Heart-warming, inspirational and empathy-building, The Boy Whose Wishes Came True is a book every child and every teacher needs to read. When Archie Crumb was little, his mum used to tell him to make a wish every chance he got - birthday candles, a rainbow, a snowflake, everything was wish-worthy. He had no idea the… Continue reading The Boy Whose Wishes Came True by Helen Rutter
It's my stop on Grandpa Frank's Great Big Blog Tour and I'm so pleased to welcome author Jenny Pearson with a special guest post! Let’s hear it for the older generation! I love writing grandparent characters and I think that is because I had four absolute belters of grandparents of my own. I am very… Continue reading Grandpa Frank’s Great Big Bucket List by Jenny Pearson ~ Blog Tour
Who Will Love Me When You're Gone is a beautiful picture book published in conjunction with Grief Awareness Week 2021. *** "My love for you can never leave, It's like the sun, the air you breathe..." Jack's mum is very poorly, and he's worried about what will happen when she's gone... Will Mummy take her… Continue reading Who Will Love Me When You’re Gone? by Anna Friend & Jake Biggin
Books from Barrington Stoke are so often my go-to recommendations for teachers and parents. First and foremost, they are fantastically engaging stories from some of the best, current authors in the UK. The quality of the writing is incredible and children are soon carried away in the adventures. What makes Barrington Stoke books really special… Continue reading Meg and Merlin: Making Friends by Tanya Landman & Sonia Albert
Time School: We Will Stand with Them is the third book in the brilliant time-slip series by Nikki Young. Each story centres around a different period in history set against the backdrop of Hickley, a Yorkshire mill town. Four friends – Nadia, Jess, Tomma & Ash – each discover a connection to their past that… Continue reading Time School: We Will Stand with Them by Nikki Young
Beautiful paintings and the simple sentences of a child combine to create a unique perspective on the outbreak of the Second World War in Poland. Asked to keep a journal by his teacher, eight-year-old Michael reflects on the highlights of his days. Walks in the woods, a ride in a car, planes overhead, the start… Continue reading I Saw a Beautiful Woodpecker: The Diary of a Young Boy at the Outbreak of World War II by Michal Skibinski & illustrated by Ala Bankroft
Unexpected witches, a brilliant little bat, broomsticks, wands, spells and a Golden Retrieagle called Cuddles – all the ingredients of a fantastic middle grade fantasy adventure with a whole lot of heart! Twelve-year-old Toby is a young carer, looking after his mum who struggles with M.E. He loves her so much and wants to do… Continue reading Toby and the Silver Blood Witches by Sally Doherty
Swop is a super cute pup that young readers will love. Perfect for Lower Key Two, this book is sure to become a favourite on classroom bookshelves. Swop is the world’s smallest dog and just the distraction Ernie needs when his family moves to the city and he has to start over. Dad is gone… Continue reading Swop The Satsuma-Sized Secret by Lucy Noguera & illustrated by Laura Ireland
Every once in a while, a picture book comes along that is so versatile and meaningful that it will suit children of all ages – from pre-schoolers to teens. Storm in a Jar is one of those books. Addressing the complexity of bereavement and the range of emotions found in grief, it allows children to… Continue reading Storm in a Jar by Samuel Langley-Swain & Katie Cottle
Perfect for football lovers in Year 6+, Sudden Death is another powerful Roy Race & the Rovers story. It is full of hard work, training, match strategy and team dynamics, bringing the reality of professional football to life on the page. Readers will be carried away in the action, feeling every high and every low.… Continue reading Sudden Death: A Roy of the Rovers Novel by Tom Palmer & Elkys Nova
Scope for Imagination 