National Poetry Day is the biggest mass celebration of poetry in the UK and a chance for all of us to share in the pleasure of poetry. This year it takes place on Thursday 3rd October and as my next Reading Matters round-up is due on 5th October I thought that it deserved its own special Reading Matters. So here for your enjoyment and to help with any activities you may be hoping to plan linked to poetry are a range of resources, news and bits and bobs to assist you.
Celebrate the joy of poetry with Michael Rosen’s Big 50 Year Show!– Michael Rosen and The Children’s Bookshow are releasing the recording of Michael’s Big 50 Year Show, performed at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich earlier this year, for teachers, parents and children to watch on National Poetry Day 2024. Watch Michael perform some all-time favourite poems including Hot Food, No Breathing and of course, Chocolate Cake! The link above will take you to a trailer for the show and the show itself will be available on Michael Rosen’s YouTube channel here from 0.01 on 3rd October. There is a fabulous range of resources, articles and videos available on the Children’s Bookshow website for you to access and download.
Forward Arts Foundation: Resources and Poems –The free classroom-ready worksheets and resources on the Forward Arts Foundation official National Poetry Day website are all approved by curriculum experts for KS1 to KS5, to help make this year’s National Poetry Day as easy as possible. So you can just download, print and go. It is possible to search by age group or by theme; this year’s theme is Counting, last year’s was Refuge.
Poetry By Heart 2025– this year’s Poetry By Heart competition launches on National Poetry Day at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe with a live event full of poetry, and a special guest, Imtiaz Dharker who will be sharing her poems. The date of this year’s Grand Finale at Shakespeare’s Globe will also be announced. If you haven’t taken part for a while, you can register now to access the free poetry resources. If you registered last year, all you will need to do after the official launch is login with your existing credentials to activate your 2025 competition entry. Everyone who registers to take part will be posted the free 2025 competition kit with posters, calendar and competition resources as soon as it’s ready.
National Poetry Day: Virtual School Visit with Eilish Fisher – Schools are invited to join Waterstones (free of charge) online for a very special virtual event on National Poetry Day (3rd October 10.30am) with author and poet Eilish Fisheras she presents new verse novel, Fia and the Last Snow Deer, which is illustrated by Dermot Flynn. Recommended for years 5, 6 and 7.
National Poetry Day: Laura Mucha to attempt world’s largest school poetry lesson – Children’s author and poet Laura Mucha is to attempt a Guinness World Records title for giving the largest poetry lesson, with more than 200,000 children from 1,200 schools already signed up. The lesson, which will take place at 10am on National Poetry Day will bring together students around the UK and beyond to contribute to writing one collective poem, based on this year’s theme of counting. The poem will then be displayed on billboards across the country. The lesson is for students aged seven to 12 (Y3-Y7/P4-P7). Schools need a minimum of 25 participating students to take part. To sign up, click here.
BBC: Poetry Teaching Resources – A collection of teaching resources for primary and secondary schools, for bringing poetry to life in the classroom.
Books For Topics: Primary Poetry Book List – On this booklist the Books for Topics review team have picked a selection of poetry suitable for primary school classrooms. You can find their best children’s poetry collections recommended for EYFS, KS1 and KS2.
Just Imagine: Poetry Renaissance – this is an excellent article by Nikki Gamble on the Just Imagine website showcasing both established and new poets and poetry collections. There are suggestions for every year group from Early Years to Year 6 and encourages us all to realise that “poetry should not be reserved for a single day in the year.”
National Literacy Trust National Poetry Day – there are many links here to resources, workshops and articles on this website suitable for a wide age range which are curriculum-linked and support the development of skills and confidence in writing, storytelling, working together and performance.
HFL Education: Raising the profile of poetry – What’s the best way to make poetry part of school life? Could reading & writing poetry unlock creativity in your classroom? In this new blog, Kayleigh Valentini dives into ways to share, enjoy and embed poetry in school, with some great ideas for Poetry Day and all year round.
Finally, here are some of my personal recommendations for poetry for children published in the last few years. A Passing on of Shells by Simon Lamb illustrated by Chris Riddell would be wonderful for use in schools and with its embossed hardback cover and stunning illustrations it would also be a special gift to treasure. Fifty poems of fifty words each on subjects ranging from family to nature, offering hope and humour, wisdom and insight are gathered together in this clever debut collection. When Poems Fall From the Sky by Zaro Weil and Junli Song is a simply glorious collection of poems, stories and plays encouraging us all to slow down, to take notice and to appreciate the wonderful world around us. For Every One by Jason Reynolds, for slightly older readers, is told in the form of a letter and this is poetry that simultaneously inspires and comforts the reader. The prose is passionate, direct and rousing presented in an accessible pocket sized format.
Welcome to the first Reading Matters newsletter of the new academic year and I hope that everyone had a lovely summer. The start of the new school year often generates enthusiasm for new challenges and commitments. Perhaps you are new to the joys of reading children’s books and reading for pleasure, if so I hope that Reading Matters will be helpful.
Inevitably a lot has happened in the world of children’s literature since mid July so I can’t include it all however I do hope that this bumper round up kicking off the new school year will provide a taste of how much is being created and shared at the moment.
What I’m reading…
As I focus on books for children and teens when reviewing it is a bit of a relaxing treat for me to make time for an ‘adult book’ safe in the knowledge that a review is not expected or required. Last year while on holiday in Suffolk I bought a second hand copy of Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, a book that had for a long time piqued my interest. Despite being woefully late to the party I started reading with little knowledge of the content of this award winning novel. Within a few chapters the lead character, Elizabeth Zott, had made a huge impression on me. She is a woman whose strength of character and intellect would, I think, cause me a little trepidation in real life but on the page she was quite an inspiration. The themes of feminism in the late 1950s and early 1960s, discrimination, society’s expectations of women, love, loss and grief all combine to make this an ideal book club choice. Some fabulous characters, witty dialogue and thoughtful analysis made this a really great summer read and it’s hard to accept that it is in fact a debut.
Returning to my more usual fare I thoroughly enjoyed the final book in A M Howell’s Mysteries at Sea Series. Alice and Sonny return and tackle secrets, intrigue and danger with their usual determination in The Hollywood Kidnap Case which is another exciting, well plotted mystery from this award winning author. If you are looking for a book to read aloud in the classroom I can definitely recommend Shipwrecked by Jenny Pearson and Friends Always and Forever by G M Linton both of which would get your term off to a positive start.
Turning to picture books, One-Button and the Sea by Sara Stanley and Viviane Schwarz could be read and shared in a multitude of ways and each of them would spark thought, conversation and most importantly, hope, encouragement and understanding. This excellent picturebook is suitable for a wide age range. My review, linked above, provides more details. The publication this summer of Running With Wings by Sam Squiers illustrated by Lara Potter is perfectly timed to capitalise on the interest and enthusiasm sparked by the Olympics and Paralympics. This thoughtful, inclusive and accessible story celebrates friendship and endeavouring to be the best you can be whatever the circumstances. Best friends Frankie and Mimi love to race but Mimi always gets nervous before the big races. Frankie has her own challenges to overcome but is determined and positive and the manner in which she empowers her friend is well done and extremely effective. This would prompt talk about resilience, self-belief and perseverance and the inclusivity in both text and image adds to the importance of this lovely book.
This month marks the centenary of Joan Aiken’s birth on 4th September 1925 in Rye, East Sussex and I have been re-acquainting myself with the work of this great children’s author. If you are tempted to read some of her books I would suggest that this post by Chris Lovegrove on his Calmgrove blog would be a great place to start as he has included links to several reviews and the official website dedicated to Joan Aiken maintained beautifully by her daughter Lizza. September is also World Kid Lit Month and you can find some helpful resources and book suggestions here. I plan to raid my bookshelves to find something that fits the bill.
News, articles and resources…
Inspiring the Next Generation of Readers with Mat Tobin – this interview hosted by Ed Finch on the Hamilton Trust Podcast, Primary Futures, is excellent and is perfect to share and discuss at the start of the new school year. There are resource recommendations to follow up after you have listened too.
The Literacy Year: Calendar of Events – this resource from the Literacy Hive is such a useful starting point for anyone interested in children’s books. Sian Hardy has collated an extensive range of events, awards, initiatives and more on a database that is searchable by resource type, age, area and cost. The website is also worth bookmarking for future reference with helpful information and advice on the regular blog. An excellent starting point would be Sian’s Back to School Resources selection.
Building a Classroom Reading Culture Webinar – On 12th September 3.45 – 4.45pm join teacher Jon Biddle as he shares lots of practical, and sustainable, ideas about how to help create a love of reading in schools.
Jon Biddle’s Reading for Pleasure Padlet – another wonderful resource generously shared by Jon. This is continually being updated and one of the latest additions is a section on Diverse Picturebook Assembly suggestions for the coming year.
Mr Dilly Meets: Virtual Author Visits for Schools – Mr Dilly Meets are FREE, fun, inspirational LIVE virtual author visits for primary schools, beamed straight into classrooms across the UK. Bringing the wonderful world of children’s books, authors, poets and illustrators together for chat and creativity. The Back to School Special takes place next Thursday, 12th September, and you may still have time to book. There are more great events lined up for the rest of the term so do have a browse on Mr Dilly’s website above.
An Evening In With Just Imagine – virtual author events for adults – As the nights draw in, be cosy at home and join Nikki Gamble for An Evening in with Just Imagine on Thursdays at 7.00. These events are free for teachers, librarians, students and anyone who loves children’s books. Former Children’s Laureate Anne Fine starts our year on Thursday 12th September with an introduction to her extraordinary new book On The Wall.
Children’s Authors Live With Just Imagine – virtual events for schools – Just Imagine have an amazing lineup for this year’s virtual school events. These events are on Friday mornings, and are free to Just imagine subscribing to schools. Other schools can attend for a nominal fee.Books are available at discounted prices and include a discussion guide to help you make the most of the event. The year kicks off with Tony Bradman, the teachers’ favourite, introducing his new novel Roman Boy, discussing writing historical fiction, and answering children’s questions. Events generally last 30 minutes for KS1 events and 45 minutes for KS2 events. See individual events for further details.
The Klaus Flugge Prize – this award, set up to honour Klaus Flugge, founder of Andersen Press and a leading light in the world of children’s publishing and illustration, is awarded to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration. The winner of this year’s prize will be announced next week and if you would like to find our more about the shortlisted books the blog linked above features interviews by Mat Tobin with some of the illustrators. You may also enjoy the Shortlist Sketch videos available on YouTube here.
The Diverse Book Awards Longlist – the shortlist for this award is to be announced shortly, on 12th September, so you may like to acquaint yourselves with the books that made it to the longlist in each of the categories. The Diverse Book Awards was established in November 2019 and was created by award-winning children’s and YA author Abiola Bello and award winning publicist Helen Lewis.
Wainwright Prize Shortlist – This prize was created in Alfred Wainwright’s name to showcase the growing genre of nature-writing in publishing and to celebrate and encourage exploration of the outdoors to all readers. The Prize for Children’s Writing on Nature and Conservation category is definitely worth investigating.
How books can help with worries about school – Test Trouble author Serena Patel shares the way that books can offer comfort during times of change and stress in this article for Book Trust.
Jeremy Strong obituary – over the summer break the sad news of the death of author Jeremy Strong was announced. Winner of the Children’s Book Award for The Hundred Mile an Hour Dog in 1997 he was an author whose humour appealed to children. I am grateful to him for the many stories he wrote that encouraged both my sons and numerous children who visited the libraries in which I worked to read for fun.
Children’s and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels – A beanstalk murder; the heroines of Greek myth; a history of AI; a mysterious golden island, and more are included in Imogen Russell Williams’ latest selection for the Guardian. I’m delighted to see The Secret of Golden Island by Natasha Farrant, one of my favourite summer reads, featured.
Dozens of UK school librarians asked to remove LGBTQ+ books, survey finds – this article in the Guardian reports on the findings of a recent survey administered by the School Library Association (SLA) and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). Although only a relative small survey, 53 school librarians were polled, the results have implications for all involved in sharing, providing and discussing books with children and young people.
The Best Historical Fiction for 8-12 Year Olds recommended by Catherine Johnson – There is some fabulous historical fiction out there for 8-12 year olds, some of it old, some of it new. Catherine Johnson, author of a number of historical novels for children and young adults, recommends some of the best—from short stories to epics and from straight historical novels to those with a strong dose of fantasy and magic.
There is no such thing as ‘children’s’ books – India Hansra reflects on her childhood favourites, the most important books she’ll ever read in this article for Varsity, the independent newspaper for the University of Cambridge.
Patrice Lawrence MBE BookTrust’s new Writer in Residence – Patrice Lawrence MBE hopes to shine a light on how books can support vulnerable children. During her residency, Lawrence aims to encourage children experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage to discover the magic of reading as well as promoting the benefits reading can bring to a child’s life such as better mental health, empathy and creativity.
National Literacy Trust: World of Graphic Novels Reading Challenge – In September, The World of Graphic Novels reading challenge will go live with a full set of resources. These will include: Teacher Guidelines, age appropriate book lists, worksheets and certificates and will be available to download from 12th September. The aim is exploring and celebrating the exciting and popular world of graphic novels and comics with 7 to 14 year olds encouraging reluctant and confident readers alike.
The Reader Teacher: Books I’m Most Excited About for September: Each month Scott Evans produces a video of his favourite children’s books being published that month. September’s selection includes Me and My Brian by Helen Rutter illustrated by Claudia Petrazzi (Barrington Stoke) which I have just read and can also highly recommend.
I cannot conclude these links to resources and articles without making reference to public libraries. There have been reports in the media, interviews on TV with people such as library champion Michael Rosen about the negative impact of the large numbers of public libraries closed over the last few years. However I thought we would be wise to dwell here on the positive. Please do find time to listen to this wonderful episode of The Island of Brilliant with Nadia Shireen and Frank Cottrell Boyce in which Frank shares a letter he was sent after the devastating arson attack on Spellow Library in Liverpool during the riots this summer and speaks to Alex McCormack, who started the Go Fund Me which has to date raised over £250,000 to restore the library. It is a testament to the power of libraries as places of opportunity and community and also of individuals coming together to help in times of trouble. It will lift your spirits. And there’s a great interview with Chris Haughton as an added bonus!
Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye recently…
Save Our Forest! by Nora Dåsnes, translated by Lise Laerdal Bryn – When the impact of climate change hits home, students organize and fight back in this translated title from the author of the award winning Cross My Heart and Never Lie. In her helpful review Veronica Price says that she liked “the way that factual information about climate change and about activism was depicted in accessible, graphical form, making this book an ideal resource for classrooms as well as for home use.”
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness illustrated by Tim Miller – Patrick Ness is well known for his award winning YA novels so the news that he has written a story for a younger audience intrigued me. Sam Creighton has reviewed this for Just Imagine and thinks that Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody will be a huge hit with Year 3 readers and above and as Sam rightly says it will be interesting to see how this particular author continues with this new venture.
Pernickity Boo by Sally Gardner illustrated by Chris Mould – a collaboration between award winning and prize wining illustrator this September Book of the Month on LoveReading4Kids is described as a “delightful tale of a finickety, pernickety, time-travelling umbrella”. Suitable for 7+ and even though I’m considerably older than 7 I really like the sound of this. As a hardback book this may be an early contender for Christmas present lists. (Sorry, far too early for the C word, I know!)
The Seamaiden’s Odyssey by Berlie Doherty and Tamsin Rosewell – I love both Berlie Doherty’s writing and Tamsin Rosewell’s illustration so this book was already on my radar, particularly after reading The Haunted Hills a couple of years ago. Tom Griffiths has persuaded me to push it up my list. You can read his review to find out why he “didn’t draw a breath and read The Seamaiden’s Odyssey in one sitting as it is such a beautiful, emotive tale.”
Well, there’s quite a lot to get through in this first Reading Matters of the school year so if you’re still reading I do hope that you’ve found it interesting and maybe something here will be useful to you. Happy reading until next time.
One of the many things I find particularly engaging about reading and reviewing books for children is that if not always blessed with a perfect, happy ending they do usually provide a hopeful one. The news over the summer both nationally and internationally has been deeply disturbing for many and there is no getting away from the fact that our world is a troubled one at present. Although we should not hide away from that sometimes we need the reassurance that generally people are doing their best and trying to be kind. Children’s books usually celebrate that. These two books, both published in August by Usborne, are excellent examples of hope, love and resilience.
Shipwrecked by Jenny Pearson illustrated by Nick East
Our newly appointed Children’s Laureate, Frank Cottrell Boyce, once described William Golding’s Lord of the Flies as “an enjoyable romp that people have taken as a revelation about human nature, which could not be more wrong.” He would, I think, much prefer Jenny Pearson’s version of children’s behaviour when stranded on an island alone. Once more this insightful author has created a story that is packed with humour, full of adventure and yet beautifully portrays the power of the human spirit to cope with adversity. Jenny Pearson has the knack of switching the mood from hilarity to poignant sadness within a few lines and it is this quality, I think, which makes her books stand out.
Sebastian Sunrise and his two best friends, Lina and Etienne, are in a bit of trouble. They are stranded on a desert island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, after a rowing race went very, very wrong. The friends have no idea how long they might have to stay on the island, so they make a plan. They will try to survive, look after the island’s baby turtles, and have fun, if they can. But even the best laid plans can go wrong and as they face challenges such as an out of control goat, jellyfish stings and, finally, dangerous pirates the friends fear that the dangers may prove too much for them.
The three main characters are beautifully drawn to engage young readers, with their respective back stories providing reasons for their behaviour and attitudes. Sebastian, Lina and Etienne are very different in personality but bond as little team in a manner that inspires and appeals in equal measure. Lina uses The Lord of the Flies as a sort of survival manual and guide as to what ‘not to do’ and bosses the boys with aplomb, impetuous Sebastian lurches from drama to drama with good humour and little Etienne, despite being initially timid and fearful, has the kindest heart you could imagine.
Shipwrecked is an exciting read with tension, drama and danger to hook the reader but even this somewhat cynical adult reader was lifted by the sheer joy of this story, the growing confidence, the self discovery, the resilience and the deep bond of friendship between these three unique but endearing children.
The eye catching cover and the black and white illustrations throughout by Nick East capture the spirit of the story perfectly and will be appreciated by young readers with their touches of humour. If you want to get the new school year off to a happy start I would strongly recommend Shipwrecked as a class read aloud.
Thank you very much to Fritha Lindqvist for sending me my copy of Shipwrecked.
Friends Always and Forever by G M Linton
It is a delight to see Sunshine Simpson return in this third instalment of this charming series about Sunshine and her family. In Friends Always and Forever we join the family as they are off on the holiday of a lifetime thanks to Auntie Sharon’s huge win on the lottery. They are all going to Jamaica and Sunshine can’t wait to visit the country where her grandparents grew up and about which she has heard so many stories from her beloved Grandad Bobby.
Although Sunshine’s mum is convinced her husband has forgotten their forthcoming wedding anniversary he has in fact decided to surprise her with a renewal of their wedding vows ceremony. Auntie Sharon enlists Sunshine’s help to organise a secret wedding that will never be forgotten but once they arrive in Jamaica things start to go badly wrong and Sunshine begins to worry that the special day will be a disaster.
When a story for children is told in the first person it is crucial that the narrative voice is pitched well for the readership. G M Linton has created an appealing and authentic character in the likeable and optimistic Sunshine whose sadness at the death of her beloved grandad the year before is balanced by her enthusiasm and delight in experiencing life in the country that meant so much to him.
Readers will learn a great deal about Jamaica and the Windrush generation from this story, the differing cultures, the traditions and the way of life are incorporated in the plot in a natural manner. There are many themes touched upon including transition to a new school, extended families with differing backgrounds, grief and friendship issues and the importance of teamwork.
This would be an excellent book to share in the classroom during Black History Month but I would wholeheartedly recommend this for any time of the year. A wonderful, feel good read. Thank you to Fritha Lindqvist for my review copy.
“Grandpa, tell me the story again of when we to sea.”
This is a big story, a story of upheaval and change, of uprooting. The book opens with the dictionary definition of the word ‘uprooting‘ opposite a comforting, bright illustration of Grandpa and One-Button seated at the kitchen table. It’s story time so we settle down for more. Then with the page turn everything changes. The pretty tendrils of the previous pages are transformed into strong branches breaking through the ground, a grey sky looms and the family and their neighbours are fleeing ‘to the boats‘ with fear and worry etched on their faces. The story continues in question and answer format with little One-Button drawing information and detail from his grandpa.
As the story continues we accompany the travellers across the sea, sometimes happy and sometimes scared they help each other by singing songs, sharing tools to mend broken boats and always in the knowledge that they have each other. The journey is longer than they expected but they have their memories and their dreams to sustain them. Eventually they discover that it is safe to return and they go to where they belong and longed to be. But this is not the end of their story rather the beginning of new ones as the final page depicts One-Button and his friend swing happily in their boat hanging from a tree.
This collaboration is extremely well executed and has the tone of a fable or traditional tale. One-Button and the Sea could be read and shared in a multitude of ways and each of them would spark thought, conversation and most importantly, hope, encouragement and understanding. The upheaval the characters experience may of course relate to refugees but equally this may refer to any trauma such as bereavement, flooding, or major life change or simply a period of difficulty. The question and answer structure moves the narrative along but also encourages children to ask questions of their own and possibly to try to provide answers to those posed too. This book could be a valuable tool for use in schools or similar settings to enable conversations about difficult topics.
Sara Stanley’s text flows easily with a poetic quality making it lovely to read aloud and Viviane Schwarz’s quirky and distinctive illustrative style fits the story perfectly. Each double page spread contains detail to talk about and the expressions on the characters convey differing emotions with charm.
One- Button and the Sea is a powerful story with important themes but told in an accessible manner making it suitable for quite a wide age range. Published by Scallywag Press and highly recommended for primary school classrooms. There are teaching resources and activities and games freely available on the publisher’s website.
I should like to thank the publishers for my review copy. One-Button and the Sea was published on 1st August.
Alice and Sonny return in this final story in the Mysteries at Sea series tackling secrets, intrigue and danger with their usual determination. The Hollywood Kidnap Case is another exciting, well plotted mystery from award winning historical author A.M Howell and a great summer read for children of about 9 upwards.
Cover artwork by Marco Guadalupi
As in her previous novels A M Howell successfully evokes a feeling of time and place in this maritime adventure set in the late summer of 1936. This was the period of the Golden Age of Hollywood and our two young detectives find themselves investigating the kidnap of a film actress, Estelle Fortune. Set initially on the yacht the Lady Rose, Alice and Sonny journey with their father from Alexandria in Egypt to Valletta in Malta in pursuit of the kidnappers and determined to rescue the Hollywood star. There are familiar faces from the second story, The Royal Jewel Plot, plus a new friend for Alice and Sonny in Winnie, Estelle’s niece and a child actress. The three youngsters must try to solve the clues before the ransom is paid and save Estelle from a ‘watery end’.
For this third in the series A M Howell diverts her adventure from the sea to land allowing her young readers to explore ancient catacombs and Valletta’s Grand Harbour. She incorporates her research deftly conveying a little of the history of Malta and its importance as a strategic location. Just a few years after the setting of this book Malta would suffer during the Second World War resulting in the island being awarded The George Cross by King George VI.
The changing relationship between Alice and Sonny has been carefully conveyed across the three books and in this final instalment we see their strong loyalty to each other when they face difficulty and danger. Despite being so different in temperament they are an excellent, close team as siblings. The twists and turns and tense moments will keep youngsters turning the pages, and Alice keeps a helpful notebook detailing the clues unearthed so far which is a neat way of providing a plot recap. There’s a kindness about the ‘goodies‘ among the adults and a fitting denouement for the ‘baddie‘ all of which ensures that this is a enjoyable and satisfying conclusion to the Mysteries at Sea. I was rather sad to say goodbye to Alice and Sonny and their kind father.
I should like to thank Fritha Lindqvist and Usborne Books for providing my review copy. The Hollywood Kidnap Plot is published on 1st August.
There have been some excellent picture books for children published in recent weeks. Here are four of my favourites all of which I would recommend for differing reasons.
The Boy and the Octopus written by Caryl Lewis illustrated by Carmen Saldaña
The Boy and the Octopus tells the story of a little boy who struggles with bullying and who finds the strength to tell his Dad about the problem with the help of his toy octopus friend.
Some children love to snuggle with teddies, others with dinosaurs but Stanley loves his octopus. Whilst he sleeps Stanley dreams of the magical way its skin changes colour according to its feelings and its ability to hide from something scary. Stanley wants to be like his toy friend and be able to disappear and to hide from the school bullies who taunt him. But then Stanley learns that there are ways to share your feelings that don’t require words and that he can face his difficulties with the creative power of art.
This is a gentle, kind story told with a touch of magic but grounded with a wise and thoughtful message of finding your voice and living with hope rather than fear. The stunning illustrations work well with the text, featuring a palette pinks and blues in the underwater sleep scenes contrasting them with the realistic portrayal of Stanley’s family life. Stanley is blessed with a supportive Dad and this portrayal of a parent who listens and encourages is a reassuring element of the story for children. The Boy and the Octopus would be a valuable picture book for educational settings, providing a tool for discussion and a perfect way to encourage children to express themselves, especially in difficult situations. Published by Puffin on 4th July.
Imagine a Time written by Penny Harrison illustrated by Jennifer Goldsmith
This beautiful story told in rhyme begins with the phrase, “Imagine a time when all the world STOPS.” A few years ago that would have been difficult, perhaps impossible, to contemplate yet now reading this as an adult one instantly remembers the period of COVID lockdowns. In this book the planes stay on the ground, the trains are halted and families stay at home and for the families depicted it is a time when they re-discover the healing power of nature and nature itself starts to creep back into the urban areas. Then when the clocks start again a touch of that re-discovered magic remains.
Imagine a Time is a hopeful and positive portrayal of nature and its impact on us and the book itself encourages the reader or listener to slow down and savour things. Told in rhyming couplets Penny Harrison’s text uses few words but evokes emotion prompting a more contemplative read and the design of the book provides a feeling of space around the words themselves. The artwork by Jennifer Goldsmith is simply wonderful. The cover is inviting and inclusive encouraging instant engagement and the use of dandelion clocks on the endpapers linking to the theme is a thoughtful touch. There is clever use of framing, double page spreads and switching to the vertical viewpoint throughout the book all of which add to the understanding and themes of the story. There is so much to talk about that this book would be a delight to share with young children either alone or in Early Years settings or schools. Published by Frontier Publishing on 11th July.
How to Move a Zoo: The Incredible True Story by Kate Simpson and Owen Swan
How to Move a Zoo tells the true story of Jessie the elephant who along with all the other animals is to be transferred from Sydney’s Old Zoological Gardens to a new zoo more suited to the growing city. At the time, 1916, Sydney Harbour Bridge had not yet been built so this was a long and more difficult journey than it would be now, across five separate bridges. Therefore the animals went by ferry. Many of the animals were transported by truck but Jessie the elephant would have to walk, guided by her keeper, Mr Miller. In this charming non-fiction picture book Kate Simpson details how Jessie’s journey went accompanied by fitting sepia tinted illustrations by Owen Swan.
The bond between Jessie and zookeeper Mr Miller is evident as the pair walk quietly through the city streets just before dawn. A startled milkman and his horse and an early riser at an open window are the only observers of our two travellers until eventually they arrive at the ferry at Fort Macquarie. There Jessie’s calm demeanour is tested but putting her trust in the kindly Mr Miller they cross the harbour while “Jessie stood still as a statue.” The story ends with Jessie arriving safely at her new home at Taronga Zoo, Bradleys Head.
There is a nostalgic charm to this book, both in its presentation and the gentle pace of the text. Like many narrative information books for children it provides enough detail to pique their interest and maybe to ask questions or to investigate further. The helpful author’s note informs us the today Taronga Zoo has an elephant breeding program and raises money for elephant conservation. There is a photo of Jessie herself en route to the zoo and among the illustrations is a wonderful double page spread map of Jessie’s route providing information about the city of Sydney at the time. How to Move a Zoo was published by Allen and Unwin Children’s Book in June.
The Great Expedition by Peter Carnavas
One day five brave little explorers embark on The Great Expedition across wild country on a dangerous mission to deliver an important parcel. As the journey progresses they face hazards of many types and slowly some of the explorers fall by the wayside. But is the journey as dangerous as it appears? Are they heroes? The Great Expedition tells their story…and it will not be forgotten!
Peter Carnavas has such an appealing writing style and this is a joy of a picture book full of humour and kindly observation of children. Each member of this little gang of explorers has an important role but as they progress across ‘rugged terrain‘ numbers dwindle due to insect attack, adult intervention and a wayward dog. However two trudge onwards eventually delivering their precious cargo to its grateful recipient. Our story ends (spoiler alert!) as our heroes look back across their hazardous route across the playground next to their home as ‘first officer’, Mum waves from the gate.
I confess to a soft spot for this delightful picture book and am greatly looking forward to sharing it with my grandson when he is a little older. The water colour illustrations are full of detail and are relatable to young children with elements of the story not told in the text depicted to add to the fun and involvement. This would work well as a prompt for discussion about journeys and teamwork. The vocabulary used such as ‘confrontation’, ‘landscape‘, and ‘ramshackle‘ will challenge children and enable adults to explain and discuss usage and meaning making this a good book to share with slightly older children than the target age of 3-6. The Great Expedition has won awards in the author’s native Australia and I can well understand why. It is witty, clever and written with great understanding of a child’s view of the world. Peter Carnavas also recognises the importance to his readers of imaginary play and independence. Published by Frontier Publishing in July and recommended.
I should like to thank the publishers for providing me with copies of the books reviewed above.
Explorer Captain Matthew Flinders was the first man to navigate the entire continent of Australia confirming that it was a continent. His burial site had been lost since the mid 1800s but his remains were discovered during the excavations for HS2 near Euston in 2019. On 13th July this year he was reburied with military honours in the churchyard in the village of Donnington Lincolnshire where he was born. To mark this occasion The Cat and the Captain, a biography for children has been republished by Little Steps Publishing.
During his expeditions Matthew Flinders was accompanied by his mischievous but faithful cat, Trim. His feline friend was almost as intrepid an individual as his owner surviving a fall overboard and a shipwreck on the Great Barrier Reef before his demise in Mauritius where Matthew was held prisoner. Author Ruth Taylor, a cat lover, was researching pest control by ships’ cats when she was handed Matthew Flinders’ Biographical Tribute to the Memory of Trim. Somehow, during his escapades and hardship Matthew had managed to find the time to write a biography of his much loved cat. Ruth Taylor realised that this would appeal to children and has retold Trim and Matthew’s story in modern English. The Cat and the Captain is the result.
This fascinating biography not only details Matthew’s expeditions but also his childhood, family life and the historical background at the time, including references to other explorers, England’s war with France and the colonisation of Australia. Matthew’s strength of character and independent streak is evident in his early years when inspired by his reading of Robinson Crusoe he set his heart on going to sea. He told his father that he wanted to be an explorer rather than follow in his footsteps as a surgeon. At the age of 16 Matthew was assigned to a warship patrolling the English Channel and from then on we follow his fortunes as he takes risks and faces difficulties in his efforts to follow his dream. Ruth Taylor balances the challenge of exploration with the everyday problems of naval life at the time. Young readers will learn about scurvy, dysentery and malaria; the importance of trading routes and navigation; and the conflicts that were taking place around the world. We learn that Matthew was separated from his new wife for many years and that when he eventually returns to England his health had deteriorated although he did live to see his journal describing his expedition to Australia published.
The narrative style of this biography reads like an adventure and this plus the black and white illustrations by David Parkins including two detailed maps ensure that it has appeal to children. The inclusion of Trim who even joins the crew on his own chair at dinner will help too! The publishers have provided some comprehensive teaching notes which you can download here.
The Cat and the Captain: Trim the Cat & Matthew Flinders was published on 13th July in paperback by Little Steps Publishing and I should like to thank Sophia Whitfield for my review copy.
Welcome to a final round up of children’s book news for this academic year. Some special announcements feature including the appointment of the new Children’s Laureate and award winners in different areas of children’s literature. I have also highlighted some resources that may help teachers and school librarians and also parents and families over the summer break. There are book related activities and pastimes and new book suggestions plus events and training to prepare for in the Autumn term. I do hope that the links I’ve included are useful to you.
What I’m reading…
Two newly published books for readers aged about 9+ caught my eye recently and having read them both I think they would be perfect summer holiday reading. The Wanderdays: Journey To Fantome Island by Clare Povey and The Secret of Golden Island by Natasha Farrant are adventures with a classic appeal but imbued with an awareness of the current issues young people face. I enjoyed them very much and loved their hopeful endings.
Jo Bowers at Just Imagine has a knack for selecting books for me to review that always hit the mark for various reasons. The first in a new series, Ellie and the Marriage Listis a charming story featuring a 10 year old girl with Down’s Syndrome who fears that she may lose her elder brother for good when he becomes involved with their new neighbour. This is pitched well for its intended audience of newly confident readers of about 7+ and as the first in a series should engage children who will then want to follow Ellie’s further adventures. There are few books for this age group featuring characters with Down’s Syndrome and it is good to see Lantana Publishing filling this gap in such a positive manner and with a story full of empathy. The Magic Callaloo is inspired by the Trish Cooke’s love of childhood favourite Rapunzel and her own African heritage and this twisted fairy tale is a wonderful story of captivity and freedom. This stunning picture book is a visual treat. Sophie Bass uses such a kaleidoscope of colour in her work that each page bursts with energy and this is a book to savour.
New Children’s Laureate Announced – The appointment of Frank Cottrell Boyce as Children’s Laureate for 2024-2026 is wonderful news. As a multi award winning author and screen writer he has been a champion of children’s books for many years. His support in main stream media of other authors and the importance of reading and access to books for all children is well known and as Children’s Laureate I have no doubt this will have even more impact. Along with many others I am looking forward to following his Reading Rights: Books Build a Brighter Future campaign. Hurray for Frank!
Branford Boase Award Winner Announcement – Nathanael Lessore is the winner of the 2024 Branford Boase Award for outstanding debut novel for young people with Steady For This, his story of 13-year-old would be rapper Shaun, aka MC Growls, as he navigates life, love and dreams of stardom. The Branford Boase Award is unique in honouring editor as well as author and Nathanael shares the win with his editors, Ella Whiddett and Ruth Bennett, of Hot Key Books.
UKLA Book Award Winners Announced – the winners of these unique awards chosen by teachers were announced at the recent UKLA conference. Crossing the Line, by debut author Tia Fisher, which was also shortlisted for the Yoto Carnegie medal for writing and won the Shadower’s Choice Award and has now won the UKLA 11-14+ category. The 3-14+ Information category features another ground-breaking text, The Boy Who Didn’t Want to Die, and also awards the eldest winner on record, Peter Lantos. The 3-6+ category winner, The Hare Shaped Hole by John Dougherty and Thomas Docherty, is a beautiful picture book about coping with loss and grief. Wildsmith: Into the Dark Forest by Liz Flanagan, illustrated throughout by Joe Todd-Stanton winner of the 7-10+ category was described as ‘perfect first chapter book
CLiPPA Award Winner Announced – the winner of the UK’s major award for published poetry for children, the CLiPPA (CLPE Children’s Poetry Award) was announced this afternoon at a ceremony at the National Theatre on London’s Southbank on 12th July. The CLiPPA is awarded to poet Matt Goodfellow for his verse novel The Final Year. This announcement was well received by the audience on the day! A former primary school teacher, Matt Goodfellow is one of the most exciting and popular new voices in children’s poetry and has featured on the CLiPPA shortlist every year since 2021.
The Book Squad – Farshore, HarperCollins Children’s Books, Collins & Barrington Stoke have teamed up to create Book Squad – a new free resource to help primary teachers encourage Reading For Pleasure in schools. The comprehensive range includes research, how-to-guides, reading lists, tips from inspiring educators and authors plus much more. This is well worth bookmarking and investigating ready for the next school year.
Love My Books July Newsletter – Parents and carers do you want to make sure your children continue to develop as readers during the summer? Have a look at the Love My Books free, book based resources for children 0-11. There are lots of creative ideas for story fun, advice & videos. It is also great to see Sonia Thompson, head teacher and reading advocate announced as a new patron of this charity.
Books for Topics Summer Reading Bingo – this summer reading bingo challenge is designed to keep children motivated to read over the summer holidays. It is an activity that keeps the focus on reading for pleasure experiences rather than specific texts, with activities like make a den and read inside, read in the dark using a torch and read to a pet or a soft toy. Children can choose what they read for the challenges, although some Summer 2024 recommended reads are included for those looking for new ideas. The bingo sheets are free to download from the website above.
Summer Literacy Calendar – this helpful resource created by ‘Literacy With Miss P‘ is a special Summer edition focuses on key dates for the Summer holidays and the transition back to school in September. It features a mix of writing and reading competitions, events, and book awards for primary pupils.
Just Imagine: Recommended Book Lists – To help get your children ready for a summer of reading, Just Imagine have put together lists of recommendations for EYFS to year 6. Many of these books carry reviews from their review panel of teachers and librarians. For leisurely summer reading they have chosen high-interest books covering fiction, nonfiction, picturebooks and graphic novels. These would be useful lists to send out to parents to inspire children to read over the holidays and after.
Slow Down Drawing: An Interview with Ed Vere – although I shared the latest issue of Books for Keeps in the last Reading Matters round up I wanted to highlight this thoughtful interview by Mat Tobin, Senior Lecturer in Primary English and Children’s Literature in which he talks to Ed Vere about his work and latest book, The Elephant and the Sea.
Jon Biddle’s Reading for Pleasure Padlet – reading teacher and all round reading for pleasure guru Jon Biddle has updated his Padlet and this is a fabulous source of information, ideas and tips.
Lucas Maxwell’s Library Resources Padlet – former School Librarian of the Year, Lucas Maxwell has generously provided a range of resources on his Padlet which will be life saver for many school librarians. It includes book lists, activities, research and tips on book awards and school author visits.
Young Quills winners 2024 – The Young Quills for Historical Fiction are book awards for authors writing historical fiction for young readers between the ages of 5 years through to young adult. I was delighted to see that Where The River Takes Us by Lesley Parr has won the 11-13 age group category. Many congratulations to Lesley and the winners in each of the categories. Full details can be found on the link above.
The Wainwright Prize Longlists – This prize was created in Alfred Wainwright’s name to showcase the growing genre of nature-writing in publishing and to celebrate and encourage exploration of the outdoors to all readers. The Children’s Writing on Nature and Conservation Longlist consists of a wonderful range of titles and you can find out more about them on the website above.
The Little Rebels Award 2024 Shortlist – the Alliance of Radical Booksellers announced the 2024 Little Rebels Award shortlist this week. The eight titles selected explore social justice issues from the politics of Pride to the politics of statues; from Black history to perceptions of disability; and much more.
The National Literacy Trust: Inclusive Libraries Conference in Leeds and London – this is an excellent opportunity for librarians. In collaboration with The British Library and Lit in Colour (Penguin Books) The National Literacy Trust has organised a conference for public and school librarians, and other professionals with a stake in the library sector and provision. This conference responds to a need identified in their own research, to develop a deeper understanding of the following pressing aspects of inclusive provision: anti-racist working; decolonisation; effective ways to amplify, showcase and work with books by writers of colour. This is a fully funded conference taking place at venues in Leeds and London during the first week of September. Full details plus booking info are available on the link above.
That’s everything for this edition of Reading Matters and for this school year too. I hope these updates have been helpful. Over the last few months personal circumstances have resulted in these round ups not being as regular as normal so thank you for reading and a special thank you to those who have got in touch to comment, encourage or share online. Wishing everyone a happy summer with your families and friends. And fingers crossed that today’s sunshine continues for a while!
Islands have featured in fiction and in particular in children’s fiction for many years. From Kirrin Island in Enid Blyton’s Famous Five series to Stephenson’s Treasure Island, the islands in Kensuke’s Kingdom and Robinson Crusoe and also in picture books, like Struay in the Katie Morag series. Islands are often synonymous with adventure and sometimes with secrets too. Just in time for the end of term and summer adventures here are two new books for children that will make young readers want to visit an island soon.
The Wanderdays: Journey To Fantome Island by Clare Povey
The first in a new series by Clare Povey, The Wanderdays is a fast paced adventure featuring strong friendships, close family bonds, a dastardly villain and with an environmental message at its heart.
Flo and Joseph Wanderday’s mum is one of the world’s greatest explorers, but she’s gone missing on her latest expedition in the North Atlantis Ocean. Through an environmental journalist and old friend of their mum’s Flo, Joseph and their best friends Funmi and Isaac discover the sinister reason for Nellie Wanderday’s trip. This was no ordinary expedition and Mum was trying to uncover crimes committed by Sir Frederick Titan, a much-loved TV presenter who claims to be a protector of the natural world. Unknown to the public he has been using his position to exploit and destroy habitats for personal gain. The four friends find a map and follow clues taking them to a secret island to save Mum and expose Titan’s dangerous plans.
There is an appealing traditional feel to this exciting children’s adventure. The four children complement each other well and make a great team, the tension mounts and there are clues and twists for readers to attempt to solve alongside our heroes. The relationship between the siblings is conveyed well, with Flo assisting her younger brother to cope with his anxiety and OCD with calm understanding. Clare Povey threads a strong environmental message through her story without it detracting from the adventure. This is a terrific start to a new series with great appeal for readers of about 9-12 and a super summer read. Published in June by Usborne Books with an eye catching cover by Ben Mantle.
The Secret of Golden Island by Natasha Farrant
The Secret of Golden Island is quite possibly the perfect summer read for children. Natasha Farrant writes with skill and understanding ensuring her exciting adventure also conveys the hope, positivity and belief in infinite possibilities that young readers relish and appreciate.
When Skylar and Yakov’s paths cross each is dealing with personal trauma. Skylar’s adored Grandfather has recently had a stroke and she feels guilty that she was not with him at the time. Yakov is in England staying with his Aunt whilst his mother and sister remain in war torn Ukraine and he is desperate to go home. Each of them recognise something in the other, the worry and sadness but also the need for support and friendship. But most importantly, the need for hope. When they find out about a competition to win a nearby island they are united in their desire to bring about change in their lives and in the lives of their families.
The two new friends team up to compete against a formidable group of opponents with their efforts further complicated by the need to keep their actions secret from their families. Skylar and Yakov face mounting danger as they pit their wits against their foes and they must conquer their own fears as the competition becomes a race against time. This has all the traditional elements of a classic children’s adventure; relatable protagonists, a seaside setting, clues to solve, a beautiful island, legends, a secret underground tunnel, friendship, bravery and even a pirate song. However it is more than that. Natasha Farrant also explores themes of war, separation, loss and anxiety with a sensitive touch. Personally I find this author’s books a lovely reminder of childhood favourites but, importantly, they acknowledge the manner in which children are exposed to issues perhaps more than they were in the past. The ending of this exciting adventure is enormously satisfying and also highlights the continuing reasons for hope in a troubled world. I loved this and have a feeling its target audience will do so too. Published on 1st August by Faber Books and highly recommended.
I should like to thank Usborne Books, Faber Children’s Books and Bethany Carter for my proof copies.
The Children’s Bookshow is bringing author and illustrator Sydney Smith all the way from Nova Scotia, Canada to the U.K for two live events on their Autumn tour. Sydney is renowned for his illustrations and for the books he has created solely and with other authors. He was awarded the extremely prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustration in 2024, has won the Kate Greenaway Medal twice, in 2017 for The Town is by the Sea written by Joanne Schwartz and in 2021 for Small in the City which he both wrote and illustrated. At the time of writing there are still some tickets available for both his Hull performance and his London performance but you may need to be quick! Every child who attends one of Sydney’s performances will receive a free copy of his book My Baba’s Garden to take home and keep.
I am delighted that Sydney Smith has kindly agreed to answer my questions prior to the tour later this year and I hope you find his thoughtful answers as interesting and insightful as I did.
Who were your artistic influences as a child and what advice would you give children who are interested in illustration?
As a child I was in love with books. I liked reading, but I loved books. I loved the physicality of a book, the way they smelled, the sound of the page turning, and more than anything, the illustrations. Narrative images never ceased being my passion from the first drawings my mother stuck to the fridge. I was inspired by my first favourite picturebook, The Shrinking of Treehorn, illustrated by Edward Gorey. His illustrations still are some of my favourites. He inspires me to this day to make books for myself, first. One of the reasons I believe that I became a professional artist was because I never grew out of drawing. Every kid is an artist but at some point they usually become self-conscious and stop enjoying the act of creating art. For some reason, that never happened to me and I just kept on enjoying it well into my “adult years”. I think my advice for any children who are interested in illustrating is to be like Gorey, make your art for yourself, don’t worry what people want to see. And always remember to play. If you have fun doing it, before long, you will be amazed at what you can draw.
You use varying styles of presentation in your books. Some of your illustrations are framed in a similar way to a graphic novel and others in vignettes or double page spreads . How do you decide on the format you will use?
I think it all depends on what is happening in the moment I am illustrating. For example, if two children are exploring an island and encounter many landmarks and locations a single page, I may opt for using panels. It communicates much information in a single page. It can show an action sequence or act as a montage.
In a separate example, if those two kids are standing on the shore looking at the ocean and watching the waves crash against the rocks I may choose a double page bleed. One big image that can encompass a feeling of awe or something that I would like the reader to meditate on.
How do you think your work has changed as your career has developed?
My work is taking lots of turns but anything I’ve done that is worth anything has come from taking risks. Standing behind a choice that sometimes doesn’t even make sense to me. That is what excites me, following my gut. When I began my journey, I was working in way that didn’t feel sincere. Slowly, with every book I made, I discovered where my strengths and weaknesses were. I also fell in love with the power of visual storytelling There are so many fascinating ways to tell a story and it all happens in the mind of the reader. My job is to provide the right words and images.
In an interview in 2022 you said, “listening … is more in line with how I approach stories”. Please can you explain a little on how this helps your creative process?
I’m not quite sure I remember the context of the interview but I do think it is important to allow a story to talk to you. I’ve been in the frustrating position of trying to force a story to be something it wasn’t. I spent years struggling until I took a step back and saw that it was something all together different. Listening is often required to be present in the moment. When I was a child, the most transcendent moments were when I stopped and absorbed the sounds and smells that surrounded me. I felt so small and such a part of everything at the same time. I often think that the reason I make children’s books is just so that I can re-experience a fraction of those moments that I had when I was young.
Do You Remember? in particular conveys the impression that this is a story personal to you. When illustrating books for authors do you feel able to imbue the illustrations with your own experiences in the same way?
Yes, it is important for me to bring my own personal experience to a project even if the character seems nothing like me. The fact is, we are all so similar it’s hard to find what sets us apart. Those parts of ourselves that are personal yet universal, like memories, anxiety, sadness, joy, those are the subjects that intrigue me. We all experience these things and when we tell stories about these elements of life, we speak about the human condition. And that has the potential to be timeless and travel beyond barriers of borders and culture.
How do you approach drawing for a live audience? This, I imagine, must differ greatly from the process for creating books. What aspect of live performance do you find the most rewarding?
Live performances have always been exciting and thrilling. I enjoy connecting with the children and there have been many times I was blown away by what they contributed. Drawing for live audiences feels magical, as if the energy of the entire room, from all the participants, young and old is concentrated on the single act of creating art. Many times you could hear a pin drop. And other times it has been wild and deafening. I always leave a painting performance energized and reminded how special audiences of picturebooks truly are.
What can we look forward to from you next? Do you have plans to collaborate with other writers or is it possible that you may concentrate on creating your own books?
I have a few picturebooks lined up. Interestingly, two of the books I will be finishing soon are written by illustrator/authors, friends whose work I admire very much. I enjoy collaborating and I have been extremely lucky to have been paired with talented writers and kind people. It is important to me that we share a similar vision for the book and it makes it easier if we already have a good rapport. When I’m not working with someone else’s text I always return to my own. I am happy when I write, and at this moment I am burdened with an excessive amount of stories. Many, if not all of them will not see the light of day but their purpose is to keep me entertained and I am happy to keep playing.
I am grateful to Sydney Smith for taking the time to answer my questions and have learned a great deal from his carefully considered responses. Thank you to Saira Aspinall and the Children’s Bookshow team for all their assistance in putting this blog post together and last but not least you may like to watch this lovely video trailer from Sydney himself.
Library Lady 