I first fell in love with the mysteries of Venice many, many years ago. As a child, I listened to the audio book “Vivaldi’s Ring of Mysteries” with gondolas, masks, music and the Island of the Dead. In 2017, I was so fortunate to visit this floating city myself. I was enchanted by the maze-like… Continue reading The Mask of Aribella by Anna Hoghton
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
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
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
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
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
Since reading Malamander by Thomas Taylor, I have been waiting to return to Eerie-on-Sea with great anticipation. It’s sequel, Gargantis, did not disappoint. In fact, it is even better than the original with more monsters, strange happenings and heart-stopping moments! From the very first moment, readers are pulled into the magical, other-worldly town of Eerie-on-Sea.… Continue reading Gargantis by Thomas Taylor
A Sprinkle of Sorcery is Michelle Harrison’s spellbinding sequel to A Pinch of Magic. Living on Crowstone Island with their granny and father, the three Widdershins sisters dream of a better life in a happier place. When it seems like their dreams will never come true and they are surrounded by nothing but bad omens,… Continue reading A Sprinkle of Sorcery by Michelle Harrison
In primary school, Year 6 residential is a rite of passage. Every child waits for this very special adventure with anticipation, excitement and a little bit of fear. There is always a ghost story to go with it – a frightening tale passed on by older children who have been there and lived to tell… Continue reading Crater Lake by Jennifer Killick
It’s the summer of 1914 and there is news of assassinations and potential war coming from far away. For the children at Longbarrow House, it’s incredibly exciting but also incredibly frightening. They dread the thought of their fathers having to go away to war but every sign seems to say it’s going to happen. When… Continue reading The Ghost Garden by Emma Carroll
Scope for Imagination 