Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates by Jenny Pearson

The end of Year 6 is supposed to be exciting - the start of a new adventure - but for Freddie Yates, a sudden turn of events causes him to question everything he knows. For someone who loves facts, this is very unsettling. He decides to set off on his greatest adventure to find a… Continue reading The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates by Jenny Pearson

Article, Reading

Which Children’s Books Would You Recommend For Adults?

What a question! When I asked it on Twitter, I never imagined the number of responses I would receive: over 300 comments and more than 200 different book recommendations ranging from picture books to young adult. Favourite authors were praised too with many comments simply stating, “Anything by Katherine Rundell / Emma Carroll / Eloise… Continue reading Which Children’s Books Would You Recommend For Adults?

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

The House of One Hundred Clocks by A.M. Howell

Take yourself back in time to Edwardian Cambridge: a city of learning and invention as well as hardship and loss. It’s 1905 and Helena finds herself moving to a strange house full of all kinds of clocks. The owner, Mr Westcott, is obsessed with keeping these clocks ticking. They must never stop. Helena’s father is… Continue reading The House of One Hundred Clocks by A.M. Howell

Book Review, Non-fiction Books

Little People Big Dreams series by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

The Little People Big Dreams series is the most beautiful set of non-fiction children’s books I have ever come across. Each gorgeous hard cover book is a child-friendly biography of a significant person from history. I’ve been fortunate enough to receive Amelia Earhart, Martin Luther King Jr, Stephen Hawking, David Attenborough, Muhammad Ali and Rosa… Continue reading Little People Big Dreams series by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Article, Quiz, Reading

Middle Grade Book Quiz for World Book Night 2020!

Thursday 23rd April 2020 is World Book Night UK – a celebration of reading on Shakespeare’s birthday! You can find out more about World Book Night here: https://worldbooknight.org/ Today's questions have been taken from a selection of fairly recent and absolutely fantastic middle grade children's books. I really hope you enjoy the quiz! Good luck!… Continue reading Middle Grade Book Quiz for World Book Night 2020!

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

A World Full of Dickens Stories by Angela McAllister

Like Shakespeare, the language of Charles Dickens is an enormous part of our lexicon and everyday life. A familiarity with his stories is a key part of a well-rounded general knowledge about British literature, history and culture.  Dickens’ links to the Industrial Revolution and Victorian Britain also make him an important part of the Key… Continue reading A World Full of Dickens Stories by Angela McAllister

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

The Worst Class in the World by Joanna Nadin & Rikin Parekh

The Worst Class in the World written by Joanna Nadin and illustrated by Rikin Parekh is a laugh out loud collection of crazy school adventures. According to their headteacher, Mrs Bottomley-Blunt, Class 4B is LITERALLY the worst class in not just the school, but in the entire world. They spend most of their time coming… Continue reading The Worst Class in the World by Joanna Nadin & Rikin Parekh

Article, English Teaching, Reading

New Books to Share with Children: World Book Night 2020

In honour of The Reading Agency's World Book Night on Thursday 23rd April 2020, True Education Partnerships asked me to write a guest blog post about my recommendations for new books to share with children. Follow the link to read the article: https://www.trueeducationpartnerships.com/schools/7-fantastic-new-books-to-share-with-children/#author Find out more about World Book Night here: https://worldbooknight.org/ Click on the… Continue reading New Books to Share with Children: World Book Night 2020

Article, Reading

What is the best new children’s book you’ve read recently?

In April 2020, I asked this question to teachers, authors and book reviewers on Twitter. Over the next two days, I received the most wonderful array of recommendations that will keep us reading for months! Most recommended (Click on the titles to read my reviews): Crater Lake by Jennifer Killick (Sequel - Crater Lake: Evolution)… Continue reading What is the best new children’s book you’ve read recently?

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

Time School: We Will Remember Them by Nikki Young

Time School author, Nikki Young, has created a fantastic comprehension guide to accompany Time School: We Will Remember Them. With chapter by chapter questions and extension tasks, it pulls out the key elements of this brilliant story for children and teachers. Click here to download it free from her website. Where do you come from?… Continue reading Time School: We Will Remember Them by Nikki Young