Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on May 29, 2021 by alibrarylady

Hello and welcome to this week’s look at what has been happening in the world of children’s books. There’s been a lot happening and it can be hard to keep track of it all so I hope this collection will be something that you can browse over half term. Yet again I’ve been struck this week by the kindness, enthusiasm and supportive nature of the children’s book community.

What I’m reading…

When the Sky Falls by Phil Earle more than lived up to all the plaudits it is receiving from respected children’s authors. I loved this book and the wonderful characters around whom the story centres. Joseph and Mrs F. are real people to me now and will long remain so. Please do read my review to find out why I think this book is so special. You really don’t have to be a fan of historical fiction to enjoy this, it is a story that will have an impact on many. There was an excellent launch event this week chaired by Sarah Crossan which I enjoyed very much and would highly recommend, the link is included below.

In last week’s Reading Matters I mentioned the English Association Book Awards and this week I reviewed the winner of the Non-Fiction 4-7 category, A New Green Day by Antoinette Portis and her book Hey, Water both of which are an excellent introduction to the world of information books.

Alongside the children’s books I am also regularly dipping into Monty Don’s My Garden World which I am finding is an excellent way to slow down and relax. Even ten minutes reading his descriptions of nature is enough to soothe and encourage me to look at our small suburban garden in a different way.

News, articles and resources…

Virtual Launch Event: When The Sky Falls by Phil Earle – Sarah Crossan talking to Phil Earle about this wonderful book feels a little like eavesdropping on friends chatting. It’s entertaining, funny and enlightening. The insight in to the editorial process, the emotional input in the story itself and the tempting details of Phil’s next book all make this a joy. Thank you Phil and Sarah.

Phillip Pullman in Conversation with Michael Rosen – I had booked to attend this virtual interview but the change of date meant that I was no longer able to do so. Thankfully the recording has been made available for us all to watch. An absolute treat and not only for children’s book lovers.

How do we connect students to LGBT resources? – an article by school librarian Verity Jones on the CILIP School Libraries Group blog providing helpful advice and tips on everything from book lists to display.

Graphic Novels Are Real Books! New Infographic From Capstone! – super school librarian Shannon McClintock Miller shared this brilliant infographic poster last weekend. It shows the benefits, the skills developed and even a few fun facts regarding graphic novels which readers love and is free to download.

Scottish Teenage Book Prize winner – the winner of the Scottish Teenage Book Prize 2021 is Evernight by Ross MacKenzie. This book and the sequel, Feast of the Evernight, are fantasy stories with a real taste of danger and intrigue and I enjoyed reading both of them. You can watch the announcement and find out more about the winning book via the link above.

Puffin Schools Virtual Author Visits – there are some fabulous authors in this line up and 45-minute webinar session will include a live presentation by an author giving pupils a behind-the-scenes look at their books, characters and writing process. Thank you to Jon Biddle for flagging this up.

Little Rebels Award Shortlist Announced – on Tuesday the nine books shortlisted for this award were announced. The Little Rebels Award celebrates children’s fiction which challenges stereotypes, promotes social justice and advocates for a more peaceful and fairer world. A wonderful selection and well worth exploring, these are the sort of books that can make a difference.

KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards – The winners of the 2021 KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards were announced this week. Since 1990, these prestigious awards have identified, honoured and promoted excellence in books for young people, and continue to offer a significant opportunity for national and international recognition of Irish talent. There are several categories including a Reading Hero Award which is a great idea. Full details of all the winners can be found via the link.

Jhalak Prize Winners – First awarded in March 2017, the Jhalak Prize and its new sister award Jhalak Children’s & YA Prize founded in 2020, seek to celebrate books by British/British resident BAME writers. Congratulations to the first Children’s and YA winner, Patrice Lawrence for Eight Pieces of Silva .

Interview with Fabia Turner – find out more about the Jericho Prize and why it exists in this interesting interview with its founder on the Writers and Artists website. Fabia can also be found in her Candid Cocoa blog.

50 Recommended Reads for PreSchool and Nursery – Alison and her team at Books for Topics have created yet another helpful list of their choices for best books for this age group. There is a lovely balance of old favourites and new titles with something here to tempt our littlest book fans on to the reading journey.

Eric Carle, The Very Hungry Caterpillar author and illustrator, dies at 91 – sad news that prompted an outpouring of love and respect for a man who encouraged generations of children to enjoy stories and pictures. We must all have happy memories of reading, sharing and enjoying Eric Carles’s wonderful books. I particularly like this article also from the Guardian: Children’s authors on Eric Carle: ‘He created readers as voracious as that caterpillar’

Waterstones Children’s Book Prize Shortlist 2021 – This year’s selection – as always chosen by Waterstones’ booksellers – are in three categories; Illustrated Books, Young Readers and Older Readers.

The Alligator’s Mouth Award for illustrated early fiction – Five books have been shortlisted for The Alligator’s Mouth Award 2021, which champions authors and illustrators of highly illustrated children’s fiction. Now in its third 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.

2021 Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Shadowers’ Choice Awards – a reminder that voting for the Shadowers’ Choice Awards closes next Wednesday, 2nd June. The winners will be revealed at the live event on 16th June.

The Reader Teacher May Must Reads – Scott Evans has selected his favourites from this month and they include poetry, picture book and fiction. There’s a free downloadable poster for use in libraries or classrooms too.

Barnes Children’s Literature Festival – the programme for this excellent children’s book event was published yesterday and is crammed full of appealing speakers such as Frank Cottrell Boyce, Lauren Child, Hilary McKay, Phil Earle and many more. The tickets go on sale today and will undoubtedly be snapped up quickly.

Last but most definitely not least, this evening at 8pm on Instagram a special party to celebrate the publication of Nen and the Lonely Fisherman by Ian Eagleton and James May next week. Listen to Stephen Fry read this tender and hopeful story.

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

Omar, the Bees and Me by Helen Mortimer and Katie Cottle – the Book Trust team describe this new picture book as a “perfect balance of fact and narrative, this heartwarming picture book will engage and delight young children, and is sure to inspire them to encourage bees into their own outdoor spaces.”

The Incredible Talking Machine by Jenni Spangler & illustrated by Chris Mould – this is a rather enticing review by Kate Heap. Although I have not read the first in the series yet this does sound great fun. I love the cover by Chris Mould too.

Irresistible Illustrated Fiction – librarian and children’s author Jo Clarke is also one of the judges for the Alligator Award mentioned above so we know we can count on her recommendations for young fiction. This is a lovely selection.

Cardboard Cowboys by Brian Conaghan – I know from discussions with other school librarians that it can sometimes be difficult to find the right sort of book to bridge the transition from fiction for the middle years audience to the YA market. This sounds like just the ticket. Ben Harris in his helpful review for Just Imagine says “Around the ages of 10-13, it’s so important for boys and girls to learn about what’s going through each other’s minds, to understand how the outside appearance of each other can actually hide very similar anxieties and joys… Reading a book like Cardboard Cowboys will be not only a life-enhancing experience for the story it tells but for the opportunities for connection and reflection it offers its target audience.”

Fake News by C J Dunford – ‘fake news’ was selected as Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year in 2017 and any story that helps children and teens to think about this and learn to identify valid information is a good idea. This review on Mr Ripley’s Enchanted Books suggests that this one should be top of the shopping list. “It’s thrilling, emotional, thought-provoking, and very topical. Yet it’s told in a clever, comical, and imaginatively contemporary way.“

That’s all the news for this week. I hope that those of you enjoying a half term holiday this week have a restful break and maybe even time to sit in the sunshine.

Posted in Reading Matters Children’s Book News | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Learning With Picture Books

Posted on May 27, 2021 by alibrarylady

A New Green Day by Antoinette Portis recently won the English Association Book Award 2021 for Non-Fiction for the 4-7 age group and was also nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal 2021. It is an excellent example of how picture books are able to present facts and learning in a manner that both engages and entertains young children.

This book follows a small child through a summer’s day as she explores the natural world around her. Told through a series of riddles that invite the reader to think and encourage curiosity this book is refreshing in both its original delivery and the lyrical style of its presentation. A voice from nature itself asks the questions and as we turn the page we discover the answer and the next question is posed.

The riddles prompt thought and end with discovery, some are trickier for children than others but all awaken a sense of the ordinary and everyday being something special. Who might be “scribbling on the path in glistening ink”? A snail of course. But what ”races up the hill while lying at your feet”? Your shadow! The language is rich and encourages discussion and there is a poetic quality to the text in places.

“I’m a black coat slipped around Earth’s shoulders.

Count my shiny buttons.”

Says night.

The bold artwork complements the text perfectly and the slighter smaller format hardback lends itself to being held and explored by young children. This is a delightful book and I can well understand why it received the English Association Award as it encourages a sense of wonder and discovery.

The publishers, Scallywag Press, have created a lesson plan to tie-in with A New Green Day which would be excellent for KS1 and is available to download here.

A New Green Day is a book of summer and at the moment after the wettest May on record that is what we are all looking forward to. However despite our wish to say goodbye to the rain for a while water is something that we cannot live with out and in Hey, Water! her other book for Scallywag Press Antoinette Portis celebrates that water is everywhere.

Once again we accompany a child as she explores and discovers allowing the young reader to learn alongside her. We observe that water comes in many different forms, shapes and sizes and in nature, weather, in our homes and even in our bodies. The text describes the manner of its movement and how we use it and react to it depending on its form and the illustrations and the one word descriptions provide an understanding of the different examples of water in our world. This is a clever introduction to the topic of water and yet presented in a simple child friendly manner.

The final pages provide a more structured description of the water forms, water cycle and water conservation together with ideas for playing with and learning about water and a short quiz. The artwork throughout is bold, bright, striking and attractive to young readers enticing them to open the book and browse. This is a wonderful introduction to information books and would be an excellent addition to school libraries and classrooms. There is a lesson plan suitable for Year 4 created by Jenny Guest on the publisher’s website which you can download here

You may enjoy this interesting tour of Antoinette Portis’s art studio:

I should like to thank Scallywag Press for providing my review copies of these books. Both books are available to purchase from their website. You may also enjoy their lovely In the Garden series by Rob Ramsden introducing younger children to the wonderful world of nature.

Posted in Book Review | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

When the Sky Falls by Phil Earle

Posted on May 24, 2021 by alibrarylady

When the Sky Falls by Phil Earle is an extraordinary story told with compassion and understanding. Dealing with the darkest of human emotions; anger, loss, grief, fear and humiliation it shows us that these can be overcome with love, understanding and forgiveness if we can only learn to allow it. A book with a powerful impact that will move readers and start discussions, it is a story I will not forget.

When The Sky Falls cover illustration by Levente Szabo

Set in 1941 this World War 2 story opens with twelve year old Joseph arriving at a city station as others his age are travelling in the opposite direction as evacuees. He has been sent to stay with Mrs F. a woman as gruff as Joseph is angry. She lives alone and the only things she appears to love are her rundown zoo and one of its occupants, a huge silverback gorilla named Adonis. Joseph is then sent to the local school were a small number of children are still being taught and his difficulties mount. As days and weeks pass and the city is battered by bombs gradually secrets are revealed and cautious friendships are made. However Joseph still struggles to lower his guard and allow others to reach him until eventually he learns a lesson in trust from Adonis.

Inspired by a true story When the Sky Falls depicts a wartime setting that is frequently used in fiction for children and teens and yet this is at its heart a story about the struggles of one boy to make sense of his emotions and the blows life has dealt him. All the characters have experienced loss in some form but Joseph adds guilt to his suffering. Experience has taught him that life hurts so he has built up barriers to protect himself and it is hard for him to admit that he needs help and almost impossible to ask for it. Phil Earle writes with great understanding of the complexity of human nature and his characters are real flesh and blood people to the reader. Mrs F is a woman of few words but huge determination and Syd, the girl who helps Mrs F at the zoo and goes to school with Joseph, has an admirable air of positivity despite her own loss. And then there is Adonis the massive silverback gorilla who so intrigues Joseph. The growing bond between animal and boy is breathtaking in its power on the page. Sometimes as I read I marvel at the magic of words to create images and the manner in which those images create an emotional response in the reader. This book does that with an intensity that is at times heart breaking and at others hopeful of the ability of kindness and understanding to heal.

Joseph himself is unable to read and this plays a large part in his problems. Although not actually mentioned in the story it is clear that this is due to dyslexia and Phil Earle addressed this in his author’s note. Although thankfully dyslexia is now better understood than it was in the 1940s the challenges that children still face and the determination needed to overcome them are still there.

This is a beautiful story. Despite the anger, the gritty darkness of some aspects and the sadness it is profoundly moving and hopeful in its depiction of learning how to love and to accept love. The gradual build up to the climax of the last fifty pages is vivid, powerful and deeply affecting. I confess to sitting in stunned silence as I turned the final page. This is, I think, quite outstanding and deserves to become a book as well loved as those classic World War 2 stories such as Goodnight, Mr Tom.

When the Sky Falls is published by Andersen Press on 3rd June and will be available at your local bookshop or online.

Earlier this year I reviewed another book by Phil Earle which I would also wholeheartedly recommend. The Dog that Saved the World (Cup) is for a slightly younger age group and is published by Barrington Stoke so accessible to a wide range of readers. If you are looking for another title set in World War 2 featuring children and evacuees I have enjoyed both The Valley of Lost Secrets by Lesley Parr and Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll.

Posted in Book Review | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on May 22, 2021 by alibrarylady

Hello and welcome to this week’s look at what has been happening in the world of children’s books. It’s been another busy week with award shortlists and winners announced, new books published and events to attend. There were many highlights but it’s always wonderful to celebrate new talent and the Klaus Flugge Prize short list is a perfect opportunity to discover new illustrators.

What I’m reading…

On Monday I took part in the blog tour organised by David Fickling Books to coincide with the publication of their latest title in the excellent First Names series of biographies. I learned some interesting detail from my reading of ALBERT Einstein and think it would be a great addition to school libraries.

The winner of the Tir na n-Og English Language Award was announced last night and from an impressive shortlist the judges selected The Short Knife by Elen Caldecott her historical YA novel. Earlier this week I wrote about the award and the fabulous books on the short list. and all three books have been a highlight of my recent reading.

The two other books I have read this week were both thought provoking. The Cooking Club Detectives by Ewa Jozefkowicz is published by Zephyr next month and I was moved by this compassionate story of family and community. In this and her previous novel for children, The Key to Finding Jack, I was particularly struck by how Ewa highlights the importance of everyday connections between people. My review will be up on the blog nearer publication date. Another author who is able to shine a light on the things that are important to children is Lisa Thompson and her new book for Barrington Stoke, Small Things, also due out next month illustrates with tenderness why it’s actually the small things that matter most. I’m still thinking about both these books.

Over the next few days I am going back to the Second World War guided by Phil Earle in When the Sky Falls and Hilary McKay in The Swallows’ Flight and will let you know how I get on next week.

News, articles and resources…

Hay Festival Programme for Schools – a quick reminder of this event running from Monday 24th May – Friday 28th May. The line-up is brilliant and there are linked teaching materials to download too. It will be available to watch afterward via Hay Player.

Peters Books Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards Bookshelf Magazine – the Shadower’s Choice voting for these prestigious awards opens on 24th May and this special edition of Peters Books magazine provides details of the shortlisted books, tips for shadowing and a Q & A with one of the judges.

Black Children’s Books Directory – I have shared this excellent resource created by Fabia from Candid Cocoa blog before but as it is being continually updated it is worth sharing again. Over 100 books are listed and many are reviewed on Fabia’s excellent blog.

John Burningham’s Final Picture Book Air Miles has been illustrated by John Burningham’s wife Helen Oxenbury and finished by Bill Salaman, friend of the author who died in 2019. Described by the publisher as “a deeply poignant book about new horizons and saying goodbye”. I welled up just reading the article!

Celebrating the Tir na n-Og Awards 2021 – Helgard Krause, CEO of the Books Council of Wales introduces a special session celebrating the Tir na n-Og 2021 Children’s Book Award shortlists which showcases specially created films and a panel discussion with the shortlisted authors. This event was part of the 2021 CILIP Cymru Wales Conference.

Family Bookworms Recommended Book List for Year 4 – If the Tir na n-Og Award has left you enthused by children’s fiction by Welsh authors and illustrators and books with Welsh themes, Simon at Family Bookworms has created an excellent selection of lists and has just added one for Year 4.

Books for Keeps May Issue – the latest issue of this brilliant magazine includes Rod Campbell, Hilary McKay, Peter Brown, Geraldine McCaughrean, the latest #BeyondtheSecretGarden, reading for pleasure, and a new look inside the wardrobe. Plus reviews – lots of them. I pore over this for days and find it so interesting and useful.

Klaus Flugge Prize Shortlist Announced – five beautiful picture books were shortlisted for this award for illustration this week. You can find out more about the award itself and past winners on the official website.

Pop – Up Festival Presents – A FREE live-streamed literature festival 14-18 June for primary, secondary and special schools, celebrating some of the best writers and illustrators. The programme is being added to and this sounds like real a treat.

Sound and Vision: “The Rez” – this looks interesting. The Rez, the UK’s first major children’s podcast series, uses comics, psychology, and a bit of silliness to spread its messages of kindness and resilience, and the whole series is available now.

“No Shelf Control” Reading Newsletter – another helpful resource from teacher Dean Boddington. His new monthly book review newsletter is a round-up of some of the best new releases of the month and is free to download from Dean’s blog.

Talking to Kids About Climate Change and Hope With Oisín McGann – A Short Hopeful Guide to Climate was published this week in collaboration with Friends of the Earth with vegan inks, all recycled materials and fully recyclable. This interview with the author by Mary Esther Judy provides an insight into the inspiration behind the book.

2021 English 4-11 Picture Book Awards – the English Association announced the winners of this picture book award this week. There are four categories both fiction and non-fiction for two different age groups.

National Literacy Trust Summer of Football – there is a full fixture list of football-themed resources to help children re-discover their joy of the beautiful game, and open up a world of reading through football. There is a reading challenge, an event with Marcus Rashford, an online workshop with author Tom Palmer and a reading festival.

Vote in the InspiREAD book awards 2021 – Inspire Education Library Service have announced the shortlist for their second InspireREAD awards in three different categories: Picture Books, Shorter Books and Longer Novels. The aim is to get everyone reading children’s books; pupils, teachers, parents, grandparents, carers, schools, families and friends – it’s for anyone who enjoys a good read! Find out more and details of how to vote via the link.

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

A Turtle’s View Of The Ocean Blue by Catherine Barr. Illustrations by Brendan Kearney – this information book takes children on a tour of the world’s oceans with a turtle as their guide. Louise Nettleton’s helpful review includes a tempting peep at the beautiful illustrations too.

Outside, Inside by Leuyen Pham – this new picture book may help children talk about and understand what has happened to us over the past year. According to this lovely review on My Book Corner it “finds a hopeful way to tell the story of lockdown and Covid without ever mentioning those words, focusing on a strong feeling of community”

The Lightning Catcher by Clare Weze – chosen as debut of the month by Julia Eccleshare on LoveReading4Kids this sounds refreshingly diffferent and her review has moved this up my long reading list as I am now intrigued to find out more . “Debut author Clare Weze writes with a freshness and energy that sweeps her readers along  leaving them exhilarated if a bit confused!“

That’s everything for this week. It looks as though it’s going to be “wet play” here this weekend so an ideal opportunity for some reading! I hope you have a lovely weekend whatever you’re doing. See you next week.




Posted in Reading Matters Children’s Book News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Klaus Flugge Prize Shortlist is Announced

Posted on May 19, 2021 by alibrarylady

The shortlist for the Klaus Flugge Prize was announced today (Wednesday 19 May). This award was founded in 2016 to highlight the most promising and exciting newcomers to picture book illustration and honours Klaus Flugge, the founder of Andersen Press and winner of the Eleanor Farjeon Award for outstanding contribution to children’s books.

This year there is an emphasis on joy, safety and reassurance and although the books could not be more different in illustration style each of them, countering our experiences of the past year, find creative ways to portray love and friendship, security and comfort to the very young. Solace in the form of picture books is important for every age and I have a feeling these will appeal to adults too. One of these lovely books is already in my own collection and I will be adding the others very soon.

The five shortlisted books are:

Child of Galaxies, Charlotte Ager, written by Blake Nuto, editor Emily Ball, art director Lilly Gottwald (Flying Eye Books)
What the judges said: ‘an impressive interpretation of really big, abstract ideas; the images leap off the page to stimulate young imaginations; beautiful use of colour and pace’.

While You’re Sleeping, John Broadley, written by Mick Jackson, editor Neil Dunnicliffe, designer Sarah Crookes (Pavilion)
What the judges said: ‘Original and interesting; the details are so comforting; his handling of sea and sky is excellent, very muscular and with lots of theatrics; he’s had fun creating this!’

Gustavo the Shy Ghost Flavia Z Drago, editors Tanya Rosie and Maria Tunney, art Director Anne-Louise Jones (Walker Books)
What the judges said: ‘A visual treat and the text and illustrations work very well together; it’s full of detail but never cluttered; pace is cleverly controlled; just the right balance of fun and fright!’.

I’m Sticking with You, Steve Small, written by Smriti Halls editor Helen Mackenzie Smith, designer Jane Buckley (Simon and Schuster)
What the judges said: ‘Really well crafted, particularly in the relationship between the characters; lovely deadpan humour with lots of clever touches in the illustrations; love the pace and the way the story moves.’

My Red Hat, Rachel Stubbs, editor Denise Johnstone-Burt, designer Charlie Moyler (Walker Books) 
What the judges said: ‘Really impressive use of colour and the characters are really alive; the hand-lettered typography works very well as do the compositions; there’s a wonderful sense of looseness to the pictures, which is very hard to accomplish; there’s a special tension in the final pages before a happy ending.’

The Klaus Flugge Shortlisted Books

Chair of the judges Julia Eccleshare said: “It is always fascinating to examine the books that make up the shortlist for the Klaus Flugge Prize. These five superb books provide a creative counter to the anxieties of the past year, the illustrations conveying a strong sense of comfort, reassurance and joy that even those too young to read will understand. The shortlist is testament to the illustrators’ skill as artists and to the special ability of picture books to define a young child’s world.” 

Mat Tobin, senior lecturer at Oxford Brookes University and one of this year’s judges, has created a wonderful presentation of the shortlisted books with links to further information such as publisher and illustrator websites and social media which can be accessed here The long list was a cause of celebration in itself with all the wonderful books selected worthy of further exploration and Mat has also provided a presentation of the longlist too. These would be fabulous to share in schools and are a great way of highlighting and promoting new illustrators to teachers, children and families.

The winner will be announced on Wednesday 15 September 2021 and will receive a cheque for £5,000. You can find out more about the award itself and the past winners on the official website.

You can watch the official announcement via You Tube below:

Posted in Book Awards | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Tir na n-Og Award – The English Language Award – A look at the shortlist for this children’s book award

Posted on May 17, 2021 by alibrarylady

On Friday 21st May the announcement of the winner of a rather special children’s book award will be made.

The Tir na n-Og Awards were established by the Books Council Of Wales in 1976, and are given annually to honour original works of fiction or non-fiction by authors and illustrators of children’s books in Welsh and English published during the previous year. They aim to recognise, celebrate and promote high quality books for children and young people. The awards are named for Tír na nÓg, the “Land of the Young”, an otherworldly realm in Irish mythology.

Sponsored by CILIP Cymru Wales, the English-language shortlist celebrates books with an authentic Welsh background for children and young people. There are also two other prizes for Welsh language books for primary and secondary ages.

Over the last few weeks I have read the three books on this year’s English language shortlist and have enjoyed them immensely. Running through each of them is the concept of ‘home’ and ‘family’ and their importance to each of us. What does home mean and why does it matter so much? I think perhaps home features in children’s literature as it offers a place of safety and security within the story; a sense of the familiar at the heart of a make believe world. One would hope that children associate it with love and happiness too. Home is not necessarily a building, it may be a particular place, town, area or country. Perhaps home is not even a geographical location but simply the place where your family are. Or even those you choose as family. Each of these ideas is explored in these excellent books.

The Quilt by Valeriane Leblond

The Quilt is a beautiful picturebook that I have returned to often over recent days and it has caused me to ponder further on the meaning of home. Valeriane Leblond uses both text and illustration to examine the emotion described as hiraeth, for which there is no direct translation in English, but which can be described as an intense longing or desire for home.

The story is of a family who are struggling to survive in rural north Wales at the turn of the 20th century and decide to emigrate to the USA in search of a better life. It is told from the child’s point of view and the reader watches as the family are forced to sell all of their possessions except for a black and red quilt lovingly hand-made by her mother. The little girl feels homesick and sad at times, but the memories and love contained in the quilt help her overcome this and adapt to her new life. The quilt in many ways comes to symbolise home to the child. There is a great deal of hope in this poignant story and it is apparent that in taking the customs and traditions with them the family are able to recreate the security and familiarity of the land they have left behind. This story could equally apply to all those today who are forced to leave their homes to travel to another land in search of safety and a future.

Mat Tobin, lecturer in children’s literature at Oxford Brookes University, has written a beautiful blog expanding on the themes covered in this special book and also providing a thoughtful exploration of the illustrations and their role in the telling of the story.

The Short Knife by Elen Caldecott

This book for teens exceeded all my expectations and it had come highly recommended by people whose opinion I value. It is a compelling read and historical fiction that truly does transport the reader to another time. The story is set in the year 454AD when the Romans have withdrawn from Britain, throwing it into the chaos of the Dark Ages. Mai has been kept safe by her father and her sister, Haf. But when Saxon warriors arrive at their farm, the family is forced to flee to the hills where British warlords lie in wait. 

The beautiful language used and created by Elen Caldecott ensures that this truly feels like a story written in another time. The imagery, the landscape, the homes and villages all combine in a setting that comes vividly to life for the reader. I loved Mai whose courageous and determined struggle for survival I found moving and impressive. The bond of family and in particular of sisters is central to the story and the search for home and security dominates the book but the question of who one views as family is addressed with thoughtful care. The role of women in society at that time and how they fought for some control over their own lives was an aspect I found fascinating. This is an extraordinary book I am still thinking about weeks after I finished reading it.

There is an excellent interview with Elen Caldecott on Family Bookworms that provides interesting background information and a fascinating discussion about language. Nikki Gamble also interviewed the author last year about the book and the podcast is definitely worth a listen. I learned a great deal from this interview regarding the research process, the structure of the story and the character development, so much so that I’m tempted to go back and re-read sections.

Where the Wilderness Lives by Jess Butterworth

It is sometimes hard for me to remember that I am no longer a school librarian and when I am engrossed in an enjoyable children’s book I am pairing it with particular readers in my mind as I read. This exciting adventure would appeal to a great many young readers. Cara and her siblings and their Irish wolfhound, Willow, live on a riverboat in the countryside with their mother. An unexpected discovery of a locked safe, an accident and a need to escape combine in a plot that finds the children embarking on a journey through the Welsh landscape and a Celtic rainforest lost and in danger.

Jess Butterworth combines contemporary adventure and folklore with skill and the descriptions of the natural world and Cara’s appreciation of it add to the enjoyment of this lovely story of bravery, family and friendship. The various threads are brought together in an ending that feels believable and satisfying. There are several important themes incorporated within the book that will both reassure and inspire young readers. Bullying, family separation, deafness, persistence, sibling loyalty, and environmental awareness are all part of the story but are portrayed in a hopeful and positive manner that I think children will find encouraging. A thrilling and exciting read but also a kind and thoughtful one.

Simon at Family Bookworms has also interviewed Jess Butterworth about Where the Wilderness Lives and I enjoyed learning about the Ogham alphabet which plays a part in the story and more about the area in which the book is set.

All three of these books has made an impact on me and I am so glad that I have read them and I think that the judges have an immensely difficult task in choosing just one of these as the ultimate winner of the award. The announcement will be made on Friday 21st May at 6.30pm on BBCRadio Wales Arts Show.

Posted in Book Awards | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

First Names: Albert Einstein by Haydn Kaye illustrated by Mike Smith – Blog Tour – David Fickling Books

Posted on May 17, 2021 by alibrarylady


First Names is a series of interesting, lively and highly illustrated biographies that introduces some truly amazing individuals who lived incredible lives, to an audience of young readers. Published by David Fickling Books and full of detailed information presented in an appealing style these books encourage children to learn and to research further whilst also being suitable for reading for pleasure. They tick a lot of boxes! I am delighted to be taking part in the blog tour to launch their latest title in the series.

Cover artwork – Mike Smith

This new book in the First Names series features a remarkable scientist, a man who won the Nobel Prize one hundred years ago this year and who, in 1999, was named the Times Magazine’s Person of the Century. Albert Einstein was someone who had a dramatic impact but many know little about the life, background and personality of this renowned scientist. This new biography for children fleshes out the person behind the achievements, his childhood, his hopes and struggles, his family and his home balancing his outstanding contribution to our understanding of our world.

Illustration by Mike Smith


From the age of five and Albert’s fascination with a how a compass works the reader observes how as a child he questioned everything, wanting to think, explore and use his imagination rather than fill his head with facts. Einstein did not conform; he struggled with formal education, was forgetful and untidy yet ultimately he made a huge and lasting impact. This biography in addition to adding to the understanding of a famous scientist also encourages readers to nurture a sense of wonder and possibilities and to use their imaginations.

The engaging and accessible style ensures that young readers are quickly drawn in and many of the facts are presented within the illustrations by Mike Smith and there is a good balance between the personal aspect of Einstein’s life and his scientific achievements. The final pages include a useful glossary, helpful timeline and a full index. This is a book that children could enjoy as interesting biography and also as a source for research and would be useful for both upper primary and lower secondary age groups.

Illustration by Mike Smith

First Names: Albert was published on 6th May by David Fickling Books and I should like to thank them for providing my review copy and for inviting me to take part in this blog tour. Please do follow the rest of the tour taking place this week.

Posted in Book Review | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on May 15, 2021 by alibrarylady

Hello and welcome to this week’s round up of children’s book news! There is rather a lot to get through so why not grab yourself a cuppa and settle down to read the latest book award news, check out some resources and tips, listen to interesting book related podcasts and watch enjoyable events and register for others.

What I’m reading…

Prompted by the Audience With Elizabeth Laird hosted by Nikki Gamble which I attended last week I finished reading A House Without Walls. This story told with care features a twelve year old girl named Safiya and her family who are forced to flee their home in Syria. I was struck by how much this book fitted with what Elizabeth Laird said during the interview; she writes about children in crisis but concentrates on the “big words” of courage, endurance, determination and love. I would recommend this for upper KS2 and KS3.

The First Names series published by David Fickling Books is a useful selection of biographies of inspirational people that is great for school libraries. This week I read the latest in the series, Albert Einstein by Haydn Kaye illustrated by Mike Smith in readiness for next week’s blog tour. It’s my turn on Monday 17th May so do join us and find out more.

I am greatly enjoying reading the books shortlisted for the Tir na -n-Og Award and have just started Where the Wilderness Lives by Jess Butterworth. You can find out more about the award and the books in the interesting podcast listed below which I can thoroughly recommend. On Thursday Ben Harris hosted a special #BooksNearBedtime chat on Twitter devoted to the award which was thought provoking and enjoyable and it was lovely to have the input of the authors of the books too.

News, articles and resources…

An Evening With Tom Palmer, Dan Smith and Barrington Stoke 20th May 6.30pm – Barrington Stoke have recently published action-packed new titles ‘Arctic Star’ from Tom Palmer and ‘The Beast of Harwood Forest’ by Dan Smith. Join them on Zoom as they celebrate these new releases, talk about the inspiration behind them, and discuss engaging reluctant or struggling readers. I’ve booked a ticket and am looking forward to this.

Jo Bowers and Simon Fisher discuss children’s literature in Wales – this is a fascinating podcast linked to the Tir na -n-Og Award but also a look at the importance of a sense of place and seeing oneself and one’s home in fiction. Another great interview by Nikki Gamble and I enjoy dipping into the Exploring Children’s Literature podcasts and learning more about both the books and the authors and illustrators who create them.

Crystal Kite Winners 2021 – The annual Crystal Kite Award is a peer-given award to recognise great books from 15 Society of Children’s Book Writers regional divisions around the world. The UK and Ireland division was won by A M Dassu for Boy, Everywhere and the Europe award went to Helle Norup for The Hungry Ghost. It is interesting to see which titles have won the other awards too and full details are available via the link.

How factual books can get children reading for enjoyment – following Andy Seed’s recent session at the CILIP SLG conference in which he talked about how information books are an excellent way to engage children in reading for pleasure he has generously made his notes available.

Children’s Books Reading Round-Up: March – April 2021 – deputy head teacher Aidan Severs’ reviews of books that he has read recently include a great range of genres and I always trust his reviews too. I like the sound of Can You Whistle, Johanna? which I didn’t know of until now.

Summer Reading Challenge 2021: Wild World Heroes – the official collection of books for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge was announced this week. Developed with WWF, the world’s leading independent conservation organisation the challenge is built around books on an environmental theme. The collection features information books, picture books, poetry and fiction and you can download the full list via the link.

Mr Dilly’s ALICE IN WONDERLAND – Celebrating 150 years since Macmillan first published Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, Mr Dilly captures the magic and joy of the world of Alice, in an online show for your whole school community. Available from the 14th June for £25 with unlimited views along with a FREE learning pack. More information available via the link.

Why Alice is the ultimate icon of children’s books – Linking nicely to the event mentioned above this article on BBC Culture by Holly Williams examines the appeal of this famous literary character.

Michael Rosen to win the 2021 J.M. Barrie Award – Michael Rosen has been named as the recipient of the 2021 J.M. Barrie Lifetime Achievement Award. This is in recognition of his tremendous work championing the arts for children as well as his achievements as a performer and author. This is wonderful news and Michael will be receiving his award in a ceremony in the Autumn.

Oscar’s Book Prize Winner Announced – The eighth winner of Oscar’s Book Prize is The Littlest Yak by debut author Lu Fraser and much-loved illustrator Kate Hindley. I have rather a soft spot for little Gertie and my little assistant reviewer, (now a great big four years old!) loves this book.

Empathy Lab: Empathy Shorts – in readiness for Empathy Day which takes place on 10th June the second collection of Empathy Shorts written especially for Empathy Lab featuring twelve brand new stories each one a unique take on seeing life from another’s perspective are now available in the official website. Suitable for a variety of ages these are lovely.

From Spare Oom to War Drobe: VIRTUAL BOOK LAUNCH – Author and journalist, Amanda Craig interviews Katherine Langrish about her new book From Spare Oom to War Drobe: Travels in Narnia with my nine-year-old self. I was unable to attend the virtual launch so am delighted that this interview has been made available and am looking forward to listening to this over the weekend. I have also treated myself to a copy of the book and once my review pile is reduced a little am very much looking forward to reading it.

2021 British Book Award Winners Announced – if you missed this event on you can now watch the award ceremony online with subtitles via the link to the website. It includes the winners of Children’s Fiction, The Highland Falcon Thief by M G Leonard and Sam Sedgman, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli, Children’s Illustrated and Non-Fiction, Black and British: A short, essential history by David Olusoga and Non-Fiction: Narrative Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty. Congratulations to all the winners.

Indie Book Awards 2021 Shortlist Announced – this week the shortlist for the Indie Book Awards curated by independent bookshops as part of Independent Bookshop Week (19 – 26 June) was announced and among the categories are Children’s Fiction and Picture Books.

Inclusion Labs Decade of Diversity -Decade of Diversity is a cross-industry coalition of organisations, individuals and schools committed to leveraging their individual and collective power to advance diversity and inclusion within the education system. Those involved have committed to two pledges that will help advance diversity and inclusion in schools. These are: To ensure 25% Diverse Literature in schools by 2030 and To ensure Diverse Governing Boards in schools by 2030. You can find out more about the school programme and how to get involved via the link.

Lancaster LitFest Picture Perfect – a reminder of this event taking place next Thursday 20th May at 12.30 which would be great for schools. Authors and illustrators Jackie Morris, Cathy Fisher and Nicola Davies, will discuss their books and creative practice in a special event hosted from Jackie Morris’ kitchen. Doesn’t that sound a treat!

Ones to Watch: New Children’s Fiction for Summer 2021 – Alison Leach and her team of reviewers on Books for Topics have been taking an advanced look at some of the brilliant new middle-grade books (ages 8-12) coming up this term. They have picked out ten top recommendations to watch out for from May to July 2021.

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

Grandad’s Camper by Harry Woodgate – over the last few weeks I have noticed this new picture book being mentioned online and thought it looked tempting. This lovely review by Rachael on Picture Book Perfect and the glimpse of the glorious endpapers and illustrations has increased my anticipation.

By Ash, Oak and Thorn by Melissa Harrison – the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is ”Nature” and this new book is perfectly timed to coincide with increased understanding of the importance of the natural world on our own happiness but also as something that it is vital we protect. Lily’s review is beautiful and has really made me want to read this book. “Throughout a wistful yearning whispers to the reader; hold on to the magic, reconnect and find ourselves in nature.”

Keep Calm by Dr Sharie Coombes, illustrated by Katie Abey and Ellie O’Shea – Veronica Price has added this book to her children’s mental health collection and her helpful review provides details and thoughts on why this new title, a combination of advice and activities, will be valuable at school or at home.

That’s everything for this week. I hope that it is helpful and that everyone has a lovely weekend whatever you are doing. See you next week.

Posted in Reading Matters Children’s Book News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on May 8, 2021 by alibrarylady

Hello and welcome to this week’s round up of the latest children’s book news. There are updates and news from authors and illustrators, resources from organisations and charities, reviews to read and events to watch or listen to and I hope a little something for everyone.

What I’m reading…

My longstanding admiration for the publishers Barrington Stoke went up another notch this week. Having been following their progress for more than twenty years it’s wonderful to witness their success. There are some authors whose style is, in my opinion, perfect for their approach, accessible novella style stories written to capture the reader’s interest from the opening page. The Carnegie winning Lark by Anthony McGowan is one example and the other is Tom Palmer’s historical dramas. Tom’s latest, Arctic Star, dominated my reading this week despite being a relatively quick read. Brilliantly written, this story of incredible bravery and endurance in unimaginable conditions has made a big impact on me. You can read my review to find out why.

Another highlight of the week for me was attending the Audience with Elizabeth Laird hosted by Nikki Gamble. It was a fascinating evening and it was interesting to learn about this author’s travels and their influence on her writing. I have in the past enjoyed both Welcome to Nowhere and The Fastest Boy in the World and am currently reading The House Without Walls and although only early on in the story at present it already has Elizabeth Laird’s usual compassionate tone.

News, resources and articles…

PEPLT Mini Picturebook e-lessons: Overview – a useful resource from Picture Books in European Primary English Language Teaching. It offers an overview of the title, a book synopsis, related themes & values and world event days. I became aware of this as some of the lessons have an additional signed read-aloud by Leanne Signed Stories. Picture books featured include newer titles such as Rain Before Rainbows and Amazing plus old favourites like The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Chapter Book Round-Up: What We’ve Been Reading – the latest chapter books reviewed by the panel on the Books for Topics website. This is a great way of catching up with titles you may have missed.

Euro 2020 – A Ghost Story with Tom Palmer – as if he wasn’t already busy enough Tom Palmer is doing a live story for schools to tie in with EURO 2020, just like he has done for recent World Cups and Euros. EURO 2020: A Ghost Story will be brought to you by the FA and National Literacy Trust during June and July 2021. There is more information and full details of how schools can get involved on Tom’s website. This sounds great!

Book News for 2021 from James Mayhew – I’ve long been a fan of James’s books and in this blogpost he tells us what he has been up to over the past year and the treats he has in store for children’s book lovers. I am particularly looking forward to Once Upon a Tune as there’s been such a long wait for this one but all his projects sound tempting.

Boredom, mischief, mayhem and the magic of imagination – a guest post by author and illustrator Sally Anne Garland on the Federation of Children’s Books Groups site marking National Share a Story Month. She has included a list of her recommended books for mischievous, bored children that need a magical adventure.

Picture books for children – reviews – a round up of recent picture books by Imogen Carter for the Guardian includes The Boys by Lauren Ace and Jenny Lovelie, Jon Klassen’s latest, The Rock from the Sky and Barbara Throws a Wobbler by Nadia Shireen.

CLPE announces their 2021 back to school campaign – To support primary schools with the back to school transition in September, CLPE will be creating a FREE whole school teaching unit focusing on three different children’s books for different age groups. Full details, including a link to register are available via the link above.

Celebrate Elmer Day on 29th May – This year the organisers of Elmer Day are spreading some positivity with free resources for schools, libraries, bookshops and families to use. There are lots of great activities and ideas for KS1 aged children.

Things Don’t Start Finished! – the British Library Learning Discovering Children’s Books website is bursting with messy notebooks and drafts by much-loved authors. There are superb new free activities created by Seven Stories suggesting ways to use these to help children plan and draft their own stories. A brilliant idea!

Reading Newsletters – Adele Darlington from Leighfield Primary has been offering a Reading Newsletter for a while and has generously shared her ideas via the Open University Reading for Pleasure website. This would be a fabulous way of creating a reading community within schools involving staff, children and parents.

The Reader Teacher May 2021 Children’s Books I’m Most Excited About | Coming Soon – this new monthly initiative from Scott Evans is a great idea. In each monthly video Scott previews forthcoming new releases and this would be great to share in school libraries, classrooms, book groups and helpful for parents too. Children’s books receive little attention in the main stream media and these type of resources are so useful for keeping up to date.

Tiny Voice Talks: Empathy Day with Miranda McKearney – In this episode, Toria Bono talks to Miranda McKearney OBE about Empathy Day on June10th 2021. 

Information Book Award Longlist Announced – the School Library Association’s annual award celebrating information books for children is full of fabulous and fascinating titles in three different age groups. This can be a wonderful way of promoting books full of facts to children and a helpful overview of the best books around for use in both supporting learning and reading for pleasure. Definitely worth a browse.


YA Book Prize – winner announced Thursday 6th – Ten amazing books and authors were shortlisted for this year’s YA Book Prize. The winner was Loveless by Alice Oseman – a coming-out story about Georgia, a romance-obsessed teenager who realises that she is aromantic and asexual. You can read about al, the shortlisted titles via the link above.

The Brighton Festival – there are some fantastic children’s book events starting 8th May with authors and illustrators including Laura Ellen Anderson and Smriti Halls.

Primary School Book Club – a reminder of this monthly chat taking place on Twitter. This month’s read is How to Be Me by Cath Howe and the chat will take place on 28th May. Just follow #PrimarySchoolBookClub to join in with the discussion. Full details below:

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

Interview with a Shark and Other Ocean Giants by Andy Seed illustrated by Nick East -Non- fiction Book of the Month on the LoveReading4KIds site I think I may use the term used by Nikki Gamble during one of her recent interviews and describe this as “a wonder book”. It sounds wonderful for young children. Andrea Reece describes it as, “a quirky but really effective information book.”

Escape: One Day We Had To Run by Ming & Wah and Carmen Vela – this picture book was published this week and Jill Bennett’s review of both the subject matter and its presentation have encouraged me to seek this book out. A collection of twelve stories featuring different people in desperate situations and “this moving book fittingly concludes with two Articles from The Universal Declaration of Human Rights relating to movement and asylum.”

Twitch by M G Leonard – due out next month this first in a new series by this popular author sounds extremely appealing and a little different too. In her review for the Bookbag Ruth Ng says, “This is just one of those really, really good books that is very readable, with a great story and characters you’re interested in and care about. It’s written perfectly, with a good pace to the plot, and a lovely warmth to it throughout.” Another for my wish list!

Marvellous Middle Grade Reads – Jo Clarke has, in addition to being a super school librarian, been writing children’s books of her own but has miraculously found time to review some of her favourite books for middle year readers. A lovely selection for a wide range of tastes here and well worth checking out.

That’s everything for this week and I hope that you found something of interest within the links. This weekend I’m off to deliver a birthday present to the youngest member of our family who is four today. Picture books of course! Happy reading.

Posted in Reading Matters Children’s Book News | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Arctic Star by Tom Palmer

Posted on May 6, 2021 by alibrarylady

Arctic Star is rooted in the true story of the Arctic convoys of the Second World War. Tom Palmer has tackled a subject of unimaginable loss, endurance and bravery and succeeded in writing a book that deserves a place in every single school classroom and library.

Cover by Tom Clohosy Cole

Set in the winter of 1943 as convoys sailed to Russia to deliver supplies to support our allies in the war against Nazi Germany, Arctic Star follows three young Royal Navy recruits on their first mission. Frank, Joseph and Stephen have been friends from childhood, their lives centred on the naval city of Plymouth. The three of them share a bond that runs deep and together they face the treacherous seas, the freezing temperatures and the ever present fear of enemy attack. Their lives will be altered irrevocably by their experiences.

Not a single word is wasted in this tense, compelling and moving story. The first chapter is both shocking and exciting and I defy any reader “giving this a try” not to turn on to chapter two. Tom Palmer ensures that you are instantly transported into the story itself without preamble or a slow build up and from the opening page on the reader is propelled into an absorbing and moving drama.

The three boys at the heart of the story are quite different in character but each is likeable in their own way and their relationship with each other feels authentic. Stephen, with his black humour, coping with every dreadful situation with a joke and a laugh, is the glue holding the trio together in some ways but I warmed to all three; Frank coping with his fear, which was palpable at times and idealistic Joseph full of hope and dreams for a fairer world. The friendship and the youth of these boys highlights the horror of their situation and it is almost impossible to imagine how men at the time coped with both the physical demands of their situation plus the fear of imminent attack by both sea and air.

Tom Palmer’s meticulous research is evident in the detail and children will learn so much from this, as did I. The inclusion of the hot chocolate drink, kye, made by forcing a steam hose through a block of chocolate, the games played by the sailors, the ship’s cat and the clothing and sleeping arrangements all of this provides a vivid picture of what life was truly like for the sailors. Skilful writing conveys both the dreadful conditions, the seascape and the weather but also the emotions experienced by these young men. We witness the pride and the sense of duty but also the frustrations and above all else the fear. By acknowledging this fear the book actually ensures that the reader is more aware of the immense bravery shown and the great debt we owe the generation who endured this experience.

Arctic Star would be an excellent class read for many reasons. The story is an engrossing one in itself but also features an important part of our history and deserves an examination of some of the points raised by Tom Palmer. The impact of war on individuals, families and nations, the politics involved, the development of Europe, the role of Russia in the war and our relationship with the country now, all of these aspects for discussion and learning would be prompted by this thoughtful book. As I read I also appreciated the sheer scale of the location too; the description of the stunning aurora borealis alongside the drama and death created by man is poignant.

This is a special book and one I am glad that I have read. As with After the War Tom Palmer has treated the subject and the brave people who inspired the story with respect but he also treats his young audience with respect. He never shirks from telling children the truth about the complexities and the impact of war but he always describes it in a way that is appropriate for them to handle.

One final world of appreciation for the publishers, Barrington Stoke, who have ensured that this book is an excellent and attractive package. The cover by Tom Clohosy Cole is stunning and the book is illustrated throughout by a black and white picture of the convoy running across the bottom of the pages. Courtesy of the Imperial War Museum, to whom the book is dedicated, there is a map provided of the route and photos of the real life sailors of the time. The author’s notes at the end provide helpful information and ideas of where to find out more detail.

I should like to thank Tom Palmer for my copy of Arctic Star which I will treasure. The book is published on 6th May and is available at all good bookshops or online via bookshop.org.uk

There are a range of excellent resources on Tom Palmer’s website to support the book including a preview of the first chapter, cover prediction worksheets, a lesson plan and a trailer.

Leading Seaman Ronnie Powell

Finally, a personal postscript. This book had such an impact on me that I mentioned it to my Dad, aged 90 last weekend, and asked what he knew about the Arctic convoys. It was hell, he said. He then went on to say that when he joined the merchant navy at the end of 1945 they treated those men who had survived the convoys with great respect. However the piece of information that most surprised me was that my Great Uncle Ronnie, who I knew had taken part in the D-Day Landings, also endured the Arctic convoys. Thanks to Tom Palmer and his excellent and enlightening book I am now off to research further. Thank you, Tom!

Posted in Book Review | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments