Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on March 20, 2021 by alibrarylady

Hello and welcome to this week’s catch up with what has been happening in the world of children’s books. The highlight for many I’m sure has been the announcement of the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Award shortlists and full details of these are included in the links below.

What I’m reading…


Regular visitors to Reading Matters will already know that I’m a big fan of the publishers Barrington Stoke who do so much to ensure that the high quality books they produce can be read by as wide an audience as possible. This week I read one of their newest titles, The Dog Who Saved the World (Cup) by Phil Earle, and I loved it, it is a special book dealing with the subject of homelessness in a kind and accessible manner. I would highly recommend it. There were several great books published earlier this month by Barrington Stoke which I finished reading this week and I plan to post reviews very soon.

I recently read and reviewed Circus Maximus: Race to the Death by Annelise Gray, a compelling story which I thoroughly enjoyed so I was delighted to see that Nikki Gamble had interviewed Annelise for her Exploring Children’s Literature podcast. I found this fascinating, particularly the emphasis on the importance of research and the conversation about Latin providing us with a glimpse of people and their lives rather than learning grammar by rote. I am now eager to read the second instalment of Didi’s story next year.

Last night I started reading Street Dog Named Pup by Gill Lewis and already I am drawn into this story and care about Pup and wondering about what the future holds for him. The cover image by Levi Pinfold and the illustrations by Gill herself are gorgeous too. More updates to follow…

New, articles and resources…

Lancaster LitFest: The Art of Nature: Jackie Morris and Shaun Tan – what a wonderful hour this was last Saturday. I felt as though I was eavesdropping on a rather special conversation between two wise and thoughtful creators of beautiful books. I would highly recommend catching up on this if you missed it last weekend. Thank you to Alison Brumwell and Jake Hope the two librarians who made this event possible.

Books For Keeps March Issue – one of my favourite sources of information about children’s books, I always look forward to reading this. The current issue is packed full of fascinating articles, including the regular features and reviews of many new books and is a must read for anyone interested in children’s books.

The Greatest Mothers in Children’s Literature? – this blogpost by Freya McLaughlin was shared online by teacher Jon Biddle on Mothering Sunday and is an interesting read any day.

Sydney Smith on Collaboration – this video, shared by Mat Tobin last weekend, is a fascinating insight into this award winning illustrator’s work and well worth a watch. It is particularly timely as Sydney Smith’s wonderful Small in the City has been shortlisted for the Greenaway Award.

Registration now open for the National Reading Champions Quiz 2021 – This summer, the National Literacy Trust are hosting a quiz for students. Schools can enter either one or two teams, and each team should be made up of four students, plus a reserve. Students must be aged between 10 and 14 inclusive, and the entrance fee is just £20 per team. More details via the link.

The Reading List Project: Teachers Helping Teachers – thank you to school librarian Lucas Maxwell who shared this in his recent newsletter. This is a host of texts curated by English teachers, for English teachers for KS3 students including a range of genres and a balance of classic and new titles.

OURfPBookBlether curriculum recommendations – The February one-hour Twitter Book Blethers focussed on the curriculum and books to read aloud, enjoy and connect with. Mary-Rose Grieve and Marilyn Brockelhurst kindly collated all of the recommendations and they are available to browse and purchase via the link.

Introducing the Barnes & Noble Children’s & YA Book Prizes – These awards will spotlight and celebrate outstanding new and emerging talent in children’s publishing across three categories: Picture Books, Young Readers and YA.

Shared reading of the lockdown kind: delivering parent/carer support sessions remotely – this blogpost by Martin Galway for Herts Learning English is full of wisdom, tips and advice on how to use what has been learned over the last year to further support parents.

Love my Books March Newsletter – I think the Love My Books website is a wonderful resource, it was referenced in the blogpost above too, providing many ideas for activities linked to a wide variety of books. This latest newsletter includes all the recent additions to their site including The Beat and the Piano by David Lichfield and Last by Nicola Davies.

CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals Shortlists Announced – 16 titles have been shortlisted for the 2021 Medals (8 on each shortlist) selected from a total of 40 longlisted titles, read by an expert volunteer team of 15 librarians from across the UK. It is wonderful to see independent publishers such as Barrington Stoke, Knights Of, Book Island and Otter Barry books on the lists. Some of my favourite picturebooks feature on the Greenaway list and I loved The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson and am looking forwarding to exploring the Carnegie list further.

Shortlist for Carnegie medal offers locked-down children ‘hope and escapism’ – article by Alison Floid exploring the various titles on both awards lists.

Nathan Byron has been named the first ambassador for Puffin World of Stories – Puffin World of Stories aims to address some of the key challenges facing reading for pleasure in schools where budget constraints often mean investing in school libraries and librarians and buying new books is not an option. Over the course of Nathan Bryon’s ambassadorship, he will promote the importance of reading for pleasure to participating schools via virtual content and in-school visits, as well as interactive resources based on his books.

Children’s reading news, research, resources – Anne Harding produces regular compilations of children’s book news and this one contains links to recent research on reading and literacy. Definitely useful to save to refer to as needed. Thank you, Anne.

The British Book Awards Book of the Year Shortlists – The British Book Awards (aka The Nibbies) were launched in 1990 and now run by The Bookseller have several categories among them are Children’s Fiction and Children’s Illustrated and Non-Fiction. The winners will be announced on 13th May.

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

The Forgettery by Rachel Ip and Laura Hughes – a picture book about the bond between grandma and granddaughter and a sensitive exploration of memory and the reality of life when the occasional forgetfulness becomes a cause for concern. This lovely review by Rachael at Picture Book Perfect and the interview with author Rachel Ip has tempted me to add this to my wish list. The illustrations by Laura Hughes look stunning too.

Melt by Ele Fountain – I am fortunate enough to have a copy of this book on my ‘to read shelf’ and this review by Paul Watson has made me look forward to reading it even more. Paul always includes a helpful ‘teacher bit’ in his reviews providing tips for using the books he has reviewed in the classroom too.

The Exploding Life of Scarlett Fife by Maz Evans, illustrated by Chris Jevons – I enjoyed reading this happy, positive review by Veronica Price of a book that sounds equally happy. In summary Veronica says “This is a marvellous book, bursting with joy and good sense and celebrating love in its many forms. I am sure that it will become a much-loved addition to your classroom, library or home and I certainly hope that there will be more books featuring Scarlett Fife.”

The Lightening Catcher by Clare Weze – this children’s debut due out in May was already on my radar as something a little different but this great review by Fabia at Candid Cocoa has increased my anticipation. Fabia says it is, “an intelligent, highly charged, imaginative novel where science and fiction mesh and fizz extraordinarily to create a weird and wonderful adventure.”   

Bone Music by David Almond – I have just discovered Beth’s Bookcase and the wonderful reviews by @f33lthesun “The Lovely Beth” and this one of the latest David Almond YA novel due out next month has sold this book to me. I will be following Beth’s reviews from now!

That’s everything for this week and there’s rather a lot to get through but I do hope that something here has helped or prompted you to try one of the books mentioned. Happy reading.

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The Dog That Saved the World (Cup) by Phil Earle illustrated by Elisa Paganelli

Posted on March 17, 2021 by alibrarylady

Everyone has stories to tell, we are surrounded by stories of all kinds and we pass on stories over time to others. Phil Earle’s story of a girl, a dog, football and family is one that is full of love and hope, dreams and determination. Another definite winner from the Barrington Stoke team. That it is inspired by true life experiences and situations gives this thoughtful book an added impact.

Elsie and her dog Pickles love football and their lives revolve around it. When Elsie’s team, and Pickles, get the opportunity to play in a half time match at the World Cup Final at Wembley they think that all their dreams have come true. However despite the joy that football brings to both Elsie and Pickles life at home for them is hard and made even more so when Elsie’s dad loses his job and they have to move into temporary accommodation. Things deteriorate even further and it looks as though all Elsie’s dreams will be shattered but her loyal friend, Pickles, is determined to do something to save the day.

My own love of football and dogs dates back to childhood and the lovely true story of Pickles the dog and the 1966 World Cup is one that has always made me smile. Phil Earle has used this true event as a catalyst for a book that illustrates how important football is for many people. One of the most appealing aspects for many is that feeling of being part of a team and Phil Earle has captured that spirit and enthusiasm well. Elsie reminded me of so many football mad children I have watched over the years. The importance of being part of a team is mirrored in Elsie’s family. Although only a team of three, Elsie, Dad and Pickles, the feeling of love and loyalty between them is conveyed beautifully. Dad is fulfilling the role of single parent in a situation that would be a struggle for anyone but he does so with such thoughtful kindness and care that Elsie is largely cushioned from the worst of the situation, at least at first.

The story is narrated by Pickles himself and this ensures that the difficulties the family experience through poverty and homelessness are conveyed in a manner that is both appropriate and understandable for young readers. There were many moments when I as an adult reader ached for the man hanging on to his dignity and role as provider for his child. The important and often quoted statement by Rudine Sims Bishop, about books acting as windows, sliding doors and mirrors is fitting for The Dog that Saved the World. Homelessness is something that affects an increasing number of people and unfortunately stories that deal with this aspect of modern life need to be available to children so that they can understand and empathise with others or gain comfort and support from seeing themselves portrayed in current fiction.

Despite the heartbreaking difficulties that Elsie’s family face the overriding theme of the book is a positive and inspirational one. A lovely example is when another family in the same situation reach out to welcome them and offer help and companionship. Phil Earle even manages to bring a little humour to events using Pickle’s perspective of the situation. The story ends with hope and optimism for the future and this is such an important aspect of the book. In the author’s note at the end of the story the reader learns that in addition to Pickles the dog who saved the day Phil Earle was also inspired by the life of footballer Fara Williams. Fara was not defeated by her own difficult circumstances but persevered with determination and Elsie’s attitude reflects that in this story.

The book is illustrated throughout by Elisa Paganelli and these pictures capture the bond between the girl and her dog well and also depict a family life that is full of love. As with all books published by Barrington Stoke this book is published in a dyslexia friendly font on cream paper to reduce glare.

The Dog Who Saved the World (Cup) was published on 4th March. I should like to thank Kirstin Lamb and Barrington Stoke for providing my review copy.

I think that another book published by Barrington Stoke, It’s A No-Money Day by Kate Milner, would be perfect to pair with this one to prompt discussion. Phil Earle and Barrington Stoke have created some excellent teaching resources to use with his book and they are freely available to download here.

You may also be interested in this article in The Big Issue: How Pickles the dog, an England footballer and homelessness inspired new book.

Finally, Phil Earle recorded this 20 minute video for Tales on Moon Lane @MoonLaneTV all about the influences behind the writing of THE DOG THAT SAVED THE WORLD (CUP) which would be wonderful to share with children.

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Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on March 13, 2021 by alibrarylady

Hello and welcome to this week’s round up of news from the world of children’s books. I hope that it has gone well for all of those of you who were back in school this week.

What I’m reading…

At the end of December my older son gave me a copy of The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman for my birthday and it has been sitting on my bedside table unread and looking accusingly at me ever since as my attention has been held by the many excellent children’s books being published at the moment. This week I read it and have driven my other half mad by giggling loudly and often. It helps that in my head I’m listening to the author’s voice and deadpan delivery. I loved it and thanks to my giggling everyone in the family wants to read it now. Imagine an Agatha Christie set in a retirement home, with a poignancy and a wry look at life, this has been a bestseller for many weeks so it doesn’t really need my recommendation but I shall give it anyway. This week it was just what I needed to avoid the news and online sadness but I promise to return to children’s books next week.


News, articles and resources…

Wigtown Book Festival 22nd -27th March – this children’s book festival BigDog takes place from 22 March. Find out more and book free tickets to online events via the link above. The line-up includes Ross Mackenzie, Abi Elphinstone and Clare Rayner and there are workshops, sensory storytime and lots more.

We read books to my daughter from birth, which enriched all our lives – a lovely article by Donna Ferguson in the Guardian about the joy of sharing books with babies and young children.

School Librarian of the Year 2021: Inspirational School Librarians Honour List – Caroline Bradley, Creative Director of Just Imagine writes about these fabulous school librarians and shares their good practice. A shining example of what is possible when school librarians and libraries are valued.

Inspiring Young Readers: An Interview with Kate Pankhurst – In the month in which we celebrate International Women’s Day, Elaine Chant talks to Kate Pankhurst about her Fantastically Great Women series for Books for Keeps.

Six Questions for Alec Williams, author of Get Everyone Reading – Q&A with Cathal Coyle, Publications Co-ordinator (SLA) about his experiences and views on reading, libraries, and storytelling. In case you missed it last week here’s the link to download your free copy of Get Everyone Reading.

Inaugural Long List for Jhalak Children’s & YA Prize – this award celebrates books by British/British resident BAME writers and the long list includes great titles for both primary and secondary schools.

“Keep hopeful!”: Smriti Halls says goodbye as Writer in Residence – as her six months as Writer in Residence for Book Trust comes to an end Smriti Halls shares five things she’s explored, experienced and learned during her residency which she hopes we’ll be able to hold onto as we move to a sunnier future.

Fiction for older children – reviews – Kitty Empire’s selection of titles suitable for the middle year’s audience includes Amari and the Night Brothers and Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow plus How to Change Everything which she describes as “essential reading”.

The Reading Agency partners with WWF for nature-focused Summer Reading Challenge – This year’s Summer Reading Challenge theme is ‘Wild World Heroes’. To deliver it The Reading Agency has teamed up with WWF to encourage children across the country to engage in fun reading activity focused on environmental issues. This year, with the help of the new digital platform, the charity will be aiming to increase its impact even further and reach 1 million children.

Dara McAnulty: It’s time to grab the slippery eel of hope – after the last twelve months sometimes it is hard to remain hopeful but both Smriti Hall’s article above and this piece have boosted my hopes this week.

Shortlist for the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards 2021 Announced – The titles competing for this year’s KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards have been revealed, giving an impressive and powerful picture of the status of contemporary Irish children’s literature. The selection is made up of a spread of books for young readers of all ages – from picturebooks to young adult novels, and of the eight shortlisted titles, five are published by independent Irish publishers.

Letters of Kindness – On World Book Day Children’s Laureate Wales Eloise Williams has launched the Letters of Kindness project. Over the next month, children are encouraged to write a letter of kindness to themselves to highlight kind things that they do or have done, and things about themselves and in their lives that they appreciate and are proud of. Letter templates are available via the link.

Teaching resource: All our stories! from the British Library – this is wonderful from British Library Learning. Download All our stories! teachers’ guide to find out how to use the Discovering Children’s Books website to celebrate ethnic diversity and develop a rich primary reading curriculum. There are articles introducing each of the themes, book lists and suggested activities.

Weird, Wild and Wonderful: An interview with James Carter – this post on the Reading Realm website provides a fascinating insight into the work of this particular poet and James Carter also gives dome advice to teachers about the ‘teaching’ of poetry.

Bookbuzz 2021 – a reminder that registration for Bookbuzz, Book Trust’s programme for students aged 11 – 13, is now open. This scheme supports and encourages reading for pleasure in Years 7 & 8 in schools.

Norton Juster, author of The Phantom Tollbooth, dies aged 91 – The US author was beloved for his pun-filled bestseller following a bored boy who drives into a magical kingdom, and for The Dot and the Line

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

A Fox and His Music: Gaspards’ Foxtrot by Zeb Soanes and James Mayhew – the third in the series inspired by a real urban fox this lovely review by Mary Esther Judy conveys the book’s appeal and the concert linked to the book sounds beautiful too.

The Tale of the Whale by Karen Swann and Padmacandra Meek – at the risk of sounding like an M&S advert this is not just a review this is a thoughtful journey through a rather special picturebook with Mat Tobin as our guide. I love the sound of this book published by Scallywag Press and its themes of appreciating our natural world and taking some action, no matter how small, to protect it.

Cinderella Liberator by Rebecca SolnitIllustrated by Arthur Rackham – another in the Fairy Tales Revolution series this review by Ben Harris for Just Imagine of this modern version of a traditional tale, “an intelligent, multi-layered and highly rewarding production, warmly recommended to mature readers in the junior classes prepared for some in-depth thinking and discussion.” has whetted my appetite to find out more.

Vampirates 1: Demons of the Ocean- Justin Somper – although this is not a new book I am sharing this review by Rich Simpson, part of this week’s blog tour, as the original series of books have been repackaged and there are three new titles being published this month by Uclan Publishing. The original books are brilliant for adventure lovers so these new titles are definitely worth looking out for. Author Justin Somper reveals his favourite adventure films too and there’s also a link to the online launch of the new books.

Swim, Shark, Swim by Dom Conlon illustrated by Anatstasia Izlesou – a poem that celebrates the endangered shark and the diversity of our oceans; this sounds wonderful and I enjoyed seeing a glimpse of the pages themselves and the beautiful illustrations. Sam Kelley of Just Imagine says “Swim, Shark, Swim is a book I would recommend for all ages in a primary school. It is the best kind of literature having a glorious combination of words and pictures which cast a spell over the reader.”

That’s everything for this week, I hope something here has proved to be helpful or interesting. Next week I’m looking forward to seeing which books make it on to the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Award Shortlists on Thursday. It is sure to prompt debate and book chat!

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Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on March 6, 2021 by alibrarylady

Hello and welcome to this look back at some of the latest news from the world of children’s books. This week has been dominated by the World Book Day celebrations and the ways in which schools and libraries have adapted to the current restrictions has been impressive and heartening. The day is really all about inspiring children to love reading and encouraging families to share stories and it is interesting to read about what the day achieved last year in this impact report. As children return to school on Monday I imagine that this weekend will be one of both anticipation and concerns and I hope that something in this week’s round up of news provides a distraction or is of help.

What I’m reading…

It is never too early to introduce children to books and I read and reviewed a perfect picture book for the youngest of our readers this week. Zeki Loves Mummy by Anna McQuinn and Ruth Hearson tells the story of a baby’s typical day and is full of joy and love and I would highly recommend it for both families and Early Years settings.

During a chat about reading last weekend I said that I enjoyed reading because there is always a book suitable for every occasion or every mood and this week I fancied an escape. Circus Maximus:Race to the Death fitted the bill perfectly. A children’s book debut by Annelise Gray I found this exciting story hugely enjoyable and Dido the lead protagonist a fabulous heroine. Highly recommended particularly for horse lovers and fans of historical fiction but this, I think, has a wide appeal. I’m already looking forward to the sequel.

News, articles and resources…

Children’s books roundup: the best new picture books and novels – another wonderful selection chosen by Imogen Russell Williams for the Guardian. I was delighted to see Space Detectives by Mark Powers illustrated by Dapo Adeola included as I think this book will encourage new readers to develop the reading habit, a glorious mix of humour and adventure.

Free Resource: Digital Library – this is brilliant and although created with World Book Day in mind it will be a valuable resource any time. There are several versions that can be used all across primary and KS3. Click on a book and it will take you to a YouTube reading of it. Huge thanks to Steph @eenalol for creating this it must have taken ages!

Celebrating Science Children’s Book List – British Science Week takes place 5th-14th March and this helpful list on the Books for Topics website includes books that examine key scientific concepts as well as stories that explore scientific thinking & highlight famous (& not-so-famous) scientists.

Five Picture Books About the Wonders of Science – still on the science theme, award winning author Nicola Davies has selected some beautiful picture books that will spark an interest and offer a route into science for young readers.

Book Clubs in Schools – Book Clubs in Schools (BCiS) takes the normal book club model and makes it suitable for schools, both primary and secondary. Book Clubbers read the same book, then discuss it in small weekly book clubs held during school time, facilitated by Book Club Leaders, who are older pupils. At the moment they are also running Mini Book Club at Home. There are more details via the website link above.

As if by magic, Mr Benn first appeared on our screens 50 years ago – and he’s still as popular as ever – how is it possible Mr Benn is 50? This is a lovely article in which his creator David McKee discusses this iconic character.

Books to develop insight into the culture, people and history of Wales – published to mark St David’s Day earlier this week this is an excellent and comprehensive post providing recommendations for different year groups and suggestions for activities too. Some of my recent favourite titles are included and I have added yet to more to my ‘want to read list’.

The Story of Reading During Lockdown – The World Book Day charity has brought together the UK’s leading reading and educational charities – BookTrust, CLPE, National Literacy Trust, and The Reading Agency – and the leading children’s publisher Egmont, as well as Nielsen Books, in a collaboration providing insights into the impact of the last year on reading for pleasure, and children’s life chances. This provides a comprehensive overview highlighting both the positives and areas of concern and would be a useful reference for discussion regarding the role of reading for pleasure in the future.


“Libraries changed my life”: Author Kelly Yang on the mysterious power of reading – I love this article for Book Trust as it highlights the many different ways in which school libraries can make a difference to a child including the idea of it as a ‘sanctuary’, an often forgotten yet important aspect.

New Children’s Books that Book Trust Love – Every month the Book Trust team review dozens of books for children and teenagers. Here are the ones they liked best in March: guaranteed to get your child reading.

YA Book Prize 2021 Shortlist Announced – The YA Book Prize launched in 2014 to award a YA title written by an author living in the UK or Ireland. It is the first prize in the UK and Ireland to specifically focus on fiction for young adults and addresses an important need for a prize in the growing YA and teen market. Among the books on the shortlist are Cane Warriors by Alex Wheatle and The Great Godden by Meg Rosoff.

Get Everyone Reading by Alec Williams: Free publication from SLA – This publication is free for all schools to download, and is a ‘primer’ for how to go about encouraging reading for pleasure in your school. The two appendices include an ‘Ideas Bank’ and a list of reading celebrations throughout the year, so you can discover more ways and more days to continue encouraging reading for pleasure.

Blue Peter Book Awards 2021 Winners Announced – The winners were announced during a special edition of Blue Peter on World Book Day, Thursday 4 March 2021. The award for Best Story was awarded to A Kind of Spark, the brilliant debut novelby Elle McNicoll. The award for Best Book with Facts went to Mike Barfield and illustrator Jess Bradley’s hilarious book,  A Day In The Life Of A Poo, A Gnu And You.

School Libraries Group Virtual National Conference 2021: Shaping Their Futures – The SLG Conference is the key professional development opportunity for School Librarians in the U.K. After this challenging year for School Librarians SLG’s Conference will provide an opportunity to come together to explore how we move forward. ‘Shaping Their Futures’ will include keynotes on ‘Children Reading for Pleasure Research’ ‘The Black Curriculum’ The Future of Education’ and ‘Reading for Information and Learning’ plus seminars, brilliant authors slots and much more! The conference takes place from 30/04/2021 to 02/05/2021

Children and Young People’s Book List: Wonder Women – March is Women’s History Month, so the Reading Agency have created a booklist to celebrate some of our favourite stories about inspirational girls and women or fantastic books written by them. You can join in with the conversation online using #WonderWomenBooklist on Twitter

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

What Did the Tree See? Charlotte Guillain (text) & Sam Usher (artwork) – I have seen pictures of this lovely picture book shared online so caught up with this post on the Library Mice blog earlier this week. The comments by both Melanie McGilloway and Charlotte Guilain are interesting and I enjoyed the glimpse of Sam Usher’s illustrations. There is also a trailer and a link to resources. This sounds like a perfect book to encourage children to think and investigate.

Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow by Benjamin Dean illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat – selected as a debut of the month on the LoveReading4Kids website Joy Court describes this book as “such a rewarding, positive and inclusive read that it deserves a place in every school and in every home.” One for shopping lists then!

Show Us Who You Are by Elle McNicoll – A Kind of Spark, Elle McNicoll’s debut novel last year, attracted a great deal of attention and positive reviews, also winning the Blue Peter Book Award this week, so following it was always going to be a daunting task, I imagine. However judging by this wonderful review by Ben Harris, Show Us Who You Are is also an excellent read. I particularly like the way in which Ben has provided questions to think about when reading the book rather than a précis of the plot. I’m very much looking forward to reading this.

Although I’m sure everyone has already watched this wonderful, happy video I wanted to finish with a smile. A great big thank you to Sophie Anderson for the inspiration and Gavin Hetherington for the creation. Happy reading and good luck next week…

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Circus Maximus: Race to the Death by Annelise Gray

Posted on March 5, 2021 by alibrarylady

Circus Maximus: Race to the Death is an epic adventure with a personal story at its heart and is a book that both excites and engages the reader from the opening page. Hugely enjoyable, full of breathtaking action the story hurtles the reader into a different historical world featuring, in Dido, a character who today’s young readers will relate to and root for.


In Rome during the reign of Emperor Tiberius Dido dreams of becoming the first female charioteer at the legendary Circus Maximus. She adores Porcellus, a wild, tempestuous horse she longs to train and race. But these ambitions are forbidden to girls and Dido must be satisfied with helping her father Antonius, the trainer of Rome’s most popular racing faction, The Greens. When her father is murdered, she is forced to flee Rome and seek refuge with an unlikely ally. But what of her dream of Circus triumphs and being reunited with the beloved horse she left behind in Rome? And the threat to her life isn’t over as she faces a powerful new enemy… the emperor Caligula.

Annelise Gray has a classics doctorate and worked as a Latin teacher and a historical researcher so this meticulously researched debut children’s novel has an authenticity to it that adds to the enjoyment and the realistic atmosphere conveyed throughout the story, However this never feels like a history lesson or a text that is trying to cram in facts and I enjoyed it hugely. The excitement and the drama is combined with a coming of age story that is moving and engaging. Dido, the name itself conjuring up an image of the strong woman of legend, is brave, intelligent and loyal and her dreams of competing in a man’s world are what drive her ambition and hard work. The plot however also allows the reader to witness her kindness and vulnerability and also her desire for justice and revenge. Dido’s love and understanding of horses is central to her dreams and this aspect will have huge appeal to horse loving readers. The cast of characters includes some real historical personalities, notably Caligula, and this careful mix of story and reality subtly draws the reader in to an ancient world of intrigue and power and increases the sense of being part of something that actually took place.

The chariot race scenes are full of vivid action and danger and the author conveys the atmosphere of tension and drama effectively. The publicity material describes this book as National Velvet meets Ben Hur and I have wracked my brains for an alternative but none sums up this cracking adventure so aptly. There are quieter moments too and I enjoyed the development of the relationships and watching Dido mature as the story progressed. It is refreshing to read a novel aimed at a middle years audience that is set in this historical period and this is a story that may well whet the reader’s appetite to discover more.

With my background in school libraries I can’t quite let go of the habit of matching books to readers in my mind as I read a children’s book and there were a great many I would have paired with Circus Maximus. A thrilling story, a fabulous lead character and best of all this is the first in a new series with the second title due to be published next year. This, I think, would particularly appeal to readers at the transition stage of primary to secondary.

I should like to thank Fritha Lindqvist and the publishers Zephyr Books for providing my review copy. Circus Maximus:Race to the Death was published on 4th March and is available to purchase online or via your nearest independent bookshop which can be found on this map. 


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Zeki Loves Mummy – Words by Anna McQuinn Pictures by Ruth Hearson

Posted on March 1, 2021 by alibrarylady

The latest in the Zeki series is a joy filled look at a baby’s typical day featuring those everyday moments that are in reality the important moments at the heart of a toddler’s life. A small book full of love and perfect for new babies and new mums.

We meet Zeki and his mummy first thing in the morning as she wakes him with a game of peek-a-boo and follow them through their day until bedtime when Zeki curls up with mummy for cuddles and a story. Each double page spread features an activity that will be familiar to a little person and will encourage them to engage, look and listen. There is den building with cushions, a trip to baby gym, a bike ride, lunch and painting. All of this is presented as being great fun and there are smiles on every page; encouraging both the mum who is reading it and the toddler listening.

The text is in rhyming couplets making this a delight to read aloud and giving it a happy bounce. I think it would encourage actions as you read too. The illustrations by Ruth Hearson complement the text perfectly and depict the loving bond between parent and child. Their closeness in the pictures and the mirroring of actions and expressions is beautifully done. Zeki has a small cuddly toy that accompanies him everywhere, a concept familiar to both children and parents, and the little seahorse is visible on every page, sometimes peeping from a pocket, or behind a cushion. This gives the child listening to the story a chance to become involved by searching for the seahorse and identifying where it is. A lovely touch for teaching vocabulary.

The book is made of sturdy card with rounded corners making it suitable for eager little hands who want to share the story fully. I love Zeki Loves Mummy, it made me smile and I think it will make parents and toddlers smile too. This would be a lovely present for a new baby or for Mothers’ Day and useful for early years settings too.

Thank you to the publishers Alana Max for providing my review copy. Zeki Loves Mummy is published on 28th February and is available to purchase online

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Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on February 27, 2021 by alibrarylady

Hello and welcome to this week’s round up of all that’s been happening over the last few days in the world of children’s books. As we all know World Book Day takes place next Thursday and this is a time when children’s books are more in evidence in the main stream media than usual. Perhaps it is an opportunity for children’s book lovers to shout out about the less well known titles and authors that are being published at the moment. I hope that everyone enjoys the celebrations despite the restrictions.

What I’m Reading…

In case you missed it earlier in the week I took part in the blog tour to launch First Names: Nelson Mandela, the latest in this series celebrating inspirational people published by David Fickling Books. I was delighted to be joined by author Nansubuga Isdahl and illustrator Nicole Miles to discuss their collaboration providing us with a fascinating insight into the creative process.

The Shark Caller by Zillah Bethel is a wise, tender and comforting story that I loved so much that I can see myself reading it again soon. You can read my review and investigate the excellent teaching resources linked to the book here.

Do you remember The Vampirates by Justin Somper? Originally published in 2005 the series has been repackaged and reissued by Uclan Publishing and a further three books are due to be added to the series next month. I reacquainted myself with twins Connor and Grace Tempest in the first in the series, Demons of the Ocean, recently and think this fantasy adventure is great fun. A wonderful cast of characters, action packed and entertaining; there is a blog tour to mark the launch of the new additions to the series next month which I shall be watching out for.

News, articles and resources…

SF Said Reading for Pleasure Video – a lovely two minute video encouraging children to read what they enjoy. SF Said talks about his own books and recommends others too and we can all play ‘guess how many books are on his shelves’!

10 Books Celebrating Every Kind of Family – Isabel Agbo shares her favourite books celebrating families on the Lantana Publishing website. This is a fabulous, diverse list of beautiful picture books.

Your Kids Aren’t Too Old for Picture Books, and Neither Are You – an article by Pamela Paul for the New York Times that is rather preaching to the converted in my case and one that raises many important points for as Pamela says “Nobody moves on from picture books. At least, nobody should.” Well worth a read.

Win Books for your library with What on Earth Books and Britannica Children’s Encyclopedia World Book Day Competition. – this fantastic competition organised by Just Imagine in collaboration with What on Earth Books gives you the opportunity to win books for you and your school library while having fun and learning new stuff with the brilliant online quiz. Suitable for school or home. Full details via the link.

Boys aren’t always given space to express themselves’: Dr Ranj on his new book about puberty – an interview on the Book Trust website discussing his book How to Grow Up and Feel Amazing!: The No-Worries Guide for Boys which is published this month.

Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards: Programme of Online Events – a fantastic range of free events start next week linked to these awards and feature Jackie Morris, Shaun Tan, Keane Alexander and Ruta Sepetys plus a webinar about shadowing the awards.

Pyjamarama is back for 2021! – Pyjamarama is returning for a third time and will take place this year on Friday 14 May 2021. Organised by Book Trust it is all about getting children excited about reading, and fundraising to make sure every child gets their bedtime story. Children around the country are invited to spend a day reading, enjoying and sharing stories, all in the comfort of their pyjamas, and donate £1 to BookTrust.

As a Black Lord of the Rings fan, I felt left out of fantasy worlds. So I created my own – this article by Namina Forna, author of The Gilded Ones published by Usborne, is a thoughtful and interesting read and I now very much want to read her debut.

Reconnecting to Nature: Swan Song and Teenage Mental Health – last week I reviewed Swan Song by Gill Lewis and this excellent blog post by Gill for Barrington Stoke explores issues of mental health, anxiety, academic pressure and the healing power of nature and asks for a change. I hope this lovely book prompts discussion and helps young people like Dylan in the story.

Picture This: Non-Fiction Picture Books Telling Life Stories – A Guest Blog by SF Said – this selection shared on the Burley Fisher Books website contains a great range of titles featuring varied and inspiring people. Useful books

Reading, Writing and the Moomins – I had completely missed this so am grateful to Paula Bardell-Hedley for her blogpost and links to both the lovely video announcement about this initiative and the website. This a must for all the Moomins fans out there!

Step inside your story from The British Library – Anyone can be an author or the star of a story & the British Library are asking children across the UK to make concertina books about themselves. You can view ‘how to’ films by favourite authors & illustrators such as Zanib Mian, SF Said and Philip Ardagh before starting your own book. A lovely idea for home or school.

Reading for Pleasure – great time to be talking about this by Michael Rosen – an excellent article in which Michael Rosen looks at the process of reading and how children and young people respond. Perfect for teachers and school librarians to share and discuss in schools but interesting for parents too. So much that I could quote but I was particularly struck by, “books are full of possibility and change. In most fiction and non-fiction, characters and things change. We see that there is the possibility for the material world (the environment) to change and for us to change. This is a powerful and necessary corrective to the idea that we are stuck or that the world must be the way it is.” 

Skysteppers by Katherine Rundell – a lovely interview on the Tyger Tale blog. Set a few unspecified years before her classic Parisian adventure Roofoppers, Katherine Rundell’s prequel, Skysteppers tells the story of Matteo and how he came to live up high. She spoke to the Deeper Reading podcast about the world of Rooftoppers and in this extract she talks about her influences, the best buildings to climb in Paris and why she hopes her books will introduce children to new beauty.

The Reader Teacher: February 2021 Monthly Must Reads – a selection chosen by Scott Evans, picture book, non-fiction, and middle grade fiction. I was delighted to see The Shark Calder included.

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

Anita and the Dragons by Hannah Carmona illustrated by Anna Cunha – a beautiful review by Kiran Satti for Just Imagine of a picture book set in the Dominican Republic and telling a story of migration. The glimpse of the illustrations that I have seen online are gorgeous and Kiran says they “are comforting and are almost whispering to you, everything will be ok.” Doesn’t that sound lovely.

Explore the World by Anton Hallmann, translated by Ryan Eyers – this informative and helpful review by Clare Zinkin gives an overview of a book that sounds fascinating and one that would prompt further discovery and learning. “This non-fiction title for primary school children neatly marries geography and history, and allows a peek into each era and place.”

Luna Rae is Not Alone by Hayley Webster – moving house although exciting in many ways can be a difficult time for a child so fiction that portrays this is always popular and also useful for school librarians and teachers. This five star review from The Bookbag suggests this particular book is an excellent example, “Wonderfully heartwarming, Luna is a really brilliant character, and this is a beautifully written, extremely readable story.”

That’s all for this week. I hope everyone enjoys World Book Day however you are celebrating it this year and I’ll leave you with this year’s official song…Happy Reading!


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The Shark Caller by Zillah Bethell – Review and link to teaching resources

Posted on February 23, 2021 by alibrarylady

The Shark Caller is a children’s book so wise, tender and comforting that I want to press it in to the hands of everyone I know. A beautiful and lyrical story of family, loss, friendship and forgiveness it completely captured me.

Sometimes a book becomes a bit of a word of mouth ‘must read’ via social media and tempting though it may be to become involved I try to resist as that can inevitably raise expectations unrealistically and the subsequent read can be a little disappointing. This time temptation grew too strong so having avoided reading reviews I picked the book up, “just to have a look.” First there was a map, by Saara Katariina Soderland, and I love maps in books. This map depicted Blue Wing’s Village and instantly my curiosity was aroused and I wondered about Blue Wing, the name conjured up images in my head. Within two pages Blue Wing, the story’s narrator had captured me completely, and steadily through the lyrical and descriptive writing I became immersed in her world. This is a gorgeous story and one I enjoyed reading immensely.

Cover by Saara Katariina Soderland

Blue Wing lives with Siringen, an elderly man who has cared for her since the death of her parents. Siringen is a shark caller, a tradition passed down to him from his ancestors and Blue Wing is desperate to follow in his footsteps. However she is not allowed to because she is a girl and instead she is told that she must befriend Maple, the daughter of a newcomer who has recently arrived on their island. Maple infuriates Blue Wing and the two girls are unable to disguise their mutual antipathy and anger. However they share a loss that once brought out into the open bonds them in a friendship that deepens. Together the two girls uncover secrets and despite events that test their new friendship they unite in an unforgettable adventure.

Zillah Bethel was born and raised in Papua New Guinea which gives an authenticity to the descriptions of the landscape and life of Blue Wing’s island. The sights and sounds are vividly brought to life and the heat, the mountains, ocean, palms, orchids, the distinctive birds, and the creatures feel real and visible to the reader. The story is peppered with words in Tok Pisin, sometimes known as Pidgin English, adding to the sensation of visiting another culture. The relationship between the characters, and Blue Wing and Maple in particular, highlights the lack of understanding there can be between people of different cultures and we witness a growing dawning of appreciation of each other’s traditions and lifestyles.

This is a story of many layers and gradually Zillah Bethel peels away each layer until we reach the heart of the story, the overwhelming sense of grief felt by both girls. It is shared loss that bonds them in some ways but we also witness the power of forgiveness. The initial hostility between the girls is overcome by apology and forgiveness but both girls are unable to forgive themselves for what they view as past failings. Any reader brings their own experience to a book and finds an aspect that they recognise or can empathise with. For me the manner in which the author writes about grief is overwhelming in its accuracy. She captures beautifully that ache for one more conversation, one more chance to explain or ask a question or simply to talk. Both Blue Wing and Maple feel they need the opportunity to apologise to their mothers and they are also finding it difficult to forgive others but perhaps hardest of all to forgive themselves. As a study of grief and learning to live with it this book is both comforting and wise. There were many occasions when I was tempted to copy down sentences and sometimes whole passages. The idea of time and how our lives and the way in which we live them are linked to the passage of time and how we perceive it is sensitively explored.

This is not a sad book however as its message is a powerful and hopeful one. A wonderful and enthralling adventure that can be enjoyed for its own sake this is also a sensitive life lesson in learning to forgive and to live each day fully. The author has woven these themes into an adventure story that ensures the reader is completely transported to her world and fully engaged with the characters she has created. Occasionally a wonderful story can be slightly let down by an abrupt or slightly disappointing ending. Not this one. As I read the final chapters time stood still, the world around me disappeared and I was carried along to the most moving and perfect ending.

I would like to thank Fritha Lindqvist and Usborne Books for providing my review copy. The Shark Caller is available now to purchase online or via your nearest independent bookshop which can be found on this map. 

This stunning book could easily be a starting point for discussion and learning. Siringen is a lovely character, kind and wise and his life would make another wonderful story. I was so intrigued by this character that I decided to find out more about the lives of these traditional people, the shark callers, and discovered that Usborne had already done the work for me. They have put together their popular Quick Links on their website and also a comprehensive set of teaching resources created by Shapes for Schools. One aspect of the book that is striking is the attitude to sharks themselves and a important and central theme of the story. Whereas many people view them with fear and even hatred this story highlights a different aspect and information about these creatures is also included within these links. If the glossary of Pidgin English provided in the book and its use in the story has encouraged readers to find out more about this then that is also included. The links collated are a great source of background information and add to the enjoyment and understanding of this lovely book which I would recommend to both upper KS2 and KS3.

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Blog Tour – First Names: Nelson Mandela by Nansubuga N. Isdahl illustrated by Nicole Miles

Posted on February 22, 2021 by alibrarylady

David Fickling Books’ First Names series are presented with their trademark cartoon style illustrations and comic strips familiar from The Phoenix comic and coupled with detailed information and fascinating facts about a number of well known and inspirational people. To the varied names featured in the series they have now added Nelson Mandela. The engaging and accessible style ensures that young readers are quickly drawn in and many of the facts are displayed in graphic format making learning lively and fun. Yet “Nelson” provides a full and impressively comprehensive overview of this remarkable man’s life and this highly readable book would be a valuable addition to bookshelves at home or in school.

The story begins then with the family history and early childhood of small boy Rolihlahla, later named Nelson at school, following him through childhood education to university studies, marriage, early political involvement and later hardships, battles against apartheid, trial, imprisonment and subsequent achievements as President of South Africa. The various complex and difficult subjects are presented in a manner that children can follow and understand and the presentation makes the assimilation of the facts easier for young readers to grasp. There is also a useful pronunciation guide, glossary, timeline and index completing this informative and fascinating read.

I was struck by the style of the presentation and the way in which author and illustrator have created a book that is clearly a joint endeavour and one that treats the man and the subject with sensitivity and respect so am delighted to welcome both Nansubuga Isdahl and Nicole Miles to discuss their collaboration. I found their comments enlightening and think it explains why First Names: Nelson Mandela works so well and I hope you enjoy reading this too.

Collaboration and Creating The Book – First Names: Nelson Mandela

NANSUBUGA ISDAHL, author:

Thanks for having me! 

Despite the fact that writing is largely a solitary process, or perhaps because of this, one of the things I enjoy most about bringing stories to life through books is the collaboration process.

For Nelson, this largely revolved around working together with the book’s wonderful editor, Helen Greathead, and very talented illustrator, Nicole Miles. I felt very fortunate that my perspectives and feedback were sought and integrated into the look and feel of the book, especially because I had spent nearly a decade living in South Africa and the country holds a significant place in my heart. I was particularly eager to see Nicole’s illustrations because the book was largely set in South Africa during an incredibly challenging period (that’s actually an understatement) in the country’s history. The illustrations also had to capture the realities of the country from the time of Nelson’s birth (1918) through to the present day. 

I thought that from the start, Nicole’s illustrations were brilliant. I do remember feeling quite nervous to see some of the illustrations set early on in the book, because these depicted village life and I thought it quite important that they were both accurate and respectful representations, but still playful. I think Nicole did an incredible job of this, and I can’t imagine that it was easy. But I think some of the most striking and powerful illustrations were those that rendered Nelson’s life during apartheid.  There is a way in which Nicole was able to capture what was essentially a harrowing experience – the brutality of discrimination and the way in which black people and other groups were treated as inferior – with both sensitivity and humour. The illustrations, I felt, were such a necessary element in this book, in particular, providing a much-needed balance. There’s something about capturing what apartheid looked like visually that lifts the words off the page and plants them in your mind. At the same time, the illustrations lightened the text. This was needed given the heavy subject matter. 

Overall, I was deeply impressed by Nicole’s ability to elevate the text through her drawings and I also just really enjoyed many of the finer details of her work. She has a skilled hand and it was a pleasure collaborating with her on a project that I feel shares very important messages for children. I have no doubt that her illustrations will provoke some interesting and nuanced discussions in classes and homes! 

NICOLE MILES, illustrator: 

This project was a really intimidating one. There are something like 150 illustrations in the book and, being about Nelson Mandela, I wanted to make sure it did justice to the his legacy. Initially though, things were just a liiiiittle rocky. I’d sent over some illustrations of Nelson and my sample spread which was to give the team an idea of how I would be approaching the book. The feedback came in and it was…a little unsure where I was taking things. It was probably a little sparse and definitely a little stiff. I think I had the impression it needed to be very serious. I sent another sample in and this one was less sparse but still wasn’t hitting where it needed to. Looking back on it, these early samples didn’t have enough personality and, to be honest, didn’t feel like me. I had a call with the Art Director and, through her just talking more about the feeling they were after, the audience and the aims for the book, everything was a lot clearer. I was actually really relieved that they wanted to go in a direction that is much more aligned to me and that focusses on an energy that feels engaging and that helps amplify the words. It was a refreshing restart and things were a lot smoother from there.

Speaking of the words, I really wanted to do right by the author, Nansubuga N Isdahl. I learned a lot from her text and she had clearly put so much into it. I wanted to help bring it to life as best I could. And my Art Director, Katie Keywood-Taylor was a great guide through the project. She was essentially the liaison between Nansu (and the editorial team), and me. It was thanks to her interpretation of the text and her feedback on the illustrations that we were able to strike the right tone between fun and informative.

When I took on this project it was big and daunting and there was so much to do. It’s kind of surreal to see all that work come together at the end into something I’m proud of and excited to share.

Thank you Nansubuga and Nicole for taking the time to explain the creative process behind this excellent guide to Nelson Mandela’s remarkable life. I would like to thank David Fickling Books for inviting me to take part in this blog tour and don’t forget to follow the rest of the tour over the coming days.

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Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on February 20, 2021 by alibrarylady

Hello and welcome to this week’s look at what has been happening in the world of children’s books. The highlight has probably been the announcement of the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards long lists. This always prompts debate in the children’s book community which highlights its importance. Full details of the lists are included below.

What I’m reading…

Picture books can be wonderful for conveying themes and emotions in a manner that touches readers of all ages. This week I read and reviewed A Song for Everyone by Lucy Morris for Just Imagine a book that combines the soothing nature of music, the importance of cooperation and community in a story of well-being. It’s a book with several possible interpretations I think and I love the illustrations.

The Shark Caller by Zillah Bethel is receiving a great deal of positive attention within the children’s book community so when I started reading it this week I was slightly concerned it would not match my expectations. I shouldn’t have worried. I think it is a beautiful story about friendship, grief and forgiveness and I feel as though I have gained from reading it. Sometimes books really do make a difference. My review will be up on the blog next week.

First Names is a series of biographies published by David Fickling Books and this month sees the publication of the latest in the series featuring Nelson Mandela. Prior to taking part in the forthcoming blog tour I settled down to read it and was impressed by the amount of detail and information contained in this accessible and interesting book. You can find out more on Monday when I welcome author Nansubuga N Isdahl and illustrator Nicole Miles to my blog to talk about their collaboration and the creative process.

On Friday my day started with a smile thanks to The Space Detectives. A fast paced and funny plot featuring an appealing duo by Mark Powers and great illustrations by Dapo Adeola in his distinctive style. I enjoyed this first in a new series, published by Bloomsbury this month, and can see it being popular.

News, articles and resources…

The British Library: All our stories: celebrating ethnic diversity in primary reading March 11th – Discover inspiring ways to develop and enjoy an inclusive collection of books with children at your school. This event is an exciting collaboration between the British Library, Seven Stories, the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education and Newcastle University. You can book your place via the link.

The Open University: Reading for Pleasure – this comprehensive website has just been updated and is a treasure trove worth exploring. The new structure is excellent; navigation is easier now, there’s a section for parents and it’s possible to save your favourite resources, examples of good practice etc. A wonderful and valuable website for everyone with an interest in children’s reading.

48 Best Middle-Grade Novels in Verse – I was converted to verse novels by The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan which is included in this wonderful list on the Reading Middle Grade website. It includes old favourites and newer titles and would be a great place to start looking for books for schools, libraries or home.

Meet the Monsters (with Mini Grey) – this fascinating article by Mini Grey on the Picture Book Den blog made me think about all the different monsters I’ve encountered in children’s fiction, from my own childhood, that of my sons and in my role as a school librarian. They are an important part of children’s literature and this is a thought provoking read.

Lit in Colour Pioneers Programme – Schools now have the opportunity to join the Lit In Colour Pioneers programme for free access to set texts, CPD webinars & more to support the integration of BAME writers into the GCSE & A-Level English Lit curriculum. You can find out more in this article containing links to further information on the School Library Association website.

The Klaus Flugge Prize Slideshow – following last week’s announcement of the long list for this award Mat Tobin has generously created this excellent resource which is freely available to share. It contains links to information about the listed books, their creators and the publishers. A delight that I’m still exploring and would highly recommend.

The Smile Shop author Satoshi Kitamura: ‘Kindness is probably the most important thing that we can give each other’ – well this lovely article shared by Book Trust to mark Kindness Week certainly made me smile, I hope it makes you smile too!

Q&A with Carnegie and Kate Greenaway 2021 Judge Akbar Ali – As a designer & illustrator, Judge Akbar Ali reflects on how illustration enhances reading and storytelling, the importance of representation in picture books and much more in this insightful interview with Peters Books.

FREE Event with Kwame Alexander – Publishers Andersen Press are offering the chance for your pupils to meet award-winning poet and novelist Kwame Alexander in an exclusive online event for UK schools on Thursday March 11th. Full details and booking available via the link.

The Kids Are All Right: LGBTQ+ Books for Children and Young People – Sheffield and Lambeth Libraries have compiled a list (link to PDF download in article) of books from picture books up to YA titles which depict the diverse range of identities in the LGBTQ+ community.

Long Lists Announced for 2021 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards – The Medals celebrate outstanding achievement in children’s writing and illustration respectively and are unique in being judged by children’s librarians, with the Shadowers’ Choice Award voted for by children and young people. 40 titles have been longlisted for the 2021 Medals (20 on each longlist). I was pleased to see After the War by Tom Palmer and The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson on the Carnegie list as I think these are two outstanding books for a middle grade audience. There are several picturebooks on the wonderful Greenaway list that I hope make the short list on 18th March.

Become a RECORD SMASHER! with children’s author Jenny Pearson – Ever wanted to SMASH a World Record? In celebration of the upcoming publication of The Incredible Record Smashers by Jenny Pearson, Usborne and Guinness World Records are encouraging as many  children as possible to have a go at SMASHING a book-themed record this #WorldBookDay 2021! Book dominos, book pyramids, balancing books on your head… Everyone who has a go gets an official certificate to prove they are INCREDIBLE. Details of how to get involved are available via the link.

World Book Day: Mark’s Dilemma Lesson Plan – this is excellent and I would like to thank Ben Harris for sharing this resource. What if you’re a black/minority ethnic teacher who has to dress up as a white character to be recognised? This issue sparked the idea for this brilliant teaching guide from the Philosophy Man and Darren Chetty.

Authorfy Book Extracts – yet another fabulous resource from Authorfy. Download hundreds of FREE extracts from children’s books. Download as many as you like; no account / sign-up needed, use in school or at home, new extracts added every week. There is a wide range of titles available.

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

Can Bears Ski? – Raymond Antrobus, ill. Polly Dunbar – this is a lovely review by Rich Simpson and the Q&A with Polly Dunbar (with a little help from Isla!) is interesting too. This highlights, yet again, the importance of children being able to see themselves in books.

I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C James – another picture book which reflects our diverse society. I love the illustrations shared in this review by Rachael from Picture Book Perfect and think this sounds a wonderful and uplifting book.

The Last Bear – Hannah Gold, ill.by Levi Pinfold – another lovely review by Rich Simpson and I enjoyed the glimpse of the illustrations by Levi Pinfold whose work I admire. The story sounds wonderful and one that will resonate with children who are interested in protecting our environment and Rich has included links to Hannah Gold’s website and her favourite children’s books about climate change.

The History of the African and Caribbean Communities in Britain – This book reveals the little-known history of the African and Caribbean communities in Britain. It looks at why people came to Britain, the problems they faced, and the contribution they have made to British society. In her review for Just Imagine Laura Ovenden says “This important history book needs to be in every primary and secondary school library. It gives that important overview but is also peppered with inspiring individuals who were agents of change.” 

Three Keys by Kelly Yang – on Thursday I took part in a inspiring discussion organised by Ben Harris on Twitter about reading for empathy. The next day I read this wonderful review by Nicki Cleveland who says of this book, “All of the characters leap off the page and it is easy to empathise with all of them – the adage that every one is fighting their own battle has never been so plainly put.” Three Keys is definitely going on my reading list.

That’s all for this week, I hope it’s helpful. There is dry weather promised this weekend here so I’m putting books aside briefly to do battle with the garden. Happy reading and ‘see’ you next Saturday.

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