Tag Archives: empathy

All the Ways to be Smart written by Davina Bell illustrated by Allison Colpoys

Posted on June 21, 2019 by

A celebration of what makes each and every child special, this positive and joy filled book acts as a reassuring balance to the message that the only things that matter are those that can be measured and assessed. “I can’t … Continue reading →

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Special Delivery by Jonathan Meres illustrated by Hannah Coulson – Dementia in children’s books

Posted on June 10, 2019 by

A book about finding friendship in unlikely places, this gentle story focusing on helping others, provides a kind and thoughtful look at dementia and is suitable for younger readers. Frank would like a new bike. Unfortunately it is not Christmas … Continue reading →

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The Longest Night of Charlie Noon by Christopher Edge

Posted on June 3, 2019 by

How to review a book as clever as this one without giving away its secrets has given me pause for thought. Perhaps it could be summed up like this…I read this in one sitting, utterly captivated, and as I read … Continue reading →

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No Ballet Shoes in Syria by Catherine Bruton

Posted on April 8, 2019 by

No Ballet Shoes in Syria tells the story of Aya, an eleven year old asylum seeker from Aleppo in Syria. It is a story of hope and of kindness. Aya provides a voice for all the millions of child refugees … Continue reading →

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The Truth of Things and Lark by Anthony McGowan

Posted on February 25, 2019 by

The publishers Barrington Stoke are responsible for a wide range of books that are created to be accessible to all readers including those with dyslexia or children and teens sometimes described as reluctant readers. Sometimes “reluctant” readers are simply young … Continue reading →

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School Libraries – Where Every Day is Empathy Day

Posted on June 8, 2018 by

    2017 saw the celebration of the first Empathy Day to highlight empathy’s importance in our divided world and the power of stories to develop it. Following the success of that pilot it is now to be an annual event … Continue reading →

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After The Fall by Dan Santat – A picture book for all ages

Posted on May 12, 2018 by

This wonderful book tells the story of what happened after that most famous nursery rhyme fall. How Humpty Dumpty survived and then decided to get back up again with truly astounding results. Often as a school librarian I have said … Continue reading →

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Children’s Books Helping Readers Find Courage

Posted on April 15, 2018 by

One of my favourite debuts last year was The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson so I was very much looking forward to reading The Light Jar, her second novel, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed by this thoughtful novel about finding … Continue reading →

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Why School Librarians Are Educators Too and Why School Libraries Matter

Posted on November 22, 2017 by

  ‘’We are all educators…….accompanying young people in their efforts to build their lives for today and tomorrow.’’ For seventeen years I worked as a librarian in a school at which the words above formed part of the mission statement. … Continue reading →

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Letters From the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll Review and teaching links

Posted on September 6, 2017 by

From her very first book for children, Frost Hollow Hall, I have loved Emma Carroll’s stories. They are the sort of books that the ten-year old me would have adored and they have a magic about them which makes me … Continue reading →

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