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https://www.thereaderteacher.com/ this is one of my favourite resources.  Full of book lists and book suggestions that are regularly updated.

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The Reader Teacher | Children's Books | Reads, Reviews & Recommendations

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The Reader Teacher shares the best reads, reviews and recommendations for children, teachers, schools and parents to choose from.

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https://www.booksfortopics.com/ another really useful site.  You can search by topic if you are looking for themed books.

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BooksForTopics: Recommended children's books and booklists sorted by age or topic

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BooksForTopics help millions of users each year find recommended children's books, including booklists for primary curriculum subjects, the best new children's books, and recommendations of the best books by age or year group.

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https://authorfy.com/ a wealth of resources including video clips of authors and resources for creative writing linked to their books (and it’s all free!)

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I'm on the website! How quick & easy was that? So many exciting resources, I don't know where to start... - Miss Cleveland, Cannon Park Primary School, Coventry

Cannon Park Primary School

Just signed up to Authorfy and it's just fabulous! Stuffed full of inspiring authors and well thought-out lessons. It's a must for every school. - Jo Clarke, School Librarian

Whitchurch CofE Primary School

Publishing Partners

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I'm on the website! How quick & easy was that? So many exciting resources, I don't know where to start... - Miss Cleveland, Cannon Park Primary School, Coventry Cannon Park Primary School Just signed up to Authorfy and it's just fabulous! Stuffed full of inspiring authors and well thought-out lessons.

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https://thereadingrealm.co.uk/category/resources/ the reading realm app is a really good reading app, there are also plenty of good free resources on their website

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Thank you for joining us today over on The Reading Realm Facebook Page. We discussed lots of lovely books, including The Land of Roar by Jenny McLachlan and Ben Mantle,

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https://justimaginestorycentre.co.uk/ fantastic website which has selections of books to purchase but you can also look at the book reviews and just use it for ideas of good books.

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Experts in reading, writing and creativity. Selecting the best books for the classroom. Professional development for teachers and events for schools.

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https://toppsta.com/ loads of book reviews (free to register)

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https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/ loads of book reviews plus lots of extracts of books free to download (free to register) also offer a book subscription service

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Collections

The Best Children's Box Sets - Great Gift Ideas for Young Readers this Christmas

Knowing how challenging it can be to encourage some children to read, we know the deep joy that comes with them finding a character or a story that really speaks to them, that they grow to love, and they want more, more, more of.

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Buy a Book. Support a School. Make a Difference | LoveReading4Kids UK

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LoveReading4Kids exists because reading matters, and books change lives. Support local schools through the LoveReading4Kids bookshop. 10% off RRPs, and 25% of the cover price will be given to a school of your choice. Sharing book love with children's book reviews and book recommendations right across the ages, from toddlers to teens.

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https://wherereadingrocks.com/ reading subscription service (but can also just look to get ideas of good books at different ages)

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Reading Rocks is a place for anyone who wants to make reading rock for EVERY reader.

We just love to #ShareTheBookLove and we are the home of #RR_Chat .

Site created and managed by Heather Wright

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Reading Rocks is a place for anyone who wants to make reading rock for EVERY reader. We just love to #ShareTheBookLove and we are the home of #RR_Chat . Site created and managed by Heather Wright

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http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/ great resource about reading, lots of really useful articles etc

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Books For Keeps – The Children’s Book Magazine Online

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https://clpe.org.uk/ very knowledgeable-lots of books and access to free planning

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Create a free CLPE account to support your subject knowledge and provide ideas and inspiration for your primary school English teaching.

Free membership gives you access to CLPE's free teaching resources for books, awards and special days, CLiPPA Poetry and Power of Pictures teaching sequences, booklists, teaching approaches and the reading and writing scales.

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CLPE | Centre for Literacy in Primary Education

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Create a free CLPE account to support your subject knowledge and provide ideas and inspiration for your primary school English teaching. Free membership gives you access to CLPE's free teaching resources for books, awards and special days, CLiPPA Poetry and Power of Pictures teaching sequences, booklists, teaching approaches and the reading and writing scales.

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http://familybookworms.wales/ book reviews etc (about books from Welsh authors)

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Hello - shwmae? Thanks for dropping by. We are a family of bookworms based on the Wrexham/Shropshire borders. Our aim with familybookworms is to encourage our own children with their reading and to spread the enjoyment we get from sharing stories, engaging with authors and discovering new books.

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https://researchrichpedagogies.org/news-awards/ a wealth of resources about reading, it’s worth signing up to their newsletter to get up to date news.

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https://www.booktrust.org.uk/ great resource with lots of book reviews and resources

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BookTrust transforms lives by getting children and families reading. We are the UK’s largest children’s reading charity. Each year we reach 3.4 million children across the UK with books, resources and support.

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https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/libraries-local-history-and-archives/libraries/libraries-for-children-and-young-people/schools norfolk library services

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Research shows that children who read more succeed more. The Norfolk ELS is the Norfolk Library and Information Service specialist provider for all educational settings. We are dedicated to increasing children and young people's access to and interest in reading, as well as working with schools and academies to support staff and improve school library provision.

The experienced and enthusiastic ELS staff team are ready to give advice on books, reading and libraries whatever your requirement, and support continual improvement through:

Loaning books and resources, using the ELS children's mobile library as well as deliveries by courier

Working with children and young people to inspire reading more widely and encourage independent learning and information literacy with sessions in school

Saving staff time and money by helping you stock, catalogue and organise your library/book corners as rich and dynamic environments

Training, motivating, inspiring and encouraging staff, keeping them up to date with the latest trends and developments and providing opportunities to share good practice

Ofsted says: "All schools should develop policies to promote reading for enjoyment throughout the school" and look for evidence that "Teachers embed reading, writing and communication... exceptionally well across the curriculum, equipping all pupils with the necessary skills to make progress." Ofsted Handbook 2015

Flexible pricing structure

The token system allows schools to buy exactly the services they need. Buying just one ELS token paid for out of school and/or cluster budgets also unlocks a range of free services, including free loans of dual language formats and large print while stocks are available.

For more information about prices email education.library.service@norfolk.gov.uk

Home Educating families are also welcome to get in touch to find out about charges for services available to them, including loans of resources.

Where to buy ELS tokens

You can buy tokens through the Educator Solutions website. You will need to login to place your order.

Buying new books at discounted prices

We've negotiated a discount of 26% for any customer wanting to buy books directly from the Peters Booksellers, one of the largest educational and children's book suppliers in the country. Contact the ELS team to get your password to shop online or we can shop for you, get in touch for details. The books can be ordered with plastic jackets to extend the life of the book and, if desired, appropriate labels.

Keep informed

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Research shows that children who read more succeed more. The Norfolk ELS is the Norfolk Library and Information Service specialist provider for all educational settings. We are dedicated to increasing children and young people's access to and interest in reading, as well as working with schools and academies to support staff and improve school library provision.

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https://www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/advice/parenting-advice/getting-the-best-out-of-the-library-service suffolk library service

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How our libraries help children with dyslexia and Irlen syndrome.

Our libraries are family friendly places that offer free internet use and wifi.

All our libraries run activities for children of all ages, including craft sessions, story times and author visits. We also run the national Summer Reading Challenge every year.

Children can have their own library card and borrow books for free.

What we stock

We arrange children's books to match with the way your child learns.

We also stock books optimised for children with Dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome.

We don't stock reading schemes. Instead, we buy as wide a range of other books as we can that will support your child's reading at school. These include:

Categories

Book spine label

Beginner reads: Stories for children just starting to read independently

Short chapter books: Stories for younger readers

Picture books for older readers: Includes cartoons

Junior novels: Longer stories aimed at more confident readers

None

Using the library to improve your child's reading skills

You can help your children by bringing them to the library to choose books.

We stock thousands of books for all levels:

When they've just learnt a few letter sounds

When they're beginning to read with some support

When they can read short sentences

When they're independent readers

You can be a reading role-model for children. As well as reading imaginative books to and with them, you can ask them to:

read the recipes for you when you cook

read out a shopping list when you go round the supermarket

read road signs, labels and instructions or the TV guide

Using the library to help your child's emotional development

Children who read for pleasure do better at school. Before you even get to the educational stuff like increasing vocabulary and phonic awareness, you can also help nurture a child's emotional development, self-esteem and capacity to empathise with others.

Reading ideas and suggestions

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Getting the best out of the library service | Suffolk Libraries

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How our libraries help children with dyslexia and Irlen syndrome. Our libraries are family friendly places that offer free internet use and wifi. All our libraries run activities for children of all ages, including craft sessions, story times and author visits. We also run the national Summer Reading Challenge every year.

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http://www.lovemybooks.co.uk/ book reviews and resources

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https://www.readbrightly.com/ book recommendations sorted by age group

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Brightly | Helping Parents Grow Lifelong Readers

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Find great books for kids, reading strategies, age-specific book lists, exclusive author content, and more.

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https://www.readingzone.com/home.php reviews and resources

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Nizrana Farook
The Boy Who Met a Whale

When twins Razi and Shifa stumble across a boy who needs their help, it's the start of a...

Calling budding writers!

The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition is now open! The competition is...

A girl, a bear and a frozen island

Journey to the frozen arctic in this special story about a girl, a bear, and a...

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Everything you need to know about children's books and authors, including new books, extracts, reviews, interviews, and competitions. Dedicated areas for schools, families, children and young adults.

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Nizrana Farook The Boy Who Met a Whale When twins Razi and Shifa stumble across a boy who needs their help, it's the start of a... Calling budding writers! The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition is now open! The competition is...

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https://readingagency.org.uk/ loads of reading resources

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We inspire more people to read more, encourage them to share their enjoyment of reading and celebrate the benefits of reading to our lives. Because ev…

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https://literacytrust.org.uk/ free to register, lots of good literacy based resources and articles

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Early years

Resources and tools for early language development and parental engagement.

Primary

Deliver outstanding literacy provision at primary school stage.

Secondary

Help students develop the literacy skills they need to succeed at school and in their future lives.

We empower parents and families

Parents - you're not alone! Discover a wealth of practical tips to help your child's literacy journey, fun activities to try together as well as reassuring support and guidance on our Words for Life website. We have plenty of creative ways to nurture your child's reading, speaking, listening and writing development at home.

We collaborate with communities and local areas

We work collaboratively in 20 areas of the UK that face the biggest challenges with literacy and where we can make the most difference. We work alongside teachers and football coaches, to librarians and youth leaders - to create bespoke solutions that support literacy at home, in school and in the community.

We are 30!

This is a significant year for us at the National Literacy Trust as we celebrate our 30th birthday. Over the past three decades, we have been supporting families and children to change their life stories through the power of literacy and we are ready to celebrate!

News

How we are helping get a library into every primary

On Wednesday 8 November, we welcomed over 100 authors, partner organisations, funders, fellow charities, MPs, peers, and supporters, to Portcullis House in Westminster, to celebrate the anniversary of our Libraries for Primaries campaign.

Read more

News

Celebrating the first of 25 amazing Coronation Libraries

On Wednesday 1 November, we celebrated the opening of the first of 25 Coronation primary school libraries, at a special event at Harris Primary Academy Croydon.

Read more

News

Wicked Writers: Be the Change competition will launch in January 2024

Open to all UK schools and launching on 29 January 2024, Wicked Writers: Be the Change asks 9 to 14-year-olds to harness the power of persuasive writing to think about any environmental issue they feel passionately about.

Read more

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National Literacy Trust | UK Literacy Charity

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We are an independent charity working with schools and communities to give children the literacy skills to succeed in life.

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https://ukla.org/ loads of great literacy resources but also some book awards lists which are free to view

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Join us! We've been working to improve literacy since 1963 and believe that excellent literacy education should be informed by a range of research. Whether you are a teacher, school, student or working in HE, become a UKLA member and join our supportive community of skilled professionals. Memberships start at just £30!

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https://padlet.com/jholder_llp/rfpliverpool link to a Padlet resource (with lots of reading resources on it)

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https://padlet.com/jholder_llp/diversity another useful Padlet-related specifically to diversity in children’s books

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https://padlet.com/rruddick9zra/73uh2srzpbia padlet with graphic novels

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Lots of good book reviews

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Book reviews and weekly book newsletter with latest book news and links to reviews etc

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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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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.

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https://misterbodd.wordpress.com/2019/04/09/reading-for-pleasure-tube-map/amp/?__twitter_impression=true  really good reading resource on here

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Showcasing the newest books for ages 4-11ish!

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https://smithsmm.wordpress.com/ (headteacher who blogs about leadership stuff but also blogs about reading and is particularly knowledgeable about picture books).

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Isle of Wight-based blog about books and reading, by a lifelong reader, dad and teacher. www.whatiread.co.uk

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I have to admit that this Christmas has been a quieter one in terms of getting out and seeing family; however, looking on the positive side, it's been a great time for me to curl up with chocolate and enjoy a few books. My round-up of my holiday reading is below. There are some links to reviews I've already published and some new reviews as well, all listed in the order in which I read them.

Jane Austen Investigates: The Abbey Mystery - Julia Golding
https://kandobonkersaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2020/12/jane-austen-investigates-abbey-mystery.html

https://kandobonkersaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2020/12/a-tangle-of-spells-michelle-harrison.html

Deryn's father is the lighthouse keeper on Featherstone Island but when her mum goes into labour, Deryn is left alone to watch over things. When a fishing boat finds itself in trouble just off the island, Dery must rely on the help of a very special bird to help prevent disaster.

This is a wonderful story with an incredibly brave character at the heart of it. Deryn is a strong young lady who is determined to do the right thing and not to let anybody down - her qualities are admirable and will inspire readers. With a mix of magic, adventure and family, this is a joy to read. Featherlight appealed to me especially as, growing up in the North-East, I am very familiar with the true story of Grace Darling, a local girl who was one of the inspirations for the book. Once museums are back open again, I'll certainly be going back.

The prequel to Rumblestar, Ever Dark is the story of Smudge and her monkey, Bartholomew, who set sail from Crackledawn in an attempt to stop Morg, the evil harpy who is determined to steal Crackledawn's magic.

This was as wonderfully written as I have come to expect from Abi's writing. The description paints vivid pictures of wonderful new worlds that emerge from the page and allow you to imagine you are there with Smudge as she ventures on her quest.

Smudge is a determined character but rather clumsy; she's full of heart and kindness, and is very much a character that readers will want to get to to know; however, I have to say that I had a real soft spot for Bartholomew, the monkey whose grumpiness is rather endearing, as is his loyalty to Smudge.

Full of positive messages and full of adventure, this edition of Ever Dark is being published in a dyslexia-friendly format and is available to buy from 7th January - it will just about help get me through to May when I can dive into The Crackle Dawn Dragon!

Luna and her family have just moved into their first home which means a new school and making new friends. Luna finds this difficult, especially as she is worried about everything at home. However, when her school announces a family Bake Off competition, she feels that this will be the answer to everything and is desperate to enter with her mum. There's only one problem: she hasn't seen her mum in several days.

This is one of those wonderful books where you find yourself completely immersed in the main character's life so quickly that you just want to keep reading to find out what is going to happen. Luna is a sensible girl but one who is known to catastrophise - she sees the worst possible outcome in everything and worries about things. However, this leads her to be a rather wonderful big sister and a daughter, looking out for her dad as much as she can. She finds making friends at school hard so she is pleased when the boy who lives on her street is actually in her class. Together, the pair become firm friends.

Full of friendship, family and messages for adults about not hiding things from children, this is a book that I know will go down well in school.

Hal and his Uncle Nat are back on their third adventure and this time they're venturing on safari in Africa on a journey that will take them from Pretoria to Victoria Falls. From the very beginning of the journey, Hal's detective senses are twitching and he feels that something is not as it may seem, but he doesn't expect one of the guests to be murdered. With a retired detective on the train, investigations begin in earnest; however, can Hal and his new friend Winston get to the bottom of things before they reach the end of the line?

It was great to be back with Hal and his uncle who have such a wonderful relationship. But there was also a host of other characters to get to know and love (or hate) this time, in particular Chipo, the mongoose, who was such a loveable character.

Full of action and suspense, this is a fast-paced novel that will have you on the edge of your seat, and I guarantee there's an ending you won't see coming! Most definitely Hal's most dangerous but mist exciting adventure yet and I can't wait to board the next train with him.

Freddy Spicer's parents are currently working as Brussel-sprouts farmers in Outer Castonga ... or so he believes. In fact, they are secret agents working on a highly classified mission. Completely oblivious to the strange goings on around him, Freddy just wants his parents to come home so he can have a birthday party at Blast Yourself Bonkers!

Written in letter format, this is a hilariously funny book and Freddy's obliviousness to the strange events that are going on around him (his very glamorous new neighbour falling for his grandad; the unusual gadgets he keeps finding, the much older pupil who arrives at school...) make things even funnier. Oh and the sprouts, I have to mention the sprouts which poor Freddy is forced to eat all the time (with the obvious consequences!). You'll find yourself rooting for Freddy whilst laughing along with him. A great read!

Written in 1912, this is the classic story of Bobby, the Sky Terrier who befriends Auld Jock in Edinburgh. The pair become inseparable, so much so, that when Jock dies, Bobby refuses to leave his side, returning to his grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard every evening to lie with him. Despite the efforts of the Lord Provost, Bobby will not be moved and, as a result, changes the lives of all those around him.

This has always been one of my favourite stories, especially having spent so much time in Edinburgh as a child (it's where my father is from), and it's a wonderful story of loyalty and perseverance that's guaranteed to warm even the hardest of hearts.

This beautiful cloth bound edition of the book is even more special to me as it was a Christmas present from my son. Having remembered me mentioning it some time ago, he took himself to Waterstones and ordered a copy for me (and also bought me my very own JellyCat elephant!) This edition will take pride of place on me shelves and will continue to make me cry every time I read it!

Mirabelle is one of the monsters who are part of 'the family' who live at Rookhaven Manor which has, for years, been separated from the rest of the world by glamour. However, a fault in this results in orphans Jem and Tom stumbling across the house. Tom is unwell which forces the pair to stay for a week and, during this time, Mirabelle and Jem become friends. However, there is danger lurking that threatens everybody in the manor, meaning the the monsters and humans need to help each other in order to survive.

I had heard so many good things about this book so I was thrilled when I unwrapped a copy on Christmas Day and I most certainly wasn't disappointed. It's a deliciously dark and sinister book that hints from the very beginning of secrets that are waiting to be revealed as the story unfolds. The wonderful range of unusual characters only adds to the atmosphere and I found their different characteristics interesting - I particularly liked the chapters written from Piglet's point of view, although they were rather chilling and, in many respects, towards the end, thought provoking .

This is a beautiful book both in its gothic writing but also in the illustrations by Edward Bettison which most certainly add to the atmosphere. I shall miss 'the family' now I've finished the book but am pleased I got to visit Rookhaven, just for a while.

https://kandobonkersaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-storm-keepers-battle-catherine-doyle.html

A wonderful picture book about what happiness is and where you may find it. This is a perfect book for children (and adults actually!) which will help them to understand happiness. It's one that will be heading in to school with me and is a book that will be used again and again in assemblies, with my classes and with individuals.

We all have hopes and dreams for our children and this book so beautifully puts it down on paper. We want our daughters to dream big and be whatever they want to be - there should be no limit to their dreams. Although it is titled Dreams for our Daughters, I feel that this is a message that is important for all children to understand. Beautifully written and illustrated, this is a book that will help girls realise that they should follow their dreams.

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I have to admit that this Christmas has been a quieter one in terms of getting out and seeing family; however, looking on the positive side, it's been a great time for me to curl up with chocolate and enjoy a few books. My round-up of my holiday reading is below.

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Herts for Learning, Robertson House, Six Hills Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2FQ.

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Mat Tobin: English and Children's Literature

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https://www.facebook.com/groups/1544272119166812 Reading for pleasure in schools group

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https://www.facebook.com/groups/1892028304404455 group run by book blogger library girl and book boy

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Library Girl and Book Boy has 1,210 members. A place for book lovers to discover some of the best New children's titles.

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https://www.facebook.com/booksfortopics books for topics group

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Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

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Whole Class Reading - Primary has 19,034 members. A group for support, ideas and inspiration linked to Whole Class Reading.

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New Reads: January 2021

Silver linings
One day soon, we'll stop beginning blog posts with mentions of lockdowns and homeschooling and bookshops closing. While it might not be the start of the year that we were all hoping for, it is a time for staying put and ...
Continue reading

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Silver linings One day soon, we'll stop beginning blog posts with mentions of lockdowns and homeschooling and bookshops closing. While it might not be the start of the year that we were all hoping for, it is a time for staying put and ... Continue reading

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Sign up for more from Usborne | Usborne | Be Curious

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We are the leading UK independent publisher of children's books. Our books are available worldwide. Browse our catalogue and find out where to buy Usborne books

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Targeting cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you and your interests. They perform functions like preventing the same content from reappearing, ensuring ads are displayed and, in some cases, selecting content based on your interests. See More.

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Targeting cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you and your interests. They perform functions like preventing the same content from reappearing, ensuring ads are displayed and, in some cases, selecting content based on your interests. See More.

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If you are on Twitter a great way to get involved in RfP is to take part in the monthly #PrimarySchoolBookClub chats. New book every month and the author gets involved.

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#BooksNearBedtime is a weekly twitter chat, normally on Thursday evenings at 8pm. Lots of great reading discussion. It's run by Ben Harris who is extremely knowledgeable about literacy.

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Weekly book chat on a Sunday Morning. Lots of book sharing on different themes.

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If you are on twitter and want to follow some people who are good reading for pleasure people, this is a good place to start looking.

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We've detected that JavaScript is disabled in this browser. Please enable JavaScript or switch to a supported browser to continue using twitter.com. You can see a list of supported browsers in our Help Center.
Help Center

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collection of authors, independent bookshops and book publishers on twitter.

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Fantastic documents which lists books by topics-very comprehensive

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@LTeacher123 @KarlDuke8 Yes good call. I think he has a link on his profile?

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Something went wrong, but don’t fret — let’s give it another shot.

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https://t.co/aKnlrR2dFK
— MrsB (@LTeacher123) January 24, 2021

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@LTeacher123 @KarlDuke8 Yes good call. I think he has a link on his profile?

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@LTeacher123 @KarlDuke8 Yes good call. I think he has a link on his profile?

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@jonnybid @TJGriffiths @MrHtheteacher @richreadalot @JennyHolderLiv @Mat_at_Brookes @one_to_read @sam_creighton @BethRowe1 @Toriaclaire @Nicola_M_N_ @ArticuLaight @Misterbodd @PaulWat5 @emmakuyateh @SlatteryMr @mrTteaching @TsuiAllen @jenniferob81 @Alibrarylady @anoara_a Can you share the link for it? Can’t find it

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Something went wrong, but don’t fret — let’s give it another shot.

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https://t.co/gxuWFW2Gbt
— Jon Biddle (@jonnybid) January 24, 2021

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@jonnybid @TJGriffiths @MrHtheteacher @richreadalot @JennyHolderLiv @Mat_at_Brookes @one_to_read @sam_creighton @BethRowe1 @Toriaclaire @Nicola_M_N_ @ArticuLaight @Misterbodd @PaulWat5 @emmakuyateh @SlatteryMr @mrTteaching @TsuiAllen @jenniferob81 @Alibrarylady @anoara_a Can you share the link for it? Can’t find it

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@jonnybid @TJGriffiths @MrHtheteacher @richreadalot @JennyHolderLiv @Mat_at_Brookes @one_to_read @sam_creighton @BethRowe1 @Toriaclaire @Nicola_M_N_ @ArticuLaight @Misterbodd @PaulWat5 @emmakuyateh @SlatteryMr @mrTteaching @TsuiAllen @jenniferob81 @Alibrarylady @anoara_a Can you share the link for it? Can’t find it

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Finding and funding quality books resource

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Finding and funding quality books resource

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Find out how to seek external income and source new books from our new school guide on resourcing Reading for Pleasure.

Today we launch our new resource aimed at helping schools to increase their book stocks with well-chosen and diverse texts. We discuss how to source external income for new books, outline some in-school strategies for increasing book stocks and identify where you can find recommendations for great new texts.

It's a really rich resource which can help you find those tempting texts....
< Back to news & awards

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Find out how to seek external income and source new books from our new school guide on resourcing Reading for Pleasure. Today we launch our new resource aimed at helping schools to increase their book stocks with well-chosen and diverse texts.

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List of independent bookshops and where to find them

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Many independent children's bookshops and booksellers are currently in a very vulnerable financial position and need sustained customer support if they're going to survive beyond the next few months. This map is in no way fully comprehensive but hopefully it's a useful starting point to help find your local children's bookshop. Any further suggestions for additions to the map would be hugely appreciated, please add them in the comments box below.

If you do end up buying a book as a result of this map and you have a few seconds spare, do let me know by posting a comment - it would be great to know that it's being used.

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Directory of independent children's booksellers

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Many independent children's bookshops and booksellers are currently in a very vulnerable financial position and need sustained customer support if they're going to survive beyond the next few months. This map is in no way fully comprehensive but hopefully it's a useful starting point to help find your local children's bookshop.

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May Tobin Padlet on high quality picture book cross curricular planning

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May Tobin Padlet on high quality picture book cross curricular planning

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Short story list from Herts for Learning

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Short story list from Herts for Learning

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The very short read for the time-pressed teacher:

Now, more than ever, time is of the essence. And in teaching that is really, really saying something. Time is not exactly our most reliable or accommodating friend, especially when we have whiplash, what-day-of-the-week-is-it-now U Turns to contend with. With this in mind, I am approaching this blog strategically. We could all do with as much strategic thinking as we can get at the moment. So, I am cutting to the chase and sharing the resource that underpins this blog upfront.

You can read on if you choose to. Section two makes some recommendations of great individual stories, and also offers some suggestions for how to get the most out of others. Section three goes a bit deeper and offers a rationale for prioritising the sharing of short stories, and considers the place of them across the primary phase, and as part of your reading provision/offer. But if you just want to take the book list and run, here it is, a specially updated list of really rather good short story collections for primary-aged children.

Some titles are more mature than others - be it in terms of reading challenge or nature of content. This is explicitly noted in the list. Please preview prior to sharing in class.

The medium length read: some recommendations and suggestions

For readers of all ages, Janet and Allan Ahlberg are giants in the field of (short) storytelling. Good stories, well told. Simple. As. That. I must thank Jo Bowers, Principal Lecturer in Primary Ed and Associate Dean at Cardiff Metropolitan University, for introducing me to The Clothes Horse, their wonderfully inventive collection. My personal favourite from the book is the ridiculously charming Life Savings. I think the learning opportunities, in terms of follow up discussion and thoughtfulness, will speak for themselves. You'll be left with a priceless image to hang onto every time you see some unexpectedly childish behaviour from those allegedly old enough to know better. The collection is small, but perfectly formed. Now the less positive news. As far as I can tell, it is not currently in print, so I had some reservations about sharing it. But it is too good not to. You can buy it used - get in there quick. (Quicker!) You can also join me in mounting a campaign to get it back in print. Allow your young readers/listeners to soak up the storytelling voice that runs through each story, much as it does across their other works.

For readers in lower key stage 2, I would highly recommend Wild Stories by Colin Thompson. This is another book that is not always available through the most convenient channels. Please don't give up if you only see an expensive option. You should be able to order this as an import. It is a collection of gems. Quirky and beautifully written, it is a series of linked stories set in a neglected garden as it turns wild following its owner's departure. There is so much to recommend about this book, and its varied offering of poems and short stories, but one aspect that really struck me was the ways by which we come to have a real sense of place. I probably don't need to explicitly state the grammar elements that support this, so I won't. They take up enough space elsewhere, but if you are looking for some rich examples of how time, place, mood and atmosphere are conjured into being, look no further. My personal favourite selection is Sid the Mosquito, as well as the book's opening sections.

Our Reading Fluency Project team have previously shared their own recommended shorter reads - just right for a session devoted to developing prosodic or performance reading. You can catch up with these here:

KS1 selections

KS2 selections

And most recently, KS3

From this later blog, Spells for home by Stephanie Burgis from The Book of Hope: words and pictures to comfort, inspire and entertain, has one particular story recommended for use to develop phrased, expressive reading. You can find an online edition of The Book of Hopes.

Once Upon a Place, is probably my personal favourite of the collections, though it faces some stiff competition. It may be a personal bias in that it gathers a bevy of Irish writers, but it might just be because it is brilliant, with a range of story genres (and poetry) for readers in Upper KS2. To seal the deal, PJ Lynch's beautifully crafted illustrations appear throughout. The opening story, Gren's Ghost gets things going nicely. Colleagues have shared it to very good response and effect in years 5 and 6. Just to be clear though, despite the fact that I am about to refer to another ghost story from this book, it offers a range of genres. I might just mention the poem Bus Stop - I have taught this in several year 5 classes now and the discussion has blown me away each time. One or two phrases or concepts need a little bit of live scaffolding, then watch the ripples of insight radiate wider and wider.

My personal recommendation from Once Upon A Place works well with complementary books and other texts. Stream Time by Oisín McGann is another ghost story of a kind - a most unusual kind. Read this for a fresh spin on a tale of the undead, packed with voice and framed in the most unusual way. You will certainly want to explore and discuss the choices that inform its narration. Having shared the story, consider opening up the ideas and themes of the story by sharing the more recent The Haunted Lake, an appropriately haunting picturebook that also benefits from the artwork of P J Lynch. Here though, Lynch also provides the words - and there are plenty of them forming an entrancing, hypnotic tale. This is a short story vividly drawn in both word and picture. Draw out the thematic links and points at which the two stories reflect one another and then note the ways in which they differ. You will quickly see the ways in which the Haunted Lake shares murky waters with Stream Time. Given the themes that we have now opened up, go deeper still by moving onto David Almond and Levi Pinfold's The Dam. This in itself provides complementary reading opportunities (including a move into non-fiction), as I discussed here in an account of a whole school extended project. It's a brilliant book. Consider in particular the fabled "flooded" homesteads that surround The Dam and how this concept is mirrored overtly in The Haunted Lake. Weaving these thematic threads across a series of rich reading episodes will deepen thinking as it develops conceptual, thematic and emotional understanding.

Nikki Gamble's Story Shop contains - amongst many other gems - Ray Bradbury's brilliant All Summer in a Day. I have already written about this sublime story but that blog was about grammar. This story - like all others - is very much more than a grammar exemplar. It offers up stunning writing, challenges children's preconceptions of what good writing actually looks like, and then the ending thoroughly messes with their moral compasses. Another great story shared here is Nule by the uncannily good and much-missed Jan Mark. Mark deserves her own paragraph and more but let me just finish this paragraph with a clear warning: no matter your age, no matter your capacity for rationality, do not read Nule if you have a certain type of bannister and you are about to settle down for the night.

Remaining with Jan Mark, last year a fantastic - and in places challenging - collection of her stories was gathered. The One that Got Away is a joy of razor sharp characterisation, acute dialogue, and some very effective stings-in-the-tails. Nule appears here too. However, the final selling point I want to highlight is just how enjoyable and thought-provoking some of Mark's stories are for teachers. The One That Got Away is three pages of educational bliss. But it's The Choice is Yours that I really want to recommend. Bit-by-bit, exchange-after-exchange, a small heartbreak builds. It's a back-and-forth kind of story with one unfortunate child trapped in a to-and-fro between adult agendas. Characterisation is forensic across line-by-line perfection. And the ending is quietly, mundanely devastating.

The longer read: rhyme and reason

Why do I think short stories are worthy of consideration as a strand of your reading provision and a thread woven across or around your curriculum for literature? If we are short of time, it makes sense to shorten the reads. And I don't just mean the immediate here-and-now of time and task management, and the contextual pressures of our responses during lockdown. Each child that we teach has one reading journey unique to them. Some will be brim-full of all kinds of genres, styles, concepts, characters and all those wonderful words that conjure them into a mental life. Some might be reliant on the reading journey that we map out. There's little more rewarding than the shared journey through a good novel - I remember this from my own childhood (Antonia Barber's The Ghosts in particular, thank you Mrs Jessop) and from reading aloud to my class (Coraline was collective reading at its best - not for the delicate). But then there are only so many novels that we can get through across the year that we have a particular class of children. Novellas can help to extend the range of reading encountered in our story time sessions and there have been some crackers in recent years (perhaps another blog). Short stories can extend this range further still, and so much of the finest writing comes distilled.

For now, this sharing of great stories might be a short blast delivered through online read aloud sessions. However, I'd ask you to consider, if you haven't already, whether there is a space in your (more usual) curriculum to offer a provision or spine of high quality, short stories. A good short story will likely have benefits for all readers across the years, across the phases. They provide a singular, contained, and complete reading experience, and the effect may well be profound in terms of developing a sense of narrative structures. Still the benefits run far deeper than that. Stories are so important in learning, in the acquisition, reshaping, and expression of all kinds of knowledge. A story that subtly makes use of stylistic features can influence writing without you highlighting it. Carve out space for your reader-writers to read/mull/absorb and the benefits will most likely come to the fore in due course. This does not all have to happen within the confines of the classroom and amidst the pressures of the timetable. Reading a powerful, thought-provoking story at home will likely go down far better than usual home-reading routines for our more reluctant readers.

Done well, short stories are a tightly effective form, just like poetry, and they are perfect when time is short. I think they have a major, sometimes underdeveloped, part to play in schools. I've written elsewhere about the powerful contribution that short stories have to make. In that blog I shared a quote from Graham Greene I like the central point of the quote, though his choice of pronoun needs some thought, so here it is:

"With a novel, which takes perhaps years to write, the author is not the same man he was at the end of the book as he was at the beginning. It is not only that his characters have developed-he has developed with them, and this nearly always gives a sense of roughness to the work: a novel can seldom have the sense of perfection which you find in Chekhov's story, The Lady with the Dog."

― Graham Greene

This perfection or, to go to the Latin roots, this completeness is one selling point. The satisfaction of knowing how things turn out - or even sometimes the frustration of when things either don't turn out how we hoped or turn out in ways that ask us to fill in some gaps. This - as much as a laugh, a scare, or a moment of sadness - is writing that affects and so is writing for effect exemplified in the most powerful way. Another selling point is that with a well-designed spine of short stories, mapped across the years, as a minimum entitlement, we can ensure that we offer up a diverse range of styles, forms and voices. Enriched readers are all the more likely to be rich writers. To quote Debra Myhill, we further enhance the potential to write with a consciousness of "infinite possibilities" only here we not only mean in terms of word , phrase or clause level choices, but also whole text level awareness of the possibilities of writing to change how we think, feel, and how we perceive the world around us. Which, when we think about it, describes teaching. Sharing well-chosen, well-delivered short stories, amongst all the other things I have offered, is good teaching. And it's as simple - and brilliantly complex - as that.

A postscript on developing writing that meets the GDS standard

Way back in 2018, I wrote a blog that was focused on setting up a new series of blogs to support the development of writing that could be judged as satisfying the GDS standard set out for Year 6. It aimed to do so through means that we might consider timelessly good English teaching, rather than any kind of statutory hoop-jumping or feature cramming. Instead it was going to look at some key ingredients that I believed were most likely to support the development of what we might consider to be good writing, and - because you are teachers working in a particular system with a considerable dash of accountability - would also support in meeting this specific marker of writing attainment.

You can find the original blog here. Within, it offers an outline for a proposed series of blogs. I still intend to honour that, but other things got in the way at the time. This blog on short stories reflects part of the intended blog (under the first heading below) relating to reading mileage. I think reading mileage is often thought about in terms of either overall volume of words or books consumed, and perhaps not so often the range and diversity of styles and voices we encounter. The unique destinations that those miles lead us to, through, and beyond. A good short story spine offers a whistle stop tour to all manner of new and exciting places. Just remember to send us a postcard.

To wrap up, I've included an outline of the proposed blogs as a renewed commitment to completing the series, for when the times are right.

Here are the intended focus areas:

Reading mileage: distance and destinations the provision of a rich, broad and deep reading diet.

The importance of oracy This has always been critically important but I am hopeful that recent books by Robin Alexander and Isabel Beck, Margaret Mckeown, and Cheryl Sandora will relight the fuse for dialogic practice. The skilled management of classroom dialogue about written language can be extremely powerful in enhancing both reading and writing, as well as talk itself.

The Writer's Workshop: crafting and redrafting - the move to reduce written marking and to explore the potential of more immediate feedback has opened a new window for the processes associated with writing conferencing as described by Donald Graves and others back in the eighties.

Time is (it) on your side (?): making space to read, think and write - this speaks for itself; time will always be our enemy so forging connections across various modes of literacy instruction will support us in maximising the learning gains from our time/effort input.

Different voices; different lives - here we will consider how we can develop voice and register drawing upon concepts, models and practices that are currently perhaps not as well-known as they should be.

Cohesion - wherever (and whenever) we go - here we will look at the central importance of cohesion, and how a well-developed grasp of chronological writing supports not only clarity in writing, but the ability to reshape, reform and - where appropriate, and where we dare - bend and distort our writing for particular effect. I will no doubt mention verbs at some point. Graves will get a look in once more. As will Barrs and Cork's The Reader in the Writer. They're all rather handy.

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Time is short - time for short stories: enriching reading & writing with perfectly formed tales

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Now, more than ever, time is of the essence. And in teaching that is really, really saying something. Time is not exactly our most reliable or accommodating friend, especially when we have whiplash, what-day-of-the-week-is-it-now U Turns to contend with. With this in mind, I am approaching this blog strategically.

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Lots of reading resources including reviews for children and adult books

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Reading focus podcast with different authors.

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Tel: 07704 717384

Finance Address:
9 Notley Green, Great Notley, Braintree, Essex, CM77 7US

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Suite 2, The Aquarium, Lower Anchor Street, Chelmsford, England, CM2 0AU

Company no. and place of registration:
07255281, registered in England

VAT Number:
GB 101 6023 83

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Tel: 07704 717384 Finance Address: 9 Notley Green, Great Notley, Braintree, Essex, CM77 7US Registered Address: Suite 2, The Aquarium, Lower Anchor Street, Chelmsford, England, CM2 0AU Company no. and place of registration: 07255281, registered in England VAT Number: GB 101 6023 83

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Fantastic guides for reading and mental health/well being book guide

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We inspire a love of reading in the children and young people of Ireland.

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Mostly Book Chat - books, dogs, family life

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Book reviews from children aged up to 17

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New children's books reviewed by a panel of enthusiastic young readers aged 2-17 years.