Calling the Whales by Jasbinder Bilan is an inspirational environmental adventure that honours humans' relationship with nature with a call to respect and protect. Set on the beautiful Scottish coast, this story evokes the spirit of majestic whales, the pull of the sea and the magic of the moonlight. It's the summer before secondary school.… Continue reading Calling the Whales by Jasbinder Bilan & illustrated by Skylar White
Nightjar is an expertly crafted symphony of emotion bringing together the beauty of the natural world, the challenges of family life and the struggles of growing up while staying true to yourself. It is a gentle and honest story of what it means to thoughtful, caring and responsible - of finding balance, listening and trying… Continue reading Nightjar by Katya Balen
It's November 1942 - the middle of the second world war. Susan's mum works long hours at the factory while her dad is in North Africa and they haven't heard from him in months. Worries pile on top of worries. Susan just wants to make her mum happy and she has the perfect idea -… Continue reading Operation Banana by Tony Bradman & illustrated by Tania Rex
Every school library, classroom and home should contain books from Barrington Stoke. Their wonderfully captivating content paired with accessible vocabulary, super-readable font and helpful page tint make them some of the best books available for ALL children. From fun, sweet Little Gems for young readers age 5+ to their mature, thought-provoking 11+/13+ Teen and Young… Continue reading Must-haves from Barrington Stoke
In honour of World Book Day 2023 and publication day for the wonderful Dragonracers, I'm thrilled to welcome author Peter Bunzl to my blog with a special guest post! I’ve always wanted to write about dragons. A few years ago, I had an idea about a lighthouse keeper’s daughter who discovers a dragon. That story… Continue reading Dragonracers ~ Guest Post by Peter Bunzl
Gothic Literature is a favourite topic in Key Stage Three English. Dracula, Frankenstein, Edgar Allen Poe... there are so many classic texts to discover. For some children, these texts can be quite challenging with unfamiliar language and a style they just aren't used to. Often, reading another version of their class text helps children build… Continue reading Frankenstein: A Retelling by Tanya Landman
March 2023 Finding unexpected treasure is always magical. The Curio Collectors brings the thrill of discovery to life on the page with a historical mystery that will engage readers right from the start. Tom and Lil live in a caravan with their Ma. Travelling from town to town, trying to make money by selling items… Continue reading The Curio Collectors by Eloise Williams & illustrated by Anna Shepeta
I'm thrilled to bring you a very special Christmas gift - a guest post by author Dan Smith about his spine-chilling new book, The Terror of Hilltop House (to be published by Barrington Stoke in January 2023). Treat yourself with a preorder now so you don't miss a single second of this creepy tale! There’s… Continue reading The Terror of Hilltop House by Dan Smith ~ Guest Post
Barrington Stoke books are wonderful in their diversity, ability to evoke thoughtful emotion and incredibly enjoyable stories. Written by top-notch, current authors, they are the gold-standard of quality and appropriateness for today's children. With dyslexia-friendly font, spacing and page tint, everyone can enjoy these books. The manageable length and carefully chosen vocabulary encourages success and… Continue reading Brilliant Middle Grade from Barrington Stoke ~ Autumn 2022
Little Gems books from Barrington Stoke are perfect for children in Reception and Key Stage One who are ready to add some variety to their reading diet. Pitched between picture books and chapter books, these early readers give children the feeling of an older book with accessible vocabulary and spacing to help them on their… Continue reading Barrington Stoke ~ Little Gems
Scope for Imagination 