woodfine, illustrated by Rebecca Cobb – this is a new Little Gems title from Barrington Stoke due out in February 2022. Veronica Price’s detailed review gives a taste of what to expect and the blend of historical fiction and information sounds appealing.

Grandpa Frank’s Great Big Bucket List by Jenny Pearson – frankly we could probably all do with a bit of a giggle at the moment and Jenny Pearson is a children’s author who has a gift for humour. This review by Andrew made me smile too as I love how he conveys the spirit of the book. Definitely one for our shopping lists in the new year!

Art of Protest: What a Revolution Looks Like by De Nichols – this new book, published at the end of the month, looks at some of the most memorable and striking protest artwork from across the world and throughout history. In her review Nicki Cleveland comments particularly on the section on Youth Leadership and Protest Art around the world. This sounds like an excellent book for school libraries and classrooms.

Medusa by Jessie Burton illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill – this new YA retelling of the Greek myth is receiving many accolades from expert book reviewers. Joanne Owen on LoveReading4Kids says it “blazes with intrigue and beauty courtesy of author’s elegant style and Olivia Lomenech Gill’s fabulously evocative colour illustrations.” When I’ve managed to bring my “review pile” under control this is definitely on my wish list.

That’s all for this week and I hope that you have found something helpful included in the links and reviews. One last thing, the Hidden Books Game is back! Each year this gets harder. Here’s the link Good luck!

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We All Celebrate! by Chitra Soundar illustrated by Jenny Bloomfield

Posted on November 12, 2021 by alibrarylady

We All Celebrate is a joyful look at celebrations from all around the world. Crammed full of detail, every page bursting with colourful illustrations this non-fiction picture book is a true celebration of both unity and diversity and a thoughtful guide to religion, history and heritage.

As families we all celebrate in our own way, maybe for birthdays and weddings and also for special national events. Chitra Soundar wisely begins with the familiar and then explains how geography affects our celebrations showing how different rituals associated with the seasons alter depending on where you live. Pictures of the earth, the lunar cycle and a calendar are shown to help young readers grasp this concept. Having set the scene we then move on to New Year celebrations, seasonal rituals and customs and those associated with religions and different cultures. As we explore the world discovering the joys of celebrations in different places we also learn how these have adapted and altered over time. The wide variety included will open up children’s imaginations and enable them to discover fascinating customs and traditions they may not have known about.

We All Celebrate endpapers by Jenny Bloomfield

From the cheerful cover, depicting a happy conga, onwards this is a book that feels truly celebratory. Jenny Bloomfield’s endpapers show people from all over the world celebrating in colourful costumes, playing musical instruments, dancing and singing. The fact that these people are joined together in harmony, hand in hand, arm in arm, smiling at each other encourages the reader to feel part of one big happy celebration. This is an uplifting book but also an interesting one. There is a great deal of information packed on to each page. Did you know that in Sweden there is a tradition to dance around a maypole to mark midsummer day? I didn’t know the origins of Spain’s La Tomatina festival. There are lovely descriptions of traditional festivals from the Pacific Islands that may be new to many. The similarities between different religions are mentioned with descriptions of fasting at special times in the Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist faiths explained.

This would be a valuable book in primary school libraries and classrooms to support teaching and for general interest. The publishers, Tiny Owl Publishing, have created a lovely trailer which gives you a taste of the book and you can watch that below. I would like to thank Tiny Owl for providing my review copy. We All Celebrate was published on 4th November and is available to purchase on the publishers’ website.


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Swop The Satsuma-Sized Secret by Lucy Noguera illustrated by Laura Ireland

Posted on November 10, 2021 by alibrarylady

Illustrated fiction can frequently be the key to the discovery of reading for pleasure for young children. When stories are presented both in text and pictures children can access the narrative more easily. When the appearance is designed to be accessible to dyslexic children it widens the appeal still further. Publishers Barrington Stoke need no introduction as they have been creating award winning books that are appealing to a wide audience for many years. Brilliant Monster Books appear to be keen to follow in their footsteps. They are a new independent children’s publisher specialising in accessible books which promote empathy and inclusion.

Cover design by Fabio Gois

The first in a new series Swop the Satsuma-Sized Secret is a book full of fun incorporating some reassuring messages within its pages. The lightness of touch ensures that both grief and the inclusion of a deaf character feel natural and these aspects are handled with sensitivity in this charming debut.

Ernie and his family are moving from the countryside to live nearer his grandma following the death of Ernie’s dad. Understandably Ernie is worried that he will find it difficult to settle in to his new home. However on his first night in his new bedroom Ernie makes a new friend. A tiny dog, no bigger than a satsuma! As the landlord has made it clear that no pets are allowed Ernie knows that he must keep his new friend, Swop, a secret. Initially that is just about manageable with Ernie’s careful planning but on Ernie’s first day at his new school Swop decides to make his presence known.

Children will quickly warm to Ernie and his first day contains much that young readers will recognise and find relatable. The classroom situations have an authentic feel and Ernie’s new friendships are depicted with an understanding of school life. As might be anticipated a miniature dog can quickly cause mayhem in a school and this adventure is full of muddles and misunderstandings. The use of sign language thanks to the inclusion of Ernie’s deaf sister Ivy is cleverly incorporated and is a positive aspect of the storyline. The guide to sign language included at the end of the book is a nice touch. The fact that Ernie’s dad although absent is included in the story is lovely too. There is a streak of positivity running through the story which will comfort children with concerns about moving home or school, both of which can be a source of worry for many.

At 192 pages this is a great length for newly confident readers or those who have not yet developed reading stamina and will give the reader a real sense of achievement on finishing it. There is a sequel in the pipeline and I imagine children will be keen to discover what happens to Ernie and Swop next.

Swop the Satsuma-Sized Secret was published in July and is available to purchase online at Bookshop.org I should like to thank Lucy Noguera for providing my review copy.

Disclosure: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

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Shadow Town by Richard Lambert

Posted on November 8, 2021 by alibrarylady

Shadow Town is Richard Lambert’s first book for children and follows his widely acclaimed YA novel, Wolf Road which was this week nominated for the Carnegie Medal. This new compelling fantasy adventure combines a coming of age story and an epic quest, big themes and dark moments with friendship and family, all wrapped up in a story that ripples with tension until the very last page.

Cover design and illustration by Holly Ovenden

The mesmerising opening pages introducing the ‘shadow’ have a disturbing tone and it is perhaps a surprise to the reader to find themselves in a suburban family home as the story opens. Toby is a quiet boy, a little awkward socially and struggling to make friends. He always gets things slightly wrong and is desperate to fit in with his classmates. His family situation adds to his feelings of inadequacy and unhappiness. His distant father, working as a speech writer for the government, is obsessed with his novel which is not going well and, selfish and grumpy, he dismisses Toby as ‘stupid.’ His climate activist mother is loving but distracted by her environmental causes. Toby’s only friends are his parents’ kind lodger and her pet cat, Alfred and within a few chapters probably the reader too as Toby comes to life as a real person on the page.

The mysterious shadow appears gradually in both Toby’s dreams and in his garden and this unsettles him. However when he and Alfred are drawn in to an alternative world it is still shocking and sudden for both Toby and the reader. There is no friendly faun and fireside tea in this new world, instead there is a fire sweeping through a forest, a malevolent darkness and Toby is a witness to a brutal murder. Richard Lambert has created a world both vivid and cruel. A harsh Regent rules a land that is swept by fires, floods, earthquakes and tsunamis and fear results in many obeying him.

Toby meets Tamurlaine, a mysterious and mercurial girl, sometimes kindly helping Toby and then on occasions switching to bitter and angry behaviour. She, like Toby, is on a journey of self discovery and when her past is uncovered she must make difficult choices. As Toby and Tamurlaine travel through the land of Balthasar, also the name of the fantasy world in Toby’s father’s novel, they both feel overwhelmed by their family destiny. They wonder if they can forge their own paths and make right things that have gone wrong. Toby’s companion Alfred the cat is an ever present reminder of home and Toby fears that he may never find his way back there.

This story could be seen as an allegory of Toby’s life and also perhaps a political allegory. Toby is a young boy lost in every meaning of the word, far from home and unsure of his future. Shadow Town asks questions about how much of life is mapped out for us and how much is personal choice. The Dreamers of Balthasar are children and young people whose dreams are ill used, their imaginations focused not on being creative and productive but on control and damage. The natural disasters causing fear in Balthasar could be seen as a mirror to our own world under threat from climate change. The many different themes and ideas included in this book make it one that prompts further thought and discussion.

A stunning start to a new series for readers aged 11+ Shadow Town was published on 21st October by Everything With Words and can be purchased at all good independent bookshops or online at Bookshop.org. I should like to thank Fritha Lindqvist and the publishers for my review copy.

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Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on November 6, 2021 by alibrarylady

It’s been another busy week! I have been involved in book related events, both online and real life ones, so I hope that I have managed to catch enough of what has been happening to give you a taste of the best new books, the most important news and any interesting features.

What I’m reading…

There were a couple of children’s book highlights for me this week that didn’t actually involve reading. On Tuesday the Surrey branch of the School Library Association held our first in person meeting for two years. It was so good to be able to chat and exchange ideas informally again. An added bonus was the opportunity to hear our excellent speaker Joy Court talk about visual literacy. Joy shared important research, the updated Kate Greenaway Medal criteria and we looked at some fabulous picture books together. On Thursday I attended, online, An Audience with Professor Ben Garrod hosted by Nikki Gamble. This was fascinating and I was particularly struck by Ben’s comments about respecting his audience. Although I have only read Trilobite this respect comes across strongly as does the author’s engaging voice. I now want to read more of his books.

To mark National Non-Fiction November I’m highlighting some top new titles each week. I can wholeheartedly recommend some new perfect non-fiction books published by b small, one on a scientific theme and the other historical, they are both excellent. Shadow Town by Richard Lambert was selected by Nicolette Jones as “one to watch” in the Sunday Times this week and having now finished reading this epic fantasy adventure I can well understand why. I hope to have my review up on the blog over the next few days.

News, articles and resources…

Tom Palmer’s Remembrance Day Resources – for any teachers having a last minute worry about how to mark Remembrance Day, award winning author Tom Palmer has come to your rescue. His comprehensive resources are brilliant. The link above will take you to a home page with a link to a free assembly but you can also find activities, videos and teaching notes linked to his books on his website. I would highly recommend having a browse.

The National Literacy Trust launch new Primary School Library Alliance with partner Penguin Random House UK – 1 in 8 primary schools in the UK do not have a library despite their important contribution to children’s learning and well-being. This shocking statistic is sobering but not surprising to those of us who have been involved in school libraries for many years. This new initiative is calling for large-scale public and private funding, alongside collaboration from other charities, publishers and ambassadors, to transform and equip 1,000 primary school libraries by 2025. This is extremely welcome news.

Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) Reflecting Realities Report 2021 – this is vital reading for anyone involved with children’s books in any capacity. 15% of the children’s picturebooks, fiction and non-fiction titles published in 2020 featured characters of colour. That’s compared to 10% in 2019, 7% in 2018 and 4% in 2017. We can see that progress has been made but there is still a long way to go. The details in the report make for interesting reading regarding the trends in different genres. For example the percentage for fiction in 2020 has remained the same as 2019. A subject for further discussion.

Report shows fourfold rise in minority ethnic characters in UK children’s books – an article in the Guardian discussing the findings of the Reflecting Realities report.

Reflecting Realities: Book Suggestions for Early Years to Lower Key Stage 2 – this is a helpful post by Jo Cummins in which she recommends a range of recently published books reflecting varied ethnicities suitable for this age group. I’m pleased to see some of my favourites published by Alanna Max Books and Tiny Owl publishing too.

Outside In World: Children’s Books in Translation – news this week about two new partnerships for Outside in World who explore, promote and celebrate children’s books from around the world in translation to English. The University of Portsmouth has acquired the OIW Collection of Children’s Books in Translation, making this unique collection of 1,600 titles available to the public for the very first time. In addition funding has been made available to allow the first in depth study of this field. Full details are available via the link to their official website above.

Empathy Check in Month – EmpathyLabUK has declared November ‘Empathy Check-In month’ in celebration of the publication of Michael Rosen’s StickyMcStickStick this week. There is a special video from Michael Rosen as inspiration for children to revisit the Empathy Walks and subsequent Empathy Resolutions they made on Empathy Day in June 2021.

Beyond Black History Month – Integrating the Study of Black Historical Figures into the Mainstream Primary Curriculum through Literature – Black History Month may now be over but in this excellent blogpost Farrah Serroukh, CLPE Learning Programme Leader asks how can we ensure that these conversations are not just confined to October.

Britannica Magazine – Launch Offer – What on Earth Books and Britannica Books, two award-winning children’s non-fiction imprints, have teamed up with the all new monthly Britannica Magazine to make schools a special offer. By spreading the word about this new monthly magazine for 7-12 year olds schools get the chance up to acquire wonderful new non-fiction books. You can find out more about the offer via the link and get a preview of the magazine.

Children’s Books That Promote Environmental Sustainability – this week saw the world’s leaders come together for the COP26 summit and this wonderful selection of books on the Books for Topics website is therefore timely. All are recommended by children’s book experts, librarians and teachers and they are suitable for a wide age range.

The Reader Teacher November Books I’m Most Excited About – each month teacher Scott Evans compiles a video giving a taste of the new books coming out soon. This month’s selection includes Sisters of the Lost Marsh by Lucy Strange reviewed below and Saving Celeste by Timothée de Fombelle and Sarah Ardizzone which sounds intriguing and has a beautiful cover by one of my favourite illustrators, Richard Jones.

Coram Beanstalk: Find out what we do sessions for schools – this reading charity are offering education professionals the opportunity to join them for a free online webinar to find out how they can support schools in further increasing reading attainment, confidence and well-being. You can find out more and sign up for one of the sessions via the link above.

Book Trust New Books We Love This Month – the selection chosen by the Book Trust team includes books for early years, picture books, information books, fiction and graphic novels, so from toddlers to teens there is something for everyone.

SLA Information Book Award Presentation Evening 2021 – The School Library Association Information Book Awards honour the best of the best of information books for children. The Shortlist covers three age categories: Age 7 and under, 8 to 12 and 13 to 16, and the presentation evening takes place online 7:00 – 8:00 Thursday 25th November. Tickets are free and can be booked via the link above.

Barrington Stoke Teacher’s Evening – regular readers of the blog will know how highly I rate these publishers. If you are new to their range and not sure where to start or would like to find out more about using their books in your school they have organised a free online event for school librarians and teachers. It takes place on Tue 16th Nov at 6.15pm with special guest, author Ross Montgomery. Booking available via the link above.

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

Where Three Oceans Meet by Rajani Larocca and Archana Sreenivasan
Abrams – A child, mother, and grandmother travel all the way to the end of the earth in this picture book that celebrates multigenerational love. This lovely review by Jill Bennett also includes a look at some of the wonderful illustrations. I like both the sound and the look of this one.

The World Book by Joe Fullmann and Rose Blake – another non-fiction title and Nicki Cleveland has stressed in her review how popular this book is with the children in her school. That’s always the best guide! A book that takes a tour of every country in the world incorporating language, flags, cuisine, statistics, wildlife and much more.

It’s Her Story: Dolly Parton by Emily Skwish illustrated by Lidia Fernandez – selected as LoveReading4Kids Graphic Novel of the Month for November this book is a good introduction to one of our most generous singing superstars.

The Chime Seekers by Ross Montgomery – this is a Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month November 2021 on LoveReading4Kids and has been recommended widely online. “The many layers of Ross Montomery’s adventure and the powerfully imagined challenges he has dreamt up sends readers on an adventure that matches any computer game for jeopardy and nerve-wracking thrills.” It sounds like a book with a wide appeal.

Sisters of the Lost Marsh by Lucy Strange – a secret library, links to folklore and superstition all sound like a perfect combination for a dark winter’s evening read. An inviting review by Rich Simpson has whetted my appetite for this new book by the winner of the Historical Association Young Quills Award 2021

Stuntboy, in the Meantime by Jason Reynolds – I always enjoy reviews written by Ben Harris as they provide a ‘feel’ of what the book is like without giving away the plot. This is an excellent example. Ben does say that this is, “absolute gem of a book from a double-act that I hope will produce much, much more.”

That’s all for this week and there is rather a lot to get through. I hope it is helpful or interesting to you.

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Perfect new non-fiction for children from b small publishing

Posted on November 3, 2021 by alibrarylady

Perfect new non-fiction? Yes, perfect! It is hard to fault these two new titles from b small publishing, an award winning small publisher specialising in creative, educational titles with high child appeal. I can wholeheartedly recommend both of these books for primary age readers.

Think Like a Scientist by Susan Martineau designed and illustrated by Vicky Barker

Over the last two years we have all witnessed how important it is for scientific facts to be readily available and communicated clearly for both adults and children. Misinformation and misunderstanding, rumour and scaremongering have been witnessed by, and have affected, many. Developing the skills to read, assess and discuss scientific information is vital and will enable children to navigate the often daunting amount of detail available.

Think Like a Scientist uses real life examples, illustrations, practical ideas and explanations of terms to make the world of science both accessible and exciting. The book opens with questions familiar to many young readers and then moves on to explain what scientists “actually do” and gradually expands to science in the news, the language used by scientists, ethics and the science of the imagination.

The presentation is extremely appealing. Each double page spread incorporates text boxes, infographics, a helpful ‘words to know’ section and an activity to try all in in clear typeface and bright colour. The tips about how to assess the validity of surveys and ‘how to read like a scientist’ are frankly useful for adults too. There is a large amount of information packed into this book’s thirty two pages and it is a book that a child could return to often. The activities are suitable for both home and school giving Think Like a Scientist a wider appeal.

The book ends with a useful glossary of the scientific terms used throughout, answers to the activity questions and a final guide on how to Be a Scientist! This is a brilliant package of a book that children will enjoy but will also benefit from reading.

The Histronauts: A Greek Adventure by Dr Frances Durkin illustrated by Grace Cooke

The Histronauts series is a great way to bring history to life for children. Time travelling children visit a place in history and through the experiences of an ordinary citizen of the time learn what life was like for people then. This information is presented in a graphic novel format heightening the appeal to young readers. The facts are interspersed with activities to try providing an additional learning experience for children. This a series that manages to be both educational and entertaining.

The Histronauts are three children of slightly different ages and with a range of interests accompanied by their cat. The make up of the group is clever allowing the story to diverge to different areas according to each individual child’s motivation and Hero the cat can go to places and do things that the children may not be able or allowed to. This style of presentation allows the reader to learn alongside the three children as they accompany them on their adventure. The voices of Newton, Luna and Nani also allow contemporary comment and attitudes to be included on historical subjects that may have different perceptions today.

In A Greek Adventure the children meet a stage designer so their immersion in history begins in the amphitheatre in Athens and alongside their new friend they learn about the Olympic Games, the Great Dionysia Festival, Greek mythology, Ancient Greek family life and much more. There is a staggering number of facts and detailed information included within this graphic novel and yet this is fun and accessible. Visual literacy is an important skill and there is information contained in the illustrations that is not in the text, children are encouraged to linger and look.

The activities include recipes and instructions on how to decorate a skyphos pot, weaving plus puzzles to solve. A great deal of effort has clearly been made to engage young readers while they learn, for example there is a word search using the Greek alphabet, instructions on how to play the ancient game of petteia are accompanied by a grid so the reader is able to have a go. This book is an excellent addition to a series that will encourage children to investigate history further and can also simply be read for pleasure.

I should like to thank the publishers, b small publishing, for providing my review copies. Both books are now available to be purchased via their website or through Bookshop.org by clicking on the titles above.

Disclosure: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

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Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on October 30, 2021 by alibrarylady

Welcome to this week’s look at what has been happening in the world of children’s books. For any new readers of this blog, I publish Reading Matters each weekend, usually on a Saturday morning. It includes a quick look at my own reading for the week plus lots of links to articles, news items, interviews, events, reviews and resources that I think may be useful to those of us with an interest in children’s books such as librarians, teachers, parents and maybe creators of these books too. I do hope you find it helpful.

What I’m reading…

As the daughter of Liverpudlians I was brought up on football and my knowledge and understanding of rugby is ‘limited’ and that’s a kind description really. What I needed was a book! Enter James Hook and David Brayley with the second in their Chasing a Rugby Dream series, Impact. Thanks to this enjoyable story and in particular to the likeable hero, Jimmy, and his mentor, I’m now much better informed. Evidence, if any was needed, that you should never rule out a book because you think the subject matter may not be for you. Aside from the obvious appeal to rugby lovers this is a positive and thoughtful exploration of friendship, family and overcoming difficulties containing some important life lessons. One of which, for me, was that you’re never too old to learn!

Ive just started reading Shadow Town by Richard Lambert and found the first few pages mesmerising and now a little further on I am discovering that this story is beautifully crafted. Toby, the lead character, is interesting too. I shall tell you more about it next week. Meanwhile you may like to read this fascinating interview hosted by Ben Harris to mark the publication of Shadow Town in which Ben asks about Richard Lambert’s writing and the part that poetry plays in his writing life.

News, articles and resources…

National Non Fiction November 2021 – a reminder that this annual celebration of all aspects of information books starts on Monday. There are some helpful resources on the Federation of Children’s Book Groups website and details of a competition for KS1, KS2 and KS3 too. It is well worth a look.

Happy Halloween – Jo Cummins has gathered together the latest titles with a spooky or magical theme from board books for our youngest book fans to those suitable for upper primary age. These are not only for Halloween but would be great for sharing on dark winter evenings.

Children’s books roundup – the best new picture books and novels – another fabulous selection chosen by Imogen Russell Williams. Little Horror by Daniel Peak is on my ‘to read shelf’ so I must move it up the list and I keep reading excellent things about Lionheart Girl by Yaba Badoe.

We need to talk to young children about racism – and here’s the reason why – Laura Henry-Allain MBE, author of My Skin, Your Skin, talks to Book Trust about why it’s so important we talk to all children about race, racism and empowerment.

Why shouldn’t children’s writers talk of refugees, persecution and genocide? – an excellent article by Michael Rosen about the importance of writing about ‘difficult’ subjects and how books may help answer children’s questions.

The Farshore Reading For Pleasure 2021 Award Winners – Launched in 2017, these awards aim to recognise teachers and schools whose research-informed practices make a real difference to children’s reading for pleasure. You can also watch the video of the night to get the latest updates from Teresa Cremin and Cally Poplak, see author Jamila Gavin introducing each award, and hear from the winners themselves.

The Blue Peter Book Awards Longlist Announced – Since 2000 the Blue Peter Book Awards have been recognising and celebrating the best authors, illustrators and reads for children. There are two categories Best Story and Best Book with Facts and some wonderful books included so I don’t envy the judges trying to select the shortlist, to be announced on 11th November.

Sita Brahmachari in conversation with Michael Rosen: Why diversity matters for children and young adults – this free online event hosted by the Centre for Language, Culture and Learning and MA Children’s Literature programme at Goldsmiths, University of London takes place Wednesday 17 November from 5.30 – 7.00 pm. A discussion that will be well worth listening to and it’s an opportunity to celebrate the launch of Michael Rosen’s new book, Sticky McStickstick, illustrated by Tony Ross.

The website offering a new way to find diverse children’s books – interesting article in The Big Issue about a new website offering a facility to search for books by subject or age. Although only in its early days Bookversal.com could be a helpful resource.

CILIP 2021 Honorary Fellowships Announced – Congratulations Prof. Chris Whitty, author Matt Haig and school librarian Amy McKay on their CILIP Honorary Fellowships announced this week, representing the breadth and scope of the information, knowledge management and library profession.

The Waterstones Book of the Year Shortlist – thirteen books have made it to this year’s varied shortlist and I was delighted to see Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Tom de Freston included. This is a remarkable book and if you would like to find out more you may like to read my review for Just Imagine.

Finding Joy in the Unknown: a conversation with Dara McAnulty – Forty five calming and uplifting minutes of your time. In this interview, Dara speaks about his book, Diary of a Young Naturalist and his approach to living a life immersed in and guided by the living world.

Read to Me! (Part 4): Ten Great Non-fiction Books to Read Aloud – another great blogpost by Ben Harris. Ben is a wonderful ambassador for reading aloud in the classroom and his latest post on the subject features some excellent non fiction titles that will spark interest, learning, discussion and enjoyment. Perfectly timed for National Non-Fiction November!

No Shelf Control October edition – thank you to teacher Dean Boddington for creating this great reading newsletter. Dean has generously made it free to download and this month’s includes a range of book reviews and an author interview.

The Reader Teacher October Monthly Must Reads – another useful resource, this time from Scott Evans. His selection for this month includes My Skin, Your Skin (mentioned in the links above) and The False Rose which is receiving a great deal of praise at the moment.

I Saw a Beautiful Woodpecker by Michał Skibiński – this is a lovely guest feature on the Federation of Children’s Book Groups blog by the writer of the childhood journal which has been published as a poignant illustrated memoir. Now nearly 91 years old he sounds genuinely surprised by the interest in the book. I am not surprised at all and if you are interested in finding out more you may like to read my review.

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

The Rapping Princess by Hannah Lee illustrated by Allen Fatimaharn – it was the vibrant cover that initially attracted me to this picture book but this lovely review by Aimee Durning for Just Imagine has added to my interest. Aimee says this “is a super rhyming tale that challenges gender stereotypes and celebrates difference.”

Libby and the Parisian Puzzle by Jo Clarke Illustrated by Becka Moore – school librarian Jo Clarke’s debut novel for children is published in March 2022 and this is the first review that I have read. It made me smile. Libby is described as, “Naturally curious and delightfully chatty,” which reminds me of the author! In her review Karen says that the book is “Perfect for fans of Murder Most Unladylike, this is a series that is going to be a huge hit with readers..” this sounds like one to look out for.

Fledgling by Lucy Hope – this is a book that is receiving a great deal of positive attention online at the moment. Kate Heap’s review has tempted me further, ‘The mysteries of this powerful story are carefully revealed bit by bit in a cleverly crafted plot.’

Wrath by Marcus Sedgwick – another book proof that is on my ‘must read soon shelf’ and this review on the Bookbag site singing its praises has whetted my appetite further. It is not often that I read a book described with the phrase, “its bravura style, its chutzpah”! Wrath is published in March next year and is a teen title that I can see many secondary schools stocking in their libraries.

That’s all for this week and I do hope that something among the links and reviews has been interesting or helpful or even both. My weekend plans include finishing reading Shadow Town and sorting out some wonderful non-fiction to recommend next week. Happy reading!

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Chasing a Rugby Dream: Impact by James Hook with David Brayley

Posted on October 28, 2021 by alibrarylady

The second in this series written by Wales and British & Irish Lions star, James Hook, with author, David Brayley, Chasing a Rugby Dream: Impact is an exciting and enjoyable story. The sequel to the award wining Kick Off this story, in addition to its obvious appeal to rugby lovers, is a positive and thoughtful exploration of friendship, family and overcoming difficulties and contains some valuable life lessons. It even managed to ‘convert’ this confirmed footie fan!

Cover illustration and design Peter Burns Polaris Publishing

It is the long summer holiday and Jimmy Joseph is looking forward to attending his first ever rugby training camp at the Eagles Academy which he hopes is going to be the first step on his journey to becoming a professional rugby player. However the camp does not go as well as he hoped and imagined it would largely due to his old adversary, Mr Kane, and a heavy tackle in training. This results in a fear of tackling that affects his love of the game and as he returns to school for a new term friendship issues add to Jimmy’s difficulties.

Sport themed fiction can be a great opening to reading for pleasure for young readers but there are relatively few rugby related stories for the nine to twelve age group. James Hook and David Brayley have stepped in to this gap with considerable success. Kick Off, the first in the series won the Telegraph Children’s Sports Book of the Year Award, 2021 and this follow up will delight many ardent rugby fans. However I think it has a much wider appeal.

Jimmy is a sympathetic and engaging protagonist. Although an unlikely hero in some ways, small in stature, skinny, wearing glasses and with asthma Jimmy is also a boy with a big heart, loyal to his friends and siblings, maintaining good relationships with his parents despite their divorce and close to his grandparents. I learned a lot about the sport of rugby and this would be simply perfect for rugby enthusiasts. However this is a story full of wise guidance and thoughtful examples of problems children may encounter. Oscar, the new boy who arrives in Jimmy’s class, is autistic and this is incorporated in to the story with understanding. The authors use this opportunity to effectively explain how autism affects Oscar’s behaviour and the developing bond between him and Jimmy is lovely to read. Others among Jimmy’s class are not as understanding and the subsequent friendship issues are dealt with sensibly and with a positive outcome. This is a reassuring message for young readers.

Rugby is of course key to the plot and the emphasis on the importance of regular practice is a welcome point providing children with the balance to the perception that some have of success. Jimmy has to work hard for what he achieves and this is an extremely valuable lesson. This together with the importance of a positive attitude and commitment are attributes that are important in all sports plus in life itself so this message is valid for all readers. Kitty, another star rugby player, is a brilliant character, being a positive female role model and a good friend to Jimmy. There are some strong and likeable adult characters providing role models too and I really enjoyed the relationship between Jimmy and his lovely grandad.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read. There is excitement, humour, sporting tips, kindness and wisdom conveyed in short chapters keeping the reader’s attention throughout. The epilogue sets things up perfectly for a third book too. This is a series I can see becoming immensely popular and not only with rugby fans.

Chasing a Rugby Dream: Impact was published on 14th October by Polaris Publishing and I would like to thank David Brayley and the publishers for providing my review copy. If readers want to emulate Jimmy and his friends and improve their game they will probably enjoy James Hook’s YouTube channel: Chasing a Rugby Dream with James Hook.

If you are looking for other children’s books with a sporting theme I can also recommend the Roy of the Rovers series by Tom Palmer the most recent of which is Sudden Death.

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Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on October 23, 2021 by alibrarylady

Welcome to this week’s look back at what has been happening in the world of children’s books. It’s been another busy week and I hope I’ve managed to include most of the news.

What I’m reading…

This week I took part in the blog tour marking the publication of StormTide, the last book in the FloodWorld trilogy by Tom Huddleston. It was a pleasure to host Tom on the blog and you can read more about the difficulties and joys of writing endings, and find out which endings are his favourites, here. The Floodworld trilogy is an exciting series of books for about 11+, full of fast paced action, with themes that are relevant to young readers and highly recommended.

If you are looking for a ‘spooky’ collection of short stories I can recommend The Red Gloves and Other Stories by Catherine Fisher. Some are inspired by myths and legends and several of them are unsettling in their ambiguity; are events due to an overactive imagination or fear or the supernatural? These are creepy tales for dark evenings when the ordinary can become something sinister.

A beautiful picture book caught my eye this week. The Queen of the Birds by Karine Polwart and Kate Leiper was published this week by Birlinn Books, stunning illustrations, lyrical writing and a wise story highlighting the importance of teamwork. There is an opportunity to learn bird names too. It’s a really lovely book.

News, articles and resources…

Spooky storytime with Walker Books – This could be useful for half term. Each day at 3pm from Monday 25th October to Saturday 30th October, Peters Books will be uploading a new spooky story reading from a top author or illustrator, along with free downloadable activities. Stories include Frankelstiltskin and Gustavo, the Shy Ghost.

The Song That Sings Us Virtual Launch with Nicola Davies and Jackie Morris – If you missed this event live I can thoroughly recommend catching up via this video kindly shared by Nikki Gamble. This is a treat.

Musings from a Head of English…Why We Need School Librarians – Guest blog written by Gaurav Dubay for the Great School Libraries Campaign. It is heartening to read this support by a teacher who understands the benefits of working with your school librarian.

All Sorts of Heroes: A book list from Book Trust – last week I mentioned that the theme of this year’s National Non-Fiction November is Heroes and this list for older children provides details of books that could be used to link with this initiative. There is a list for younger children available here.

Go deeper: Heroes in children’s books by Imogen Russell Williams – this excellent article on the British Library Learning website explores all the many different faces heroism can wear in children’s literature. From comic book superheroes to picture book characters, from classics to contemporary a large variety of ‘heroes’ feature and there is material from the British Library catalogues to explore.

New research shows that supporting children’s reading outside of school could lead to £4.6 billion boost to UK’s GDP – The research was commissioned to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of British Land’s partnership with the National Literacy Trust. “If all school-age children in the UK read for pleasure every day, WPI modelling* shows the number getting five good GCSEs by the age of 16 could increase by 1.1 million within 30 years.” You can download the full report here.

The Reading Agency Virtual Reading Partners Roadshows – These Roadshows are an opportunity for librarians and teachers to hear from the Reading Agency’s publishing partners about their latest titles, meet authors, and have the chance to ask questions about promotional opportunities. The Children’s Reading Partners Roadshow will take place on Wednesday 10 November and details of how to register are available via the link.

Picture books for children – reviews – selected by Imogen Carter this month’s best illustrated stories include a fiendish feline, a haunted house and a boy who finds a polar bear. We are spoilt for choice by these beauties but the new ones from Richard Jones & Oliver Jeffers are top of my list.

Little Bear – Bearginnings by Richard Jones – this is a lovely blogpost by the creator of Little Bear, mentioned in the reviews above. I find it fascinating to hear about the process behind the development of picture books and this insight has made me look forward to the book even more now.

Ken Wilson-Max has joined HarperCollins Children’s Books – Ken Wilson-Max has joined HarperCollins Children’s Books as a publisher, where he will create his own list across picture books, fiction and non-fiction. He was named among the 100 Breaking New Ground British writers and illustrators of colour and is a mentor for the Pathways into Children’s Publishing programme. Ken Wilson- Max is listed as one of the 150 important children’s books creators by the African American Literature Book Club in the US.

The Queen on our Corner by Lucy Christopher – a guest post on the Federation of Children’s Books Groups website by the author of this picture book that deals sensitively with the subject of homelessness. This thoughtful piece describes how Lucy Christopher wrote the story after finding out the background to some homeless people in her own area.

The Diverse Book Awards 2021 – Created by The Author School to highlight the best of the diverse voices published in the UK, both traditionally and self-published. Many congratulations to the winners: Best Children’s Book Windrush Child by Benjamin Zephaniah and Best Young Adult Book Run, Rebel by Manjeet Mann. There is a link to a video of the announcement in the article linked above.

This Book Is Anti-Racist Resources – this book, written by Tiffany Jewell and illustrated by Aurelia Durand is a useful guide on all aspects of racism for secondary age children and teens, and adults too. These resources on the Quarto Publishing website include teachers’ notes, a family guide plus posters.

Obituary: Jerry Pinkney – Renowned children’s book illustrator Jerry Pinkney, winner of the Caldecott Medal and five Caldecott Honor citations, widely acclaimed for his picture books honouring his Black heritage as well as for his richly detailed works reimagining well-loved fairy and folktales, died on October 20 . I loved his illustrations for The Patchwork Quilt written by Valerie Flournoy and his beautiful The Lion and the Mouse.

Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award – Have a look through the complete list of nominees for the 2022 award—a full 282 names from 71 countries including some of the world’s foremost creators of literature for children and young people, as well as reading promoters. Far too many wonderful nominees to single out a few really but it’s good to see CLPE included for all their wonderful work and I’m happy to see some of personal favourites on the list including Kate Di Camillo, Shirley Hughes, Jon Klassen, P J Lynch and many more.


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

Picture Books About Books – although I included The Bear and Her Book last week I make no apologies for including it again as these reviews by Erin on the My Shelves Are Full blog are impossible for any book lover to resist. I particularly want to read The Librarian’s Stories.

The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature by Sami Bayly – the final book in a non-fiction trilogy and suitable for animal-lovers and curious children. In his review Matt at Word About Books said, “ this non-fiction read is a cracking celebration of animals interacting with other animals and animals interacting with plants in order to survive.”

Homeward Bound: By Rowan and Yew by Melissa Harrison – this thoughtful and comprehensive review by Mary Esther Judy provides a glimpse into the world created by Melissa Harrison. “By Rowan and Yew is a sublime book, like its’ predecessor. A story that harkens back to some of the classics, but also, it couldn’t be more relevant, more poignant today. Tailor-made to inspire curiosity, rich in wildness, beautiful, imaginative; a captivating glimpse into a world just outside our doors.”

Pirates by Celia Rees – a welcome reissue of this book for teens that I remember being extremely popular first time round. A swashbuckling drama set in the 18th century West Indies is now available to a new audience. This enthusiastic review by Louise Owen on LoveReading4Kids will certainly encourage many to read it!

That’s everything for this week. I hope everyone on half term break at the moment enjoys a relaxing and restoring holiday.

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