Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on January 16, 2021 by alibrarylady

Hello and welcome to this week’s look at what has been happening in the world of children’s books. It has been a busy week for me and for children’s books and although I know I have not been able to include everything I hope that this selection is enjoyable and helpful.

A reminder that if you are looking for resources linked to reading for pleasure to share online as part of home learning I have collected lots of sites and ideas together here.

What I’m reading…

One of my favourite genres is historical fiction both for children and adults and this week I read and reviewed The Ghost Garden by Emma Carroll for Just Imagine. This is Emma’s debut for Barrington Stoke and I am delighted that a wider audience will now be able to appreciate her work. This is one of those wonderful stories that feels as though it has always been there and Emma has woken it up for us to all enjoy.

As a child I enjoyed the story of the Ugly Duckling and in the Fairy Tale Revolution series Kamila Shamsie provides in Duckling a thoughtful, relevant and feminist version of this popular tale and the illustrations by Laura Barrett are lovely too. I preferred this to the original! There are many important themes covered in this picture book and it would be an excellent book for the classroom.

Last but not least my son gave me Dear Reader by Cathy Retzenbrink for Christmas and I am enjoying it very much. Her descriptions of life as a bookseller are so similar to the world of librarians in many ways; the matching of book to reader and developing a skill in identifying a title from the vaguest of descriptions!

News, articles and resources…

Nikki Gamble’s An Audience With Sita Brahmachari – Are you interested in children’s books, reading, creative writing, or publishing? An Audience with Sita Brahmachari on 4th February sound fabulous. Tickets, including reduced-price student tickets, can be purchased direct from Eventbrite now via the link. I can wholeheartedly recommend these evenings as I have found each so far both interesting and enjoyable.

A Shelter for Sadness – interview with Anne Booth and David Litchfield – this is soothing, interesting and highly recommended. A lovely, thoughtful interview, reading and Q&A with the creators of this picturebook due to be published on 21st January. The LitFilmFest website is full of excellent resources that can be shared in the classroom and online. I’m glad I discovered this and have been browsing the website since.

Optimism in Stories for Children – Experiments in Living – This links beautifully with the interview above and is an uplifting and rewarding listen. I now want to join this band of hope-ists. How do you give hope to children when you’re not feeling hopeful? What’s the difference between optimism and hope? How do children’s writers balance light and dark, joy and sadness? And what kind of language sustains and nurtures us through difficult times when we’re young? Smriti Halls, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Kate Fox and Gaia Vince join Ian McMillan on this Radio 4 programme.

Books for Keeps January Issue – this latest edition of my favourite book related magazine contains many reasons to be cheerful in 2021. There is a look back at recent positive stories, reviews of excellent new books and great articles by Teresa Cremin, Alex Wheatle, Darren Chetty and Karen Sands-O’Connor amongst others. This is my weekend reading sorted.

Engaging readers remotely – a helpful blogpost by teacher Christopher Harrison providing strategies to help keep children reading during lockdown.

Why The School Library Was My First Investment – Richard Gerver – the newly appointed president of the School Library Association urges schools to recognise the power of school libraries in this important article for the Teaching Times.

Authorfy – Publisher Permissions During the Lockdown – if you are consider reading books online to pupils this is a helpful resource. Mel Taylor-Bessent of Authorfy has contacted her publishing partners to bring you their permissions policies and guidelines for sharing stories online during the Covid-19 pandemic. There are details via the link but sure to check the guidelines in full via their websites as they may be updated from time-to-time.

Firefly acquires debut middle-grade from book blogger Jo Clarke – this announcement on Tuesday made me beam! I’m thrilled for Jo who has worked so hard for this and love the sound of her debut. Due out in April 2022, Libby and the Parisian Puzzle will be illustrated by Becka Moor, this is a book to look forward to.

Young adult books roundup – review – this selection chosen by Fiona Noble for the Guardian includes the new title from Angie Thomas, Concrete Rose and What We’re Scared of by Keren David featured in an article in last week’s Reading Matters.

New Resources for the Classroom from Authorfy – these resources linked to popular children’s books are created by the publishing partners of Authorfy and are free to download. They are useful for schools, libraries or home learning.

Helping Home Learning: Reading with TRUST – This comic strip is designed to be shared with parents to support them in maximising the benefit of shared reading time with their child. Free to download from the Education Endowment Foundation website.

Bourneville Bookfest for Schools – Bournville BookFest for Schools is going online – and this year their storytelling events are for schools…families..everyone! All Free. All Digital. Register your interest via the link. Speakers include Cressida Cowell, Benjamin Zephaniah, Michael Rosen, Nick Sharratt, Serena Patel, Tom Palmer, Steven Lenton and Steven Butler, Matt”Poet with Punch” Windle and storyteller Anna O’Brien.

Time is short – time for short stories: enriching reading & writing with perfectly formed tales – This useful and interesting new blog by Martin Galway of Herts Primary English includes: Updated short story recommendations booklist, designed to be a quick, medium, or longer read, why they matter in our reading offer – especially now.

Young Quills 2020 – the shortlist – the Historical Association’s annual awards for best historical fiction for young people were delayed due to the pandemic but the shortlists in each of the three categories were announced this week. Lots of great titles to choose from.

Guest Post by Poet James Carter – How to enthuse children whilst delivering online – this special guest post on Jo Cummins @LibraryGirl&BookBoy is full of excellent ideas and suggestions and some lovely poems too.

Books for Topics Free Storytime Online – a reminder that these free Storytime Online resources are still available to all. Children use a QR code to access a range of stories being read by their authors. There are separate sheets for ages 3-5, 5-7, 7-9 and 9-11 to download & share.

Voyage of the Sparrowhawk by Natasha Farrant Teaching Resources – Scott Evans (The Reader Teacher) has written chapter-by-chapter resources for this Costa Award winning book with comprehension questions, writing opportunities & cross-curricular activities. Available to download from the Faber website via the link.

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

Saving Hanno: A Refugee Boy and His Dog by Miriam Halahmy – this sounds lovely. Mary Esther Judy says in her review “With flowing language, a steady, strong pace and a vivid voice Saving Hanno… is a fantastic book for children ages 7 and up, or to read together.”

Chocolate Milk, X-Ray Specs and Me by Bethany Walker, illustrated by Jack Noel – this review and interview on Nicki Cleveland’s blog made me smile and the book sounds great fun. We all need a bit of fun right now.

Crater Lake Evolution by Jennifer Killick – Crater Lake was a big hit with teachers and pupils so there is great excitement online about the sequel due out in May. Teacher and blogger Andrew Rough has whetted our appetites further with his cracking review. I imagine this is going to be preordered by many!

The Broken Raven – Joseph Elliott – somehow I missed the first instalment of Joseph Elliott’s Shadow Skye trilogy but this review by Rich Simpson of the second book in the series has convinced me that I should correct that. Rich says that “Alongside all the drama and action, however, there is also a mix of humour, empathy for the characters and a message of hope.” A great read for YR7+

I hope that you have enjoyed this week’s round up of news and reviews. A quick reminder that the blog tour for The Boy Who Sang with Dragons by Andy Shepherd is taking place at the moment and you can read my review tomorrow.

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Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on January 9, 2021 by alibrarylady

Hello and welcome to the first Reading Matters of 2021. It’s difficult to find the right words to describe this first week and yet again I hope that the world of children’s books will provide us with some cheer, comfort, escape and maybe even guidance. Despite the difficulties there is a kindness in the children’s book and education community that makes things easier. I hope that this newsletter gives you the excuse to sit down with a cuppa, relax and catch up with what you may have missed during a frantic week.

For everyone who is trying to cope with online teaching and learning again I have produced a new version of Reading for Pleasure – Resources to Help Children Enjoy Books at Home. This updated and extended version includes resources, activities and ideas created by generous organisations, authors, illustrators and publishers. I do hope that these links will be useful to teachers, school librarians and parents. There are some more links that may be of help in the news section below.

What I’m reading…

Over the Christmas and New Year break I read several children’s books, some of which were for review for the School Librarian Magazine and others were proofs I was lucky to receive from publishers and authors. So many to choose from but these were my favourites. First up is The Valley of the Lost Secrets a debut by Lesley Parr. I loved the story, the writing style and most importantly the characters. Selected as Waterstones’ Book of the Month I do hope this wonderful book reaches as many young readers as possible despite the closure of book shops. You can read a thoughtful article by Lesley in the links below. I also very much enjoyed The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman which was published in September, the combination of sibling adventure, magical journey and environmental message is wonderfully done. The House at the Edge of Magic by Amy Sparkes is a fabulous and funny introduction to the fantasy genre for year 3 and 4+ and is published this month. The Boy Who Sang with Dragons written by Andy Shepherd and illustrated by Sara Ogilvie was published this week and is a perfect finale to this lovely series combining magic & family. I am taking part in the blog tour over the next couple of weeks so do watch out for that to find out more.

My highlight of this week was reading The Children of Swallow Fell by Julia Green followed by attending The Audience With Julia interview chaired by Nikki Gamble on Thursday evening . The book is thoughtful story about resilience, survival and hope. A rich and lovely read that is fitting for us all during lockdown. The interview was a treat. The conversation between Julia and Nikki touched on many aspects of Julia’s books and on the writing process. I particularly like both Julia’s view of children as readers; treating them as intelligent people although with less life experience and the importance she attaches to providing clarity in her writing giving the child reader a chance to fill the gaps. It was a wonderful evening.


News, articles and resources…

Books for Topics: Favourite Books of the Year – Children’s Books of the Year – as selected by a super-knowledgeable community of teachers, TAs, authors, librarians & booklovers, who’ve been nominating their favourite children’s books of 2020. This is definitely worth a look to find out what you may have missed last year.

Book Trust: New Children’s Books for January – every month the BookTrust team review dozens of books for children and share their favourites by age group. A great place to find some new reading suggestions.

2021 in books: what to look forward to this year – the Guardian provides a comprehensive look at the literary year ahead including books for children and teens to watch out for.

SF Said: Virtual Author Visits – a helpful blogpost by SF Said, author of Varjak Paw, describing how his virtual visits have worked during the pandemic. This will inspire and reassure authors and schools in equal measure. In addition, to replace school visits during lockdown, SF Said will be doing a live Twitter chat on Tuesdays from 2-3pm, answering questions about his books, & chatting about reading, writing & books in general. PARENTS & TEACHERS: please tweet SF Said questions from your children. Use the hashtag #whatSFSaid

Tom Palmer: Holocaust Memorial Day Resources – Tom Palmer’s website is full of useful resources for teachers and pupils and these special resources include a pre-recorded assembly, resource pack, a five part story and much more. Excellent for Yr5 – 8. Holocaust Memorial Day takes place on 27th January.


Costa Book Award Category Winners Announced – the winners of each shortlist were announced earlier this week and the winner of the 2020 Children’s Book Award is Voyage if the Sparrowhawk by Natasha Farrant. The overall winner is announced on Tuesday 26th January, could it be the children’s winner?

The Bishop’s Stortford College Festival of Literature – this festival brings acclaimed authors, illustrators, and poets together to inspire both children and adults to read for pleasure. Now entering its 12th year, the Festival will take place online for the first time. Available to watch live, or on catch up, the Festival will run between the 2nd and 12th of February 2021 and has a Schools Programme aimed at pupils aged between 4-18 years-old as well as an evening Open Events programme for sixth form and adults.

The Northern YA Literary Festival 15th – 17th January – this looks great for secondary school librarians and teachers or any YALit lovers. The programme includes Patrice Lawrence, El Norry, Leila Rasheed & Bali Rai, Sally Nicholls and Eve Ainsworth. You need to register to attend the online events, more info via the link.

Empathy Lab News – the new Read for Empathy Collections will be announced on 26th January and Empathy training takes place in March in readiness for Empathy Day in June. You can find out how to get involved via the link to their official website.

A Night with Knights of… 20th Jan, 7.00-8.00 pm – Join the Reading Agency and publisher of diverse and inclusive books for children, Knights Of, for an evening of author and illustrator chats, news on new titles coming up through 2021 and the landscape of children’s publishing, before opening the floor to audience questions. Tickets are free but you need to register via the link above.

The Houses That Look Like Ours: An Essay by Lesley Parr – Lesley Parr wrote The Valley of Lost Secrets to reflect the values and environments of her working-class childhood in South Wales. In this exclusive piece, the author of the Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month for January picks her favourite children’s books that feature working-class children and communities.

My ‘issue’ book, by Keren David – a blogpost by author Karen David for The Awfully Big Blog Adventure about her new book, What We’re Scared Of, about anti-semitism which is published this month. An important read.

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

This Love by Isabel Otter and Harriet Lynas – a picture book celebrating love in its many different guises. This review by Emma Kuyateh “This Love ensures that all children feel included & able to see themselves somewhere in the story” and the glimpse of the artwork has sold this to me.


The Boy Who Met a Whale by Nizrana Farook – I enjoyed The Girl Who Stole an Elephant, Nizrana Farook’s debut, last year so was already looking forward to this book and this review by Ben Harris, one of my favourite trusted reviewers, has pushed it up the list.

The Humiliations of Welton Blake by Alex Wheatle – Nikki Gamble’s fabulous interview with Alex Wheatle has inspired me to read more of his work and this insightful review by Mat Tobin has encouraged me to include this title published by Barrington Stoke on my wish list. It sounds like a must have for all secondary school libraries.


Climate Crisis for Beginners Written by Andy Prentice, Eddie Reynolds Illustrated by El Primo Ramon – Andrea Reece, expert reviewer for LoveReading4Kids says this is, “Full of clearly presented facts and figures, plus useful advice on ways they can make a difference, this is an excellent introduction to the climate crisis for young readers.” Published by Usborne it contains links to helpful websites too.

That’s all for this week and I do hope that this varied selection means that there is something here for all tastes and that you have found something interesting, helpful or enjoyable. Happy reading!

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Reading for Pleasure – Resources to Help Children Enjoy Books at Home

Posted on January 5, 2021 by alibrarylady

Update January 2021

As the new term starts teachers, support staff and parents have been faced with a last minute turn around regarding the opening of schools and once again on-line learning is to be adopted for the majority of the children across England.

When the first lockdown took place in March 2020 I compiled a list of online resources linked to children’s books and reading for pleasure in the hope that it would be helpful to teachers, school librarians and parents. As new resources were produced I updated the lists and over the following weeks these various resources were shared many times. They are going to be needed again. I have spent some time checking and updating links and have also added some more. The presentation has been adjusted slightly so that they are organised into a more readily searchable structure. I hope they are useful to you and help ease the stress of the situation a little.


In March 2020 I wrote this and it still applies. Thank you to all the generous people who rose to the challenge then and are doing so again,

Today all over the country teachers and parents are preparing for schools to be closed for an indefinite period. Teachers are faced with creating ways that children can access education online and parents are wondering how they can home educate or occupy their children. Thankfully organisations, charities, authors, illustrators, school librarians and teachers have been sharing resources for several days. This is extremely generous but at times the vast quantity available can feel bewildering. Therefore I have selected some book related resources  that I think primary school children will enjoy and parents will find useful. I hope to update these on a regular basis without making the list too long and overwhelming.

Organisations,  Charities and Literacy Websites 

Words for Life – a brilliant place for parents to start, this is a comprehensive web portal for parents created by The Literacy Trust. Split up by age group, you will find ideas and guidance for simple activities that will engage children at home, while also benefiting their reading, writing and language development. You’ll be able to access free reading and writing resources, audiobooks, videos, competitions and reading challenges. Their new Virtual School Library site also offers author videos, free books, exclusive videos and their top three recommended reads.

School Library Association Support for Out of School Learning – this fabulous resource has just been updated and is full of helpful links for school librarians and teachers and parents too. They are divided into helpful categories and include links to resources, ideas and advice. The most comprehensive selection I have found.

Love My Books – another free website providing resources, activity ideas and book suggestions for children aged 0-11. Pages of great ideas for parents and children sharing books together.

World Book Day – Browse their booklists for children and young people at all ages and stages – for ideas and inspiration. There are stacks of links to book related resources and videos too. They have just added the Book Ideas Hub to the website which looks fabulous.

Authorfy – this is a great website. Full of free resources, activity packs, writing  prompts, author videos and brilliant book recommendations this is a good way to entertain and educate children as it is so engaging.

The British Library Discovering Children’s Books – this new website has a wide range of information and resources available from how to draw a Gruffalo to how to make a mini book. Since last year new activities have been added and this a great website to browse for ideas and articles.

The Reading Realm– there are now some free learning packs available on this website based on animals and nature, fairy tales and creative writing prompts. The creators of this website are continually updating and adding to this helpful site so it is well worth revisiting to keep up with updates.

Audible Stories – Audible have launched a free service that offers educational and entertaining audiobook content for kids, teens, and families.

Book Trust Stories and Games – lots of lovely interactive books to read online or watch with signing plus stacks of games and activities to share. They have now added a Home Time page with links to lots of fabulous activities. This is definitely worth a look.

Hay Festival Programme for Schools Free Events Online – Watch authors from Hay Festival Programme for Schools filmed over the last 3 years. There are 55 fun filled and inspiring events to choose from including Ade Adepitan, Gemma Cairney, Emma Carroll, Eoin Colfer, Julian Clary, Abi Elphinstone and Andy Stanton.

#LibrariesFromHome brought to you by Libraries Connected – amongst the range of digital resources available are the excellent online rhyme times, story times and lego clubs that keep children engaged and support early literacy and creative thinking.

Open University: Supporting Reading at Home – this website, such a fabulous resource for educators, now has new section on the site in response to the pandemic and it is updated regularly. Highlights include ‘Book Chat: Reading with your child’ and a reading treasure hunt.


Toppsta Books with linked activities – this popular website offers book recommendations, reviews and much more. The link above takes you to a selection of books with activities suitable for a wide age group.

Authors, Illustrators and Publishers

Free Resources from Barrington Stoke – From reading guides to colouring in sheets, their Young Editors Scheme to author videos, there’s something for every age of reader linked to some of this publisher’s wonderful books.

Rob Biddulph Draw Along Videos – these are great. Each Tuesday and Thursday at 10am during the March lockdown Rob Biddulph posted a video of him drawing a character for children to copy. These are stored on his website for you to watch at any time. He is also doing new live videos each Saturday at 10am.

Peter Bunzl Cogheart and Moonlocket School Resources– these include some great creative projects such as design your own mechanical robot and making a flip book animation.

Emma Carroll Online Writing Workshops – this is so tempting as I love Emma’s books. Emma is in the early stage of writing a new book and she is going to share the early stages of her writing journey, twice a week until half term in February. 2021 You can join in by writing your own story. It starts on 12th January and you can find out how to join in via the link.

Chicken House Books Education Hub – Here you’ll find educational resources that work alongside this publisher’s most popular books books. Although designed for use in schools the videos and PDF downloads etc. could be enjoyed at home too.

14 Stories in 14 days from Egmont Publishers – a website, inspired by the recommended 14 days of self-isolation, offering 14 days of free content to provide entertainment and educational support for parents, carers and children across the UK.

Our Corona Diary – founded by Kathryn Evans this initiative hopes to document the experience through the eyes of young diarists and inspire a creative response to the crisis. Suitable for all ages from early years to young adult there are stacks of creative ideas plus information for parents, teachers and carers.

Elise Gravel Free Comic– Illustrator Elise Gravel has created a free to download comic which explains the Covid19 situation to children.

Abi Elphinstone Jungle Drop – author Abi Elphinstone has shared 7 videos of her chatting about her latest book due out in May. You can have a sneaky peep at the opening chapters here too.

Draw with Jim Field – learn to draw alongside illustrator Jim Field with these great videos of him drawing Oi Frog and more on his website.

Caryl Hart Author Events Online – This is an excellent resource. Authors and illustrators are creating loads of resources that children, teachers and families can access from home. These include videos, live broadcasts on Instagram and Facebook, and printables and these have been collated and shared on this site by author Caryl Hart.

The Bookwanderers Club – a live book club hosted by children’s author Anna James last year every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 2pm while schools are closed due to COVID-19 and the videos of these interviews are still available to watch. A great selection of authors in these enjoyable interviews. It feels like eavesdropping on friends!

Stay at Home Story Time with Oliver Jeffers – watch author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers reading one of his books every weekday on Instagram and talking about some of the things that went into making it. This link takes you to his website where all the videos have been collated.

Steve Lenton’s Draw-Along-A-Lenton – Children’s Illustrator Steve Lenton’s YouTube channel is full of  great videos showing children that everyone can draw and is being updated frequently.

StoryTime4HomeTime with James Mayhew – last March author and illustrator James Mayhew started posting videos on Youtube each day and they are still available to watch. Whether you’re in school or at home you can listen to a story and watch James draw upside down! A lovely, soothing end to the day. Highly recommended.

Elle McNicoll Lockdown Writing Class – the author of A Kind of Spark and Show Us Who You Are, both published by Knights Of is generously sharing these free sessions every Monday and Friday and will be assigning tasks at the end of each. These are suitable for young readers aged 9+.

Staying Home Picture Book Free e-book by Sally Nicholls and Viviane Schwarz – this lovely picture books is still available to everyone as a free download from the Andersen Press website as part of their continued effort to entertain and occupy children and their parents during lockdown.

Nosy Crow Free Resources – these publishers have put together lots of activities, resources, free Nosy Crow books and other content which they hope will help keep families happy.  There are lots of links to fabulous stuff here.

Tom Palmer Literacy Resources – in addition to a range of great resources linked to Tom’s books he has also provided Free Reads and a daily video of him reading aloud from his books.

Kids Poems and Stories With Michael Rosen – This is the official Michael Rosen video channel. All videos and playlists on this channel have been approved by Michael Rosen and are safe to watch.

SF Said: Virtual Author Visits – a helpful blogpost by SF Said, author of Varjak Paw, describing how his virtual visits have worked during the pandemic. This will inspire and reassure authors and schools in equal measure. In addition, to replace school visits during lockdown, SF Said will be doing a live Twitter chat on Tuesdays from 2-3pm, answering questions about his books, & chatting about reading, writing & books in general. PARENTS & TEACHERS: please tweet SF Said questions from your children. Use the hashtag #whatSFSaid

Gaspard and the Quiet Day – If you are a parent, carer or teacher trying to find a comforting way of explaining the current situation to young children this is wonderful. A video of a special story written by Zeb Soanes and illustrated by James Mayhew, it is both thoughtful and reassuring. Perfectly done.

Nick Sharratt’s Drawing Tips – Lots of videos with drawing activities based on his well known books such as the Daisy series by Kes Gray plus the characters for Jacqueline Wilson’s books and more.

Robin Stevens The Detective Society’s Top- Secret Files – loads of activities linked to Robin’s books plus ‘How to Have the Perfect Midnight Feast’ and other such delights.

Fly With Tiny Owl Learning Resources – the publishers of some of my favourite picture books have created some lovely resources linked to their books. These include: Author readings/ bedtime stories, Activity packs, Crafts and Teacher resources.

Piers Torday Storytime – Piers Torday will be reading The Dark Wild* at 2.30pm every weekday from Weds 6th Jan, a chapter a day, live on Instagram, or catch up later on YouTube.

Art with Clara Vulliamy – Author and illustrator Clara Vulliamy has started sharing entertaining art and drawing activities on her YouTube channel based on the characters from her much loved books.

Walkers Picture Book Party – ACTIVITY SHEETS: drawing, spot-the-difference or escape some mazes, there’s something for everyone!

Coronavirus: A Book for Children – Publishers Nosy Crow have produced a free information book explaining the coronavirus to children, illustrated by Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler, with expert input. This is excellent & can be downloaded via the link above.

That’s all for now, I will add others as and when I find them. Don’t forget if you are a member of your local library they will provide a range of online resources that are included in your membership.





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Farewell 2020 – a year of blogging, tweeting and reading children’s books

Posted on December 31, 2020 by alibrarylady

It is New Year’s Eve 2020 and a time to reflect on the last twelve months. Others have written about their favourite books and I have compared lists of top tens, top twenties and even mammoth collections of one hundred titles. Despite the number of books I have read this year I know there are many excellent ones on my shelves and lists that I have not yet got to. So I am not collating a ‘best of 2020’ list. Instead I prefer to reflect on the highs and lows of being part of the children’s book community. In 2020 I think it has been overwhelmingly the highs that have made the difference.

My reading year began really just before the end of 2019. My birthday is at Christmas so my poor family have a double problem of what to buy me as a present. Unsurprisingly this often means books. Somehow, without me saying anything at all, my sister knew that The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy was a book I would love. However neither of us knew then what a solace the book would be as the new year progressed. It sits on my bedside table and I dip into it as needed, always finding something wise or kind that helps me to get up and face the day.

My new year’s resolution was to attempt to try and keep up with all the latest children’s book news so I decided that a weekly newsletter would be the prompt I needed to ensure this happened. I wrote the first Reading Matters partly for myself but the comments I received made me realise that others found it helpful too. So it became a weekly fixture much to my family’s bewilderment. There are times when it has been difficult to keep up with the news but the support and feedback I receive make it worthwhile and I still find it helpful to know where all the links are to articles I want to keep ‘just in case’.

In March real life changed for us all and it is no surprise that my most viewed post of the year is Reading for Pleasure: resources to help children enjoy books at home as education increasingly went online and school librarians, teachers and parents needed access to as many resources as possible. Despite the difficulties people were still trying to make their school libraries work for their communities and Creating a Primary School Library which I wrote at the beginning of 2019 has been visited by many this year. During the first lockdown both adults and children in particular read to escape or to be comforted and the numbers reading Why Do Adults Enjoy Reading Children’s Books? suggest many were rereading old favourites or sharing new books with their children.

The online children’s book community formed a kind corner in an increasingly strange world and teachers like Ben Harris @one_to_read and Andrew Rough @teacher_mr_r started weekly book chats where we not only compared book tastes but made new friendships too. In the summer I attended the online Exploring Children’s Literature Summer School run by Nikki Gamble of Just Imagine with some excellent guest speakers. I learned so much from this and found it a valuable and rewarding experience. I can wholeheartedly recommend next year’s school if you are interested in children’s literature. I also discovered podcasts this year and have enjoyed listening to Deeper Reading with Jake Hayes and In the Reading Corner with Nikki Gamble (again!)

Having said that I was not going to create a Best of 2020 list there are one or two books I do want to mention. After the War by Tom Palmer had a profound impact on me and I think it is a shining example of why children’s books matter. It is also my most viewed review of the year so others are discovering this wonderful book too. There are some stories that need to be told and this is one of them. I also loved The Time of Green Magic by Hilary McKay which although published last year I only read this autumn. I think it is beautiful and magical in the most believable and affecting way. There were lots of gorgeous picture books published this year and I enjoyed far too many to list here. However two that mean a lot to me because of the kindness they contain are Perdu by Richard Jones and Bloom by Anne Booth and Robyn Wilson-Owen. The world would be a happier place if some politicians read picture books, well I think so anyway!

So as the year progressed I adapted to Zoom School Library Association committee meetings and branch quizzes and online literature festivals, even virtual book launches and seminars became the ‘new normal.’ Through it all I chatted online with book chums, fellow bloggers and tweeters, school librarians, teachers and lecturers, authors, illustrators and publishers. Always they have managed to make me smile no matter how bleak the news. I am grateful to them all and am daring to hope that we may be able to meet up in real life before the end of 2021.

So the year comes full circle and for Christmas this year my sister gave me The Book of Hopes curated by Katherine Rundell. A book that so perfectly fits this year and our wishes for the future. Wishing everyone a healthy and I hope easier year ahead.

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The Valley of Lost Secrets by Lesley Parr

Posted on December 31, 2020 by alibrarylady

The Valley of Lost Secrets is an evacuee story with a difference. This beautifully told, tender story of two young brothers, a mystery, and a community that holds secrets of its own captivated me from the opening scenes to its satisfying conclusion. It is really rather special.

Stories set in wartime are popular with both adults and children. Perhaps the reason is that the reader is able to witness people overcoming the worst of situations and this reassures us of the capabilities and strength of the human spirit in adversity. With children’s books in particular we also read them safe in the knowledge that there will be if not a perfect happy ending at least there will be a hopeful one. Children’s books set in World War 2 featuring evacuees are popular because young readers can relate to the characters and even though the situation is unknown to them they do understand the reactions and emotions. Modern classics such as Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden and Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian have been staples of the classroom for many years. To that list you can now add this beautiful debut by Lesley Parr.

It is September 1939 and twelve year old Jimmy and his little brother Ronnie are evacuated from London to a small Welsh mining village. It could not be more different to the life the two boys know. They have become outsiders and despite the care he receives from the couple who take them in for Jimmy in particular this is difficult. Then he discovers a skull hidden in a tree and frightened by what this means Jimmy needs a friend to share his secret with and to solve the mystery. Help comes from an unlikely source and gradually Jimmy uncovers secrets from the past that will change his attitude and his understanding of what home, family and belonging truly mean.

From the opening pages I was drawn to the character of Jimmy. At twelve years old he is at that awkward stage on the cusp of adolescence but fiercely protective of his six year old brother. His sense of responsibility to Ronnie and his loyalty to his own family so far away is touching and captured and conveyed kindly by Lesley Parr. The scene where the young evacuees stand waiting to be chosen by the people of Llanbryn, so reminiscent in some ways to the familiar fear when teams are being chosen for sport, conveys great emotion in a language and manner that feels so true to the feelings of children. From that moment on I cared about these boys and cared deeply. I think young readers will do so too.

The knowledge and love of communities such as the village of Llanbryn is evident in the writing. There is beauty in the landscape of looming mountains and the valley in which the village rests. This is a community where everyone knows each other with all the advantages and disadvantages that this brings. The adult characters are not mere stereotypes or pushed to the background, these are well rounded, intriguing flesh and blood people. Gwen and Alun, the couple with whom the boys are living stayed with me just as much as the boys after I finished reading.

However it is the boys who take centre stage for much of the story and the relationship between Jimmy and Ronnie is believable and moving. Little Ronnie is open and trusting, he relishes the new opportunities and with the support of his big brother settles in to their new life. For Jimmy this is much harder. He is resentful and resists viewing Gwen and Alun Thomas as ‘family’ and their house as ‘home’. Although many in the community are welcoming some view the children as outsiders and blame them for events for which they are not responsible. Of course this type of prejudice is with us today and this story would encourage further thought and discussion about the true meaning of home and community. It also depicts the changing friendships that children make and illustrates particularly well how one should not always make assumptions about people. There are moments of heartbreak but these are balanced with the feelings of love, hope and the importance of brotherhood throughout the story. There is much to think about in this kind and perceptive book.

Jimmy is at the heart of this story and I loved him; a wonderful narrator with a voice that speaks to the child within us all. This reminded me very much of stories my own Dad tells me of wartime Liverpool. The Valley of Lost Secrets is a story that feels so real that part of me wants it to be true.

Thank you Lesley Parr and Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sending me my review copy, I will treasure it. The Valley of Lost Secrets is published on 7th January 2021.


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Reading Matters – news from the world of children’s books

Posted on December 12, 2020 by alibrarylady

Hello and welcome to the last Reading Matters of the year. There is a slightly festive feel to the links this week with ideas for books to share as a family during the break from Dawn Finch and a guide to books on TV over Christmas from school librarian, Helen Smith.

When I made my New Year’s Resolution to try to keep up to date with children’s book news and share it if possible I, like everyone else, had no idea what 2020 would bring for us all. Looking back now over the last twelve months one of the most encouraging aspects has been the supportive and friendly children’s book community that I have met through this newsletter. Thank you to everyone who has created, shared, or inspired the lovely book chat that has cheered and comforted us all. There are too many to name but I appreciate it very much and hope that, if possible, you have a happy and healthy Christmas.

What I’m reading…

The Lost Valley of Secrets by Lesley Parr is to be published in January and I was lucky enough to be sent a proof copy. When an author makes you care about the characters you are carried along with the story as you want to discover what happens to these people. Within one chapter I cared about Jimmy and Ronnie. This lovely story highlights the special bond between brothers and the importance of home and community to us all.

I am now halfway through another debut, The Lost Child’s Quest by James Haddell and enjoying this adventure and its main protagonist greatly. Both James Haddell and Lesley Parr are teachers and clearly know their audience well. My reviews of both books will follow soon.

News, articles and resources…

Sky News Book Trust Interview – interview with Smriti Halls and Gemma Malley about the BookTrust Christmas appeal – 10th December 2020. I love what Smriti says about the importance of books for children, and for us all really, and wanted to start this week’s collection of links with this burst of positivity!

Why Nostalgia for Classic Children’s Books is a Problem – this article by Dr Laura Ovenden for TES makes some important and excellent points and is well worth a read if you missed it last weekend.

Love that book: The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey – Alison Dawkins shares her passion for this very special Christmas book on the Herts for Learning blog. The post includes a reading of the book and some teaching ideas linked to the story,

Books of the Year selected by Gordon Askew – There are lots of ‘best of’ lists at this time of year and I always value Gordon’s reviews and am inclined to read books that he recommends. This look back at his children’s books of 2020 contains some real gems.

Alex Wheatle: ‘I have nightmarish moments where my past comes back and hits me’ – The prize-winning author’s life was an episode of Steve McQueen’s hit series Small Axe last weekend. In this interview he talks about working on the project and his latest novel, based on a Jamaican slave uprising

Finch’s Festive Fifty! by Dawn Finch – Librarian, author and CILIP trustee Dawn Finch has created a lovely list focussed on family-friendly books that can be read aloud and shared with independent readers (including grown-ups!) All longer MG novels suitable for age. 9+. Dawn announced this week that she was standing down from her role as CILIP trustee, she has made a large and valuable contribution to the world of libraries and will be much missed.

Tick Box Diversity – Chris Curtis writes as both a teacher and a parent of a child with cerebral palsy and I found this an enlightening post. A thoughtful and thought provoking blogpost that school librarians and teachers will find informative.

Judging Panel for the 2021 Klauss Flugge Prize announced – The Klaus Flugge Prize is awarded to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration. This is the sixth year of this influential award, and the 2021 judges have been named as illustrator Posy Simmonds MBE; Darryl Clifton Illustration Programme Director at Camberwell College of Arts; Fleur Sinclair of the Sevenoaks Bookshop; Mathew Tobin Senior Lecturer in English and Children’s Literature, Oxford Brookes University; and 2020 Klaus Flugge Prize winner Eva Eland.

Christmas Reading Times 2020 – I look forward to this every year and I know I’m not alone! Helen Smith, librarian at Eckington School, has put together this publication listing all the books being shown in adaptations on TV over Christmas. A huge amount of effort goes into thus each year so if you are going to share it please do credit Helen. The link to the downloadable publication is on The Heart of the School website run by Caroline Roche, another site well worth investigating.

BookTrust Storytime Prize – This prize, which is now in its second year, celebrates and promotes the best books for sharing with young children and is run in association with the CILIP Youth Libraries Group. BookTrust Storytime Prize 2020 has been won by Libby Walden and Jacqui Lee for their book This Is Owl!

Go on a Winter Adventure with the British Library – this lovely activity created by Viviane Schwarz would be fun to share with children in the last week of term or during the holidays.

Top of the Kids Books 2020: Picture Books – this is a lovely selection chosen by Mary Esther Judy including a couple that I have missed.

The School Library Association’s new President brings a new vision for the future of school libraries – on Wednesday SLA announced the appointment of their new president, award-winning speaker, bestselling author and world-renowned thinker, Richard Gerver. “I will be spending my time at the SLA bringing school libraries back to the heart of the debate around education.”


Best of 2020: Picture Books (Translated) – the creators of the World Kid Lit website asked us to tell them their favourite discoveries from the last 12 months. This post talks about picture book but it also includes links to favourite chapter books for emerging readers, middle grade and young adult.

Books to inspire activism – from toddlers to teens – this article co-written by Nicky Parker of Amnesty and Letterbox Library provides top tips for books to empower young activists. A wonderful range of titles from picture books to YA titles.

The best children’s books for Christmas 2020 – a selection made by Amanda Craig for The New Statesman this includes one of my favourite reads of the the year, The Silent Stars Go By by Sally Nicholls.

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

A Thing Called Snow written and illustrated by Yuval Zommer – this children’s book creator is known for his titles celebrating the world around us and this one sounds perfect for a winter read. Veronica Price describes it as a “spellbinding book is absolutely perfect for sharing with young children at this time of year and will give hours of pleasure to both children and adults.”

Brand New Boy by David Almond – this review of David Almond’s latest book has intrigued me and as an admirer of his writing I am keen to find out more. The story is set in a school and Louise says, “Almond has written around this theme before, but Brand New Boy is squarely in support of schools and teachers.”

Daemon Voices on Stories and Storytelling by Philip Pullman – selected by Joanne Owen as LoveReading4Kids’ YA Book of the Month for December I can imagine this being on many Christmas present lists. Joanne’s summary is tempting, “Dæmon Voices is a trove of enlightenment, and entertaining to boot.”

The Invisible by Tom Percival – although this book is not published until February 2021 I wanted to include it as it is already on my wish list. I’ve enjoyed all of Tom Percival’s picture books that I have read so far and this sounds just as lovely. If you read this lovely review from Sue at The Bookbag I think you’ll want to read it too.

That’s all for this week and for this year. Happy reading!

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Reading Matters – news from the world of children’s books

Posted on December 5, 2020 by alibrarylady

Hello and welcome to this week’s look back at the latest news from the world of children’s books. For various reasons this week it has not been possible for me to keep up with book related events or reading as much as I would like. I’m planning to put that right next week! Although this may not be a comprehensive overview it does, I hope include some helpful items.

What I’m reading…

My week began with a happy time enjoying some wonderful new books and have selected some Perfect Picture Books for Christmas by Shirley Hughes, Alex T Smith and Benji Davies, all of which I think are destined to become treasured family favourites.

Last weekend I read Rocky of the Rovers by Tom Palmer and think that this is the sort of book which could convert football fans to reading and readers to the love of the beautiful game. You can find out more and read my review here. I am now reading a really lovely debut by Lesley Parr, The Valley of Lost Secrets set in Wales during World War 2. The best books are those that make you care and I already care very much about the characters. There is a sense of the importance of community and home running through the story which I’m finding touching. I’m looking forward to reading more this weekend.

Unfortunately I missed some lovely “bookish” events I was looking forward to this week but on Friday evening managed to catch the #BooksNearBedtime Twitter chat. The last one of the year it was, as usual, interesting and fun. Ben Harris @one_to_read has more great chats planned next year so if you are a Twitterer I’d recommend looking out for the hashtag. It’s usually on Thursday evenings at 8pm.

News, articles and resources…

Best children’s and teens books of 2020 – in a year when children’s literature has provided consolation, escape and hope this is a fabulous selection from Imogen Russell Williams.

Kirkus Reviews 2020 Lists – thank you to Mat Tobin (again!) for flagging up these wonderful selections of children’s books. There are many to browse on the website and these are just some you may find tempting: Best Picture Books of 2020 for the Sense of Wonder Shelf , Best Picture Books of 2020 That Celebrate Family, Best Chapter Books of 2020, Best Middle-Grade Graphic Novels of 2020 and several more by theme or genre. This is definitely worth a look.

Favourite Christmas Books Selected by Love My Books – the team of literacy specialists at this charity that combines carefully chosen books with activities and resources designed to help parents and young children have put together a lovely list of Christmas books featuring old favourites and new titles. There are also links to activities for several of the books

Love My Books December Newsletter – this month’s newsletter includes the Christmas book selection mentioned above and their Top Ten Picturebooks of 2020, a focus on Little Red by Alex T. Smith, Fair Shares by Pippa Goodhart and illus. by Anna Doherty and  Boundless Sky by Amanda Addison, illus. Manuela Adreani and an article by Helen Jones Lecturer in Primary Education at UCL Institute of Education about graphic novels, comics and reading for pleasure.

Holocaust Memorial Day Resources and a Competition from author Tom Palmer – Tom’s website is a mine of useful resources linked to his wonderful books. He hopes that his book After the War – from Auschwitz to Ambleside and its resources will help schools and libraries mark Holocaust Memorial Day on Wednesday, 27 January 2021. Resources include a pre-recorded 20 minute assembly for Y5 to Y8, access to three lesson plans, posters and bookmarks and more. Tom also has a schools’ competition to win a class set of 30 copies ofAfter the War, kindly provided by my publisher, Barrington Stoke. Please visit the link to find out more about this generous and helpful offer and to see all the resources.

UKLA Awards – this video, shown last Saturday, contains the announcement of the winners for both the Digital Book Award, and the Shadowing Book Awards 2020. There is also an interesting section visiting a school who shadowed their award this year which shows the benefits to all staff of becoming involved in this interactive scheme. Congratulations to all the winners!

Finding and Funding Quality Books – Find out how to seek external income and source new books from this new school guide on resourcing Reading for Pleasure from the Open University. It contains links to grant providers and providers of book lists and suggestions. Hugely helpful to both school librarians and teachers.

Christmas 2020 – Picture Book Round-Up – Alison Leach of Books for Topics has hand-picked some fabulous festive new titles From the magical to the funny there is something here for all tastes.

Tyger Tale Advent – this annual countdown by Jake Hayes full of fascinating insights into a range of books has become part of my Christmas traditions and is highly recommended. 1st December kicked off with Christmas from Sculptor’s Daughter by Tove Jansson. I’m going to catch up with those I have missed over the weekend.

2020  Christmas Book Gift Giving Guides – Scott Evans (The Reader Teacher) has compiled lists for for different age groups and under different categories that you are able to download in poster format. These would be helpful for parents and also for teachers looking for suggestions of books to share in the run up to Christmas.

20 Black/diverse books that would make wonderful children’s Christmas gifts – a list of 20 titles, old and new, for 3 years plus on the Candid Cocoa blog. From fun-filled paperbacks to keepsake hardbacks, thought-provoking bios to emotive poetry.

The Lost Spells by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris Classroom Resources – The “Winter Explorer’s Guide” by Eva John is now available. This is absolutely wonderful. ‘The Guide is for use in classrooms, at home or in an outdoor space of your choosing. The various activities and challenges included can be dipped in and out of or used consecutively as a cross-curricular scheme of work.
There are limitless opportunities for learning across all subjects – from researching, writing and storytelling, to science and conservation projects.’

Literacy Trust Virtual Library Author of the Week: Andy Shepherd – Listen to Andy’s book, The Boy Who Grew Dragons, for FREE and watch a video to find out how to grow a dragon of your own and lots more great activities.


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

In the Dark of the Year, Come The Lightbringers by Karin Celestine – I keep seeing pictures of this new book online and it fills me with nostalgic childhood memories. This lovely review by Mary Esther Judy expands on its appeal. “Reassuring and calming, utterly magical, a reminder of wonder and light and a promise. The first of four seasonal stories, this is the perfect gift for young and old.” Doesn’t it sounds lovely!


The Night After Christmas by Kes Gray and Claire Powell – as my birthday is on Boxing Day I rather like the idea of a picture book that celebrates the ’morning after the night before’ and this sounds fun. Jill Bennett says, “Brilliantly told in Kes Grey’s unfaultable rhyming text that bounces joyfully along to that final throwaway finale, and equally exuberantly illustrated in Claire Powell’s fantastically funky scenes of festivity.”

The Lost Child’s Quest by James Haddell – this week has seen the blog tour coinciding with the publication of this debut published on 4th December. I have read several lovely reviews but this tempting one by Nicki Cleveland also includes an interview with James which gives an insight into the influences behind his novel. This is next up on my reading pile!

Friend Me by Sheila M Averbuch – for years I have enjoyed Clare Zirkin’s book reviews and now she no longer reviews on a regular basis on her blog I sit up and take notice when one appears on my timeline. The premise of this novel for teens is intriguing and I really like the sound of it. The final sentence of this informative review is “A good read, highly recommended. Put one in the teen’s Christmas stocking! Perhaps put one on secondary school library shelves too?

That’s all for this week, I do hope it’s been helpful.

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Roy of the Rovers: Rocky written by Tom Palmer illustrated by Dan Cornwell

Posted on December 5, 2020 by alibrarylady

Football hero Roy of the Rovers probably needs no introduction, a name known even to those with little interest in the game. The successful relaunch of his adventures in both graphic novel and book form has proved popular with readers. This story is the first ever Roy of the Rovers title to be told from the perspective of a female footballer – Rocky Race, Roy’s younger sister.

Rocky Race is a struggling student and brilliant footballer, but to most people she’s just Roy Race’s little sister. This frustrates and angers Rocky especially as Melchester Rovers head to the League Cup Final. Rocky’s fed up of everyone knowing her only through Roy, she’s had enough of school, and worse still she’s started having panic attacks. Now it’s up to Rocky to find her own way, both as a person and a player, and somehow she has to find something within herself to help her do this.

Reading this took me back to when my son was in primary school and his reading of choice was Match Magazine or sometimes football stories by Rob Childs. Magazines and books about a favourite hobby or pastime can often be the key that opens the door to reading for pleasure for children. Tom Palmer’s love and knowledge of football is evident in the writing yet he also includes themes of family, anxiety and teenage worries. This is the sort of book that could turn a football fan into a reader and a reader into a football fan. Rocky is a great character, flawed but likeable. Her family relationships feel believable and her struggles to balance her own needs with those of others is something that young readers will empathise with. She worries about exams, the health of her dad, her future and her friendships. There is much here with which young readers will identify and it is told in an accessible style.

A terrific read for football lovers, both girls and boys, the on pitch action reminds me of matches I have watched with my family and readers will quickly be drawn into the excitement and the highs and lows of life as a football fan. It is lovely to see this book dedicated to Helena Pielichaty whose Girls FC series was one of the first featuring girls’ football that I discovered as a school librarian. Helena also gets her moment of glory on the pitch which made me smile!


There is a section on Tom Palmer’s website devoted to the Roy of the Rovers books containing more information and links to associated resources, posters and chapters to read. Thank you to the publishers, Rebellion for providing my review copy.

Rocky of the Rovers was published on 29th October and is available to buy online or at your independent book shop which can be found here

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Perfect Picture Books for Christmas

Posted on December 3, 2020 by alibrarylady

Christmas is the perfect time to share picture books with children; often old favourites are unearthed to bring back happy memories of previous years alongside new books bought as presents. I have selected some recent publications that I believe are destined to become cherished family treasures in years to come.

Dogger’s Christmas by Shirley Hughes

In 1977 Dogger, written by Shirley Hughes, was published and has since that time become a valued part of family life for many. Awarded the Greenaway Medal at the time and forty years later, thanks to a public vote, becoming ‘the Greenaway of the Greenaways’ its place in picture book history was assured and deserved.

Thanks to her book Lucy and Tom’s Christmas Shirley Hughes has become synonymous with Christmas for me and I suspect for others too. This year of all years to publish Dogger’s sequel and set it at Christmas time feels a little like wrapping yourself in the comfort blanket we all need at the moment. This is a nostalgic delight that will, I think, convert a new generation to this wonderful book creator.

The sequel sees Dogger’s owner, Dave, now a little older with a new brother Joe, still a toddler and of course the kind and resourceful Bella, his sister who saved the day in the original story. Dave now plays with slightly different toys but still loves his precious Dogger, especially at bedtime. Bella has matured a little, asking for new trainers from Father Christmas but still with a bed piled with teddies. There is much that is familiar in the opening pages as we watch the family preparing for Christmas. The crib, the tree, the paper chains and the stockings at the foot of the bed. The gorgeous illustrations shine with that warm glow so familiar from Shirley Hughes’s books. I’m sure I am not the only person who finds that pool of brightness from the street light and the lights shining from house windows as the family do their last minute shopping comforting.

Christmas Day itself is full of the exciting busyness one would expect. What I particularly like are the little touches that make this feel so real. When Bella and Mum visit their elderly neighbour with gifts Bella kneels down to play with the dog as Mum and the old gentleman share a cuppa. Meanwhile Dad is at home basting the turkey and Dave is playing with his new toys. There is a poignant moment when Grandma and Grandad arrive and are greeted with hugs, something denied to us this year. This story is full of the kindness and warmth that should be present at Christmas.

But what of Dogger while all this is going on? In all the excitement Dave has forgotten his old friend and is only reminded when he can’t find him at bedtime. Despite a family search Dogger is nowhere to be found and Dave must to go to bed without his beloved bedtime companion. Every child will identify with Dave’s sorrow and remorse and every parent with Mum and Dad’s anxiety and the reader will be eager for Dogger to be found. Will there be a happy ending? Bella has an idea!

This is a gorgeous book and I will treasure my own copy dearly.

The Twelve Days of Christmas or Grandma is Overly Generous by Alex T Smith

Five Gold Rings! That’s the line that everyone remembers and sings with gusto when ever this classic festive poem is performed. However, can you remember the rest? Alex Smith has come to your rescue with this joyous reimagining of the Twelve Days of Christmas.


In this retelling it is the remarkably flamboyant Grandma of little Eloise who is responsible for each gift and they start sensibly with the partridge in his pear tree and progress through the familiar presents but gradually things go a little awry and Eloise has to cope with a multitude of assorted and unwanted animals. Grandma’s generosity has got rather out of hand.

This small format hardback book is a fun filled package that would make a gorgeous present. The witty and detailed illustrations are a treat to savour and each time I return I notice something new. Eloise with her gap toothed smile and Edwardian dress conveys every emotion from happiness to concern via shock and bewilderment. The parcels have beautiful stamps and labels providing clues to the contents and the borders on the pages depict pears, holly, mistletoe and ribbons as though each page itself is a Christmas present. The illustrations of the various animals are hilarious. A family favourite is the worried looking balancing bear clinging on to his ice-cream!

My whole family aged 3 to 89 have delighted in this brilliant book. In fact the 89 year old said, “Children’s books are a work of art these days aren’t they.” Very wise. It is unexpected, hilarious, full of fantastic and intricate illustrations to explore and with a kind warmth that makes it a perfect book to share at Christmas time. A tribute to doting Grandmas everywhere which hits just the right note.

The Snowflake by Benji Davies

This magical book is really something special from the moment you pick it up. The cover with the title shining in gold lettering from a bed of snow and the image of the small girl her arm raised tenderly towards the floating snowflake catch the eye and also hint at the warmth contained in this quiet yet lyrical story. This beautiful book is another that would be a welcome find under the Christmas tree this year.

Beneath the dust cover the hardback bears a red embossed snowflake design which adds a traditional feel to this book and the snowflake, this time white on a red background is depicted on the end papers too. Yet when we meet the snowflake of the story she is small, with a slightly fluffy appearance and wears a timid smile. The reader follows the little snowflake on her journey, blown by the wind hither and yon all the time worried about falling. As the snowflake continues on her way we are introduced to Noelle and her Pappie as they walk through the city streets with their small dog. Turning the pages we alternate between the two stories of these different but equally endearing little characters. The snowflake eventually meets other snowflakes and draws comfort from belonging to a group doing the same thing. Meanwhile Noelle has been gazing at Christmas trees in the city windows and yearning for one of her own. As we read we are gradually drawn into their respective worlds and there is a gentle and kind tone to their different narratives that encourages the reader to care. Finally the two stories come together in an ending full of hopeful happiness that is extremely touching.

There is a softness to the illustrations and the golden tint suffusing the final pages is glorious and adds to the hopeful ending. My eye was drawn to the detail in the illustrations of the city and the landscapes which are atmospheric and appealing. This is a story with emotion simmering below the surface and I very much wanted to know Noellle’s back story. Benji Davies has conveyed a sense of the characters searching for something special and discovering that something special can be found in the every day. A thoughtful message at Christmas time.

The publishers Harper Collins have produced some seasonal activities linked to the book which are available to download here.

I should like to thank Clare Hall-Craggs and the publishers for my copies of Dogger’s Christmas and The Twelve Days of Christmas.

All three books can be bought online at Waterstones by clicking on the titles above or at your independent book shop which can be found here


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Reading Matters – news from the world of children’s books

Posted on November 28, 2020 by alibrarylady

Hello and welcome to this week’s round up of all the latest children’s book news. There are a range of articles, interviews, resources and online events this week that I hope will entertain, inspire, help or comfort.


“Reading gives us some place to go when we have to stay where we are.”
― Mason Cooley

What I’m reading…

My bookshelves are crammed with so many books that I want to read and over the last few days I have been attempting to make inroads into the tottering heaps. Toto the Ninja Cat and the Mystery Jewel Thief is a winning mix of adventure and humour that will appeal to newly confident readers. It would also be great fun for parents and teachers to read aloud too. I’m reading Rocky of the Rovers by Tom Palmer at the moment and am reminded of my own interest in the game as a teenager and weekends revolving around footie with my two sons. However there are other important issues in this story that will give readers pause for thought.

The highlight of my reading week was the Audience with Alex Wheatle hosted by Nikki Gamble of Just Imagine on Thursday. The first in a new series this was a fabulous and inspiring event which I found interesting and hopeful too. I am very much looking forward to reading Cane Warriors now. I have included details of the second event this coming Thursday in the links below.

News, articles and resources…

Register for the 2021 Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Shadowing Scheme – this scheme is an excellent way to promote top quality books and encourage book chat in schools. You need to re-register each year to take part in online Shadowing activity and for a free Publicity Pack. Registration closes on 29th January 2021

High Quality Texts for Use in the Early Years Classroom – this helpful collaborative Padlet started by Adele Darlington @mrs_darl is full of excellent book suggestions sorted by themes including Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development, Literacy and Communication and Language.

Interview with Jason Reynolds, America’s Ambassador for Young People’s Literature – if you missed this interview in the Guardian last week, as I did, it is worth a read. “I’m looking forward to the day that I read a newspaper, and someone says: ‘I grew up reading Jason Reynolds and that’s why I knew I could do this.’ Then I’ll know, I’ve done my job.”

School Librarians Want Bigger Role In Information Literacy and Fighting Fake News – an excellent article by Elizabeth Hutchinson, Vice-Chair of the Great School Libraries working party. I am a firm believer in the power of school librarians and teachers collaborating to maximise impact and Elizabeth explains how to manage this effectively.

Q&A with Cathy Fisher, illustrator of The New Girl, Perfect and The Pond – this is a really lovely interview on the Family Bookworms blog in which Cathy discusses her illustration techniques, collaborations with Nicola Davies and life during the pandemic.

Lockdown Nativity Kit for Schools by Frank and Denise Cottrell-Boyce – This is an absolute delight and reading the scripts put a big smile on my face this week. Complete with instructions and handy hints on filming, costumes and editing, it’s the perfect resource for teachers this Christmas. Frank, who wrote best-selling book Millions, and his wife Denise, have developed two easy to memorise rhyming scripts for infant and junior school children. These can be filmed direct to camera and the clips assembled into a single play. It is free to download but please make a donation to the charity Mary’s Meals if you are able to.

CLPE’s What We’ll Build: Notes for our Together Future Teaching Notes for Primary Schools – Following on from their success with #CLPEWordsForTheWorld based on Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers, CLPE have partnered with HarperCollins again to create a free whole school unit for Oliver Jeffers’ new book What We’ll Build: Plans for our Together Future. 

Bone Talk: An interview with Candy Gourlay – this is an interesting interview with author Candy Gourlay on The Reading Realm website discussing her books, Bone Talk, Shine, and Is It A Mermaid?

In the Reading Corner: Nikki Gamble interviews Mary Roche – this is a thoughtful interview highlighting how picture books can be used to help give children a voice in the classroom. It’s a must listen for any children’s book lovers. Nikki and Mary discuss her research with children talking about picturebooks and the development of critical thinking.

Costa Book Awards Shortlists Announced – Launched in 1971, the Costa Book Awards is one of the UK’s most prestigious and popular book prizes and celebrates the most enjoyable books of the year by writers resident in the UK and Ireland. The shortlist for the Children’s Book Award is made up of Wranglestone by Darren Charlton, Voyage of the Sparrowhawk by Natasha Farrant, The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates by Jenny Pearson and The Great Godden by Meg Rosoff.

Encouraging Reading for Pleasure While the World is in Fire – school librarian Lucas Maxwell has written about some of the ways he is trying to create a safe, welcoming place in the library during the pandemic in this article for Book Riot.

An Audience with Chris Van Allsburg – the second in this series of interviews with Nikki Gamble promises to be a real treat. Come and take part – ask your own questions or just enjoy the conversation. A single ticket for this festive event on Thursday 3rd December at 7pm is possible. With book and without book options are available.

Desert Island Discs with Helen Oxenbury – Helen has won the Kate Greenaway Medal twice and was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the Book Trust in 2018. She attended the Ipswich School of Art and later the Central School of Art in London where she met fellow illustrator and her future husband, John Burningham. We can find out more on Sunday 29th November at 11.00am

Time Magazine: The 10 Best YA and Children’s Books of 2020 – ‘From a picture book following a young Black Muslim girl who learns to stand up for herself when her name is mispronounced to Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi’sguide to dismantling racism, these books affirm the experiences of many young readers while bringing a new point of view to others.’ An interesting selection.

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

Fascinating Fact Books – Inspirational People – as National Non-Fiction November draws to a close Jo Clarke reviews a number of books featuring inspirational people who have each in their own ways made their mark on history. All of them would be useful additions to school library shelves or would make interesting Christmas presents.

A Christmas in Time by Sally Nicholls – it is probably time to start perusing new Christmas titles and this sounds like a good one to start with. A time travel adventure, a magical mirror, a Victorian Christmas and ice-skating, it sounds irresistible! Read Emma Kuyateh’s review to find out more.

Tinsel: The Girls Who Invented Christmas by Sibeal Pounder – another Christmas read this time reviewed by Emma Perry at My Book Corner who says it “is warm, wintery festive treat populated with strong girls, friendship and adventures.” I do like the idea of reading a story about Mrs Claus for a change.

The Three Wishes by Alan Snow – any children’s book that is selected as a Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month November 2020 should be a must have and this story of how Father Christmas works his magic sounds utterly beautiful.

Yet again there has been rather a lot of news and at this busy time of year you may not have time to read it all but I hope having these links together will be helpful for you to refer back to over the coming days. Happy reading.



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