The School Librarian 70-2 Summer 2022

LGBTQ+ Provision in the
School Library – for all
Verity Jones
Libraries as an Essential Wellbeing Resource
in Schools
Margaret K. Merga
The Quarterly Journal of the School Library Association
Volume 70 Number 2 Summer 2022
Ed Tech Horizons: Virtual Author Visits
Jonathan Viner
www.sla.org.uk

Contents
The Quarterly Journal of the School Library Association
Volume 70 Number 2 Summer 2022
Welcome from the CEO 2
Editorial 3
SLA News 4
Features
Alienus Non Diutius
Richard Gerver 5
LGBTQ+ Provision In The School Library – for all
Verity Jones 6
Libraries as an Essential Wellbeing Resource in Schools
Margaret K. Merga 8
The First Year Setting up a School Library
Clive Wallis 10
Next Steps For Tackling Fake News and Improving Media Literacy
Julian McDougall 12
What is the Ideal Number of Books Loaned per Week from a Primary School Library?
Connie Koorevaar 14
International Perspectives 16
Current Conversations 17
Media and Information Literacy Alliance update 18
Becoming Integral to the Educational Process 19
Research Highlights 19
A View From... 20
Frequently Asked Questions 23
Dates for you Diary 24
Curriculum Links 25
Digital
EdTech Horizons 26
Podcast Review: The Coming Storm 27
Encyclopaedia Britannica 28
Beyond Copy & Paste: Become a Shortcut Expert 29
Social Media Links for Reading and Information Literacy 30
Three from YouTube – Physics 31
Three Websites - PHSE 32
Your Patrons Q&A 34
Members Corner & Your SLA 35
Book Reviews
7 & Under 36
Highlights - Holidays 39
8 -12 46
Highlights – Green Issues 49
13-16 60
Highlights – Graphic Novels 63
17-19 68
Highlights – Independence 69
Professional reviews 71
Book Review Index 72
10
The First Year Setting
Up a School Library
12
Next Steps For
Tackling Fake News
and Improving
Media Literacy
27
Podcast Review:
The Coming Storm
Beyond Copy & Paste:
Become a
Shortcut Expert
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
1

Welcome from the CEO
This year seems to be speeding past quicker than
ever before! These articles give me an opportunity
to reflect and think about the sector and the wider
context, which is precious.
There have been a number of occasions which
have re-enforced the optimism I spoke of in my
spring column; I spoke at a meeting with Schools Minister Robin
Walker, and the knowledge and passion on show from Jonathan
Douglas, Fiona Evans and others about the importance of books,
reading, libraries (school, public and school library services) was
something to behold. Nick Poole wrote to the Secretary of State
for Education to highlight the Great School Libraries campaign,
and the campaign has shared some extracts, highlighting the
department’s interest in this area.
I have spoken to a few audiences about the SLA strategy for 2022–
2025, and had some great conversations about the challenges,
potential solutions, and the importance of working together. It
can be difficult when there’s a power imbalance or a history of
incompatible decisions, but it is vital to push on, and focus on the
change needed. In April our president, Richard Gerver, wrote a
blog about finding common ground – it makes vital points, many
of which also apply to the sector, and how we engage with others.
Sometimes, when coming from the place many of us are coming
from, we can make assumptions about the extent to which we’re
included, or why something has been said or just add a good
dollop of cynicism to a conversation. It’s tempting, natural, and
completely understandable, but ultimately unhelpful.
Published four times a year by the School Library Association:
spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Cover illustration by Chris Riddell.
Copyright © 2022 School Library Association. All rights reserved.
ISSN 0036 6595
Cover: Original artwork by
Chris Riddell, Patron of the
School Library Association.
You can be in with a chance
of winning this artwork by
emailing ‘Summer Riddell
Cover’ to info@sla.org.uk.
The Winner of the Spring
artwork was Beth Simmons,
Baines School, Lancashire.
The views expressed are those of the contributors and reviewers and
not necessarily the official views of the School Library Association.
Registered Charity Nos. 313660 and SC039453.
Printed on Carbon Captured paper.
Annually the production of TSL creates
44.76 square meters of native British
woodland and captures 1.792 tonnes of CO 2 .
Designed and printed by
Holywell Press, Oxford.
I am seeing more and more what a difference is made when
we engage in a meaningful and solution-focused way, when
we invite ourselves to the table, and abide by the rules of
engagement. This is not to say the endings are always positive
or there aren’t times when ‘no’ is the right answer, but there are
more opportunities.
While at the Association of School and College Leaders
conference I saw this firsthand; there were leaders who hadn’t
realized the SLA could support them, who wanted to discuss
their libraries and how to maximise them, who wanted to talk
about impact, reading and information literacy. There are leaders
who recognize the value of what school libraries and their staff
provide, and who are willing to support the sector to develop.
In this, the SLA’s 85 th anniversary, it seems appropriate that these
conversations are gathering pace, and we take some time for
reflection. We have completed our
first 85 th day giveaway, with nine lucky
schools winning a £10 SLA voucher
– there’s another three 85 th days to
go, so join in next time if you didn’t
this time. We also launched a new
digital members’ badge for members
to download and add to their email
signature, website, or profile – you can
find it on the website now.
Alison Tarrant
Contributions
Articles, books or digital media for review are always
welcome. We are happy to receive enquiries from potential
contributors and will be pleased to supply further
information. Email: tsl@sla.org.uk
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We are always keen for feedback.
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Members of the SLA receive this journal free; they may
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2
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Editorial
The Quarterly Journal of the School Library Association
Volume 70 Number 2 Summer 2022
LGBTQ+ Provision in the
School Library – for all
Verity Jones
Libraries as an Essential Wellbeing Resource
in Schools
Margaret K. Merga
Ed Tech Horizons: Virtual author visits
Jonathan Viner
I’m sure many of us have been alarmed
by the recent spate of news stories both
in the UK and the US covering instances
of authors, academics, and books being
banned or ‘challenged’ by groups who
don’t want young people to access
them. As our society continues to negotiate the
relationship between the freedoms, beliefs and
rights of individuals, and those of a wider minority
and/or majority group, we see both sides of
the political spectrum wanting to play out this
negotiation in the arena of what is acceptable for
our young people to access as they become fullyeducated
citizens.
A starting point for discussion could be the famous
John Stuart Mill quote from his essay On Liberty
(1859): “The peculiar evil of silencing the expression
of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race….
If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the
opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong,
they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the
clearer perception and livelier impression of truth,
produced by its collision with error.”
The effects of the pandemic on young
people today are still coming to the
fore, but it is not a surprise that levels
of mental health issues have spiralled
since March 2020.
In such an environment librarians will increasingly
find themselves at the forefront of this negotiation,
as the gatekeepers to valuable resources for
young people. Education consultant Claire Marris
discusses some of the issues involved in dealing
with controversial books in the library in our
Current Conversations column.
This edition of TSL arrives at the beginning of
Pride month, and Head Librarian Verity Jones
writes about ways to introduce and connect
students meaningfully to LGBTQ+ resources in
school libraries, outlining some of the sensitivities
involved and practical steps.
The effects of the pandemic on young people today
are still coming to the fore, but it is not a surprise
that levels of mental health issues have spiralled
since March 2020. Analysis of NHS Digital referrals
data by the Royal College of Psychiatrists for the BBC
(published in February 2022), showed a 77% rise in
the number of children needing specialist treatment
for severe mental health crisis between April and
October 2021. By this latter month there was the
highest number on record of under-18s in touch
with NHS child and adolescent psychiatric teams.
This of course correlates with what is
being seen in schools, and a survey
from children’s mental health charity,
Place2Be, and the National Association
of Head Teachers (also published in
February) saw responses from almost
1,000 teaching and support staff who
described witnessing an increase in
less acute emotional and mental health
issues among pupils since the pandemic, including
anxiety. In this issue researcher and author, Dr
Margaret K. Merga outlines the key and unique role
school libraries can play to help tackle this issue
and support pupil wellbeing. She writes: “Given the
wellbeing challenges we are currently facing, we
need to invest in the school library as a wellbeingsupportive
resource. Now more than ever we need
to recognise, protect, and promote this resource.”
This edition of TSL also contains an account by
SLA Patron Julian McDougall of a Westminster
Forum web event which he attended on our behalf,
looking at how fake news can be confronted
and media literacy can be improved for young
people today. The importance of robust media
and information literacy skills among the general
public is well documented by a recent podcast
series which is reviewed in our digital section.
In The Coming Storm, journalist and presenter
Gabriel Gatehouse traces the history of conspiracy
theories and misinformation campaigns
(circulating predominately in America and online)
which led to the storming of the US Capitol
building on 6 January 2021. Sober listening, this
gives crucial insights into ways information and
misinformation is being harnessed by individuals
and organisations for sinister ends.
Among other highlights in this edition, librarian
Connie Koorevaar writes about what her recent
research project into library loans revealed about
pupils’ borrowing habits and attitudes at her school.
We also have Library Resource Manager Clive
Wallis sharing his experience as a first time librarian
reopening a school library which had been shut for a
year due to covid. Both not to be missed!
We have introduced some further new content in
this issue, including Your Patrons Q&A where we
speak directly with one of our lovely patrons, and
Members Corner where we hear from one of our
wonderful members about what’s going on in their
library, and more!
Don’t forget you can read this edition of TSL online
through our website if you prefer, as well as past
editions stretching back to 2019.
My thanks go to everyone who contributed their
hard work and time to this issue. To suggest further
ideas for content please email
elizabeth.roberts@sla.org.uk.
www.sla.org.uk
Elly Roberts is the
Publications and Awards
Officer for The School
Library Association
@Elly_Roberts1
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
3

SLA News
Join the Board to support our work
Three of our trustees come to the end of their three year term at
the AGM in September. We are incredibly grateful to former Vice-
Chair Stephen King, Karan Kaur and Sarah Middleton for all their
commitment and support of the SLA. Additionally, Agnès Guyon
has taken the difficult decision to step down at the AGM, and we
also thank her for all her hard work.
This means we are looking for new trustees to join our Board. If
you would like to contribute to the important work of the School
Library Association and have skills you would like to share, stand
in our up-coming elections. Each Trustee has a specific focus or
area, to ensure that the board is balanced overall. The full role
descriptions can be found on the SLA website. We are keen for
our Board to reflect the widest possible range of sectors, regions,
experience and diversity of the United Kingdom. Being elected by
your peers to serve on the Board carries lots of benefits and most
headteachers recognize the additional skills and experience this
brings. The SLA Board oversees the governance and leadership of
the organisation and we need a wide range of skills on our board;
this year we want to recruit from the school library sector or
those with school library experience within the last ten years to
add to the balance on the board. For further details of the process
and requirements please see https://www.sla.org.uk/article/suebastone/sla-trusteesneeded/251
or for an informal chat please
contact Sue Bastone, Chair of Trustees, chair@sla.org.uk
Leadership training for school library and reading leaders
There are two new, fully-funded (through the apprenticeship
levy) training opportunities designed to help teachers and
support staff successfully develop and embed reading in schools,
delivered by the National College of Education. Each person
will receive enrichment sessions related to reading or school
librarianship, showing how these skills can be implemented
within a reading focused school job. The publication of the
Department of Education’s Reading Framework earlier this year
makes this all the more important, and these programmes are
aimed at empowering current and aspiring school library staff
and reading leads with valuable leadership tools to help them
successfully enrich reading across all school settings.
These programmes will address both the generic challenges
of leading an organisation as well as the specific challenges
of leading on reading. The SLA is pleased to be providing
enrichment sessions for the Leading Libraries for their Future
programme to show how the learnings on the course relate to
school libraries. This course is open to those currently working
in a school library, as well as those who may want to lead one in
the future. The two courses – with enrichment sessions in leading
reading or school libraries – will provide opportunities for
strengthening skills and having them recognised externally.
Find out more here: www.tinyurl.com/2vum45dr
Information Book Award
We are thrilled to be announcing the
shortlist for the Information Book
Award later this month!
Our dedicated team of judges have
been busy reading all the submissions
and whittling down almost 200 different
titles to first, a longlist, and now a
shortlist of some of the best information
books published in the last year.
This annual award, made possible by
the sponsorship of Hachette Children’s
Group, aims to highlight the impressive
resources available to libraries, to
celebrate the importance of information
books and to support school libraries.
We have lots of exciting activities
planned to help narrow down this list
to help identify the winners. Children
will be voting on their favourite in each of the categories of the
awards: 7 and Under, ages 8 – 12 and ages 13 – 16.
There will be a Judges’ Choice Winner and a Children’s Choice
Winner for each age category, and both Judges and Children
will choose an Overall Winner. The Children’s Choice will open
at the end of May and remain open until October half term.
The winners will be announced in
November 2022. You can find more
information and all the books on
the longlist on our website. If you
want to know more about IBA you
can sign up to our IBA newsletter –
for all the latest news and perhaps
a giveaway or two:
www.sla.org.uk/iba-2022
4
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Feature
Alienus Non Diutius
Richard Gerver
SLA President Richard Gerver discusses the importance of the
school library as the center-point of a school’s community.
In 1986, after leaving Apple for the first
time, Steve Jobs purchased the digital
division of LucasFilm, the company that
made Star Wars. He renamed it Pixar.
In 1999 he and his team, including
globally renowned architects Bohlin
Cywinski Jackson, set out designing a new, state-ofthe-art
headquarters. The core vision for the design
had to be the encouragement of collaboration.
At the entry to the campus there was written,
‘Alienus Non Diutius’, which is Latin for ‘alone
no longer’.
Jobs was passionate about Pixar creating
sustainable innovation and development in the
film industry and he was aware that in order to
do that, people couldn’t be allowed to work in
their silos: finance in one office, HR in another,
marketing somewhere else and creative in
their own domain. He knew that meaningful
development and achievement could only come
from a culture of collaboration, both planned and
unplanned.
‘If a building doesn’t encourage [collaboration],
you’ll lose a lot of innovation and the magic that’s
sparked by serendipity. So, we designed the building
to make people get out of their offices and mingle
in the central atrium with people they might not
otherwise see.’ 1
Jobs believed in the connectedness of a common
purpose and helping people from every
department see themselves as a larger team where
shared experiences and expertise were the only
way to create a sustainable culture of learning
and development.
When I first heard about Pixar’s culture, which was
around 2004, I was in the middle of my headship.
So much of what I heard and read resonated
with me as an educator. I worked in a primary
school where the fragmentation happened by year
group. Rarely would early years talk to key stage
2 for example. In secondary education the case
is often amplified by department or even subject.
Teachers are so busy and under pressure to deliver
their syllabus to their students in order to prepare
1 Walter Isaacson, Steve Jobs, Simon & Schuster, 2011.
them for their exams, that there appears to be little
time for collaboration. Also, worryingly, it can lead
to protectionist cultures which can lead to blame
shifts. It also results in professionals becoming
increasingly blinkered as they focus on their fixed
outcomes.
One of the great challenges for our libraries and
librarians is to help leadership understand their
place and value at the heart of our schools.
At Grange, we decided the library was our Pixar
atrium: the place that brought people together,
where the magic happened, where serendipity
was sparked. We also worked hard to make sure
the whole community could see how the library
represented the very best values of our shared
vision and values. Early on, we developed what
we called a pupil profile, a set of characteristics
that we would seek to develop in all of our
students. The library was the place where those
characteristics were brought to life. They were:
• To understand how to focus
• To prepare
• To have belief
• To show grit
• To apply creativity
• To show curiosity
• To have resilience
• To display courage
• To demonstrate independence
And, most importantly to
• Have a sense of purpose.
They bound our community together and our
library and librarian were at the heart of bringing
them to life, across the school, across the
curriculum and across year groups.
One of our great challenges is to help our schools
understand that part of our job is to be the home
of collaboration. To be the place where all staff and
students can come to contextualise their teaching
and learning. To be the hub of developing the
characteristics that make a real difference in the
growth of every one of our learners, that will drive
them forward academically and holistically.
Together, we should all feel alienus non diutius.
Richard Gerver is the
President of the School
Library Association, and a
world-renowned speaker
and author. He was
previously a headteacher.
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
5

Feature
LGBTQ+ Provision in the
School Library – for all
Verity Jones
Head Librarian Verity Jones talks about ways to introduce and
connect students to LGBTQ+ resources in school libraries,
drawing on her own research in the area, discussing some of the
sensitivities involved and practical steps to approach the issue.
mainstream authors, Rick Riordan, Cassandra
Clare, Becky Albertelli, Leigh Bardugo, etc.
Budget
Budget was a clear and constant issue in my
original research – it was noted LGBTQ+ books
were ‘specialist’ and therefore ‘expensive’. Now the
increased availability means prices are lower, in
line with other equivalent titles. You are less likely
to pay over the odds for LGBTQ+ content.
Photo credit: Canva
Verity Jones is Head
Librarian at Shrewsbury
School. She has worked in
school libraries for seven
years and has had her
work on LGBTQ+ provision
published in School
Libraries Worldwide and
Synergy.
@MoserLibrary
In 2018 I undertook my masters’ thesis,
‘In all areas I cater to the majority: An
investigation of LGBT+ provision in school
libraries from the librarian’s perspective’.
This piece of work went on to be an article
in School Libraries Worldwide (2020), with
a reflection and update in Synergy (2021). Based on
the original areas of research, it is useful to begin
with an update of what is better.
Better?
Publishing
Since the original research, there has been an
undeniable uptick in books with LGBTQ+ content
being published. This increase has been noted
formally, with lists by the American Library
Association and Stonewall, and informally by
bloggers, networks, and those of us seeking
out these titles. Whether through signposting
or increased production, it is less of a battle to
find them!
Variety
Alongside this is an increase in range of
representation; transgender, non-binary, bisexual
and newer or lesser-known sexualities/gender
expressions emerging. All of this, in a wider variety
of genres, allowing different readers to engage
with the work. This includes work by existing
Training
Training opportunities have increased, for
individuals and entire organisations, on issues
surrounding LGBTQ+ identities and school
provision. There is general training, by the likes
of The Proud Trust, Mermaids, Stonewall, etc.,
alongside opportunities to gain accreditation as
LGBTQ+ friendly through groups like Stonewall,
Educate and Celebrate, or LGBT Youth Scotland.
Society
We have seen a societal shift, with movements
including Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, Everyone’s
Invited, and the Women’s March, with an
awareness and desire for diverse representation
(including LGBTQ+ representation) coming to the
fore. It used to be that the location your library
was in, would be a strong indicator of how much
support or pressure you would face; this is still the
case, but country-wide change has occurred.
Problems left?
External pressure
External pressures remain and affect us in our
work, to varying degrees, whether that is from
parents, governors, senior leadership, line
managers, pupils, local authorities, lobbying
groups, or, as seen recently in Southwark, affiliation
to a religious group. It is against this backdrop that
continuing to provide access to LGBTQ+ content
often requires more consideration.
6
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

LGBTQ+ Provision in the School Library – for all
Approaching provision without
assuming users’ experience allows us
to provide access sensitively.
Mitigating the impact of these incursions is a
difficult balancing act. Often it relies on us knowing
when to change school-wide policy or tailor
responses to individuals and their families. The
former can appease quickly, and the latter respects
individuals while potentially preserving access to
these resources for others.
Neutrality
Under CILIP’s ethical framework, we have a
commitment to ‘uphold and defend: Human
rights, equalities and diversity, and the equitable
treatment of users and colleagues’. With external
pressures in mind, it is tempting to rely on our
neutrality, using it as a shield against complaint –
though this can also be used as reasoning against
perceived favouritism towards or promotion of
LGBTQ+ resources.
Neutrality is therefore not the natural ally of
equity: it often upholds the status quo, with all its
problematic and historic imbalances, favouring
current equality over true equity.
Under section 28, promotion of LGBTQ+ resources
was illegal. This historic difference in service
needs to be bridged, often through positive action
– buying stock, increasing awareness, creating
channels of access – before we can rest on a mantra
of “everyone is treated equally”.
This does not mean that all methods are beneficial
(rainbow stickers do not suit everyone, just as only
displaying LGBTQ+ books during a mental health
week can carry its own stigma) but clear allyship
through our work can go a long way in bridging
those gaps as neutrality favours the majority.
Individual experience
There may well be a generational difference in how
children/teenagers explore, discover, and share
their sexual orientation and gender expression.
However, there will still be instances where users
will experience fear of bullying, harassment, nonacceptance,
disenfranchisement, etc., because
of their LGBTQ+ identity. Irrespective of where
they are on that journey, there may be reasons not
known to us that would stop users from accessing
the titles and content they might find useful.
Approaching provision without assuming users’
experience allows us to provide access sensitively –
not just expecting users, who may fear being outed
or have homophobic homelives/friendship groups,
to pick up a book covered in rainbows (although
this method does have its own pros).
Access
With barriers to access still existing, how then
do we get the books into the hands of the users?
A large part of this can circle around the question,
who are they for?
With books working both as windows and mirrors,
allowing users to see themselves represented,
but also giving insight into and knowledge of a
group beyond the users’ experience, the answer
should be everyone. The question we are left with
instead is, how do we signpost to potential users
when thinking about both uses, without putting
anyone off?
In a blog post (SLG, 2021) I suggested stickering/
booklists/ keywording/ displays/verbal
suggestions/rainbow labels; I argued these
should not be used in isolation. A mixed-method
approach allows access for users, like those
described above, to access books without risk
of negative repercussions, whilst also allowing
users with less barriers or stigma easy access.
It mitigates the pitfalls of one method with the
benefits of others and provides a mixture of
private and public signposts.
Budget/space/time
These areas, similar to external pressures, can be
constant constraints on library provision, faced in
some degree by all of us. We have seen how budget
has less impact thanks to lower prices and time is
saved as books are signposted better and searching
takes less time.
Unfortunately, space – barring refurbishment or
relocation – is still a concern. However, all three
of these issues are mitigated somewhat by the
assumption that all titles, whether their content is
LGBTQ+ or not, are for all students, and therefore
one group’s needs do not need to supplant the
other. My original research found this prioritisation
was a major factor when deciding whether to
provide LGBTQ+ content.
The titular quotation, “Also I cannot afford to buy
resources ‘in case’ a student is of a less commonly
identified sexuality... in all areas, I cater to the
majority” now rings less true, when we consider the
minority as a subset of the majority – every action,
therefore, benefits the whole, not just the few.
What next?
The aim is simple: to remove all barriers for pupils
to enjoy our resources. So how can we do this?
On this topic, I suggest a shift from Majority to
Minority mindset, seeing those Minorities as part
of the whole, not in opposition to it. This can then
influence and feed into how we provide access to
these resources, so the largest possible spread of
users is reached, and no one’s avenues of access
are compromised.
Photo credit: Unsplash
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
7

Feature
Libraries as an Essential
Wellbeing Resource in Schools
Margaret K. Merga
As we emerge from the Covid 19 pandemic many schools will
continue to experience high levels of emotional, wellbeing
and mental health issues among pupils (and staff), such as
anxiety, attention difficulties and low self-esteem. Researcher
and author, Dr Margaret K. Merga outlines the key role school
libraries can play to help tackle this and support pupils.
Dr Margaret K. Merga is
an honorary adjunct at the
University of Newcastle,
and an international expert
in literacy, libraries, and
research communications.
She has written more than
a hundred peer-reviewed
and research-informed
publications, including
four research-informed
non-fiction books, such as
the recent School Libraries
Supporting Literacy and
Wellbeing (Facet, 2022).
Twitter: @MKMerga
Globally, one in seven young people
aged between 10 and 19 struggle
with their mental health, with
anxiety and depression leading
causes of illness in our young
people (WHO, 2021). Even before
the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our
students were grappling with wellbeing issues that
impact upon their school lives, and their mental
health has been negatively affected by this global
crisis (OECD, 2021).
Schools have faced an overwhelming array
of challenges that have emerged during the
pandemic, including a need to respond to
increasing pressures on young people’s wellbeing.
Staff may find themselves in the unenviable
position of having to deal with student and parental
stress while coping with their own health and
wellbeing struggles (Merga et al., 2021).
School libraries have always supported student
wellbeing, and we need to advocate for greater
recognition of this role (Merga, 2020a; 2021). I will
briefly highlight some of the key wellbeing benefits
school libraries and their staff offer.
Libraries as safe spaces
The school library can be a place where students
feel a sense of belonging, where they can find
sanctuary and recharge their resilience (Merga,
2021a). For example, a primary school librarian
described a vulnerable student who often sought
refuge in the library.
I’ve got one child who is very sensitive to wind
and external outdoors . . . so she’ll just come in,
she doesn’t say anything at recess, or lunchtime,
she’ll just come in and start drawing or . . .
whatever day it is, and we don’t have to say
anything, I just know that she’s feeling that way.
She doesn’t need to be embarrassed about it.
(Merga, 2022, p. 120)
It is important to note that school library
professionals intentionally create environments
that will soothe and nurture their students, so these
staff are as important as the library itself.
Students need access to reliable health
information, as well as skills to source
and interpret this information.
Libraries supporting health literacy
During the COVID-19 pandemic, students need
access to reliable health information, as well as
skills to source and interpret this information.
Greater health literacy is related to better health
outcomes (CDC, 2016), so the benefits of improving
students’ health literacy extend beyond the current
pandemic conditions.
As information literacy professionals, school
library professionals can build students’ health
literacy. My recent research suggests that they are
already playing an important role in this regard. For
example, one school library professional described
helping her students avoid misinformation during
COVID-19 related school closures. She created
a library portal where she provided ‘some safe,
reputable links that I had checked out myself on
there, and including some good science, because
it was a period where wellbeing was quite in the
forefront’ (Merga, 2022, p. 106).
8
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Libraries as an Essential Wellbeing Resource in Schools
School libraries provide time and
space for students to “escape the
world” through deeply immersive
reading experiences offering wellbeing
benefits that may be infrequently
available and undervalued in
contemporary schools.
Reading for wellbeing
Reading books can enable students to escape the
stressors of everyday life, bringing enjoyment and
peace, and my earlier international research with
avid readers found that ‘the escape of reading was
often used in order to regulate emotion’ (Merga,
2017, p. 152). More recently a student described
the wellbeing benefits of reading:
If you don’t know what to do, or if you’re sad, or
if you’re angry, or whatever the case is, you can
just read, and it feels like you’re just escaping
the world. And you’re going into the world of the
book, and you’re just there. (Merga, 2022, p. 86)
School libraries provide time and space for
students to “escape the world” through deeply
immersive reading experiences offering wellbeing
benefits that may be infrequently available and
undervalued in contemporary schools.
Reading for empathy
When reviewing the research on reading for
empathy in 2018 I noted that ‘reading fiction can
play an important role in fostering social skills
and empathy, as well as the ability to consider the
perspectives of others’ (Merga, 2018, p. 15). This
helps students to ‘better understand the attitudes,
values, and lived experiences’ of people from
different backgrounds and contexts (p. 15).
More recently, young people described how
reading fostered the ability to consider other
people’s perspectives, also providing a source
of inspiration. A high school student described
being deeply moved and inspired by reading the
autobiography of Malala Yousafzai, noting that
‘I thought it was incredible how no matter what
happened to her, even after her horrific injury,
she just came back and kept fighting for what she
believed in’ (Merga, 2022, p. 90).
School library professionals as pastoral supports
Students also identify library staff as a key factor in
their enjoyment of, and safety in the library (Merga,
2021a, p. 668). They explained that they felt like
they could speak to their library staff without being
judged, with one student saying:
If we’re feeling down, we can talk to our librarian
... even if it’s, like, not for advice, she’ll just listen
to us and she’ll tell us, if we want, she’ll tell us
advice or we can just have a bit of a rant to her.
She’s very nice. (p. 668)
There is very little acknowledgement in the
literature of the pastoral support role that school
library professionals play, and how this can
contribute to student wellbeing, even though
research suggests a pastoral support role is part of
their job description in both the UK and Australia
(Merga, 2020b; 2021b).
Final comment
Much has been written about the vulnerability
of school libraries and their staff to funding cuts.
Given the wellbeing challenges we are currently
facing, we need to invest in the school library as
a wellbeing-supportive resource. Now more than
ever we need to recognise, protect, and promote
this resource.
Photo credit: Unsplash
References
CDC (Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention).
(2016). A health literacy report:
Analysis of 2016 BRFSS Health
Literacy Data. https://www.
cdc.gov/healthliteracy/pdf/
Report-on-2016-BRFSS-Health-
Literacy- Data-For-Web.pdf
Merga, M. (2020a). How
can school libraries support
student wellbeing? Evidence
and implications for further
research. Journal of Library
Administration, 60(6), 660-673.
Merga, M. K. (2021a). Libraries
as wellbeing supportive
spaces in contemporary
schools. Journal of Library
Administration, 61(6), 659-675.
Merga, M.K. (2018). Reading
engagement for tweens and
teens. ABC-CLIO/Libraries
Unlimited.
Merga, M. K. (2020b). School
librarians as literacy educators
within a complex role. Journal
of Library Administration,
60(8), 889–908.
Merga, M.K. (2022). School
Libraries Supporting Literacy
and Wellbeing. Facet.
Merga, M. K. (2021b). What
is the literacy supportive role
of the school librarian in the
United Kingdom?. Journal of
Librarianship and Information
Science, 53(4), 601-614.
Merga, M. K. (2017). What
motivates avid readers to
maintain a regular reading
habit in adulthood? Australian
Journal of Language and
Literacy, 40(2), 146–156.
Merga, M. K., Malpique, A., Mat
Roni, S., Valcan, D., & Ledger, S.
(2021). Teachers’ perceptions
of the impact of COVID-19 on
writing instruction in Australia.
Issues in Educational Research,
31(4), 1138-1155.
OECD (Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development)
(2021). Supporting
young people’s mental health
through the COVID-19 crisis.
https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/
view/?ref=1094_1094452-vvnq8dqm9u&title=Supportingyoung-people-s-mental-healththrough-the-COVID-19-crisis
WHO (World Health Organisation)
(2021). Adolescent mental
health. https://www.who.int/
news-room/fact-sheets/detail/
adolescent-mental-health
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
9

Feature
The First Year Setting Up
A School Library
Clive Wallis
Library Resource Manager Clive Wallis shares his experience
reopening a school library that was shut for a year due to
covid, after taking on a new job as a librarian for the first time.
Clive Wallis is Library
Resource Manager at
Twynham School and
The Grange School in
Christchurch, Dorset.
In a former life, he sold
computers before spending
ten years as a primary
school teacher. He is
currently writing a comic
MG adventure about a
thirteen-year-old boy and
a three-thousand-year-old
angel.
@twynhamlibrary
@writerclive
It was Monday 7 June last year when
I pulled open the Twynham School
library doors for the first time. I had no
previous experience as a librarian. What
qualified me for the role were the ten
years I’d spent as a primary school teacher
(including a stint as English Subject Leader), a
voracious appetite for reading, enthusiasm, and
the somewhat dubious distinction of being an
(unpublished) author of children’s fiction. My
predecessor had left early in the pandemic and the
library had been shuttered for many months. I sat
down in my chair ready to start work with no real
idea what I was going to do.
A long-held maxim got me started: if in doubt, tidy.
I started with everything in, on, and underneath my
desk. There was a pleasant early surprise: an entire
box of Celebrations, unopened and in date. Other
finds I was not so sure of. What use did a librarian
have for a pair of pliers, or a twenty-centimetrelong
Phillips-head screwdriver? I sorted, I threw
away and I cleaned. At some stage I ventured out
from behind the desk to look at the books. Within
a week I was brave enough to open the library and
start letting students back in.
Two things were immediately obvious. Firstly,
students loved having the library open again. Inside
a week I was already getting to know names and
faces as the same students dropped in each break
and lunch, and sometimes before school. Secondly,
we were going to need some new books. Unsure
where to start, I decided to ask the students. A
few common threads appeared: murder mystery,
adventure, horror, and manga. As I didn’t really
have a budget until September, I decided to ask
for help. I sent a letter home to parents, asking
for donations of any unwanted books. Within
days they started to arrive, continuing up until
Christmas, by which time I had taken in a little over
a thousand books. Not all of them made it onto
the shelves, but the vast majority did. This gave the
library the feeling of being new and updated, even
The combination of the pandemic
and the departure of our last librarian
meant that there were a lot of year
groups that had not been in the library
for over a year.
if I had actually purchased very few new books.
Meanwhile, my headteacher signed off on some
stock. Our first new murder mysteries and manga
titles were on their way!
I got myself involved in the Year 6 to 7 transition
planning. As a former primary school teacher, I
knew that reading for pleasure was an ingrained
part of the school day in key stage 2. I was keen
to ensure those good habits were sustained
into Year 7. Due to the pandemic, we couldn’t
have our future Year 7s in to us as we normally
would. Instead, I visited all our feeders, talked
about reading and showed them a short video
giving them a virtual walkthrough of what would
soon be their library. We also provide all of our
new students with some summer reading. I was
lucky enough to deliver John Boyne’s The Terrible
Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket to
approximately 240 Year 7 students. This laid a
really good foundation for when they joined us
in September.
The rest of term and the summer holidays flew by
and soon it was the new school year. I welcomed all
twelve of our new Year 7 classes into the library and
led lessons on Barnaby Brocket as part of their first
few weeks. This involvement with Year 7 has paid
off. They have been the highest lending year group
since September and show no signs of letting Year 8
overtake them!
Not everything went quite to plan. The pandemic
meant that we lost our author visit in October and,
having arranged a week of events around Libraries
Week in October, I then succumbed to illness
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VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

The First Year Setting Up A School Library
Twynham School library when Clive Wallis first started, and how it is today.
Photo credits: Clive Wallis
myself and missed the entire week! Needless to say,
the English department stepped up and I wasn’t
missed. October half term saw the installation
of our new software system, and by the time we
reached the Christmas holiday I was beginning to
find my feet. When January came, I began planning
what we would do around World Book Day. The
days and weeks continued to fly by and now I find
myself a year into the role.
Taking stock, what have I learnt? Lesson one is
plan ahead, and be selective in what you commit
to. I have settled on three weeks of book-themed,
whole-school activities per academic year. Three
weeks a year may not sound like much, but I have
learnt that arranging whole-school events in a large
secondary school with a sixth form is markedly
different to arranging them in a primary school.
At the moment, three weeks a year is plenty!
Lesson two is choose which cohorts you want to
target. With close to two thousand students across
three key stages, there wasn’t the time to focus
on them all. Together with my line manager, we
decided to concentrate our efforts on key stage 3.
Working on the Year 6 to 7 transition helped me
to build relationships with these students. I would
urge all secondary librarians to be as involved
in this process as you possibly can: it will pay
dividends for years to come.
Asking for help can also unlock things
that you never knew were out there.
Lesson three: ask for help. The two events that
really kick-started my first year were asking for
donations and then working with the Friends of
Twynham (our parent and teacher association).
I appreciate that not every school has such a
generous group of parents willing to work with
it, but if your request for donations brought in a
fifth of mine, your library would still be 200 books
better off. Asking for help can also unlock things
that you never knew were out there. The neighbour
of a student of ours runs a second-hand bookshop
miles away from the school in Winchester. She
heard of my request and donated several boxes
from her duplicate stock. Twitter is really useful for
seeking help and advice. Be warned though: for
every useful reply you get, you will also risk losing
half an hour as you are unwittingly sucked into the
Twitter-void of following threads. There are a lot of
rabbit holes out there!
Librarians: creating life-long readers,
one student at a time.
My final lesson is be patient. The combination
of the pandemic and the departure of our last
librarian meant that there were a lot of year groups
that had not been in the library for over a year.
Expecting to transform them into repeat library
users inside a couple of terms is unrealistic.
Building a reading culture takes time. I am resigned
to the fact that I won’t reach every student, and
many are lost to their smart-phones and the
lure of the digital world. But then I remember
one morning in January, when an out-of-breath
Year 9 girl appeared at my desk at just after eight
o’clock one morning. She was waving one of
Karen McManus’s books at me. Her eyes were
shining brightly. “Sir, Sir,” she said. “This book. Was
amazing. I need another one.” Librarians: creating
life-long readers, one student at a time.
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
11

Feature
Next Steps for Tackling Fake News
and Improving Media Literacy
Julian McDougall
SLA Patron and Professor of Media and Education at
Bournemouth University Julian McDougall attended a
Westminster Forum event which looked at how fake news
can be confronted and how media literacy can be improved.
Julian McDougall is
Professor in Media and
Education at Bournemouth
University, Head of the
Centre for Excellence in
Media Practice and Principal
Fellow of Advance HE.
He runs the Professional
Doctorate (Ed D) in Creative
and Media Education at
Bournemouth University
and convenes the annual
International Media
Education Summit.
@Julian McDougall
On 31 March 2022, I attended a
Westminster Forum web event
in my role as patron of SLA.
Baroness Helena Kennedy QC
chaired the forum and, referring
to her work as a lawyer and in
human rights and media freedom, framed the
event in a more regulatory than educational space.
Claire Gill, partner at Carter-Ruck, who specialise
in defamation and media law, continued the
theme. The complexity of the situation was set out,
with Trump’s infamous weaponizing of the term
“fake news” to describe critical media reporting
once again offered as a game changer. For those
of us on the media literacy side of this, it creates
a challenging necessity to resist false binaries
between true and fake, but rather to help students
navigate a state of “information disorder”. For
those on the regulatory side, Gill expressed the
need for agility.
The forum was weighted towards multiple
diagnoses of fake news – a term which everyone,
rightly, challenged, but also agreed to have
resonance in so much as publics understand it
and it provokes a reaction – and a broad range of
“prescriptions” for media literacy in many forms.
This is double edged for media literacy: on the one
hand, prominence in policy discourse, on the other,
the panacea of “solutionism”.
Hazel Baker shared perspectives from overseeing
the verification of digital content at Reuters;
Liz Corbin came in also on the fact-checking
angle, from her role with the European
Broadcasting Union. Rebecca Skippage, the
BBC’s Disinformation Editor, spoke about the
current Ukraine situation, with misinformation
forming part of the “hybrid war” (my words) and
broadening out the discussion to span platforms
through to TikTok (“media literacy by stealth”) and
also to raise the issue of information inequality
even in developed, pluralist societies.
Photo credit: Pixabay
Kristine Sørensen reflected on the challenges
associated with the other current threat, the
risks to public health presented by Covid-19
misinformation. Vicky Shotblot from Parentzone
talked about family contexts and also the potential
for niche contexts for conspiracy theories to
incubate, such as “Yoga Moms” being vulnerable
to vaccine misinformation. Pinelopi Troullinou,
from Trilateral Research, introduced the further
complexity of structural factors in social media
misinformation, including the threats and
challenges created by AI tools and the need for a
media literacy which can include understanding of
algorithms. Lyric Jain, CEO of Logically, explained
how his organisation works with governments,
businesses, and platforms to uncover and
address harmful misinformation and deliberate
disinformation through early intervention.
Katy Minshall from Twitter made a case for the
platform as a key agent in promoting critical
thinking and a vital space for powerful movements
such as Black Lives Matter, whilst Iain Bundred
from YouTube offered a similarly robust defence
of his platform in the public policy space but also
a positive vision of the future. YouTube is seeking
to “scale up” its digital literacy programmes, which
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VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Next Steps for Tackling Fake News and Improving Media Literacy
It is undoubtedly a good thing that
a major piece of legislation related
(albeit now more loosely than we
had hoped) to media literacy is going
through Parliament.
have apparently already reached five million
children every year: ‘We’re acutely aware of our
responsibility to invest in online media exchange.’
Closer to the work of my research centre, CEMP at
Bournemouth University, and also the focus of SLA,
we also heard from academics and policy figures in
the UK media literacy world. Rebecca Helm, UKRI
Fellow and Director of the Evidence-Based Justice
Lab at the University of Exeter, talked about the
intersection of free speech and information tagging.
Sonia Livingstone of LSE, author of a huge and vital
range of research in this field, reminded us of the
fluid and dynamic nature of media literacy and the
need to facilitate deeper understanding of media
as opposed to quick fixes, as well as the lack of a
consistent evaluation framework, citing a recent
study by her colleague Lee Edwards which was also
part of a meta-review which we co-authored in
CEMP. Livingstone also shared her disappointment
to see the media literacy focus greatly reduced
in the UK Government’s Online Harms bill.
Claire Levens, Head of Media Literacy at OFCOM
provided a “whistle stop tour” of activity and the
growing stakeholder network, and Declan Shaw,
who heads up the DCMS work on online media
literacy, explained how the primary objective of
the UK government’s approach is to support the
organisations that are already delivering media
literacy initiatives to do their work in a more
inclusive and impactful way.
There was consensus that regulation
and online resources combined are
unlikely to help diverse publics and
marginalised vulnerable communities
cope with “information disorder” in the
absence of an educational programme.
Making sense of all this for the SLA, I am sorry to
say that the usual, uniquely British and (to me)
completely baffling contradiction was starkly evident
once again. There was consensus that regulation
and online resources combined are unlikely to
help diverse publics and marginalised vulnerable
communities cope with “information disorder” in
the absence of an educational programme, involving
teachers, curriculum presence and information
professionals. But the question of why this isn’t
part of the strategy or why
none of the policy agents
represented are calling for this
was sidestepped, in favour
of a well-intentioned mixed
economy of media literacy
interventions from and within
platforms along with sharing
of research and interventions,
again all important and on
the right side of the issue
but smaller scale and less
sustainable. This issue has
been very well set out by the
Media Education Association’s
response to the DCMS strategy,
to which CEMP co-authored
a mapping exercise and
literature review, so I write this
with some proportionality,
but I heard little at this forum
to convince me that the MEA
have got this wrong.
Photo credit: Canva
When the panel reflected
on ‘do you chase the tech’
(regulate) or focus on critical
thinking (educate)?’, there
was agreement that both are
needed. It is undoubtedly
a good thing that a major
piece of legislation related
(albeit now more loosely
than we had hoped) to
media literacy is going
through Parliament, and I am
convinced by Livingstone’s
view that we need a ‘super Photo credit: Unsplash
pragmatic definition’ so we
can mobilise media literacy to be whatever we
need for citizens to participate in the media and
digital environment. We’ve been here before, in
our multi-stakeholder project for the US Embassy,
working with journalists, teachers, students and
librarians. Indeed, that work was the start of my
work with the SLA. And so, wherever invitations
for CEMP, the new Media and Information Literacy
Alliance and the SLA to engage with Ofcom and/
or DCMS come through, they should continue to
be enthusiastically accepted. But I hope that good
intentions, the promise of “engagement” and a
seat at the table can, this time, move us beyond
solutionism to a more radical theory of change for
media literacy, not only for safety and resilience to
“fake news”, but also for citizens’ media literacies
to be used as capabilities with good consequences
in civic and social life. To join all this up with the
thought leadership and change agency shared at
this forum, teachers and school librarians really
ought to be at the vanguard.
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
13

Feature
What is the Ideal Number of Books
Loaned per Week from a Primary
School Library for a Typical User?
Connie Koorevaar
Librarian Connie Koorevaar writes about her recent research
project into primary school library loans, which she undertook
in the academic year 2020-2021 following the SLA’s 2020
Action Research course.
Connie Koorevaar has
worked as (para-)librarian at
International Primary School
Almere for the last 6 years.
‘Our learners love to come
to library and issue books
which is one major reason
we have such passion for
reading at our school. I
enjoy being able to foster
that every year!’
@KoorevaarConnie
Checking out books is one of the
main purposes of a primary school
library. As a school library, we are
very lucky that we have an excellent
range and normally are actively
enriching readers’ choices with new
books. This helps our learners to enjoy reading
and adds to our community’s passion for reading.
As a school, we want to maintain that passion for
reading as reading has been one indicator of higher
test scores on reading assessments. 1
So how do learners choose their
books? Does dictating the number
of books they can choose help or
not? Can they make good choices?
What thought do they give to making
those choices?
There are many ways to encourage reading,
and one is to allow learners the choice of books
instead of dictating the level or number of the
books they need to choose. According to Ofsted’s
research into reading for pleasure, choice was an
important factor. 2
So how do learners choose their books? Does
dictating the number of books they can choose
help or not? Can they make good choices? What
thought do they give to making those choices?
Currently, our learners’ number of loans is dictated
per year group. This questionnaire was presented
to Year 3 to Year 6 students only. Our preschool,
early years, Year 1 and Year 2 groups each take two
to three books. Year 3 and Year 4 students have
Through my research project I wanted
to determine why this happens and
how we can support the learners
in deciding on the best number of
books for them to borrow.
always taken three books and Year 5 and 6 have
taken up to five books. Previously, we have noticed
that when we say the learners can take five books,
they take five but don’t always read them. This has
been addressed in some classes by dictating that
only three books may be checked out at a time.
Our learners check out books for one week and
are encouraged to renew any books they haven’t
finished within that time.
I created a questionnaire to answer the previous
questions. It looked at the number of books,
how they felt about the number of books loaned
(could have read more, it was enough, could have
had less), why they didn’t finish reading, why
they chose the books, and how did reading the
books make them feel. The questionnaire was
filled in during library time, independently when
possible, and anonymously. Learners were asked
anonymously to give consent or not to use the
results they provided. Consent was provided by
99% of those that filled out the questionnaire.
For some learners, the number of books they are
allowed to loan (dependent on their year) is not
enough, and for others the books stay in their bag
unread until they are returned.
Through my research project I wanted to determine
why this happens and how we can support the
learners in deciding on the best number of books
for them to borrow.
14
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What Is the Ideal Number of Books Loaned per Week
from a Primary School Library for a Typical User?
The questionnaire asked students to indicate why
they chose the book, giving options from picking
it up randomly, liking the size/cover, to having it
recommended or thinking parents would want
them to read it. It also asked if the book was
finished and if not, why not? And asked students to
choose a range of emotions they felt when reading
the book.
In total 115 pupils answered the questionnaire. Ten
answered ‘No’ to providing consent for the data to
be used anonymously in the research project. The
majority (9) of these pupils were Year 3 students.
The total number of participants from which data
was used was 105.
Not enough time was cited by
many pupils as a key reason for
not finishing books.
Year 3’s reluctance to participate was very
interesting, especially after they sat through the
questions and realized exactly what it would be.
Most of the non-participants said they would have
participated in the questionnaire. It is possible that
their maturity was a factor and that they may not
have been ready for this type of data collection, or
their lack of exposure to answering questionnaires
of various kinds created uncertainty for them.
The majority (79%) of learners borrowed between
three and four books, and even though most said it
was enough (59%) there was a significant number
that said they could have taken more (39%).
Not enough time was cited by many pupils as a key
reason for not finishing books, which is interesting
since so many pupils said they could have read
more, or it was enough. It should be noted that the
majority of learners did finish all their books.
Interestingly, there were a significant number of
pupils (86%) who said the book was either too
difficult or too easy. Just under three quarters of
respondents (71%) thought they’d like the book but
didn’t. More than half (57%) said they had already
read the book.
All of this leads me to conclude that pupils aren’t
“checking out” the books properly before checking
them out.
The top five reasons given for choosing books were:
pupils found it interesting (86%), the cover (86%),
and the genre (86%), and 100% chose a book based
on the author.
Just over forty percent of books (43%) were chosen
randomly, which is very interesting as a section of
respondents who said this were also the learners
that found they didn’t like a book but had thought
Teaching them to make good choices
will help them to enjoy reading and
become better readers.
they would. Surprisingly, a small number (1%)
did say they chose a book on the basis that they
thought their parents would like them to read it.
Our learners’ passion for reading can be seen in
their feelings regarding the books they read. The
top responses when reading were ‘excited’, ‘focused’,
‘happy’, ‘satisfied’, ‘curious’, and ‘calm’.
In conclusion, at the beginning of next academic
year I would like to introduce a week of teaching
the learners HOW to choose books. This may help
with addressing those learners that didn’t “check
out” the books ahead of time. At the beginning of
the year, I would like to encourage our milepost
2 and 3 learners to take several books they feel
comfortable with, instead of dictating a number.
That said, there will be a maximum number as
three girls last year wanted to take fifteen books
out during a normal week. Though this enthusiasm
is great, it was obvious they hadn’t thought it
through, so a limit is necessary. Teaching them to
make good choices will help them to enjoy reading
and become better readers. 3
Footnotes
1 www.ala.org/tools/research/librariesmatter/reading-funimproves-students-test-scores
2 www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-evidence-onreading-for-pleasure
pg. 3
3 https://childrenslibrarylady.com/strategies-choose-booksindependently/
Photo credit: Unplash
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
15

International Perspectives
‘A modern school library with
resources (material, time, and
staff) should be at the heart of
the school’
The Working Group of School Librarians from the Official College
of Library and Documentalists of Catalonia discusses its aims and
objectives.
The School Libraries
Working Group of COBDC
is formed by different
professionals who work in
school libraries and public
libraries and who want to
dignify a space, a service
and profession with the aim
of highlighting to society
their importance, and to
pressure politicians to make
effective policies towards
this goal.
@cobdc
@GTBescolars
The Official College of Librarians
and Documentalists of Catalonia
(COBDC) is the main body for the
management, participation and
representation of professionals
in the field of information and
documentation. Started in 1985, it ensures the
actions of its members respond to the interests
and needs of society in relation to the professional
practice in this field, promoting good practice and
the deontological obligations of the profession.
Within the college there is a working group
dedicated exclusively to school libraries, composed
of different professionals who are experts in in this
field and also those who work in public libraries.
Our most immediate goal is to enforce the law
requiring all schools to have their own library,
with sufficient financial backing for the necessary
materials and funds to provide a sound service, run
by specially trained staff. A modern school library
with resources (material, time, and staff) should be
at the heart of the school. And more so at this time
of change in education.
We know there has to be a real interest and belief
at local policy level in school libraries. If a solid
foundation is not created, it is very difficult to
get the necessary resources for school libraries
to function effectively. Today, schools do what
they can with the limited resources they have
and, of course, the good will of the staff that run
the libraries, the teaching staff supporting them,
and not forgetting the Association of Families of
Students in schools.
In addition, school libraries have essential help
from public libraries which complements their
service. However, public libraries cannot do the
work from within the school in the same way as
a school library can do it, with knowledge of the
teaching staff, students and also, importantly,
their families.
We want to be a vital service for those
who do not have resources, and to
facilitate all pupils’ access to culture
and knowledge.
Right now, the COBDC, through the school libraries
working group, has begun contacting various
associations, organizations and professionals
around the world to help us create a video
compilation highlighting the importance of school
libraries, showcasing their work and the role of the
librarian. We are interested in creating alliances to
strengthen our voice and observe the work of other
professionals, to share resources, strategies and
good practices.
It is wonderful to be able to help young people
navigate information, giving them tools that will
help them not only in academic life, but also in
their daily lives to move towards equality, pushing
through equal opportunities and creating a
better literate, computer literate, and media and
information literate society.
We want to be a vital service for those who do not
have resources, and to facilitate all pupils’ access
to culture and knowledge: to guide and encourage
reading from childhood to adolescence, help pupils
to discover writing styles and authors, and awaken
their curiosity and pleasure for reading if they do
not yet have it.
We aim to be a cultural and academic reference
that can influence pupils’ overall progression in
some way, without the need to be a teacher. This
includes creating a safe, democratic, and free
socialising space. We want to work as an ally of the
teaching staff and have the capacity to complement
their role by supporting the schools’ curriculum
and the unique projects that each educational
centre develops.
16
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 1 SPRING 2022

Current Conversations
How to Deal with Controversial
Books in the Library
Claire Marris
Education Consultant Claire Marris discusses some
of the issues involved in allowing access to certain books
in a school library.
The term controversial means
‘causing or likely to cause
disagreement’. We have so many
books in our libraries that it is an
almost impossible task to read every
single one; inevitably there will be
books that slip under the radar and are brought to
our attention by students – this happened quite
recently to me. A Year 7 student had borrowed a
book that had been in the library since 2014. I had
not read the book and it had come in an order
labelled ‘100 best books for boys’. I have had no
other comments from students about the book
content, but it contained a graphic rape scene
that was most unsuitable for this student’s age
range. My reaction was to contact the parents and
assure them I had dealt with the book, whether
it’s removed from stock (which this was) or given
a senior fiction sticker. However, this then sparks
you to think about other books – The Handmaids
Tale by Margaret Attwood or The Colour Purple by
Alice Walker are examples, but the prestige which
these have been afforded helps ease controversy to
stock them in the school library. In most cases I can
make a judgement about a book a student wants
to borrow because I can look at their maturity
level, look back into their borrowing history, and
generally just chat about the book to find out if
this is the right one for them. However, I have
student librarians working my issue desk, so it is
not possible to monitor every student that borrows
a book.
I am a very liberal librarian and find it very difficult
to stick the ‘senior fiction’ label on a book, but I
know some will discuss issues that are not suitable
for all age groups, or that parents would deem
incongruous for their child to read. However, our
students are subjected to a plethora of information
at the touch of their fingertips: scrolling through
the internet, possibly receiving elicit messages or
images from peers and falling into a worm hole of
inappropriate resources!
A book can be the answer to
numerous burning questions and
there is always a story to be told
from different perspectives.
With this in mind, is banning a book necessary in
today’s society? I was reading up about Section
28; a legislation that was passed under Margaret
Thatcher’s conservative government that banned
the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities
and in British schools; Libraries were forbidden from
stocking literature or films containing gay or lesbian
themes. In my school library I celebrate diversity
by having permanent displays featuring LGBTQ+
and BAME books. Also, I have an area called ‘Shelf
Help’, containing a variety of resources covering
issues such as eating disorders, depression, selfharm
and sexual orientation: resources that some
might believe to be controversial, but which I feel
give students the opportunity to explore in a safe
and nurturing environment. They can ask questions,
complete quizzes, wider read reliable and relatable
information and read fictional accounts of real-life
situations. Thus, giving them a better understanding
of issues surrounding our teen culture.
As a school librarian, I am in an influencing
position, but believe we can make a judgement
about what we think our students should be
reading. At the end of the day, we shouldn’t be
wrapping them up in cotton wool, but allowing
them to explore literature; a book can be the
answer to numerous burning questions and
there is always a story to be told from different
perspectives. As a school librarian our job is to
facilitate that exploration, be aware of their choices,
and be available to discuss what they are reading;
we are the ultimate open book.
Claire Marris has been the
School Library Manager at
Toot Hill School since 2016.
She came quite late to a
career in libraries having
spent many years working
in the sports and leisure
industry. She was on the SLA
School Librarian of the Year
Honour List for 2020/21.
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
17

Media and Information
Literacy Alliance Update
Since our Spring column MILA has been taking
initial steps to ensure it engages with stakeholders
beyond the library and information profession.
MILA’s new Executive Board reflects diverse
perspectives, professional backgrounds, and areas
of expertise, and has already met several times.
An early priority for the board is to define how
MILA engages with its stakeholders, including
school librarians, in ways that are useful for them
as well as beneficial for the alliance. This is to allow
interested individuals and organisations to share
information, take part in initiatives of mutual interest,
and advocate jointly. The board agreed MILA will
function as a federation or coalition of players with
shared objectives, building synergies and helping
to amplify work that is already taking place, whilst
avoiding duplication with existing projects.
Another key area for MILA is to commission relevant
research. Information literacy (IL) continues to be
a central interest to information professionals and
increasingly to the academic community. To extend
its reach beyond these domains, MILA believes a
comprehensive summary of high-quality research
literature is needed. Such a product is even more
necessary if we are to support our arguments with
high-quality evidence and influence policy makers,
thought leaders, and government.
MILA is therefore looking to fund a study to help
map and extend the reach of IL beyond the higher
education domain to other areas such as health,
the workplace, and everyday life. Media literacy is
already well-served in terms of current reviews, so
the proposed study will focus more specifically on
IL. This will provide a comprehensive review of IL,
its key research, scholars, practitioners, and impact.
The review should analyse all types of research,
qualitative, quantitative, or mixed. It is hoped this
will lay the ground for work to create greater public
awareness of IL and its positive impact.
The review will cover existing research into the role
that IL plays for different user groups in society and
the barriers/enablers to shaping an information
literate population. It is envisaged that the project
will encompass all research-based peer-review
IL research since 2005, across all sectors. It is
anticipated that, following a call for proposals,
the study will start in the summer.
Finally, MILA is also looking forward to developing
its communications strategy. The current website,
(mila.org.uk), is being expanded and improved to
reflect the alliance’s growing areas of involvement.
Further information on joining the MILA mailing or
finding out more can be found on our website.
Dr Jane Secker FCLIP,
SFHEA, FRSA is a senior
Lecturer in Educational
Development at City,
University of London and
Chair of CILIP’s Information
Literacy Group.
Stéphane Goldstein is
Executive Director of
InformAll, a research
consultancy which he
founded in 2016, specialised
in information literacy.
He is the Advocacy and
Outreach Officer for the
CILIP Information Literacy
Group and coordinates the
new Media and Information
Literacy Alliance (MILA).
18
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Between the Library and the Classroom
Becoming Integral to the Educational Process
Writing this while looking ahead to the IFLA School
Libraries Section Midyear Meeting at Blanchelande
College 21–22 April 2022 brings into focus diverging
historical trajectories for school libraries – one
leading to a future in which it is integral to the
educational process, the other continuing to a
future in which it is not.
Now, as I have argued, the school library is
integral to the educational process, but only if it is
understood in a certain way. Understanding this is
vital, if not to our success, then to our survival. The
reason for this is that our concern, as librarians, lies
first and foremost with this educational process,
and then with our role in this process. Ruth Davies
expresses this idea powerfully:
Today’s school library is a source and a force
for educational excellence, and today’s school
librarian “is a teacher whose subject is learning
itself” (quoting Douglas Knight).
This idea no longer animates us.
However, writing this while looking back on 85
years of the School Library Association reminds us
that history is the consequence of ideas.
Richard Colebourn, in his personal survey of the
first 50 years of the SLA, makes the point that from
the outset ‘the Association…was clearly envisioned
Research Highlights
Good News in Children’s Book Buying
We all like good news, now more than ever, and Farshore’s Reading
for Pleasure and Purpose findings show that in 2021 the children’s
book market increased by 17% in value sales. However, reading for
pleasure among children remained low. Perhaps the increase is
motivated by parents seeing reading for purpose as useful?
Farshore ascertained that parental interest in their child’s reading
did not always equate with reading to their offspring as they got
became older and became readers themselves, assuming it was
less needed. Reading for a purpose is key to success in life but
reading for enjoyment has its own benefits, a message which still
needs to reach all significant influencers on a child’s life.
Farshore’s research also uncovered the fact that reading as an
activity did increase for 14- to 17- year-olds and they suggested
possibly the influence of TikTok had some bearing here.
https://tinyurl.com/3xhh7c8y
Reading Recovery
The educational programme Reading Recovery (RR) aims
to improve struggling readers at age 6. But what long lasting
impact does this have? Researchers from University College
London followed up children on this programme and measured
the effects at age 16. They found significantly fewer former RR
children were officially identified as having special education
needs, and they had increased attainment at GCSE level. There
were caveats as the sample was very small and children’s
as an organisation of, and for, educationalists’.
Cecil Stott, joint honorary secretary, underscored
this view in his report for the inaugural meeting in
January 1937, that while efficiency and technique
were important, they were only so ‘as a preliminary
to the far more important use of the library as an
instrument of education’. It is worth noting that the
“educational use” and “educational function” of
the school library remain SLA priorities, at least in
Colebourn’s survey, into the 1970s.
Yet, by 1986, Norman Beswick, whom Colebourn
references in the highest regard, laments the
passing of this idea – that the school library is
a source and a force for educational excellence
because the school librarian is a teacher whose
subject is learning itself. And yet, this idea remains
at the heart of the revised Manifesto (2022), which,
in turn, revitalises the School Library Guidelines
(2015) and is reflected in Global Action on School
Libraries: Models of Inquiry (2022).
Perhaps heightened reflection on 85 years of
service to our local profession, combined with
greater engagement with our global profession, will
help us to recover an idea from our past that will
prove vital to our future?
The revolution will not be televised.
The FOSIL Group is an
international community
of educators who frame
learning through inquiry,
which is a process
and stance aimed at
building knowledge and
understanding of the
world and ourselves in it
as the basis for responsible
participation in society.
Darryl Toerien
backgrounds not matched with similar in the control group.
https://tinyurl.com/2p8ms5s9
Reading Fluency
Teaching reading fluency was the focus of research by Unity
Research School where decoding and comprehension were
important to pupils accessing the curriculum. Reading aloud to
children is vital for this and may be part of the primary school
day, but secondary teachers need to be reminded of the value of
modelling reading to increase understanding for all pupils.
https://tinyurl.com/ys54crrz
Cultural Capital
Is much of the enjoyment and ability to read for some children
dependent on parental social class and the benefits of cultural
capital that some families are unable, through cost or time,
to provide?
Studies have looked at this, but how to measure cultural capital?
Is it:
• Parental social class
• Parental reading activities
• Parental participation in theatre, museums, historical places
This study found that reading activity is influential but
engagement in cultural activities less so. A case for library staff to
argue for increased funding for stock for the school library?
https://tinyurl.com/2p928p65
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
19

A View From …
… a primary school
Extracurricular Activities
One of my favourite parts of my job is the extracurricular clubs
I get to run. The children who come to these are always there
by choice and so supply the richest and most creative ideas,
conversation, and engagement.
My main extracurricular is a termly story writing club for key
stage 2. The first few weeks are spent together talking about plot,
characters, description and other things that might help them
craft their stories. We play games and practice plot simplification
with stories already written (think ‘one-line movie synopsis’). The
rest of the term, they’re let loose with a variety of resources for
writing: blank comic strips, storyboards, character profiles, book
cover templates, and of course plenty of lined paper!
This last term has, I think, been my best group yet (don’t tell the
others) as they have really invested themselves in their stories,
ranging from ‘girl finds enchanted necklace and turns into a cat’
to ‘boy is bullied at school because he’s a bit different’ and plenty
in between. As a group they have also spring boarded off each
other’s ideas in a way that previous groups haven’t. And there
are always one or two children who completely surprise me with
their imagination and their commitment to the club.
This term I have had the opportunity to add to my extracurricular
offerings with a reading club (is this not the dream?) and a poetry
club. Both were requested by the
children through their school council
and, due to timetable constraints and
the post-Covid staggered lunch break,
we’ve not been able to implement
them until now. These half hour clubs
are oases not only for the children,
but the staff involved too, as we get to
explore and enjoy literature outside
of what is covered in the classroom.
Often people assume that a librarian
spends all their time sitting around
reading books, when we know that is
usually far from the reality! However,
children learn best when they see
Rebecca Campling
is a primary school librarian
in Orton Wistow Primary
School, Peterborough
things modelled, so if immersing myself even more in reading is
what it takes, it’s a burden I’ll gladly bear! I set myself a challenge
this year to read as many children’s books as I do adult ones – so
far, I’m slightly overbalanced on the children’s side but with so
many incredible books around it’s hard not to be! I’m looking
forward to sharing some more specific recommendations
through the new club, and of course the excitement of talking to
someone who has read and loved the same thing as me.
… a secondary school
School Libraries as Safe Spaces. What Do We Mean?
The words ‘safe space’ are often heard in relation to libraries but
what do we mean by this? Libraries are much more than a room
full of books. Libraries, including school libraries, are a lifeline for
people in an array of circumstances; they are, by design, a space
for everyone. Coming from a single-parent household, with one
computer between myself and my siblings, we relied on both
public and school libraries to access books, complete homework,
and as a welcoming, supporting and encouraging space. As a
school librarian, replicating a place of sanctuary is something
I am determined to achieve.
Creating such a space involves various aspects of librarianship.
It means, creating an accessible space, representative of the
community you serve, and having a strong student voice,
giving students a feeling of ownership over the library offer.
Students will engage more with your library if they feel like it is
theirs too. It means building strong working relationships with
special educational needs (SEN) specialists to ensure the library
is not only accessible and supports according to regulation
requirements but provides a space for students to build
friendships with peers.
We must ensure students see themselves reflected in the books
on the shelves and that there is an eclectic selection of stories
about people from all walks of life, as well as guarantee that
displays are all-inclusive, and students are heard and seen in
library events and activities. We recently hosted an outstanding
author visit with Simon James Green, which left students
feeling empowered and inspired.
One student even wrote to Green,
explaining that he was extremely
grateful for the space to celebrate
their identity and hear from powerful
voices, like Green’s, without fear of
discrimination. Though this is sadly
not the case for all young people in
the UK.
A ‘safe space’ means a library is open
to all; for home-learning support;
for respite for vulnerable students;
for independent research skills; a
Eleanor Booth
Librarian, John Smeaton
Academy
place where students can access a wealth of knowledge and
reliable resources and last but not least, has a school librarian
to lead on all things reading and inquiry based, as well as a
being a champion of the safe space. This then blossoms into a
place students gravitate to, a place for those seeking somewhere
to belong.
It means a school library has the potential to be a centre of
learning and reading, and a haven for all young people at the
most crucial stages of growing-up.
20
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

A View From …
… a sixth form
Moving Forward
It feels like we are almost back to normal now and will soon be
able to start putting the disruption caused by Covid-19 during
the last two years behind us. However, it does seem incredible
that the current Year 13 will not have taken part in formal exams
before this summer. They have taken part in far more internal
assessments than I ever did at school, though, which will
hopefully stand them in good stead for the external exams.
The UCAS application deadline was at the end of January and
I have been more involved in the application process this year
than I have been before in my (nearly 30 year) library career.
I have been the UCAS correspondent for the last few years but
this year I took a much more active role in helping students with
their applications and making sure they were complete and
ready for submission. As well as being a good way to get to know
the students after they spent their first year studying from home,
it has been a good opportunity to talk about wider reading and
how the learning resource centre might provide inspiration for
a personal statement. As a result I have been updating our wider
reading book lists and have been promoting them to Year 12, the
next year’s cohort of university applicants.
Some of our sixth formers have been taking part in an ‘enjoy
reading’ pilot scheme. This involves reading once a week with
students in Years 7 and 8 from the
secondary school on our campus. This
is an opportunity for sixth formers to
gain voluntary work experience and
to encourage young, less confident
readers. The pilot is coming to an end,
and there have been many positive
experiences as well as some lessons
to learn. The younger students have
appreciated the time dedicated to
them and it has been fantastic to
watch the sixth formers develop their
leadership skills.
Sarah Smith
LRC Manager, Landau
Forte Academy Tamworth
Sixth Form
This can be quite an isolated job at
times and I find it important to network with other librarians when
I can. I always enjoy SLA Staffordshire Branch meetings and I was
thrilled to take part in the first SLA Sixth Form Member Meet Up
in January. We discussed various topics such as induction, study
skills, online resources and promotion. There was a lot to talk
about and I’m pleased that there is another meeting planned for
the summer term.
… an international school
Using Events to Increase Pupil Engagement
I believe that events are one of the best ways to attract people to
the library, to the books and to reading. Planning joyful events is
something I have always enjoyed about being a school librarian.
At Urca Library, we have just hosted our first Poetry Week. It is
not that we hadn’t celebrated Poetry Day before, but this year
we’ve taken the decision to have a whole week dedicated to it.
And to tell the truth, it took two weeks. In order for students to get
prepared for the Poetry Aloud Competition we delivered poetry
lessons to Classes 6 to 9 during the week prior to the event. It
allowed everyone to become familiar with the idea and also to
promote the competition. Every student had an opportunity to
sign up to take part in it.
The idea to hold the event came from our students, who could
remember having Poetry Aloud competitions back in primary
school. I love it when the ideas come from students, because
then they really want it and make it happen. The next step was
to get the teachers involved. We decided to allow students to
choose texts in both English and Portuguese and to involve both
departments to start with. But in the end, we also had other
teachers volunteering to take part as well, which makes it even
more interesting.
The event was such a success we faced the challenge of fitting
32 poetry presentations into only 45 minutes. Impossible! The
solution I could think of was to divide the one period of lesson
time we were allocated into two parts. For the first part, the
competition took place in houses.
We have four houses in TBS:
Hawking (green), Mee (yellow),
Orwell (red), and Pankhurst (blue).
Each house elected its winner who
then competed in the grand final
before the judges. I must say the
final justified all the work. We had
a touching presentation of ‘Song of
Myself’ by Walt Whitman, part one,
which was given first place. There was
only a one-point difference between
first and second place, which was
Jaqueline Castro
Senior Librarian, The British
School, Rio de Janeiro
given to ‘Fairy Tales’ by Michaela Morgan. The students were so
passionate about poetry, and made it even more successful than
we had anticipated.
More recently we’ve been planning and developing the biggest
event in the year: our beloved Library Week which takes place in
May 2022.
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
21

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Frequently Asked Questions
answered by Lucy Chambers
I love sharing books with young
children in the library but am
nervous about telling stories with
no book in front of me. Can you
give me some tips please?
1. Bring a story to life by sharing it orally
using props and movement, facilitating
interaction with your audience. Use
puppets, costumes, artefacts, and story
sacks with objects related to a book as
you tell the story. Let children handle
them to participate in the storytelling.
Your nearest School Library Service may
be able to loan such items.
2. Invite a professional storyteller and pick
up some tips. Find details at:
www.tinyurl.com/2s26u85j
They may specialise in myths or poetry,
base performances on published books
or school curriculum subjects. They
work with students to teach them to
create their own stories and develop
spoken and written language skills.
3. To get started, practice by reading your
chosen book thoroughly, then close
it and recount the story out loud to
yourself. With each repetition, add in
actions, alternative descriptions, and
humour to develop your personal style.
4. Find examples on storytellers’ websites,
for example, Margaret Bateson-Hill on
www.margaretbateson-hill.co.uk.
She tells a story orally while creating
paper crafts.
5. Undergo training: see the Crick Crack
Club at www.crickcrackclub.com/
training/ or storyteller Kevin Graal:
www.talkingtales.org/training.html
6. Visit the Society for Storytelling website
for downloadable PDFs on storytelling
skills and suggested reading:
www.www.sfs.org.uk/about-the-sfs
7. Join the United Kingdom Literacy
Association for its storytelling Special
Interest Group:
www.ukla.org/sigs-networks/
storytelling-sig/
I’d love to buy some graphic
novels for my library but
don’t know where to start.
Can you help?
1. Comics and graphic novels are very
popular for all levels of readers,
developing their visual literacy skills
and reading stamina. Choose from
superhero fantasy adventures, popular
fiction series, classic children’s books,
and non-fiction series too. Some books
mix cartoons with text, others are all
comic strips.
2. National Literacy Trust research
describes their value for developing
inference and reading for pleasure, for
decoding emotions and plot through
pictures and as a stimulus for written
work: tinyurl.com/6f5yev5r
3. Explore graphic novels via specialist
booksellers or library suppliers:
www.brownsbfs.co.uk
www.peters.co.uk
www.tinyurl.com/72kbty5y
www.goshlondon.com
www.madeleinelindley.com
4. Age and ability levels: the reading
programme Accelerated Reader
offers quizzes on hundreds of graphic
novels (for subscribers), with detailed
information on age and emotional level
(free access) (See www.arbookfind.
co.uk/default.aspx). Not all graphic
novels or manga are suitable for
schools, so checking the age range with
suppliers is important.
5. To start a collection, I suggest you buy a
pack of age-suitable graphic novels from
a library supplier. Or buy the shortlists
(White: KS2; Blue KS3; Red KS4 and
Black: Sixth Form) for the annual
Excelsior Award.
www.excelsioraward.co.uk
6. Read Chaos or Collection?: Selecting
and Managing Graphic Novels in Your
School Library by Neena Morris (SLA)
for further ideas.
7. Subscribe to children’s comics too,
for example, The Phoenix
www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk ;
Beano www.shop.beano.com/beanocomic-subscription
I am considering changing my
Library Management System
(LMS). Can you offer some advice
on where to start?
1. It’s important to have a reliable LMS
which does what you need it to do,
which at its most basic is to offer a
searchable database of library stock and
a record of items on loan. You may also
require statistics, overdue letters, and
students’ book reviews.
2. Somebody (the librarian) must
be responsible for the LMS, to
troubleshoot, update and catalogue.
(For consistent cataloguing I suggest
specialist training, available from
the SLA and other providers.) You
might consider a subscription to a
cataloguing service such as SCIS www.
scisdata.com. Another essential is that
the LMS company offers an efficient
helpdesk for queries.
3. When choosing a new system, think
about what you need, your budget (there
will be an initial start-up/data transfer
charge and an annual subscription; if
you are changing LMS, there may be a
cancellation charge and/or notice period
required), and data requirements of the
new LMS with regards to your school
computer network.
4. Select three different systems and assess
them via online demos and by asking
other librarians. Some LMS companies
offer simpler versions for primary
schools. For a list of LMS suppliers, and
some considerations and questions go
to https://www.sla.org.uk/supportfor-primary-schools
and the ‘Library
Management Software’ section (for
Primary and Secondary).
Lucy now concentrates on
writing after 20+ years as
a primary school librarian.
Answers are her personal
opinion based on long
experience.
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
23

Dates for your Diary
JUNE 2022 JULY 2022 AUGUST 2022
Pride Month
5th World Environment Day
9th Empathy Day
10th – 12th Lifelong Learners: journeys
of curiosity, collaboration and
imagination (SLA Weekend Course)
19th Father’s Day
20th – 26th Refugee Week
National School Sports Week
22nd Windrush Day
23rd National Writing Day
Don’t forget to fill out your
Members Survey!
27th June – 3nd July National Deafblind
Awareness Week
29th June – 19th July Children’s Art Week
10th onwards Summer Reading Challenge
Teachers’ Reading Challenge
1st Yorkshire Day
3rd PlayDay
13th International Lefthanders Day
Planning ahead:
1st September TSL mailed out
5th–8th September IBBY International
Congress.
8th September International Literacy Day.
13th September Roald Dahl Day
15th September SLA AGM - 6pm
FULLY FUNDED
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
With the National College of Education and OTSA
The SLA have partnered with two leading Professional
Development organisations to bring reading to the forefront of
professional learning in schools, through two new, fully funded
programmes for librarians, support staff and teachers.
FUTURE LEADERS PROGRAMME:
LEADING LIBRARIES FOR THEIR FUTURE
12-month programme
Team Leader Apprenticeship qualification
Suitable for anyone currently working in, leading or aspiring to lead a school library
1
2
EDUCATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME:
BUILDING A READING SCHOOL
19-month programme
Departmental/Operations Manager Apprenticeship qualification
Suitable for English/Literacy Coordinators or Reading Leads
Includes
FREE SLA
Student
Membership!
Find out more by visiting: www.nationaleducation.college
Book a call with the NCE
team to secure your place!
24
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Curriculum Links
Primary – DT
Max Wainewright
Design, animate and create with computer
graphics, QED, 23 Mar 2017, 9781784937461
Tips and advice on how to design,
animate, and create computer graphics.
Links to free software enabling you to
create animations and draw in 3D.
Stephanie Bearce
This or that questions about technology
Raintree, 7 Jul 2022, 9781398214705
Technology is changing rapidly. The
choices designers make now will affect
our future. What choices would you
make in a world of new technology?
Vicky Chan
Adventures in architecture for kids: 30 design
projects for STEAM discovery and learning
Rockport Publishers Inc., 23 Nov 2021,
9781631599729
A cross curricular resource introducing
readers to the design challenges
faced by architects today, including
choosing materials,
designing for diverse users, and
considering the environment.
NASA Kids Club
www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html
NASA and its missions explained via
different games and activities. Or
simply enjoy stories read by NASA
astronauts.
PIXAR in a box
www.khanacademy.org/computing/pixar
A behind-the-scenes look at how Pixar
artists do their jobs creating amazing
movies at Pixar. May even motivate
career choices.
Instructables
www.instructables.com/living/education/
projects/
A community for people who like to
make things. Explained via printed
instructions or videos, all easily
followed to make various projects.
STEM Laboratory
thestemlaboratory.com/lego-stemactivities/
Fun LEGO activities to give children
hands-on practice with science,
technology, engineering, and maths.
BBC TEACH
Design and Technology (D&T) | KS2 | Axles |
BBC Teach - YouTube
Free curriculum-linked videos to
accompany lessons. Easily searchable
by subject and age to help demonstrate
lesson points.
Fun Kids
Technology & Engineering for Kids podcast
- Fun Kids - the UK’s children’s radio station
(funkidslive.com)
The tech podcast taking a look at the
engineering behind the gadgets we
use every day. Short bursts on a whole
range of subjects to attract children.
Secondary – Music
Youtube Music
tinyurl.com/2sacbwj3
Access to range of artists performing,
arranged in genres with videos
and music.
Focus Music
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4kHxtiuML0
Music for concentration with claims
to improve memory, but very calming
and good for wellbeing.
Royal Academy of Music
www.ram.ac.uk
Website to encourage musical studies
at higher education. Prospectuses,
student life, and all the departments at
this institution.
Switched on Pop
switchedonpop.com
Popular music and what it means
to different people by two experts in
the field.
Bandsplain
https://spokemedia.io/bandsplain/
Host Yasi Salek invites experts to
explain cult bands and iconic artists
and why people love them, opening up
the mystique to a wider field.
British Library
www.bl.uk/subjects/music
The British Library collection of
printed and manuscript music, music
recordings, concert programmes,
and books and periodicals on music.
Desert Island Discs
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qnmr
Not just for old people, well-known
people talk about music important to
them with some fascinating reasons
why the music pieces are special.
Ann
Harrison
Music: The
Business
Virgin, 12
Aug 2021,
9780753558980
Updated and
revised guide explaining the business
of the British music industry. From
contracts to marketing and copyrights.
Science Focus
https://www.sciencefocus.com/thehuman-body/the-power-of-music-forhealth/
The links between music and health
and how music therapy can contribute
towards a healthy balance in our lives.
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
25

Digital
EdTech Horizons
Founder of 10Digits Consultancy, Jonathan Viner discusses
digital platforms which deliver virtual author visits to schools.
Jonathan Viner is the
Founder of 10Digits, an
independent consultancy
that provides actionable
insight and hands-on
support to education
entrepreneurs. He also
publishes the fortnightly
Nordic EdTech News
newsletter and is a regular
commentator, speaker, and
writer on global EdTech
trends. @jonathanviner
School librarians and leaders of literacy
learning are well used to complementing
students’ curriculum through trips and
external visitors. Unfortunately, these can be
expensive and time consuming to organise, and
schools are increasingly wary of visitors for health
reasons because of the pandemic.
Yet as Booktrust suggests, ‘Bringing a writer, poet,
illustrator or storyteller into your school is a great
way to inspire children and bring reading to life’. With
increased confidence in using virtual technologies to
teach and learn, schools are now turning to a range
of new digital and virtual EdTech solutions to deliver
these invaluable experiences to students.
One of the most popular products is Authorfy,
who offer a range of masterclasses with bestselling
children’s authors like Michael Morpurgo and
Katherine Rundell. Teachers can also access highquality
video content, writing challenges, exclusive
book extracts and detailed schemes of work that
boost reading and writing for pleasure.
Furthermore, the Authorfy Army gives educators
access to a global community of peers, librarians,
parents, and students, sharing ideas and best
practice. Just get involved in the community to
become a member and to access their wide range
of activities and resources!
Virtual School Visits have brought together an
excellent portfolio of authors (including Dan
Freedman and Pip Jones) who can be booked (for a
small fee) to virtually visit your classroom or library.
This online system has been developed by a former
primary school teacher and offers educators access
to a wide range of authors, who can be booked to
your specific requirements for age group (mostly up
to key stage 2), budget, technology, and timing.
A similar service is offered by Authors Aloud, but
their range of speakers extends through primary
and secondary education to adults. Furthermore,
their contributors offer a wide range of activities,
including workshops, storytelling sessions, and
assembly-style presentations.
Of course, it’s not always possible to find a slot
that works for both school and author. In those
circumstances resources such as Author in Your
Classroom can be hugely helpful. This series
of exclusive weekly podcasts features leading
children’s authors like Lauren Child and Jacqueline
Wilson and has been specifically designed for
classroom use. The podcasts inspire children to
read more and to add expert touches to their own
stories. Each episode also includes teachers’ notes,
writing sheets, presentations, and planning grids.
Just search for ‘Author in your Classroom’ wherever
you listen to podcasts!
If you’ve never run an author visit before, don’t
worry as there’s loads of invaluable information
available online. The Book Trust’s guide to running
an in-person event contains advice about what to
do to help your students get the maximum benefit
from the experience: www.tinyurl.com/yckp39zb
US publisher Lee and Low Books have also created
an expert guide on running a virtual author event:
www.tinyurl.com/4pmkv767.
There’s no better way to encourage reading in your
school or library than getting an author to excite
and motivate your students. And with a little bit of
planning, those authors could be live in your school
at the click of a button!
26
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Podcast Review:
The Coming Storm
Digital
A seven-episode BBC series hosted by Gabriel Gatehouse
explores contemporary US politics, society, and events which
led to the storming of the US Capitol Building on 6 January 2021.
In this series, Gatehouse expertly brings
together the broad and disparate strands
of various dark conspiracy theories
and misinformation campaigns circulating
predominately in America and online: the
Clintons and their supposed baby-eating
paedophile network taking over the world,
QAnon, 4chan and 8chan. He shows the power
and potential of online spaces to impact the
real world, and how misinformation and
disinformation campaigns led to the storming of
the US Capitol. Gatehouse’s conclusion however is
that the 6 January is actually the start of something
bigger and more powerful than people have
foreseen – clearly an important issue for digital
native generations that we cannot ignore, despite
how unsettled this makes us.
Gatehouse interviews and explores various
people and fringe organisations, asking why such
incredulous stories are believed, and how these
beliefs drive people to dangerous and violent
actions; showing how, for example, Facebook
algorithms and targeted campaigns to fringe
belief bases can impact the world today. Among
Gatehouse’s interviewees is the founder of the
8chan message board, Fredrick Brennan, whom
Gatehouse allows to explain his actions without
getting away from the reality of the damage this
platform has caused.
There is a more subtle subtext question
running through the podcast, which asks, ‘is
there something about humans which makes
us vulnerable to believe such crazy stories?’
Comparisons with the ‘madness’ of the medieval
and early modern witch trials in Europe suggest
yes. Gatehouse also candidly shares his own
‘falling down the rabbit hole’ experience, and how
he nearly believed certain theories.
The podcast refreshingly
presents material which
encourages listeners to reflect.
Gatehouse usefully highlights
links to earlier content and
evidence from previous
episodes to make information
in later episodes more
nuanced and enlightened for
listeners. This is not a series
to be dipped into, but to be
listened to from start to finish
to get the whole picture.
At times sensational and perhaps presenting the
storming of the Capitol as always inevitable, this
is, nonetheless, an important podcast for pupils
to learn from, given they will face the increasing
challenges of dealing with the consequences of
misinformation in the future while maintaining
freedom of expression and a free press. This series
will support schools to equip mature teenagers with
the knowledge and thinking skills to cope with the
very real and powerful dangers of online spaces:
how information can be harnessed by individuals
to promote agendas that have no basis in reality
but have very real consequences. It would be a rich
resource for PHSE/citizenship lessons as well as for
history and politics students,
and includes useful summaries
of digital developments in the
80s and 90s which pupils may
not be aware of.
Dealing with adult themes
(including issues like rape),
it can leave listeners feeling
concerned about the future,
so could be less suitable for
younger pupils and/or those
who are sensitive or struggle
with anxiety.
Meg Barclay has worked
in museum education for
seven years managing
schools learning
programmes, public
events, and museum
heritage projects through
the Local Cultural
Education Partnerships.
She is passionate about
information literacy and
fact presentation, working
closely with local schools
and teachers to develop
historical resources to
support classroom learning.
@mlbarclay92
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
27

Digital
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica has been around for 250 years.
However, gone are the days of full set multi-volumes on school
library shelves as Britannica has transferred their huge wealth of
knowledge online.
Most public library authorities
automatically subscribed to
Encyclopaedia Britannica as it was
the authority on all subjects. But while public
libraries have cut back on subscriptions,
Britannica has targeted schools more specifically
by developing a package of options for schools to
buy online.
All options come with the guarantee that all
sources are verified correct and unbiased. A
refresh updates any changes every 20 minutes
and longer articles dated for the last time they
were reviewed. Schools can buy into just one
option or multiple, receiving an increasing
discount on several packages.
Britannica Schools Britannica® School -
Britannica is the obvious choice. The content
here is available at different levels.
The younger level: 5–7-year-olds with content
created by teachers.
easy way to include information used in their
referencing.
Other tools on the Britannica Schools toolbar
are the translate tool, with 90 languages with the
English over the top. For the visually impaired text
can be enlarged.
Britannica Schools will integrate into any platform
and with IP addresses it allows a single step sign-in
at school but can be accessed at home.
Teachers can devise lessons around research topics
which students then follow up on.
Image Quest Britannica ImageQuest - Britannica
is a separate add-on. All images are rights cleared
so students can use in their work without infringing
copyright.
Image Quest also allows many of the same options
of translation, enlarging, saving favourite pages.
Dawn Woods is the Member
Development Librarian
for the School Library
Association
Intermediate: older primary and secondary level.
Advanced: 16–25-year-olds at further education
and higher education.
On each level the results too can be differentiated
based on Lexile reading scores. By hovering over
the middle of a word it can be defined or read
aloud for pronunciation. Searches can be filtered
down or left as broad as the user needs. It also
suggests alternative spellings.
Britannica Schools also includes access to
EBSCO journals. These can be used by all levels
with younger content presented as educational
comics. They include different media: articles,
videos and images.
Britannica Schools allows individual students to
create their own account to save pages relevant
to their own work. A citation tool gives them an
Launch Packs Britannica® LaunchPacks -
Britannica cover humanities and sciences and are a
ready-made resource for teachers designed to save
them valuable time.
E-Books Britannica® E-books - Britannica offers
an e-book platform which does include Project
Gutenberg and Shakespeare plays alongside other
titles.
Costs vary according to school size and package,
and a trial period is offered to see how suitable this
is for your circumstances.
With the many online databases available to
schools now, old favourites can be overlooked,
but for many schools Encyclopaedia Britannica
can offer background research as well as sufficient
detail for all the purposes teachers and students
will need.
28
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Beyond Copy & Paste:
Become a Shortcut Expert
Digital
EdTech consultant Harmeet Sahota shares his top keyboard
shortcuts to help make computer use easier.
Using keyboard shortcuts can enable you to
work faster, increase your efficiency, save
you time, and improve your productivity.
Shortcuts also have added benefits for those who
have accessibility issues or suffer from computer
health issues, e.g. repetitive strain injury.
According to Brainscape, the average worker who
spends eight hours a day on a computer could save
up to eight days a year in time by using shortcuts
instead of a mouse. In this article we explore
different ways we can save time by increasing our
use of shortcuts.
Email
A study (pre-pandemic) by Adobe found that on
average workers spend three or more hours a day
on email. There are many shortcuts available within
both Gmail and Outlook, with a few of my daily
uses listed below. You will need to ensure they are
enabled within Gmail by opening: settings > general
> keyboard shortcuts on.
# Shortcut Windows Apple Chromebook
1 Re-open a tab you
accidentally closed
2 Find and replace
Top tip: Try this when
modifying formulas on
a spreadsheet.
3 Repeat your last
function (opposite of
undo)
Top tip: Try this
when carrying out a
repetitive task, e.g.
making text bold.
Ctrl+Shift+T
Command+
Shift+T
Ctrl+H Shift +
command + H
Ctrl+Y Shift +
command + Z
Ctrl+Shift+T
Ctrl+H
Ctrl+Y
4 Launch file explorer Windows + E Command + O Shift + Alt + M
(Files)
Ctrl + O (Drive)
5 Extend or duplicate
screen to an external
monitor
Windows + P Command+F1 Ctrl + Display
(F4)
Get creative
Why not support your students by creating a
poster of popular shortcuts. Better still, make
it a competition for students to come up with
their favourite shortcuts that will help others.
A Chromebook shortcut post by myself in 2019
on Twitter was seen by a librarian in Indiana, US.
Following a couple of direct messages, I sent a
modified template, and she created a bookmark
for over a thousand students.
You can take it a step further by customising your
own shortcuts in Gmail. This can be achieved by
opening: settings > advanced > enable custom
keyboard shortcuts. Keyboard shortcuts will
then appear as a tab in your shortcuts as below,
allowing you to modify the existing shortcuts to
your preference.
Devices
The command for shortcuts will vary depending
on what device and what operating system you are
using. Windows have a huge market share (over
80%) but this is decreasing year on year due to the
popularity of Chromebooks and MacBooks. The
respective shortcut links for each operating system
can be found in the table following, highlighting my
top five shortcuts.
Written by Harmeet Sahota,
founder of Curriculum Wide,
Leadership and EdTech
Consultant
@HarmeetSahota
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
29

Digital
Library CPD themed Social
Media Accounts: Reading
and Information Literacy
Twitter
Richard Ruddick @RuddickRichard
A teacher in Norfolk who tweets about books, but
mostly graphic novels and comics. His pinned tweet
is a Padlet list of graphic novels suitable for primary
schools which is definitely worth a look at.
Authorfy @Authorfy
Free author videos, classroom resources and
book extracts, plus learn about the Authorfy
Club – a creative writing club with all the
resources delivered to your door.
Pen&Inc @PenandIncBooks
A magazine and listings guide to promote
diversity and inclusion in children’s
publishing, published by the Chartered
Institute of Library and Information
Professionals.
Empathy Lab UK @EmpathyLabUk
This is the first organisation to build
children’s empathy, literacy and social
activism through the systemic use of
high-quality literature. Their annual
Read for Empathy Guide and Empathy
Day are growing in popularity every year
and rightly so!
Round Table Books @BooksRound
This is an inclusion-led bookshop
selling books for every reader, from
their space in the heart of Brixton, London. Follow
them to find the latest books by underrepresented
writers and illustrators from a wide variety of UK
and Irish publishers.
Journal of Information Literacy @JInfoLit
The Journal of Information Literacy (JIL) is the
international, peer-reviewed, open access journal
of the CILIP #InformationLiteracy Group. #InfoLit
Chat Literacy @infolitdoodle
Community of Practice. Global Librarians.
Information Literacy. Critical thinking. Pedagogy.
Digital Libraries and learning.
UNESCO MILCLICK @MILCLICKS
Media and Information Literacy (MIL) innovation
from UNESCO, partners and you, supporting MIL
skill via engagement to think critically and click
wisely. #MILCLICKS
Media and Information Literacy Expert Network
@MilenNetwork
Media and Information Literacy Expert Network.
Best practices across the globe. Views are their own
and do not represent their employers or funders.
Media Education Lab @MedEduLab
The Media Education Lab advances digital and
media literacy education through research and
community service #digiURI #mediaed
Co written by Ruth
Horsman, SLA trustee
and volunteer librarian at
Stillness Junior School, and
Alison Tarrant, CEO of the
School Library Association.
Instagram
The Literacy Tree @theliteracytree
The award-winning Literary Curriculum
by The Literacy Tree is a complete
book-based approach designed
to help teachers access high quality
resources and network through
training.
Ivy’s Library @ivyslibrary
This is a simple idea done really well
– bite-sized picture book reviews for
kids by Ivy and her mum.
Books for Topics @booksfortopics
Follow this account for booklists
based on topics and age used by
schools and families. They also have
lots of reading for pleasure advice
and recommendations on their
website.
The Phoenix Comic
@phoenixcomicuk
The Instagram page for
the hugely popular weekly
comic the Phoenix for kids
aged 7–14. The page is a
joy to follow, with drawing
tips, fun facts, and introductions
to their array of
characters.
#schoollibrariesofinstagram
The last one is a hashtag
to follow for inspiration
– self-explanatory but
wonderful to see all
the #schoollibrariesofinstagram
out in the
big wide world!
30
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Three from
YouTube – Physics
Digital
TED-ED – Physics
www.tinyurl.com/y8p8t7cc
There are many videos on the TED-ED YouTube
channel which show how to engage with physics.
There are videos such as ‘What is Turbulence’,
‘The Hardest Move in Ballet’, ‘Newton’s Laws with
a Bicycle’ and one I found really interesting was
‘Football Physics: The Impossible Free Kick’. This
shows through animation how one of the most
historic free kicks in football by player Roberto
Carlos was achieved. It was a short three minute
video but with a link underneath to take the
browser to ed.ted.com/lessons, which shows the
full lesson.
There is a fascinating TED Talk on the channel
titled ‘Quantum Physics for 7 Year Olds’ by physicist
Dominic Walliman, and although it is 15 minutes
long, I found to be very engaging. He talks about
understanding science through communication
and how it is acceptable to admit you don’t
understand a subject so it can be explained more
simply. He then goes on to explain quantum
physics in a way that is easy to grasp, which for
beginners, is a brilliant introduction to the topic.
The videos on the channel, especially the animated
ones, are informative and simple to understand,
making a sometimes-complicated subject, easier to
access. The videos vary in duration so you can find
out about a subject quickly or at length depending
on what you are looking for and how much time
you have to find it.
BBC Teach (Bitesize)
www.youtube.com/c/bbcteach
The BBC Teach YouTube channel has so many
excellent things to watch from a range of subjects
which could potentially keep you on the channel
for hours.
There are many videos about physics all from their
Bitesize learning topics. One of the videos called
‘Gravity and Air Resistance’ is about exploring
gravity and how this works, explained by Jon
Chase. He conducts an experiment to explain air
resistance from a falling object. This is to investigate
the differences between the theories of Aristotle
and Galileo. It was easy to grasp because the
explanation was precise and simply put.
The channel, and the videos on it, look and sound
very professional and would be suitable to use in
lessons or lectures.
There are thousands of curriculum-linked clips
like this on the channel to help explain theories,
develop lessons, and make learning about physics
enjoyable and interesting.
Science Time
www.youtube.com/c/ScienceTime24
This YouTube channel is full
of scientific explanations and
information. From short clips
to full length videos, there
is something for everyone
interested in finding out more
about physics. One of the
first videos on the channel
is presented by physicist
Brian Cox and explains
quantum mechanics and
particle physics of the early
Universe. With his unique and simple presenting
style, he tells the story of the Big Bang and how this
subject has been taught and discussed by scientists
throughout history, each theory uncovering more
information through discovery.
Alongside the videos by Brian Cox, there are also
many others presented by famous physicists such
as Brian Greene and Neil Degrasse Tyson, who
break physics down into manageable chunks of
instruction. The channel covers a wide range of
topics and presents theories such as whether time
travel is possible, simulated reality, and the rise of
AI, all of which could be used in the classroom to
create discussion and debate.
There is an introductory video to the channel
which explains the solar system and why we study
this so intensely as a species. Whilst browsing
this channel it was simple to find knowledge on
any of the sciences, and the videos, even with
difficult subjects, were very engaging, making it an
enjoyable experience to browse and watch.
Beth Khalil is the LRC
Manager/Literacy
Coordinator NET Thorp
Academy. She has been a
librarian for 30 years and
her passion is encouraging
young people to discover a
lifelong love of reading.
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
31

Digital
SLA Websites:
Teaching PHSE
PHSE Association
www.pshe-association.org.uk
The PHSE Association is a national body, funded
by the government, offering guidance, training,
advice, and teaching resources. They are a
membership body; their current costs are £50 per
annum for an individual membership and £125
per annum for school membership. They offer
a wide range of resources that can be explored
by topic or key stage from key stage 1 through to
key stage 5. Although many resources are only
available as downloads to members, there is
access to some useful free content. For example,
engaging with parents has advice and relevant
links aimed at both primary and secondary levels.
As PHSE is a statutory subject, there are links
to appropriate government websites as well as
applicable research and reports, such as the 2022
DfE study on young people’s experiences of RSE
and sexual risk taking. It is worth browsing the site
to determine an overview of the topic and what is
taught at each key stage and investigating whether
your school is already a member.
The Economist Educational Foundation is an
independent charity set up by The Economist
newspaper to empower young people to have
discussions about current affairs, enabling them to
develop their critical thinking and communication
skills. The resources have been designed by
teachers in collaboration with journalists and fact
checkers, and are available free after signing up
to Topical Talk; they cover the key stage 2 and key
stage 3 PHSE topic ‘Living in the Wider World’.
Resources are provided each week exploring a
different headline, which can be embedded into
an hour long lesson or used as a starting point for
a discussion group. Recent topics have included
discrimination in design, gender inequality,
and three degrees. There are also larger projects
available that can be explored in more depth over
five weeks, such as ‘Break the Bias’ and ‘Cancel
Culture’. Furthermore, the website has a range
of printable supporting documents including
posters. The resources are visually appealing,
enable sensitive issues to be introduced within
lessons, and build cultural capital by introducing
an awareness of different perspectives.
Young Citizens
www.youngcitizens.org/resources
Economist Educational
Foundation
www.economistfoundation.org/resources/
pshe-lessons/
Barbara Band is a chartered
librarian with over thirty
years’ experience working
in a wide range of schools;
an international speaker,
writer, and trainer, she offers
consultancy services on
all aspects of librarianship
and reading. When not
campaigning for school
libraries, she can be found
reading, knitting, or painting.
Young Citizen’s mission is to enable a greater
number of young people to participate actively
in society. They provide a library of over 100
lessons, assemblies, and tools that can be used
for delivering PHSE at primary level as well as
numerous resources for key stages 3, 4 and 5. You
can filter the resources by type – for example,
assemblies, posters, toolkits, and lessons – by key
stage or by theme. Access requires registration but
is free and the resources have been created so they
can be delivered face-to-face or online. This is an
extensive site with some extremely topical subjects
that is worth signing up to.
32
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

INTRODUCING A NEW, FAST
AND EASY WAY TO COVER BOOKS
The Colibri book covering machine is easy to use, affordable
and enables you to cover books 3 times faster than by hand
Easy to use
Can cover a book
in 20 seconds
Can cover softback
and hardback books
Covers are made from a minimum
of 30% green polyethylene
Can cover all size books
“
The CoLibri system is so quick and easy
to use that books are received and available
to students the very same day.
”
Dawn Hay, Linton Village College Librarian
“
It does exactly as it says on
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Find out more at our website: www.exercisebooksdirect.co.uk/t/Colibri
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
33

Your Patrons Q&A
Sarah McIntyre illustrates and writes picture books such as
Grumpycorn and collaborates with Philip Reeve on longer,
highly illustrated chapter books, including Pugs of the Frozen
North and Oliver and the Seawigs. With the Pictures Mean
Business campaign, she encourages people to see how
crediting illustrators for their artwork benefits everyone.
Sarah McIntyre
jabberworks.co.uk
@jabberworks
School libraries are
vital to introducing
children to a
lifetime of reading.
Why did you become a patron of the School Library
Association?
School libraries are vital to introducing children
to a lifetime of reading. Some children may never
own a book in their home, but at least at school,
with the help of a librarian and library staff’s
encouragement and thoughtfully displayed books,
they can encounter the magic. Both reading for
pleasure and learning how to do proper research
are vital skills for life. The SLA supports that, so it
makes perfect sense to get behind them!
What inspires you in your work?
I seek out people whose skills I most admire and
pester them until they agree to work with me! I
love finding out what happens when I combine
what I can do with someone else’s ideas; it always
produces something that neither of us could have
created on our own. I enjoy doing solo projects too,
such as the Grumpycorn books, but working with
Philip Reeve has kept me wildly entertained, with
the ideas that have sparked books such as Oliver
and the Seawigs, Pugs of the Frozen North, and our
latest series about Kevin the Roly-Poly Flying Pony.
What was the last book you read that changed
your hinking?
I’m in the middle of reading a Patrick O’Brien book
and it’s made me appreciate how I don’t have to
understand every single word to get caught up in
the world he’s created. He uses a lot of nautical
terms I don’t know but just the sound of them is
exciting, and I’m guessing that the more of his
books I read, the more familiar I’ll get with them.
It’d be fun to drop into conversation ‘double
preventer backstays to the t’gallant shrouds’!
What is the most important thing for educators to
prioritize at the moment?
I’m not an educator myself, so I wouldn’t presume
to tell them what’s most important! But I’d love to
see drawing encouraged more in all schools. I’ve
seen myself how, when confronted with a blank
piece of paper and asked to write something, that
children can freeze up. But if they get to draw
something first, and use their drawing as a basis for
their writing, their thoughts flow much more freely.
I’d also like to see teachers and librarians put more
emphasis on the illustrators of books, not only on
the writers. Not all children come to books through
text – there’s nothing wrong with falling in love with
reading because of pictures! – and it helps them to
know that illustrators are real people, with names.
I started a campaign with James Mayhew in 2015
called Pictures Mean Business, which encourages
people to see how everyone wins when illustrators
are properly credited for their work.
In another life what different job would you have
chosen?
When I was nine, I wanted to be a mermaid; when
I was a teenager, I wanted to be an archaeologist;
and in my early twenties I wanted to be a journalist.
I ran an art gallery for six years before I studied
illustration, but I think illustrator will always be my
top job!
What are you working on currently?
I’m in the middle of a new book project with Philip
Reeve, which is very exciting! My husband Stuart
and I recently moved to Devon and we’re staying
with the Reeve family until we find a place of our
own. So I’m sharing a studio with Philip right now,
which is great fun, and very convenient if we need
to make a quick change to a text or picture. His
studio actually has a log fireplace and a view over
Dartmoor – it’s ace.
What’s the one piece of advice you would give to a
young person today?
If you’re thinking of going straight into studying
art or creative writing after you leave school,
consider holding off and studying something
else that interests you first, whether it’s science,
languages, construction, anything. It will give you
a much deeper source of inspiration for when you
come back to drawing and writing. You’ll be able
to tap into an area that you know about, you won’t
simply be writing about writers, or drawing a day
in the life of an artist. And the hard knocks you’ll
encounter will prepare you better to ask relevant
questions about the business on your writing or
illustration course. But keep drawing and writing
in the meantime – if you’re meant to go into either
of those professions, you won’t be able to stop
anyway, it will be something you do compulsively.
If you do decide you want to study art or writing, it’s
never too late in life.
The paperback of Kevin vs the Unicorns by Philip Reeve and
Sarah McIntyre was published in May.
34
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Members Corner
Name: Nick Overfield
Role: Librarian in the Senior
(Secondary) School
Where you work: Loretto School, East
Lothian, Scotland
How long have you been a member?
Since January 2022!
What’s your role? I provide a library and
information service for the upper campus
(Secondary–Sixth Form), supporting
a reading culture at the school and
managing the library as a study space
for pupils.
Which bits of the job do you love?
I absolutely love hearing from pupils
about what they enjoy reading, and when
they tell me about a new book or story
they have discovered.
What challenges do you face in your
role? Despite being in the centre of the
school, working in the library can be
isolating. It’s important to get involved in
the school beyond the library, as well as
to reach out to other school librarians and
share ideas.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge facing the sector, and how can
we combat it? I think one of the greatest
challenges is continuing to advocate
for libraries in schools. As for how best
to address it, I think I am still working
that out! I think definitely having a good
dialogue with your school administration
so they are aware of how your library is
being used, as well as having a forum with
other library professionals where you can
bounce ideas around, share best practice,
and keep each other sharp.
What’s the one piece of advice you would
share with others? Having a flexible
approach is a great asset. You never know
who might turn up at the library or when
you might need to create an activity at
short notice. I think that approach is also
one of our greatest strengths as librarians.
Why would you recommend the SLA?
In my experience everyone has been
very welcoming, and it has been great
to speak with other school librarians
and youth library practitioners. I highly
recommend it!
Your SLA in 2022
21
branches
110
people on branch committees
We would love to hear from branch ambassadors!
34 mentors
677
books sent out
so far for review
118
book reviewers
14,192
Twitter followers
13
editions of TSL now
available online
300
editions of TSL in total
98 difff erent titles in the CPD library
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
35

Books: 7 & Under
Adams, Anna
Don’t Worry,
Murray! A Child’s
Guide to Help
Overcome Worries
Illustrated by Josiane Vlitos
Summersdale Publishers
2021, pp32, £6.99
9781800070158
Worry. Mindfulness. CBT Therapy
In this story about Murray, the little sausage dog,
and his friend Hoot the owl, we learn that Murray is
terribly worried about starting a new school: ‘It’s big
and noisy and I might get lost.’ He says he will hide
until the worry goes away. Hoot knows that this is
not a good idea; he suggests they should go up and
over the Worry Hill (a CBT concept) and together
they do just that. There are signposts along the way
to help them up the steep incline, and at the top
they have a ‘talk’ with the worry (a small black cloud)
who answers all the worries and sends Murray
running down the hill to school, feeling much
better. The pictures are fun and expressive, and this
should be another good idea for school and home
for children who worry. Best used with a parent,
carer, or teacher.
Elizabeth Schlenther
Adams, Anna
What’s the Hurry,
Murray? A Child’s
Guide to Finding
Calm
Illustrated by Josiane Vlitos
Summersdale Publishers
2021, pp32, £6.99
9781800070165
Mindfulness. Stress. Friendship
Murray, a small sausage dog, is terribly stressed. A
new friend is coming to play this afternoon, and
he has too many tasks to do beforehand. Murray
rushes around hither and yon until his owl friend,
Hoots, arrives to ask what he’s doing. This brings
forth an angry response: ‘I don’t know ANYTHING
any more!’ He hasn’t been able to eat or sleep, and
he’s dizzy and fizzy. Hoots tells him kindly that
he’s worked himself up into a tizzy and that there
should be plenty of time to do the things before the
friend arrives. Together they discuss the problem,
and Hoots suggests ways to help, such as using
breathing techniques and making a list of what
needs doing. By this time, Murray is exhausted and
falls asleep, so Hoots, good friend that he is, does all
the tidying, and the afternoon with the new friend
is a great success. Lots of good rhyming words and
good suggestions useful for key stage 1 children,
parents and teachers dealing with kids in a ‘tizzy’.
Elizabeth Schlenther
Barroux
I Love You, Blue
Otter-Barry Books
2022, pp34, £12.99
9781913074500
Oceans. Plastic. Pollution
A boy goes to sea in his boat
and a storm hits. Blue rescues him, but then needs
rescuing in turn – from the harm caused by plastic
in his belly. Clearly, the oceans are a happier place
when people have a heart to care. And the very
youngest of children will surely want to look after
the world after hearing this gentle story with its
emotive pictures and clear message.
At the back of the book, the author explains that
‘Blue stands for every kind of whale ... Many are
in danger of extinction ... All can be killed by
the build up of plastic in their stomachs’. So, we
are given five ways to help, including recycling,
composting, avoiding throwaway plastic items and
joining a beach clean-up. Details of conservation
organisations are also provided.
This is a lovely hardback that teachers and parents
of key stage 1 children would do well to share
widely, perhaps in tandem with topic work on the
environment.
Jane Rew
Beaty, Andrea and
Griffith, Theanne
Ada Twist, Scientist:
The Why Files
Illustrated by David Robers
Abrams Books
2022, pp80, £8.99
9781419759253
Flight. Experiments. Birds and Bees
A very engaging book linked to a Netflix series,
this is a very approachable read about flight in all
in its varying forms. Our guide Ada talks the reader
through the four basic forces of thrust, drag, lift
and weight; she explains how they are applied to
birds – including flightless birds such as penguins –
aeroplanes, rockets, bees, kites, helicopters, and hot
air balloons. There is also some background on the
history of women in aviation and some firsts in flying.
There are some simple experiments for children to
try out at home and practical demonstrations which
show why people will never fly. A good, colourful
mix of photographs and drawings complete the
appealing nature of this book.
Sarah Seddon
Beaty, Andrea
I Love You Like Yellow
Illustrated by Vashti Harrison
Abrams Books
2022, pp48, £12.99
9781419748073
Love. Family. Happiness
Can a picture book get any better than this?!
It’s a glorious celebration and exploration of loving
family togetherness.
The illustrations lead the way through page after
page of loving moments shared by parents,
children, and wider family. These include the best
times such as winning a race, the dull times when
the weather keeps you in, the tough times when
things don’t work out and the fun times when play is
key. I particularly loved the ‘sweet tangerine’ page.
Such fun!
Families of all shapes and sizes are drawn with an
inclusivity that is natural; race, disability, and gender
are invisible because they are so integral.
The simple rhyming text, so carefully crafted, sits
unobtrusively ready to be lifted as the pages turn.
Unusual vocabulary used to describe this feeling
creates opportunities for conversation and laughter.
There is a warmth that radiates from the simple
rhythm, and the repetition of ‘I love you…’ is perfect.
A super new addition to a preschooler’s shelf.
Janet Sims
Bondestam, Linda
My Life at the
Bottom: The Story
of a Lonesome
Axolotl
Translated by A. A. Prime
Yonder
2022, pp46, £14.99
9781632061386
Environment. Picture book. Animals
Once, when the world was new-born there was
sea, land, and there were little creatures. As the
word grew older new creatures arrived, some
disappeared, others multiplied until one day
something amazing happened – a ME. ME is a rare,
beautiful axolotl and has been born in a forest of
seaweed. ME is going for its first ever swim. ME is
lonely though, the only egg of 987 to have hatched.
ME doesn’t know why.
As we follow the axolotl narrator through its home
at the bottom of the lake in a busy city we follow it
going to school, collecting treasures that have been
thrown away by the big lugs that live on the land,
having dance parties with tiger salamander friends,
and life is good. But we also see the world getting
hotter, the water getting murkier, friends harder to
find, and the axolotl getting lonelier. Then one day
comes a surprising new future. A climate crisis tale
that is unique and clever.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
36
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Books: 7 & Under
Boxall, Ed
Carried Away with
the Carnival
Pearbox Press
2021, pp42, £7.99,
9781838226831
Safety. Celebrations. PSHE
A little boy goes to the carnival and when he gets
carried away by the excitement of it all, he gets
separated from his grandad. Lost and alone, he
wonders what to do next and who will help him. A
vibrant and colourful picture book, this story
conveys the fun of the event for both child and
adult; it would be hard to concentrate on holding
hands with all that going on.
There are important messages imparted with a kind
and gentle touch, the most important of which
is not to let go of someone’s hand when out in
crowded places. However, there are others too: not
to judge someone by their appearance and to stay
calm when things go wrong. This is well pitched,
being not too scary to make children fearful but
offering advice and coping strategies with a happy
and reassuring ending.
This is slightly longer than normal picture-book
length, but the spare text is simple enough for newly
independent readers to manage and would be
excellent to share and discuss too.
Anne Thompson
Brouillard, Roxane
My Dog Banana
Illustrated by Giulia Sagramola
Greystone Kids Books
2021, pp40, £12.99
9781771647939
Truth. Opinions. Criticism
This is an unusual story about
a child who believes a banana which he has put on
a lead is a real live pet dog. He seems absolutely
convinced of this, although everyone around him
tries to explain to him how that couldn’t possibly be
the case, and they begin to mock him.
However, things may not be what they seem …
This short book contains a very small amount of
text with some repetition of phrases which would
hopefully make reading easier. Some more complex
vocabulary is also used. The text is written on the
page in an almost cartoon style, where reading the
body language of the characters pictured is just
as much a part of reading the story as reading the
text itself.
On the one hand I found the story quite strange, and
I am not sure what the author’s intent was behind it,
but seen in a more light-hearted way it is also quite
an amusing tale.
Sarah Taylor
Brown, Ian
Albert Upside
Down
Illustrated by Eoin Clarke
Graffeg
2022, pp36, £7.99
9781913634162
Animals. Fable. Garden
Albert the tortoise, and the readers of this lovely
book, know something is wrong from the first page.
We see a garden upside down and Albert is stuck on
his back, unable to get back on his feet. In a clever
sepia flashback, we learn that Albert climbed a stone
trying to reach a delicious dandelion and toppled
over. Gradually, all the mini beasts in the garden
try to help Albert turn over. Only the butterfly is
turned away as too light and delicate to be able
to help. Though they try several ingenious plans,
nothing seems to work. At last, the worm suggests
that if they all stand on one edge of Albert’s shell,
they may be able to flip him right way up. It doesn’t
work until the butterfly returns and her weight
makes the necessary difference.
This is a charming modernisation of the traditional
“if we all help, we can achieve everything” story.
Young readers will also enjoy learning about the
hidden life of the garden (and that tortoises can
suffer from flatulence).
Jaki Brien
Chowdhury, Radhiah
The Katha Chest
Illustrated by Lavanya Naidu
A & U Children
2021, pp32, £11.99
9781911679141
Family. Culture. Bangladeshi
Kathas are lightweight quilts used in Bangladeshi
households, and this book tells the story of how
Asiya’s Nanu made Katha quilts out of old saris no
longer worn, storing them in a chest. Exploring this
chest is Asiya’s favourite pastime when she visits,
as the designs and smells of each one remind her
of people and places: her grandmother, aunts,
and mother.
The book can be read on two levels. A simple
story of words and illustrations, some of them
on double-page spreads with a wonderful sense
of movement, conveying a message of family,
love, and culture. Or a deeper tale with a subtext
encompassing important historical and difficult
times, including war, protest, grief, and loss, inferred
by the illustrations. The quilt designs are inspired by
Bengali folk art called Pattachitra – ‘simple colours,
bold lines and intricate details’ – resulting in finely
detailed and gorgeously patterned illustrations.
This is an important picture book that celebrates
Bangladeshi women and their culture.
Barbara Band
Coelho, Joseph
Luna Loves Dance
Illustrated by Fiona Lumbers
Andersen Press
2021, pp22, £12.99
9781839130564
Dance. Family. Self-Belief
Luna loves dancing, and when she spins and leaps,
her world turns with her in a happy kaleidoscope of
colour and movement. But she becomes downcast
when her dance exam doesn’t go well. She thinks
she is not a real dancer, and her world feels dull
and muffled.
Her extended family try to change her mind, taking
her to activities that involve music and dance, telling
her how much of a dancer she truly is. Luna cannot
resist joining in, and as she learns new moves starts
to sparkle as she realises that being a dancer is
not about perfection but rather the joy of dancing
itself. At a birthday gathering, Luna dances in her
usual joyful way, incorporating newly learned
steps, shimmying, pirouetting, and twirling with her
loved ones.
Third in the Luna series, this colourful picture book
(complete with a vibrant carnival fold out page) has
a strong message about not giving up on doing
something you love. It would also be a good choice
for showing how expressing yourself though dance
can make you feel.
Sue Polchow
Dahl, Michael
Save the Day,
Wonder Woman!
Illustrated by Omar Lozano
Raintree
2021, pp30, £6.99
9781398205994
Friendship. Relationships. Superheroes
Who doesn’t love a Superhero? Who doesn’t want
a Friend?
This book features DC Comics’ Wonder Woman
who has many powers and abilities but whose most
important skill is that of being a friend. Being able
to encourage, help, be kind, mediate when there
are arguments, and be there for people are such
important qualities when building relationships.
I love the way that pictures of the Wonder Woman
of the comics have been integrated into the pictures
and story. The text and bright illustrations are a
good way of introducing children to these positive
concepts, and the suggested activities at the back
of the book are good for reinforcing the contents of
the story.
This is an excellent book for story time and would
work well with the superhero work done at key
stage 1.
Carolyn Copland
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
37

Books: 7 & Under
Dance, Arielle
Dearest One
Illustrated by Jenny Duke
Lantana Publishing
2022, pp22, £11.99
9781913747800
Empowerment. Advice.
Positivity
In Dearest One children will find lots of positive
affirmations to help them through not only
childhood, but into adulthood too. This is definitely
a book to be dipped into at different times as
needed, giving the reader hope and reassurance.
It is described as a book of advice that your granny
may have given you. As someone who lost all of her
grandparents at a young age, the words in the book
are what I imagine my granny would say if I had
gone to her with a worry, accompanied by a big hug.
Each double-page spread is dedicated to a different
piece of advice or affirmation, with a short title
and two sentences of advice. The advice is generic
but universal so could be used to adapt to many
situations. It could be used in PSHE lessons and to
explore with any children who need to build their
self-esteem.
Stacey Matthews
Dartnell, Chris
Most Animals
Like to…
Illustrated by Helz Cuppleditch
Nightingale Books
2021, pp21, £4.99
9781838751814
Animals. Rhymes. Habits
The nursery class I read this book to were
immediately drawn to the front cover. The
illustrations really do sell this book; they are bright,
clear, and appealing.
Each double page is dedicated to one animal,
and the lively text which rhymes makes it a great
book to read aloud. It’s a series of short stories so
there is no beginning, middle or end which makes
it ideal for nursery children who have a short
concentration span.
It covers the unusual but fun habits of mice, dogs,
seagulls, penguins, horses, chickens, and cats who
all have funny names!
A lovely addition to any early years library and it
could be a great starting point for reception-age
children who want to write about different animals.
Rebecca Taylor
Davis, Rachael
I Am Not a Prince
Illustrated by Beatrix Hatcher
Orchard Books
2022, pp32, £12.99
9781408362259
Stereotyping. Identity. Gender
This book’s cover appealed visually with a bright
yellow background, a lovely frog and the word NOT
in capital letters and rainbow colours, hinting at the
LGBTQ+ rainbow flag. The words ‘Be proud to be
YOURSELF’ are underneath the cover illustration and
this further excited my curiosity.
On a misty lagoon in a fairy tale land, young frogs
wait patiently to be turned into magical princes. But
one little frog is different … Hopp definitely does
NOT want to be a prince! When the other frogs say
that a prince is what is expected, Hopp is forced
to set out on a journey of discovery. Hopp helps a
mouse, a grizzly bear, and a dragon, and eventually
the journey leads to a rainbow gate and a chance to
tell a wizard what Hopp really wants to be.
The illustrations are colourful, amusing and
complement the text. An excellent book which
gives much food for thought as regards gender
stereotyping and encouraging children to be proud
to be themselves.
Carolyn Copland
Demetriou, Annette
Me, in the Middle
Illustrated by Angela Mayers
Owlet Press
2022, pp32, £7.99
9781913339357
Family Trees. Race.
Inclusiveness
A heart-warming story about Georgie, who is
learning about family history at school. Her mother
is of UK origin and her father is from Uganda.
Georgie does not feel that she fits into a neat
category of nationality as her friends at school do.
However, her parents help her to find out more
about her family history and to plot out a tree with
some photos of family members.
Back at school, she opens up and talks to her
teacher and classmates about her unique and
interesting background. Children reading this story
learn not to judge people by their skin colour. There
is a beautiful double-page spread of a sharing
picnic, with dishes from many countries and
cultures. The children also look in detail at the rich
variety of trees in the park and relate them to their
own diverse family roots and branches.
Sarah Seddon
Dias-Hayes, Michaela
Colour and Me!
Owlet Press
2022, pp32, £7.99
9781913339388
Diversity. Positivity. Race
A little girl is experimenting with mixing various
colour paints, and she realises that one of the newly
discovered combinations that she has created – red,
yellow, and blue mixed together – makes brown, the
colour of her beautiful skin.
This is a glorious celebration of diversity,
representation, tolerance, and confidence in the
knowledge that all colours – in this case, colours of
people’s skin – are special. It’s a joyful and vibrant
book bursting with positivity, a wonderful go-to
publication to present to even very young children
and teach them to embrace their and other people’s
racial identity in acceptance of the fact that their
skin colours may differ.
This isn’t a particularly wordy book and yet it feels
absolutely complete, with every page bringing a
relevant, sensitively and often wittily presented line
or two in the build-up to gently emphasising the
message behind the story. A beautiful and highly
significant addition to any nursery or reception
library, this is a perfect tool to help celebrate
diversity.
Marzena Currie
Dodd, Emma
The Little Things
Templar Publishing
2022, pp24, £7.99
9781800780170
Love. Kindness. Relationships
This book celebrates the
joyfulness of the loving relationship between a
mummy giant panda and her sweet baby cub. They
spend precious time sharing cuddles, kisses, hugs,
and the peacefulness of lying together, watching the
clouds drift by.
The story shows the warmth of friendship, being
kind, helping others and playing. What really matters
in life are the little things.
Boosting confidence by giving praise and
encouragement contrasts with being brave enough
to say sorry and admit that one is wrong – both offer
powerful messages.
The artwork is beautiful. Sometimes the pandas take
central stage, sometimes they are shown against
an exquisitely drawn background of mountains,
sunsets, waterfalls, and bamboo forests. Illustrations
are often enriched by the use of gold foil which
makes them extra special.
This is a gorgeous, magical, uplifting book, a lovely
read. Like the baby panda, little children can feel
loved and reassured within the safety of their family.
Lee Giddings
38
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Books: 7 & Under
Best New Books on Holidays
Editor’s pick
Fiona Lumbers
Clem and Crab
Andersen Press, 2020, 28pp, £6.99
9781783449149
Environment, Plastic pollution, Seashore
A little girl encourages her
classmates to be more aware of their
environment when she rescues a
crab from a discarded plastic bag at
the beach.
Patricia Cleveland-
Peck and David
Tazzyman (Illustrator)
You Can’t Take an
Elephant on Holiday
Bloomsbury, 2021, 32pp, £6.99
9781408898567
Animals, Holidays, Humour
An assortment of animals cause
chaos as they try different kinds of
holidays and unlikely animals get up
to unsuitable activities
Moira Butterfield and Jesus
Verona (Illustrator)
Look What I Found
at the Seaside
Nosy Crow, 2021, 32pp, £6.99
9781839940835
Nature, Seaside, Habitats
A walk at the seaside shows children
a wealth of treasure to find and enjoy
in nature.
Corinne Delporte
A Picnic in the Rain
CrackBoom! Books, 2022, 32pp, £9.95
9782898023187
Picnic, Snails, Weather
Rain-loving snails go on a picnic
but when the clouds lift and the sun
shines they think it has spoiled their
day until they find a solution.
Carly Gledhill
Frog Goes on Holiday
Macmillan, 2021, 22pp, £7.99
9781529060621
Animals, Holidays, Travel
A frog sets of on his holiday with his
caravan determined to see the world
with interactive peep-through holes.
Katie Woolley and Charlotte
Pepper (Illustrator)
Seaside Animals
Watts, 2022, 24pp, £8.99
9781445175133
Animals, Habitats, Seashore
A simple introduction to animals that
live by the seaside with clear text &
colourful full page illustrations.
Zanna Davidson and Melanie
Williamson (Illustrator)
Monsters at the Seaside
Usborne, 2021, 80pp, £5.99
9781474978415
Fantasy, Monsters, Seaside
The mini monsters have fun at the
seaside when Billy and his family go
on holiday until seagulls threaten to
spoil the day.
Rajani LaRocca & Sara Palacias
I’ll Go and I’ll Come Back
Walker, 2022, 40pp, £12.99,
9781529502503
Families, Different Cultures, Holidays
Jytoi visits her Grandmother in
India. She doesn’t want to leave her
but is reminded Tamil people don’t
say goodbye they say ‘I’ll go and I’ll
come back’
Fraser, Lu
One Camel
Called Doug
Illustrated by Sarah Warburton
Simon & Schuster
2022, pp32, £12.99
9781471191985
Counting. Friendship. Confidence
This is a brilliant counting book for young children.
The numbers in word form will be perfect for
children just learning to read. Rhyming picture books
are always popular with children, and they will
quickly catch on to the next number in the rhyme.
The brightly coloured and dazzling camel friends are
great fun but sometimes it is good to be ‘just ONE’!
A lovely way to teach children it’s great to have
friends but sometimes it’s nice to have time to
yourself.
Sue Bastone
Goodhart, Pippa
Stop the Clock!
Illustrated by Maria Christania
Tiny Owl Publishing
2022, pp32, £7.99
9781910328811
Emotions. Journeys.
Environment
Remember Dogger, the much-loved children’s story
by Shirley Hughes? Dave lost Dogger, but everyone
around had time to help him to search. His home
was untidy, crowded, chaotic, yet warm, relaxed,
and secure.
In Stop the Clock Joe is constantly rushed. The
chaos is stressful. In the panic to get to school on
time, he is the only one to notice that Polly’s teddy
has been lost. A many-layered story and a salutary
tale for our time. A call to stop and reflect upon our
hectic life and its effects upon children.
There’s a lot to explore in the illustrations. Changes
in style and use of colour mirror the experiences
of Joe. Through discussing them, children can
be encouraged to express their own feelings. The
teacher in the story asks his class to draw their
journey to school. This is a lovely exercise to repeat.
The maps and drawings of young children, with their
lower eye level, fresh eyes, and awareness of detail,
always delight. But give them time.
Annie Pattison
Greig, Louise (adapted
by) and de Saint-
Exupéry, Antoine
The Little Prince
Illustrated by Sarah Massini
Farshore
2021, pp28, £10.99
9781405288125
Problems. Exploring. Wishes
Based on the original book, Louise Greig retells this
now famous story in such a format that it will be
readily accessible to the youngest of readers.
Accompanied by Massini’s illustrations, there is
much to excite conversation and wonder in any
reader. How will the rose, the fox, and possibly the
sheep turn out? What about all of the other people
that the aviator meets? And what happens to the
little prince in the end?
There is so much to exclaim over and wonder
about in this book – it will be great fun to share
at bedtime, but could also be a ready starting
point for discussions and even philosophy in early
years foundation stage (EYFS) and key stage 1
classrooms. This book is going straight into our EYFS
department...
Rudolf Loewenstein
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
39

Books: 7 & Under
Hart, Caryl
Thank You for the
Little Things
Illustrated by Emily Hamilton
Bloomsbury Children’s Books
2022, pp25, £6.99
9781526638908
Mindfulness. Emotions. Observation
This is a lovely picture book about – unsurprisingly
– taking notice of the little things around us in our
day-to-day life that make us smile. The little girl
in the story tells us about all the little things, from
nature and animals to food and family, that she
reminds herself to be thankful for whenever she is
feeling down or sad. The rhyme of the text is gently
paced and gives a positive, optimistic outlook on
life.
Emily Hamilton’s coloured pencil illustrations are
full of child-like charm. I especially like how the
backgrounds in some of the illustrations are in
black and white, in contrast with the full colour
foreground of the things the little girl is thankful for.
This could be a great introduction to mindfulness for
children, and the importance of taking notice of our
surroundings and the positives in our lives.
Stacey Matthews
Henry-Allain, Laura
My Skin, Your Skin
Illustrated by Onyinye Iwu
Penguin
2021, pp30, £9.99
9780241512739
Racism. Empowerment. Bullying
This is an important book that supports parents,
teachers, carers, and adults working with children.
It helps them explain what racism is and why it is
wrong. A variety of situations are discussed, and
children learn what they can do if they witness or
experience racism. To quote from the back cover,
the book ‘empowers children to be the best versions
of themselves – to have self-love, self-esteem and
self-worth, irrespective of their skin colour’.
The presentation is attractive, with bright colours
and a variety of fonts and formats. Pages have a
good balance of text and illustration. Language
is appropriate and accessible and there is a clear
glossary. There are plenty of questions that
encourage reflection and discussion and draw in
the reader.
Informative, thought-provoking, positive, and
empowering, the book celebrates difference and
encourages empathy. It is ideal for school and
home.
Brenda Marshall
Korte, Steven
Cave of Kryptonite
Illustrated by Art Baltizar
The Amazing Adventures of
the DC Super Pets
Raintree
2021, pp27, £5.99,
9781398206199
Comic. Superhero. Adventure
Join Krypto the Super-Dog in an amazing new
adventure and discover if he can save Superman
from a cave of Kryptonite. Can Krypto save the day
and rescue Superman from the cave in time, as well
as saving a falling rocket and a hiker in danger?
This bold, bright, and colourful early reader captures
the essence of the DC comics in a format which is
exciting and appealing to its target audience. The
use of short sentences and chapters is brought
alive by the cartoon-style illustrations to create an
action-packed short read. The comic style is present
throughout, from the size and feel of the book to the
use of ‘Blam’ and ‘Whoosh’ that is reminiscent of the
original DC Superman comics.
There is also a helpful section at the back which
includes writing prompts and discussion questions
which any parent, carer, teacher or librarian
would find helpful. A fun adventure for comic and
superhero fans and a great read to consider for a
potential reluctant reader.
Lucy Carlton-Walker
Lester, Alison
Noni the Pony
Counts to a
Million
A & U Children
2022, pp24, £10.99
9781911679240
Counting. Friendship. Nature
Noni is a wide-eyed, friendly pony. Readers are
encouraged to count as Noni goes about her day
with her friends: a dog and a cat. Together they spy
other animals in the countryside. Lester’s use of
strong action verbs adds to the dynamic text.
The prose is organised into satisfying rhythmic and
rhyming couplets, for example ‘Nine spotted fish
swim deep in the reeds … while ten ladybirds march
over the weeds’. The alliteration and internal rhyme
make it a treat to read aloud.
I love the way the story counts from one to ten, then
expands into dozens, hundreds, thousands, until
Noni and her friends sleep ‘through the night under
millions of stars’. The illustrations have a cartoonlike
innocence while the story is simply told and
feels warm, calming, and reassuring.
Hugely joyous to share with young children.
Carolyn Boyd
Li, Yijing
Through the Forest
Lantana Publishing
2022, pp26, £11.99
9781913747770
Mental Health. Memories.
Wellbeing
Walking through a forest alone, a young boy meets
someone; that someone is named Emptiness and
is to guide the child as he discovers many lost
belongings. These things bring back memories to
the boy – some happy, some sad, but all of them are
ones from which he learns.
Gradually he realises that his past is part of who he
is and that his memories and experiences can guide
him in the future.
This is a touching and thoughtful picture book
that could comfort and reassure readers. It would
be excellent as part of a library wellbeing and
mental health collection, being suitable for a wide
age range. The subtle illustrations in pencil and
watercolour shift from melancholy grey, black, and
white at the start of the boy’s journey to cheerful,
pretty pastel meadow flowers as his spirits rise
during the final pages. The endpapers also reflect
the changing emotions, and this is a book to linger
over. There are many possible interpretations of
this story, adding to its value as a resource for
prompting discussion.
Anne Thompson
Loring-Fisher, Jo
Wolf Girl
Illustrated by Jo Loring-Fisher
Frances Lincoln Children’s
Books
2022, pp33, £6.99
9780711249585
Resilience. Bravery. Friendship
A stunning book which explores the struggles of
making friends, overcoming shyness, and finding
your own voice, in a warm and gentle manner.
This is a beautiful story which will support lessons
teaching empathy and accepting difference in
others, as well as exploring personal emotions and
how to communicate. The lyrical text physically
highlights key words, supporting language and
vocabulary acquisition, whilst maintaining a pacy
yet nuanced plot which will engage readers from
the start.
The beautiful and characterful illustrations are a
real highlight that will provide hours of enjoyment
for readers, as well as enable weaker readers to
understand and enjoy the story. This work would
be a useful resource for encouraging independent
reading and enabling young readers to have a really
positive reading experience of a beautiful book, as
well as teaching important lessons.
Meg Barclay
40
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Books: 7 & Under
McCaughrean,
Geraldine
A Tale of Two
Dragons
Illustrated by Peter Malone
Andersen Press
2021, pp28, £12.99
9781839130281
Conflict. Dragons. Peace
Two countries lie side by side. Each should be
perfectly happy, but each kingdom has things that
the other kingdom does not have, and yes – each
kingdom wants what they do not have. So, what
happens? It is enough to say that the children find a
way of solving things, but the kings do not like this
at all.
Rather than talking out problems with each
other, things escalate until the king of one of the
kingdoms gets a dragon to guard things. Result:
instant jealousy on the part of the other country,
with a second dragon following the first. And then
more conflict ... It is not until the dragons exhaust
themselves that a solution presents itself, which will
surprise and delight the readers.
McCaughrean’s use of language is masterful,
and accompanied by Malone’s most expressive
illustrations, this will be a book to share, enjoy and
share again.
Rudolf Loewenstein
McKee, David
Elmer and the
Bedtime Story
Andersen Press
2021, pp25, £12.99
9781839130946
Families. Animals. Storytelling
From the cover and into the endpapers we meet the
familiar and engaging figure of Elmer who arrives
just in time to help a member of her tribe with
babysitting.
The art is beautiful, and the clear text with simple
repetitions will lead the young listener and reader
into a jungle of delightful characters.
Elmer leads us and the two young elephants in her
care through a variety of colourful habitats. Swampy
crocodiles, lions’ lairs, glades where monkeys perch
and swing, through the grassy mounds of curious
rabbits, until finally they arrive home, exhausted.
At each encounter, the animal parent and their
young recall their favourite bedtime stories. We
never get to hear the full stories, just enough to
provoke many questions from young readers and
ignite their imaginations as to what had captivated
the baby crocodile or engaged the lion cub.
It is poignant to review this book shortly after the
author’s passing. What a legacy; loved by parents,
children and educators alike.
Irene Marillat
Milford Haven, Clare
The Magic
Sandcastle
Illustrated by David William Press
Serenity Press
2022, pp30, £12.99
9780645218329
Teamwork. Persistence. Seaside
Every summer the Fairchild family go to visit their
grandmother who lives in Nantucket Island. This
year the five children see a sandcastle competition
advertised and decide to enter it together. They
work hard as a team, and by the end of the day they
have created a wonderful castle complete with
moat, turrets, and soldiers. They hope that the next
day their castle will be judged the winner. However,
overnight one of the children has a troubling dream
and the next morning they discover their castle has
been ruined by the incoming tide. They will have to
work together quickly to put things right and stand a
chance of winning.
This debut picture book by mental health
campaigner Clare Milford Haven is written in
memory of the author’s eldest son James and
conveys the important themes of resilience,
perseverance, teamwork, imagination and creative
play. The gently evocative and subtle illustrations fit
the book’s theme perfectly.
Anne Thompson
Mortimer, Helen
Big Words for Little
People: Being
Healthy
Illustrated by Cristina
Trapanese
Oxford University Press
2021, pp31, £5.99
9780192779106
Human Body. Health and Wellbeing. Ourselves
OUP says that the aim of the series ‘Big Words
for Little People’ is to ‘introduce vocabulary to
empower children and build language skills,’ also
enabling adults to talk about feelings to young
children. Being Healthy describes detailed aspects
of personal hygiene, safety, health issues such as
allergies, and more. The author uses simple and
clear language to explain complicated concepts,
such as mood and disability.
The illustrations are in a naïve cartoon style with
speech bubbles, which appeals to young children.
I liked all the action in the illustrations on the pages
about exercise, including a pet dog joining in. The
author includes ten activities to stimulate discussion
and a short glossary. This simple STEM book,
with its clear, short descriptions and welcoming
illustrations, is perfect to share with very young
children both in school and at home.
Lucy Chambers
Nainy, Mamta
Rainbow Hands
Illustrated by Jo Loring-Fisher
Lantana Publishing
2022, pp26, £11.99
9781913747831
Colours. Diversity. Emotions
This is a beautiful book and an absolute delight to
read, both quietly at bedtime and to a whole class
at school. It is stunningly illustrated, with drawings
which look like they have texture to them, so you
want to keep touching the pages.
The story of a little boy’s desire to be accepted
for who he is, rather than live up to a certain
expectation of how society possibly expects a little
boy to be, is sensitively told through his love of
spending time painting his nails, and how the nail
colours link to his moods, emotions, and feelings.
Reading this story out loud will easily spark off
discussions about expectations of ourselves and
those around us; how colour and emotions are
linked; various other ways in which we can express
ourselves; our relationships with inter-generational
family and friendships; and not being afraid to
express who we are.
This is a fabulous book for your school library, and
very unusual. I would strongly recommend it and
look forward to reading more books from this author.
Jenny Griffiths
Naylor-Ballesteros,
Chris
Frank and Bert
Nosy Crow
2022, pp31, £7.34
9781788008419
Friendship. Empathy. Humour
EDITOR’S PICK
Friendship and empathy are the main themes of this
joyous picture book filled with warmth, humour, and
kind-heartedness.
Best friends Frank and Bert love to play hide and
seek. However, Bert the bear isn’t quite as good at
hiding as he thinks he is and fox Frank always finds
him. Bert is convinced he just needs more time to
find a really good place, so when Frank says he’ll
count to hundred instead of the usual ten, he’s very
happy. An accident with his scarf means he leaves
a trail and Frank finds him quickly, but he knows
that Bert will be sad if he wins again, so he makes a
decision. True friendship means considering other
people’s feelings.
The neon colours of Bert’s scarf and Frank’s hat
highlight the expressive illustrations. Perfect
for sharing with young children, there are many
elements for discussion, including counting up to
hundred.
Jayne Gould
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
41

Books: 7 & Under
Paquette, Ammi-Joan
All from a Walnut
Illustrated by Felicita Sala
Abrams Books
2022, pp40, £13.99
9781419750021
Families. Immigration. Grief
This is a moving multigenerational story that is sure
to tug on your heart strings.
The story starts when Emilia discovers a walnut next
to her bed one morning. This leads to her grandpa
telling his story of travelling overseas – a walnut was
one of the few things he brought with him. After
caring for it for many years, he managed to grow a
tree with strong roots. Emilia’s Mother also grew a
tree when she was her age.
Grandpa shows Emilia how to nurture her own nut;
but as her plant gets stronger, Grandpa gets weaker.
This is a beautiful book which has several
important messages at the core: immigration,
multigenerational love, and grief. Ammi-Joan
Paquette has perfectly captured these topics in a
way easily understood by children. The illustrations
by Felicita Sala are absolutely gorgeous and so
detailed – even including a sepia tone for Grandpa’s
flashbacks.
I highly recommend you read this book. It will stay
with you for a long time.
Emma Price
Patrick, Kat
The Spectacular Suit
Illustrated by Hayley Wells
Scribble
2022, pp32, £12.99
9781913348793
Gender. Identity. Roles
It’s Frankie’s birthday and she feels that everyone
expects her to wear flouncy hair and a fluffy dress.
Everyone in her family tries to help her find a dress
that’s suitable to wear but that’s not what Frankie
wants! She wants slicked down hair and a suit that
that fits her personality. But – sigh – she’ll just have
to conform because that’s what she always does!
And yet it all manages to come right in the end with
the most spectacular suit!
This is an opportunity to explore gender and
identity issues through the experiences of a child
who doesn’t identify with traditional gender roles,
drawing on the lived experience of both author and
illustrator.
Janet Dowling
Ponti, Claude
Blaze and the Castle
Cake for Bertha Daye
translated by Alyson Waters and
Margot Kerlidou
Elsewhere Editions
2022, pp48, £13.99
9781953861184
Collaboration. Kindness. Quest
A very large format book which would lie happily
across two laps, this is the story of a large group of
chicklets charged with the task of making a cake
shaped like a castle and organising a birthday party.
Claude Ponti’s illustrations are densely busy and
crammed with colourful illustration so that adult
and child will spend much more time talking about
everything which is going on across the page than
reading the short text at the bottom (translated from
French by Alyson Waters and Margot Kerlidou). I
especially liked the page which shows the ant-like
chicklets crossing a long bridge in a line to collect
sugar from the top of the sugar mountain. Or there’s
a nice one of their putting the finishing touches
to the cake in which dozens of chicklets are busy
at all sorts of tasks like the Lilliputians in Gulliver’s
Travels. This is surreally whacky but quite fun and
any young child who likes detail will have a field day
with it.
Susan Elkin
Robinson, Michelle
Isabelle and the
Crooks
Illustrated by Chris Mould
Walker Books
2022, pp33, £12.99,
9781406395945
Families. Funny. Crime
Every member of the Crooks family is skilled
in crime. Daddy is sneaky, Mummy is stealthy,
Grandma and Grandpa are cunning and even Baby
Barney is up to no good. All of the family, except
Isabelle, who refuses to break the law. This is a funny
and heart-warming story, with deliciously detailed
illustrations, which children will return to over and
over again. The Crooks’ house is stuffed with their
ill-gotten gains, their bags stuffed with the tools
of their trade. Children will love this fast-paced,
funny tale, along with the irreverent portrayal of
the monarch and guards.
Isabelle, of course, is the star of the show. When
the family successfully steal the crown jewels, it
is not for long, it turns out, because the horrified
Isabelle attempts to take them back. After some
peril for Isabelle, followed by a daring family rescue,
the story has a very satisfying resolution, with
the Crooks happily reunited, and led by Isabelle,
righting their wrongs. Perhaps …
Christine Lockwood
Rowland, Lucy
A Hero Called Wolf
Illustrated by Ben Mantle
Macmillan Children’s Books
2022, pp32, £12.99
9781529003673
Fairy Stories. Libraries. Writing
Wolf enters the library disconsolate. Wolves in
stories are always crooks, never heroes: ‘I just
don’t belong.’ The librarian suggests he writes the
story he wants to read. ‘Can I be a hero?’ wonders
Wolf, looking at books in which the heroes are all
handsome, tough, and strong. One after another,
he helps a variety of fairy-tale characters who arrive
at the library with problems, using his knowledge
of books to help them. ‘My hero’ says the prince.
‘A hero?’ wonders Wolf, just as a giant crashes in.
Once again Wolf saves the day, discovering the giant
has run out of books. Wolf realises heroes don’t have
to be handsome or tough or strong: ‘See, heroes
are clever, they’re kind and they’re brave. A hero’s
defined by the way they behave.’ He starts to write
his book. Looking on in admiration are the librarian
and all the people he’s helped.
An appealing rhyming picture book with attractive
illustrations that subverts fairy-tale stereotypes,
celebrates books and libraries, and sends a valuable
messages about self-belief.
Anne Harding
Saunders,
Rachael
Cluck Cluck
Duck: Lift the
Flaps
Mama Makes Books
2022, pp10, £5.99
9781838138165
Interactive. Counting. Acceptance
This appealing board book is the first in ‘The Funny
Farm’ series introducing early learning concepts and
has a focus on counting, with lift-up flaps and lots of
surprises to share.
The farmer puts a duck egg under Mother Hen to
hatch it and when the egg hatches she gets a bit of a
surprise but is proud of her fifth “child”, nonetheless.
When grumpy old sheep says the newest addition
is not a chick at all, the baby chicks are quick to
include their slightly different sibling in a sweet
gesture of solidarity. Lots of quacking ensues!
A lovely introduction to acceptance for very young
children, this is lots of fun to read aloud with plenty
of interactive opportunities. It is colourful and sturdy
enough for less gentle small hands and there are
pop-up chicks, flaps to open, and rhymes to join in
with, so this would be great to share in an early years
setting.
Anne Thompson
42
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Books: 7 & Under
Saunders, Rachael
Tractor, Tractor:
Lift the Flaps
Mama Makes Books
2022, pp10, £5.99
9781838138172
Farm. Friendship. Opposites
This charming board book uses an AABB rhyme
scheme and focuses on opposites. It would
therefore be very useful for early readers developing
their vocabulary. The range of flaps is appealing,
with some moving left to right as well as dropdown
flaps. There is interesting vocabulary choice,
particularly in the verbs, and this could provide a
good model for children’s speech and own writing.
There is also good humour and a range of familiar
animals for children to recognise.
The backgrounds of each page have a number of
small things included to test the keenest observers
and this is a book that I expect early years children
would want to go back to again and again.
Although a simple story, it makes good use of the
opposites attract trope and a genuine friendship is
set up at the end. This is a delightful little book that
would happily find its place in any reception or key
stage one classroom.
Ingrid Spencer
Saxby, Claire
Iceberg
Illustrated by Jess Racklyeft
A & U Children
2021, pp28, £11.99
9781911679080
Nature. Poetry. Cycles
This is a picture book with deceptive simplicity.
Saxby’s small volumes of text, written in the
present tense and in non-rhyming poetic style are
strategically placed on the page, lending themselves
to a slow and dramatic reading aloud. Less is more
in places, and the staccato style at times will invite
interest, while vocabulary choices demand further
“finding out” to understand the low frequency
words such as ‘breach’. Metaphor is used and
the author uses proper names in a familiar way,
encouraging, perhaps, questions about them: just
what ARE Adelies?
Racklyeft’s full page illustrations are stark and bold,
but capture the plainness of ice in sea and the
vastness and atmosphere of Antarctica; animals
are simply depicted to give fleeting impressions
rather than busy, exact detail. Overall, this is an
unexpected “take” on the Antarctic: observing the
environment from the changing cycle of an Iceberg.
This would be a good book for teacher-led, quiet,
dramatic and unrushed reading aloud sessions with
early years or key stage 1.
Stephanie Barclay
Seal, Julia
Bloom
Sunbird Books
2022, pp40, £7.99
9781503764958
Oceans. Environment.
Pictures
Luna is a lively jellyfish with a zest for life. She likes
playing with her friends, going off to explore her
watery world, telling stories on her return. She’s
also observant. She notices the changes that are
happening around her which, at first, confuse
and then greatly trouble her. Perhaps, when she
finds why and where her friends have gone, she’ll
understand why the ocean is changing so. She finds
Hermit who tells her that ‘the waters are warming
and the waves are carrying things that don’t belong
here’. The problem is too big for a little one to solve,
but for a bloom...
This book has a potent message: if together we
care for the environment, beauty and balance
will be restored. Read it to a key stage 1 class any
time, but use it, too, when looking at humanity’s
impact on the natural world. Julia Seal’s writing is
uncomplicated, and her illustrations are gorgeous.
She even manages to inject some humour and
emotion into the subject of climate change and
ocean degradation.
Jane Rew
Senior, Suzy
Octopants: The
Missing Pirate
Pants
Illustrated by Claire Powell
Little Tiger Press
2022, pp32, £6.99
9781801041652
Creatures. Underseas. Adventure
This is a second adventure for Octopants and his
friends Pufferfish and Turtle. Octopants cannot find
a pair of pants to fit his shape, but Pufferfish’s have
been taken from the washing line. The friends set off
to find them, taking a lunch box and a thermos. They
are not in Lobster’s Laundry or at Mussel’s Fitness
Club. Then the friends discover a sunken pirate ship
where the crew have pants of all shapes and sizes
and where they are invited to a party. Next, a huge
shark swims by and asks to join in. He is wearing
Pufferfish’s pants as a hat, and pleased to give them
back, is soon dancing on deck with everyone there.
The story is told in fast-moving rhyming couplets,
never more than six lines on a generous page, just
right to read aloud to a 3- or 4-year-old. This means
there is plenty of room for Claire Powell’s vivid
palate to bring the story to life, with a lot to see and
talk about on every page.
David Mallett
Sirdeshpande,
Rashmi
Yes You Can, Cow
Illustrated by Rikin Parekh
Faber & Faber
2022, pp32, £12.99
9780571374762
Nursery Rhymes. Courage. Humour
Cow is the next BIG thing – she’s going to jump
over the moon. What a delightful book for young
children. The familiar nursery rhyme will pull them
straight into the story, and the appealing illustrations
of the cow, cat, dish, dog, and moon are amusing
and loveable.
This is a book about courage and not being afraid
to make mistakes. It is about trying even if you can’t
do it quite yet. And it’s funny – parents will love to
read it!
This book will, I am sure, become a firm favourite.
Sue Bastone
Slack, Michael
Dinosaurs on
Kitten Island
Farshore
2022, pp44, £7.26
9780008505578
Friendship. Humour. Adventure
The narration of this story reads as though you
are one of the bored dinosaurs living on Dinosaur
Island, and is brilliant fun to read aloud! The
dinosaurs are bored and can see kitten island in the
distance; they think it will be fun to play with kittens.
The narrator begs them to change their minds as
kittens are ‘fearless and feisty’ and who knows what
will happen. As the dinosaurs arrive to play with
the kittens, it seems the kittens have plans to play
some super fun games, from ‘launch the lizards’ to
‘hairball floaty races’. These kittens are busy! Will the
dinosaurs learn their lesson and turn around to go
home? Will the kittens let them?
Hilariously funny and told with such a purpose as
to rethink the cuteness of kittens and to try to find
common ground for safe, fun games that involve
everyone. The juxtaposition of dinosaurs and kittens
is playful and brilliant in a story; it is sure to appeal
to everyone.
Erin Hamilton
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
43

Books: 7 & Under
Smith, Maudie
My Must-Have
Mum
Illustrated by Jen Khatun
Lantana Publishing
2022, pp32, £11.99
9781913747688
Families. Relationships.
Belonging
Jake’s mum is very creative and loves to find old
things and change them into something new. Their
flat is full of all the things she has changed, except
for Jake himself. A negative comment from an old
man suddenly makes Jake worried that his mum
might want to change him too, and so he leaves
home.
This book, with its wonderful, colourful illustrations,
holds a lovely story which has a happy ending. It
introduces children to upcycling, where most
things can be made beautiful again and given a
new life, showing to the reader that it’s not always
necessary to throw things out and buy something
new. Indirectly, the story also shows that Jake’s
mum, who is in a wheelchair, is not inhibited by
this. By working together with Jake, she is still
able to achieve and carry out enjoyable activities,
despite her disability. It is also a reminder that
negative throwaway comments can cause untold
unhappiness.
Linda Nash
Soundar, Chitra
Manju’s Magic
Muddle
Illustrated by Veronica Montoya
Bloomsbury Education
2021, pp32, £4.99
9781472970886
Banded Book. Magic.
Adventure
Manju is sitting at home one morning, bored,
whilst her grandmother reads in the garden and
her mother is working in a local care home. Having
previously had great adventures with a genie, she
grabs hold of her golden lamp, repeats the magical
words ‘Jantar Mantar Jeeboomba’ and in a rainbow
sparkle cloud, the genie appears … with a heavy
cold. What ensues is a series of hilarious calamities
in which the genie either mishears the wishes or
gets muddled from being poorly.
This is a lovely little book for those beginning on
their independent reading journey. The story is very
visual and beautifully illustrated with vibrant colours.
Children will love seeing the calamities they get into.
It’s also important to see different cultures and ages
represented in a banded book and this story is a
perfect blend of both.
Jodie Brooks
Stone, Tiffany
Little Narwhal,
Not Alone
Illustrated by Ashlyn Anstee
Greystone Kids Books
2021, pp44, £12.99
9781771646208
Oceans. Acceptance.
Friendship
Longing for adventure, intrepid little narwhal leaves
his herd and sets off into the unknown of the vast
blue ocean. He wanders so far away he becomes
lost and afraid and seeks the safety of his own kind.
He encounters lots of other interesting species and
seascapes, but no other narwhals and feels lonely.
After escaping a dangerous encounter with the
human world, he meets a pod of friendly beluga
whales and is cautious as they don’t speak the
same language and have different habits and ways.
But then he sees there are also things they have in
common like loving to play and have fun.
By embracing something new and a bit different,
he has found a slightly unusual herd family. With
illustrations that vividly convey little narwhal’s
emotions as they change throughout his journey,
and with themes of friendship and acceptance, this
is a thoughtful picture book. Inspired by an event
observed by a marine biologist which is summarised
at the end of the story.
Sue Polchow
Wells, Hayley
The More Monster
Pavillion
2022, pp32, £6.99
9781843654698
Environment. Capitalism.
Equality
This is a perfect blend of
moral story and wonderful illustrations. As lots of
good stories begin, ‘once upon a time’ there lived
a very greedy monster who lived on an island and
controlled everyone who lived there. The monster
was never satisfied with what he was given and
demanded that the creatures work even harder to
make more and more unnecessary things. That is
until one day, an islander questions how everything
is run and is then gobbled up by the monster,
marking the beginnings of change.
Hayley Well has created a beautiful and relevant
picture book that can be shared across all ages;
it feels quite timeless in that respect. The colour
palette is full of reds and oranges, and it works to
create a cosy and rustic book. Readers will learn
softly about capitalism, recycling, and equality
to name just a few of the important messages it
contains. This is a book which should spark many
interesting conversations. Highly recommended.
Jodie Brooks
Zepf, Maire
Rita Wants a
Fairy Godmother
Illustrated by Mr Ando
Graffeg
2022, pp35, £7.99
9781802580440
Magic. Clothing. Fun
Rita can’t be bothered getting dressed. She’s
happy eating breakfast and enjoying her books
and colouring pens. She decides that having a fairy
godmother would be perfect! She could dress Rita
instead, and then her mother wouldn’t have to
keep telling her to hurry up! Rita would have lots of
fabulous outfits, for every occasion.
But then Rita wonders what would happen if her
fairy godmother put her in the wrong outfit? What
if she dressed her as a princess when Rita wants
to play on the climbing frame? What if her fairy
godmother wanted Rita to look pretty all the time?
Then she couldn’t get muddy, and she’d hate that.
Rita decides a fairy godmother is more hassle than
it’s worth and it’s easier to dress herself!
What struck me the most about this book were the
fantastic colourful illustrations. Rita’s expressions
are comical, starting with thoughtful smiles and
progressing to pure agitation as she realises the
implications of her wishes! A short and fun picture
book for young children.
Angela Dyson
Zepf, Maire
Rita Wants a Ninja
Illustrated by Mr Ando
Graffeg
2022, pp36, £7.99
9781802580426
Imagination.
Consideration. Play
Rita loves playing hide and seek with her sibling but
does not like being found. If only she had a ninja
master to train her in the arts of silence, speed, and
invisibility…
Her imagination knows no bounds as she thinks of
different way a ninja could help her to hide, whether
in forests or snowstorms, rivers, or in their dojo.
She understands that they can help her master
control over her body and mind, but then worries
that maybe not everything ninjas do is good – they
sneak, steal, and fight! Can Rita find another way to
bring out her inner HIIYAAAA?
This is a fabulous series for young readers to share
with friends and family, The simple text introduces
vibrant vocabulary while the bold, engaging
illustrations encourage the reader to find Rita and
the ninja on each page. I love how she weighs
up the positives and negatives of having a ninja,
too, especially when she sees how it could affect
someone she loves.
Nicki Cleveland
44
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Books: 7 & Under
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
45

Books: 8 – 12 | Fiction and Poetry
Bailey, Susanna
Raven Winter
Farshore
2022, pp248, £7.99
9781405299961
Family. Animals. Healing
The scene and characters are
set out in an opening paragraph
that seamlessly draws the reader
in. The writing is concise and precise enough
to maintain ambiguity – is Billie resentful of a
stepfather, or idolising an absent dad? The author
does not intrude as the story unfolds; characters
speak for themselves. Maintaining a relentless
pace throughout the book, the story and emotions
within it are powerful enough to engage adults yet
told in language accessible to children. The entry of
an injured bird pushes the reader back into its seat:
these are customarily ‘killed off’ or sentimentalised.
Neither happens to this bird, thank goodness;
rather, the bird performs a restorative, even spiritual
role in the ultimately “good ending”, providing
a conduit of hope and an inspiration towards
gentleness without “fluffiness”. This is very good
book indeed, to enhance English literature teaching
with PSHE; the author includes a brief ‘help and
support’ section at the end, to encourage those to
seek help who may need it. An excellent addition to
key stage 2 and beyond.
Stephanie Barclay
Abercombie, Lou
Coming Up for Air
Stripes Publishing
2022, pp384, £8.99
9781788953184
Family. Friendships. Adventures
This coming-of-age novel tells
the story of Coco James, a
determined, resourceful and somewhat eccentric
15-year-old with an intense passion for filmmaking.
When she is forced to move from the hustle and
bustle of London back to the small, seaside town
where her mum grew up, she’s excited to make
new friends and discover more about the family her
mum has always kept hidden from her. Instead, she
is met with a resentful community and a history that
threatens to repeat itself.
As well as providing some summer escapism with
its seaside setting, this read also dives deeper to
explore complex family dynamics, feelings of
anxiety, and the challenges of forming teenage
friendships as Coco struggles to find her feet. It’s
a narrative bursting with adventure, and younger
young adult readers will likely enjoy accompanying
Coco in her antics she attempts to bring the town
together, form friendships, and finally find a place
where she belongs.
Hannah Groves
Anderson, Laura Ellen
Rainbow Grey:
Eye of the Storm
Farshore
2022, pp289, £7.99
9781405298704
Friendship. Loyalty. Adventure
This is an ideal read for children
who love magical adventures set in a fantastical
world with a brave, smart, and funny heroine. The
second book in the series is once again populated
by endearing cloud creatures and Rainbow Grey’s
weatherling friends, each with their own unique
talent, like best friend Snowden Everfreeze who
releases snowflakes from his ears when he thinks (if
he’s not eating a drizzle-pickle sandwich!). In Eye of
the Storm, the cloud creatures start to mysteriously
disappear, including Rainbow Grey’s beloved cat,
Nim. The plot is fast paced as Rainbow Grey has to
discover what has happened to them before the
ultimate storm strikes.
This would make a great read-aloud book with
so many sentences ringing with alliteration and
assonance, which younger children will love. A
highly accessible read with the author’s fabulous
illustrations on every page; recommended for
confident readers from Year 3 upwards.
Jane Broadis
Balen, Katya
The Light in Everything
Illustrated by Sydney Smith
Bloomsbury Children’s Books
2022, pp272, £6.99
978152662290
Families. Emotions. Trust
Zofia lives with her father. She is
a red-furied storm. Ted is a fearful, retreating boy
who lives with his mother. When the adults meet
and eventually decide to live together in Zofia’s
house by the sea, two households need to learn to
accommodate each other. The sea can be as wild
and unpredictable as our emotions.
The story is told in the first person by Zofia and
Tom in alternating short chapters which drive the
story at a spirited pace. Although the plot is about a
blended family, the true centre is people learning to
deal with their feelings. Balen’s wise, supportive text
guides both the characters and the reader through
the storms to a safe haven. For example, when Tom
gives his mother a clock he made, she says ‘she
loves it and gives me a hug that holds the whole
of me together’. Along the way we learn about the
Japanese belief linked to making paper cranes.
The themes of the book are cleverly brought
together on the cover by CILIP Kate Greenaway
Medal winner Sydney Smith.
Carolyn Boyd
Beaty, Andrea
Aaron Slater,
Illustrator
Illustrated by David Roberts
Abrams Books for Young Readers
2021, pp40, £12.99
9781419753961
Dyslexia. Artist. Reading
Aaron wants to read with all his heart, but for him
words are just squiggles. We are provided with a line
of squiggles so we can experience what life is like
for him.
His new schoolteacher cheerfully asks the class to
write her a story. Aaron struggles that night, into the
small hours. At school he has to read out his story
but all he has are pictures. Humiliated, he rushes into
the hall. His teacher finds him and is overwhelmed
by the quality of his artistic work.
Aaron has to go on struggling with his reading,
helped like the rest of his class by visiting and
supportive parents. This book is ostensibly about
dyslexia. But it has a wider theme; we all have
different talents and different ways of seeing the
world. The illustrations, by an artist who is himself
dyslexic, are a delight. Aaron Douglas, a key figure
in the Harlem Renaissance after whom our hero was
named, would be proud of his successors.
Martin Axford
Bradman, Tony
Bruno and Frida
Illustrated by Tania Rex
Barrington Stoke
2022, pp72, £6.99
9781800900509
History. Refugees. War
‘He was a German, so he was sure
that he didn’t deserve a happy ending.’
I could not think of a more topical book in 2022.
Bruno and Frida follows the story of a young
German refugee, Bruno, who befriends a Russian
suicide-bomber dog, Frida. Fortunately, he is met
by the kindly Oma, who he stays with for a while,
before continuing his journey across Germany in the
hope of reuniting with his grandparents.
As the historical section of the book states, the
millions of German refugees who fled after WWII is
not something many people outside of Germany
know about. We learn about history from a British
perspective – so it is interesting to hear the war
interpreted from the opposite side.
Towards the end of the book ,the focus is on Syrian
refugees and draws on the parallels between the
Germans and Syrians. In 2022 it is hard to not have
an extra layer of emotion when reading the story,
taking into account what is happening in Ukraine.
A very emotional book, with beautiful illustrations.
Emma Price
46
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Books: 8 – 12 | Fiction and Poetry
Brandt, Lucy
Leonora Bolt
Secret Inventor
Illustrated by Gladys Jose
Puffin
2022, pp197, £6.99
9780241436769
Inventions. Adventure. Friendship
Leonora Bolt is a fast-paced tale, absolutely packed
full of adventure! If you are looking for an excellent
story with strong themes of science, invention,
and imagination, this is the perfect story. Leonora
is an orphan who lives with her evil uncle Luther
on an island in the middle of nowhere. She has
never been to the mainland and has no idea that
her uncle has been stealing her fabulous inventions
and passing them off as his own, until a lost boy,
Jack, who had drifted out to sea, washes up on the
island and recognises Luther. Together Leonora and
Jack solve the mystery, and the evil uncle gets his
comeuppance!
With beautiful and comical illustrations by Gladys
Jose, this book will appeal to a wide range of pupils.
Leonora is a strong female role model and her
friendship with Jack shines through, but her pet
otter, Twitch, is the star of the show! It ends with a
cliff hanger (what happened to Leonora’s parents is
yet to be discovered), and I cannot wait for the next
book in the series!
Jenny Griffiths
Carroll, Emma
Escape to the River Sea
Macmillan Children’s Books
2022, pp288, £12.99
9781529062700
Escape to the River Sea
Adventure. Bravery. Ratlines
This is a fabulous follow on to
Journey to the River Sea, which I’m sure readers will
love. Join refugee Rosa Sweetman on her adventures
with Yara Fielding into the Amazon to discover the
giant sloth, as well as the fates and fortunes of many
of Ibbotson’s beloved characters.
A gripping tale of bravery and resilience, with a
fabulous twist that means everything is not quite
as it initially seems to readers. Themes of refugees,
identity, war and destruction alongside bravery,
resilience and identity are included in a gentle yet
moving way, weaved around the beauty of the
Amazon rainforest and its potential destruction,
which will engage wildlife loving naturalists as well
as history loving readers.
Written in a pacy and accessible way, in keeping with
Ibbotson’s style, this will make a rich resource for
discussions on topics such as history, sustainability,
responsibility, displacement, and grief. Set against
the backdrop of WWII and Ratlines, this is also a
useful introduction to how the world dealt with the
aftermath of the Nazi regime.
Meg Barclay
Chancellor, Henry
Jack Toliffe Goes Forth
One Line Books
2021, pp576, £14.99
9781838281304
Fantasy. Adventure. Humour
When 12-year-old Jack Joliffe’s
guardians die in mysterious circumstances, literally
frightened to death, she is taken to St. James’s
Palace in London. The palace is a vast, sprawling
network of towers, tunnels and vaults, with one side
housing the Royal family and the other the mythical
creatures of Albion, including dragons, fairies,
jabberwocks and giants.
They are guarded by an eccentric legion of
Keepers, and Jack finds she is to become the
youngest of these, taking over as Keeper of Ghosts.
Thrown into this new world, it soon becomes clear
to Jack that plots are afoot, with magic released,
threats to the royal family, and secrets to be
uncovered.
Jack is a likeable and resourceful heroine, and
readers will enjoy accompanying her through this
richly detailed alternative version of Britain.
Humour, excitement, and fantasy are woven into
a rollicking epic adventure, told in short chapters
accompanied by line illustrations.
Jayne Gould
Chester, Camilla
Call Me Lion
Firefly Press
2022, pp157, £7.99
9781913102890
Friendship. Secrets. Dancing
Just because a child doesn’t
speak, doesn’t make them silent.
Leo, known to his family as Lion, has selective
mutism. It doesn’t mean he can’t talk or doesn’t
want to talk. But his body freezes, stopping his vocal
cords and filling his head with nasty thoughts. The
other children at school don’t understand, until this
summer when his new neighbour Richa arrives.
She’ll be in his year group when school starts up
again in six weeks – but she has her own secret that
has her just as worried as Leo. I struggle to think of
a middle grade novel that is as charming as this one.
Leo and his selective mutism are so well rendered,
so insightfully and considerately told. The joy of
following his burgeoning friendship with Richa just
flows off the page and is truly contagious – as is the
love of dancing that unties the pair of them. Richa’s
secret is one that will resonate with so many library
staff and move even the coldest heart to tears. A
hugely heart-warming, inclusive, and impactful
must-read.
Charlotte Harrison
Chisholm, Alastair
Dragon Storm:
Tomás and Ironskin
Nosy Crow
2022, pp160, £6.99
9781839940026
Fantasy. Action. Dragons
One of two books that have
been released simultaneously to launch a brandnew
series, an action-packed, fully illustrated
fantasy series.
In the land of Draconis there are no dragons, not
anymore; they are not extinct, they are just not there
any longer. Once upon a time, humans and dragons
were friends, they lived happily alongside one
another, and they created the great city of Rivven
together. The dragon storm came, and the dragons
had to retreat from the world of the humans.
Book one features both Tomas and Ironskin. Tomas
is invited by a mysterious stranger to join a secret
society known as the Dragonseer Guild, learning
that not only do dragons really exist but that he has
a special power. In book two, Cara and Silverthief,
Cara has to rely on her wits, living on the streets
whilst hearing a mysterious voice in her head
helping her to survive. As we follow first Tomas and
then Cara we are drawn into a pair of exciting, new,
unique fantasy adventure stories.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
Ciddor, Anna
The Boy Who Stepped
Through Time
A & U Children’s Books
2021, pp336, £7.99
9781911679172
Historical Fiction. Adventure.
Imaginative
While attending a Roman grape festival, a boy is
transported back 1700 years to the Roman Empire.
The writer creates an environment which the boy,
Perry, stimulated by his mother’s interest in ancient
history, enters through his imagination. He is caught
up in an enthralling adventure which involves living
as a slave and befriending a girl whose life is at risk.
In a well-constructed plot featuring characters
who are both believable and sympathetic, the
contemporary world is skilfully interwoven with
the ancient, as are the two sets of characters – one
inhabiting today’s world, the other bringing to life the
reality of an ancient society.
A lengthy read, it will appeal to students interested
in history and in particular Ancient Rome; equally
it could be a means of triggering such interest. It is
based on very impressive architectural research by
professional historians. The prose style is refreshingly
traditional and there is both a valuable glossary and
informative notes on the historical background.
Elizabeth Finlayson
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
47

Books: 8 – 12 | Fiction and Poetry
Davies, Stephen
The Ancient
Egypt Sleepover
Caboodle Books
2022, pp154, £6.00
9781919614809
Mystery. Egyptians. History
Mo entered a writing competition
at school and has won an amazing prize: an ancient
Egypt sleepover at the British Museum on the
opening night of the Tutankhamun Experience.
Along with 98 other children, Mo will be spending
the night at the museum and getting the first view of
the new exhibit.
But not long into his evening, he realises something
is not quite right; one of their guides, Professor Maria
Van Tam, supposedly a world expert on ancient
Egypt, doesn’t seem to know very much at all.
After their trip to the amazing exhibit, the children are
treated to a hot chocolate, but Dexter the bully steals
Mo and his new friend Kevin’s cups away before they
can drink any! When suddenly, everyone starts to
fall asleep, Mo and Kelvin realise that not only has
everyone been knocked out by the hot chocolate,
they are the only ones who can save the exhibits
from being stolen!
With lots of mystery and intrigue, this is a great class
read for students doing a topic on Egyptians.
Jenni Prestwood
Dicamillo
The Beatryce Prophecy
Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Walker Books
2021, pp251, £10.99
9781529500899
Medieval. Adventure. Heroine
From the first page, this has a real feel of a classic
tale, but with a modern, empowering twist. Beatryce
is an unusual girl in this Medieval-esque world
because she, unlike many of the men around her,
can read and write, and this makes her dangerous.
The prophecy about a girl like her is widely known
and says that said girl will be the one to unseat
the king.
The mystery of the prophecy, and Beatryce’s part in
its fulfilment, is carefully and slowly revealed to the
reader as we learn of the king’s desperation to find
her and put a stop to her prophesised actions.
It’s an enchanting read and a delight to lose yourself
in. The cast of characters, the feisty goat Answelica
and the golden-hearted Brother Edik in particular,
are a joy to discover, and the storyline strikes a good
balance between adventure and suspense. A treat of
a story that is easy to read and hard to put down.
Cassie Kemp
Earle, Phil
While the Storm Rages
Andersen Press
2022, pp384, £7.99
9781839132056
Friendship. Animals. Adventure
Inspired by true events, this is an
incredible tale of courage and
resistance in the face of adversity. Before Noah’s Dad
marches away to war, he extracts a single promise
from his son: that he will keep the family dog, Winn,
safe. But the government is prioritising people over
pets, and it isn’t long before Noah is facing the
prospect of losing Winn forever. With one friend, one
enemy, two dogs and a python, Noah sets off on a
remarkable journey to protect his four-legged friend.
The story perfectly captures the dark, brooding
tone of an unsettled London on the brink of war,
pinning the reader beneath the smog and the
sirens. Unflinchingly honest, the book has plenty
of heart but remains refreshingly unsentimental in
its approach. Difficult themes are handled with a
sure touch in a deftly paced, emotionally complex,
and profoundly moving narrative that offers a fresh
perspective on familiar aspects of our history.
Another exceptional offering from Phil Earle, perfect
for fans of When the Sky Falls, War Horse and
Goodnight Mister Tom.
Alison King
Gold, Hannah
The Lost Whale
HarperCollins Children’s Books
2022, pp320, £12.99
9780008412944
Adventure. Maritime. Resilience
A moving and beautiful coming-of-age book, sure
to inspire any adventure-loving reader and budding
marine enthusiast. Brilliantly avoiding sentimentally
and soppiness, this is an important work for future
generations to read. It inspires a love of sea creatures
whilst appropriately exposing readers to the realities
of what humans have done to the oceans and the
devastating consequences this has for ocean wildlife.
Packing in lots of up-to-date scientific and marine
biology information, Gold expertly weaves these
into a gripping and relatable coming-of-age plot of
bravery and resilience – this is sure to capture both
the imagination and heart of readers.
Gold also gently explores themes of mental
health and depression, as well as peril, death, and
destruction; this would be a fabulous addition to
any classroom exploring climate change, pollution,
and the impact of humans on the planet, as well as
providing powerful examples of resilience, hope
and self-belief. One of the best books I have read
this year, it brought tears to my eyes, both for the
protagonist and the reality of our oceans.
Meg Barclay
Gourlay , Candy and
Ballesteros, Carles
Mike Falls Up
Illustrated by Carles Ballesteros
Stripe’s Publishing
2022, pp84, £5.99
9781788951654
Adventure. Fantasy. Humour
Mike is much too hot when his mother sends him
and his dog out to play until dinner time. He can
see the cool blue sea in the distance, but it is too
far away. All he can see are dry brown hills and
paddy fields. He longs for ice cream. What he
doesn’t expect is a sudden earthquake, a mysterious
message, and a terrifying fall into a crack in the earth
in pursuit of his dog, Bowow.
Mike’s landing, on the other side of the planet,
is even more surprising. He arrives, through a
fireplace, into a very snowy London, surprising
an astonished Kaneisha and her poodle Foofoo.
They have no choice but to follow their mysterious
messages, falling up the chimney to a strange land
with a terrifying but lonely rock monster who wants
a birthday party.
This adventure story is perfect for the newly
independent reader, with a text rich in descriptive
vocabulary, well supported by full colour
illustrations. And like all good adventures, it finishes
when Mike’s mum calls him in for dinner.
Christine Lockwood
Jukes, Sarah Ann
The Hunt for
the Nightingale
Illustrated by Sharon King-Chai
Simon & Schuster
2022, pp243, £7.99
9781398510890
Grief. Loss. Families
Jasper is waiting for the nightingale to return
and sing her song. Jasper is also waiting for his
older sister, Rosie, to return from university to
listen for the nightingale with him. When Rosie
doesn’t arrive, and Mum and Dad are upset and
busy, Jasper decides to go and find Rosie and
the nightingale. She is obviously at the motorway
service station where she saw the nightingale last
week. He prepares his rucksack of supplies, takes his
map, and sets off to walk across the countryside to
find her. Along the way he helps and is helped by an
eclectic mix of characters who all dispense gems of
wisdom which help him on his way and eventually
help him to understand what has happened.
We are treated to lots of snippets of bird facts from
Jasper’s book and it is greatly enhanced by the
beautiful monochrome illustrations by Sharon King-
Chai. This is a touching tale of a young boy coming
to terms with loss. Tender and beautiful, it will bring
tears to your eyes.
Ellen Krajewski
48
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Books: 8 – 12 | Fiction and Poetry
Best New Books on Green Issues
Editor’s pick
Izzi Howell (Editor)
The Greatest Ideas in
Conservation
Wayland, 2022, 32pp, £12.99
9781526316950
Conservation, Environment, Inventions
Big ideas in the environment and the
most influential inventions of the
past 100 years, exploring people,
projects and approaches that have
contributed to conservation.
Russell Ayto
An Earth-Bot’s Solution
to Plastic Pollution
Kids Can Pr, 2021, 40pp, £14.99
9781525305382
Environment, Plastics, Recycling
Neo spends his time playing his
favourite video game, defending the
planet against invading aliens. But
there’s a real invasion taking place
from plastic.
Dan Santat
The Aquanaut
Scholastic, 2022, 224pp, £10.99
9780545497619
Cartoons, Conservation, Families
Graphic novel all about saving
the ocean from exploitation with
additional storyline of family ties.
Emma Beswetherick
& Anna Woodbine
The Honeybee Treasure Hunt
One World, 2022, £5.99, 112pp
9780861542550
Insects, Bees, Conservation
Shrinking themselves smaller to take
a closer look at honeybees the group
discover how dangerous the world
can be if you’re a bee.
Claudia Martin
Ocean Pollution
Wayland, 2021, 32pp, £8.99
9781526314345
Habitats, Oceans, Pollution
How ocean habitats are threatened
by pollution from industry, farming,
litter and human carelessness.
Vassiliki Tzomaka
Dart and Dive Across the Reef:
Life in The World’s Busiest Reefs
Thames and H, 2021, 56pp, £12.99
9780500652312
Animals, Habitats, Oceans
A journey through the world’s reefs to
discover the remarkable diversity of
life they contain, its interdependence
and the danger it faces.
Julian Clary &
David Roberts
The Bolds Go Green
Andersen press, 2022, 304pp, £7.99,
9781839132070
Reduce, Recycle, Recycle
The Bolds have decided to do their
bit and are reducing, reusing and
recycling as much as they can
although they take it too far.
Hannah Gold and Levi
Pinfold (Illustrator)
The Lost Whale
Harper Collins, 2022, 320pp, £7.99,
9780008412944
Animals, Conservation, Habitats
Sent to live with a grandmother he
barely knows Rio feels alone. An
encounter with a whale changes
everything. But then White Beak goes
missing.
Killick, Jennifer
Dread Wood
Illustrated by Tom Clohosy Cole
Harper Collins Children’s Books
2022, pp320, £7.99
9780755503711
Horror. Comedy. Friendship
Part horror story, part comedy,
this is the tale of what happens when Angelo (our
storyteller), Hallie, Gustav, and Naira arrive at Dread
Wood High for Saturday morning detention. All in
Year 7, they are classmates but certainly not friends,
each of them in some way a loner. Little do they
know that they are all targets for revenge.
Each has attracted the anger of the school
groundskeeper, Mr Latchitt, and his wife, whose
humble jobs conceal their true identity as mad
scientists. Their evil plans involve the enormous
spiders they have bred, now at large under the
school grounds. These hours of Saturday horror
have the happy effect of drawing the children
together in new-found friendship and freeing each
of secret guilt and anxiety. The Latchitts’ murderous
plot does the children a good turn, in fact, but not
before they have suffered a scary morning.
There is plenty of comedy to offset the horrors in a
fast, neat, and ingenious story. There will be more to
come. At the end, the Latchitts have escaped.
Peter Hollindale
Landman, Tanya
Meg and Merlin
Illustrated by Sonia Albert
Barrington Stoke
2022, pp64, £6.99
9781800900851
Ponies. Friendship. Loneliness
The opening story in a new series from Barrington
Stoke, Meg and Merlin tells of Meg who longs for a
pony. Her parents are ordinary folk, and her dream
is out of the question. As if by magic, a pony turns
up in Meg’s garden on her tenth birthday. After a
few phone calls, the pony’s owner is discovered,
and Meg is allowed to ride the pony back. You’ve
guessed it! The pony’s owner, Mrs. Hill, is delighted
to see Merlin home and as her daughter, who usually
rides him, is away at university, she would be thrilled
if Meg would take up that role. After all, that is why
Merlin ran away, he was bored and lonely; themes
which could be further explored through discussion.
Produced on the dyslexia friendly cream coloured
paper, with illustrations and chapters, Meg and
Merlin will be enjoyed, particularly by girls who
are newly fluent. The prose is simple and the style
unpoetic, but this short novel will be enjoyed and
will be a valuable addition to any school library.
Janet Sims
Larwood, Kieran
Carnival of the Lost
Faber & Faber
2022, pp256, £7.99
9780571364503
Historical. Mystery. Fantasy
This is a long read, interspersed
with graphic black and white
illustrations. Our heroine is Sheba the Wolf Girl. She
is part human, part wolf, causing her some anguish.
She joins a troupe of performers who accept her
for who she is. Early in the story, Sheba makes a
human friend for the first time, Till, one of the poor
urchin children who live in the mud on the banks of
the river Thames. Till disappears and her family is
distraught. The rest of the story is an exciting pageturner
with our troupe of performers, led by Sheba,
establishing what has happened to the lost children.
Is someone stealing them for dubious and horrific
motives? Suffice to say that Sheba and her friends
solve the terrible mystery, and our wolf girl comes
to terms with who she is.
Although this is a fantasy, there are some real
locations featured, such as the Great Exhibition at
Crystal Palace. We also glimpse London before the
embankment was built in 1862, when warehouses
and buildings spilled down to the river’s edge.
Sarah Seddon
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
49

Books: 8 – 12 | Fiction and Poetry
Leo and Corine Jamar
Mutations: Episode 1
Illustrated by Fred Simon
Cinebook
2021, pp64, £9.99
9781849185509
Suspense. Action. Animals
This book is very easy to follow and is something I
would definitely recommend! If you enjoy reading
books about humans versus animals, then this is the
book for you!
The boatmen on their mission are attacked by
something in the water ... but were they set up?
Will this lead to tragedy? Will they have further
interactions with other dangerous animals?
Well, you will have to read this book to find out!
Ahmed Asghar
Macx, Logan
Swift and Hawk:
Cyberspies
Walker Books
2022, pp352, £7.99
9781406394931
Adventure. Danger. Technology
When Caleb and Zen’s families disappear, they soon
find themselves embroiled in an adult world of
espionage, kidnap, and adventure! After being drawn
into the Morius Project with code names Swift and
Hawk, they decide to track down their families and
the people responsible for taking them. Escaping
London, various clues lead them to Amsterdam and
a mysterious ship called Nightfall, crewed by the
people who took Caleb’s mother. Finding themselves
trapped on the ship is just the start of their concerns,
and these two tech-savvy teens will need all their
expertise to survive. But where are their families, who
is the sinister Xavier Torrent, and why do the wolves
chasing them have an electric glow in their eyes?
This high-octane adventure left me exhausted and
exhilarated! Full of daring escapes, investigations,
survival, and technology (like AI, nanobots, robotics
and gaming), this novel is perfect for fans of ‘Alex
Rider’ and ‘Cherub’. I enjoyed the different countries
the characters travelled to, giving the book a
geography slant too. Overall, a very enjoyable, techfilled
adventure!
Stephen Leitch
Mckenna, Skye
Hedgewitch
Welbeck Flame
2022, pp448, £12.99
9781801300087
Nature. Supernatural. Magic
EDITOR’S PICK
‘The magic of the natural world is
for everyone’, and the author has surely succeeded
in creating this; nature and ‘the wild places of the
world’ are omnipresent in this ambitious first novel.
Nonetheless, the tale is primarily about magic. The
heroine is Cassandra; the name surely chosen to
bring to mind her Ancient Greek namesake whose
ability to predict the future was legendary. We meet
her in the first sentence reading while ‘hiding in
the broom cupboard’; the word ‘broom’ conjuring
ideas of witches and wizards, sets the tone of
the narrative.
These ideas are developed in the title of Cassie’s
book, ‘Tales of Faerie’. Sympathy for Cassie is
aroused: ostracised and disliked by everyone in
her boarding school, she seeks and finds solace
in reading.
There follows a magical story of adventure and
friendship involving a cast of remarkable characters
both human and animal. Ideas and themes are
skilfully reflected in Tomislav Tomic’s truly amazing,
mainly black and white illustrations. A book which
has a great deal to offer.
Elizabeth Finlayson
McNicoll, Elle
Like a Charm
Knights of
2022, pp313, £6.99
9781913311278
Dyspraxia. Magic. Scotland
Ramya is often told she is different
from everyone else, and not in a
good way. Diagnosed with dyspraxia, she is singled
out for support with her handwriting and her
coordination, resulting in a lot of frustration with
herself and those around her.
After her parents get a new job in Edinburgh, the
family move to start afresh and she quickly settles
into her new city surrounded by her previously
estranged family – two aunts, a cousin and her
gran. Suddenly, Ramya starts to see things others
cannot, namely magical creatures (kelpies, sprites
... vampires!). Tasked with finding out about them
and helping ensure their survival, Ramya and her
cousin Marley race across Edinburgh in a fantastical
adventure.
McNicoll has created a fabulous and rich world.
Her writing cleverly blends magic with realism,
and the message – that what one appears to be
is not necessarily what is underneath – is skilfully
delivered. I absolutely loved this book and feel it will
be a huge hit. I was so excited to see that there is
another instalment planned. Worthy of all praise.
Jodie Brooks
Mohammed, Leah
Luma and the
Pet Dragon
Illustrated by Loretta Schauer
Welbeck Flame
2022, pp160, £6.99
9781801300025
Fantasy. Dragons. Humour
I absolutely adored this story as it is full of humour
and mischief. The dragon, Timir, is so cheeky and
funny, and I think all children will want a Timir after
reading this. It is really nice to read a book with
a diverse and cultural character to help educate
younger readers. Luma and the Pet Dragon is warm,
enchanting, and full of adventure, with a touch of
magic which will bring hope to young readers that
their dreams can come true and inspire them to
embrace the creativity of their imagination.
This is a perfect short chapter book to read to/with
young children for them to escape into an exciting
world, and I really hope there are more adventures
to come for Luma and Timir with a hint of more
mischief involved, too …
Emma Suffield
Montgomery, Ross
The Chime Seekers
Walker Books
2021, pp373, £7.99
9781406391190
Adventure. Fantasy. Halloween
Yanni is upset and resentful. His
baby sister Ari never stops crying. She takes all his
parents’ attention. They’ve moved to a dull village,
miles from his friends, and his horrible room in their
horrible house hasn’t even been cleaned. He had a
movie night with his dad to look forward to, but his
parents went out instead, leaving him babysitting
with his infuriating, geeky cousin Amy. Storming
upstairs, he tells the baby what he thinks of her and
wishes her gone. That’s when things get really bad.
The evil Faerie King appears, tricks Yanni and swaps
Ari for a changeling. It’s Halloween. Amy realises
they have only till midnight to get Ari back or she
will be gone forever. A terrifying quest begins. They
struggle against hateful paranormal creatures and
seemingly impossible challenges.
A thrilling middle grade adventure with elements
of the best folklore and delightful humour. (The
temperamental talking signpost is a delightful
invention.) Yanni and Amy are very believable,
flawed protagonists. Both learn more about
themselves and change as a result of their fearful
ordeal. Highly recommended.
Anne Harding
50
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Books: 8 – 12 | Fiction and Poetry
Nicholls, Sally
Out of the Rubble
Oxford University Press
2021, pp123, £7.99
9780198494959
Evacuees. War. Families
It is 1945 and the final days of the
war in Europe. Judy is finally allowed home to her
mother, after spending three years in the Somerset
countryside; but London has changed and so has
family life. Judy’s father is an RAF Chaplain, based
on the south coast, and her mother is living in a
Romany caravan after their home was destroyed
by a bomb, trapping her mother in the rubble. As
Judy comes to terms with all the change, she meets
a young lad called Alan, who is also adjusting to
the blitzed-out London. Together, they start to find
the beauty in the natural world around them and to
understand what people have been through.
This is a short and very readable story from OUP,
in association with Barrington Stoke. Although the
characters are in their teens, this is a book that can
be read from key stage 2 up. It is beautifully told,
and you get a real sense of the tensions that the
young people and adults feel as they adjust to their
new lives.
Margaret Pemberton
O’Hara, Natalia
Frindleswylde
Illustrated by Lauren O’Hara
Walker Books
2022, pp34, £14.99
9781406388961
Fantasy. Fairy Tale. Generations
A highly whimsical delight of a story that draws the
reader into both expectation and uncertainty. This
fairy-tale-like narrative takes the child protagonist
on a quest to retrieve a light stolen by the enigmatic
Frindleswylde, a character of unknown substance
but mysterious and forceful. The adventure
uses expansively descriptive language, and the
drama moves between wild and then suddenly
prosaic situations. Who exactly is the character
Frindleswylde? Let the reader decide …
The sister author and illustrator duo have
collaborated to produce an exciting picture book
that will enhance art, English and drama for the
primary classroom.
Stephanie Barclay
Owen, Karen
Major and Mynah
Illustrated by Louise Forshaw
Firefly Press
2022, pp144, £6.99
9781913102746
Friendship. Sleuthing. Hearing Loss
This delightful sleuthing tale is a must for confident
readers between the ages of 6 and 9. This first-inseries
will help to diversify primary school libraries
as the protagonist Callie is a reluctant hearing-aid
user. That is until she discovers that ‘the slugs’
enable her to understand Bo ,the cheeky mynah
bird who lands in the garden and gobbles up all of
her Rice Krispies! Callie and Bo, along with Callie’s
BFF Grace, join forces to create the Super Perceptive
Undercover Detectives (SPUD) team to catch a thief
who leaves a trail of thefts across the town.
Humorous and fast paced, with endearing
characters, this fun and sparky read from Firefly
Press should be on every ‘to-be-bought’ list when it
is published in May.
Jane Broadis
Packham, Simon
Has Anyone Seen
Archie Ebbs?
Firefly
2022, pp224, £7.99
9781913102722
Homelessness. Poverty. School
An empathetic story which
highlights a sadly increasing problem of hidden
homelessness. Archie is the popular class joker with
a good life, but when his single parent family loses
their home, they are forced to move into a hostel
miles from school, which has bed bugs, quarrelling
next door neighbours, and a communal bath
and toilet.
The difficulties of keeping clean, the exhausting bus
journeys and the precious pet they were forced to
leave behind, all contribute to Archie’s depression.
No longer telling jokes or able to join in after school,
he becomes increasingly and literally invisible
to friends and teachers alike. This is explained to
him by Zophia, a Polish girl who lives in the hostel
and is in his class and no longer visible given that
no-one previously ever took any notice of her. This
metaphor might stretch credibility but effectively
demonstrates how easy it is to ignore rather than get
to the root of problems. A thought-provoking and
pacy story that is highly relevant and topical.
Joy Court
Paulson, Gary
Northwind
Macmillan Children’s Books
2022, pp256, £7.99
9781529069327
Adventure. Survival. Historical
Northwind is a stunning historical
adventure about survival, with hints of Nordic
mythology. When a deadly plague reaches the
small fishing camp where orphan Leif lives, he is
forced to take to the water in a cedar canoe. He
flees northward following a wild, fjord-river shore,
thrown from one danger to the next, unsure of
his destination. Yet the deeper into his journey he
paddles, the closer Leif comes to his truest self and
connecting to the heartbeat of the ocean, the pulse
of the sea.
Showcasing the beauty of our oceans and the
animals within, this is also a story about being,
understanding, and finding out who you are.
The narrative is full of complex description and
depth and it is clear that Paulson has a passion for
adventure and the outdoors. A powerful, quite
heart-wrenching read, this book will fill with you
with very different emotions when reading it.
Emma Suffield
Perry, J Jamar
Cameron Battle and
the Hidden Kingdoms
Bloomesbury Children’s Books
2022, pp240, £6.99
9781526646859
Adventure. Mythology. Magic
Schoolboy Cameron Battle
knows about the Book of Chidani, he knows the
stories of the kingdom that has cut itself off from
the rest of the world to protect the Igbo from
danger. But since his parents’ disappearance, his
grandmother has kept the book locked in the attic
and warns Cameron not to go near it. Cameron
is drawn to the book and with his friends in tow,
decides to open it once again. Thus begins a magical
adventure.
Myth, legend, and magic are intertwined throughout
the story as Cameron and his friends battle to save
the Kingdom of Chidani from the queen’s sister, who
is trying to destroy the barrier between the worlds.
Cameron is also coming to terms with the loss of
his parents as he learns about the reason for their
disappearance, and the important role he has yet
to play.
The story is inspired by West African history and
mythology. This is a true fantasy adventure that will
be enjoyed by fans of ‘Percy Jackson’ and by those
who enjoy reading as an escape.
Michelle Armstrong-Harris
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
51

Books: 8 – 12 | Fiction and Poetry
Richards, Jasmine
The Unmorrow Curse
UCLAN Publishing
2022, pp332, £7.99
9781912979882
Fantasy. Mental Health. Myths
After a strange Friday the
thirteenth at school, Buzz and Mari meet and visit
the local woods. There they come across Sunna,
the Norse goddess of the sun and one of the
guardians keeping time in order. She begs for help
but is kidnapped by a dragon and disappears. Buzz
thinks he can help by telling his father and uncle,
but neither believe him. Life becomes stranger
when time is kept still, repeating the same Saturday
again and again. Buzz and Mari realise they must
help free Sunna, collecting the Runes of Valhalla
and awakening the other time guardians in order to
release time before Loki causes more mayhem. Only
if they are successful can time move once more.
This is to be continued, on a fantasy adventure
with a wealth of colourful characters both real
and mythological. Along the way the two children
cement their friendship and there is good news
about Buzz’s Mum.
Dawn Woods
Sarda, Julia
The Queen in the Cave
Illustrated by Julia Sarda
Walker Studio
2021, pp62, £14.99
9781406367430
Growing Up. Sisters. Quest
Elder sister Franca feels restless, although she isn’t
sure why. She persuades her home-loving siblings
Carmela and Tomasina to go on a quest to the forest
to seek the marvellous queen who lives in the darkest
cave. So begins a fantastical journey which sees
the girls miniaturised, encountering many strange
and scary sights in a world of oversized plants and
creatures.
Events have a dreamlike feel, with the girls taking tea
with Grandmother Spider and attending a grand rat’s
funeral. Franca urges the quest ever onwards but the
other sisters long for home comforts.
When they finally reach the cave, a surprise awaits
as the identity of the queen is revealed. Only
Franca relishes in the freedom the queen offers.
Carmela and Tomasina return home to bed and
eventually Franca joins them, telling them that they
will be stirred by the same restlessness one day. An
enthralling dark fairy tale about growing up and
testing boundaries, with much to enjoy and revisit on
every page within the surreal illustrations.
Sue Polchow
Stevens, Roger
Raze ma Taze
Illustrated by Mike Smith
Otter-Barry Books
2022, pp96, £7.99
9781913074418
Fun. Ideas. Reflections
The latest book from the highly acclaimed Roger
Stevens, this slim volume is a fun collection of poems
sure to appeal to the most die-hard “anti-poetry”
students. Stevens’s preface ends with ‘Have fun’,
which says it all; this is what this book is all about.
Fun screams out from the title to the colourful
presentation and the delightful but often zany
illustrations by the award-winning Mike Smith.
Readers who, with a groan, expect poetry to address
only serious, thought-provoking, and inevitably
boring subjects will revise their opinions.
While humour is the keynote of the collection, there
is a place, too, for reflection in such titles as ‘Mum’s
Grave’ and notably ‘Sadness’ which is followed by
the poet’s advice on writing a poem about emotions.
There is also much of value to teachers and
librarians: particularly in Stevens’s love of poetry, his
passion for sharing that love, and his commitment
to encouraging others to read and indeed to write
poetry. There should be a copy in every English
classroom and in every library.
Elizabeth Finlayson
Weeks, Kathy
What’s New
Harper Drew
Illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff
Hodder Children’s Books
2022, pp272, £6.99
9781444961775
Diaries. Humour. Families
Using the familiar device of an illustrated diary
format, this is the introductory volume of a great
new middle grade series. The clever, resilient, and
funny Harper Drew may be a girl, but her trials and
tribulations with her eccentric family and with the
ups and downs of friendship and school life will
appeal to and be enjoyed by all.
The Drew Dial rating for scoring the chaos and
drama going on in Harper’s world is very amusing
and the illustrations by Aleksei Bitskoff are full of
character.
The story centres on Harper’s desire to get invited
to the cool girl’s party. But first we follow Harper
through the madness of her family’s day-to-day life
and the French holiday disaster, all while also trying
to fundraise for a wheelchair lift for school so that
her real best friend can access the science rooms
properly. Edward is a great character in his own right
and not just there as token representation. While
undoubtedly funny, this promising series does also
make some good moral points along the way.
Joy Court
Wersocki Morris, Eve
The Bird Singers
Hodder Children’s Books
2022, pp304, £7.99
9781444963328
Families. Folklore. Resilience
We have all had our fair share of
folklore in our time, but the older
we get, the less relevant it becomes for many of us.
Not so for Layah and Izzie who have been uprooted
from London to the small town of Lowesdale for
their holidays, where they hardly know anyone.
It’s when Layah begins to notice strange people and
sounds, not to mention the Hitchcockian behaviour
of many of the local bids, that they recall their polish
grandmother’s research into folktales and begin to
realise just how relevant some of these tales still are.
Throw in a cast of interesting and well depicted
characters whose intentions are not always clear,
and you are presented with a first-class mystery
where much has to happen before resolution
occurs. Morris’s ability to create and maintain
tension alongside the simple details of everyday
life turns this book into a real page-turner, which
I would heartily recommend to anyone who is 10
years old and above.
This book could also be enjoyed by children in key
stage 3.
Rudolf Loewenstein
Yeoman, John
Quentin Blake’s
Magical Tales
Illustrated by Quentin Blake
Pavillion Children’s
2021, pp112, £12.99
9781843654360
Magic. Folk Tale. Storytelling
Quentin Blake and John Yeomen are brilliant
collaborators, and this book of magical tales is a
testament to their talents. These 14 stories are less
well known to readers and offer a new set of stories
to tell and share. John Yeoman explains these are
meant to be told, not read, and are older than many
versions found in books.
Each story has an element of magic, from belts with
strengthening powers to enchanted animals and
spells. ‘A marvellous mixture of the familiar with the
unfamiliar’ is promised and these would certainly
be brilliant to read aloud in the classroom. John
Yeoman brings these stories to life and Quentin
Blake’s iconic style provides an illustrative peek of
the story.
These stories offer so many discussion and debate
opportunities about right versus wrong and the
origin of tales, not to mention the comeuppance
served to some of the meaner characters. What a
fantastic collection of stories.
Erin Hamilton
52
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

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The Stig books on display in a
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VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
An illustration from The Stig Drives Again
53

Books: 8 – 12 | Information
Aggs, Patrice
It’s Her Story:
Shirley Chisholm
Illustrated by Markia Jenai
Sunbird Books
2022, pp45, £7.99
9781503762411
Equal Rights. Race. History
This is a biography in the form of a graphic novel
about Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to be
elected to the United States Congress and the first
Black woman ever to be nominated as the president
of the United States. Shirley, a champion of equal
rights for women, spent most of her childhood in
Barbados, moved to the US later on, and went on to
achieve great things while constantly breaking the
glass ceiling in a racially charged US. She overcame
all the obstacles she met with being a Black woman,
and went on to become a high-achieving student,
winning awards and getting herself into prestigious
colleges. Soon enough, she realised she would need
to fight and raise her voice to be heard in a world run
by men, and in doing so, encouraged many other
women to question authority and to dissent where
necessary. A truly inspiring read for children from
all backgrounds.
Kasturi Roy Bardhan
Ameri-Siemens, Anne
Explore the
Rainforest
Illustrated by Anton Hallmann
Little Gestalten
2022, pp56, £16.95
9783967047196
Geography. People. Wildlife
Emma and Louis explore the rainforests of the world
on an adventure through the three major rainforest
regions of Amazonia, Congo Basin, and Southeast
Asia. Each double spread is dedicated to a different
aspect of each rainforest, and through engaging
illustrations we are shown the habitats, animals,
and geography of the rainforest. Simple diagrams
provide perfect explanations for elements such as
rainfall and rainforest structure, perfect for primaryaged
children to understand. Accompanying these
are concise explanations from Anne Ameri-Siemens
and a helpful glossary for the most complex terms,
adding to the accessible nature of this brilliant book.
As well as learning about the habitat and animals
of the rainforest, this book dedicates double-page
spreads to the indigenous people of the rainforest,
their culture, heritage, and ways of life.
This book is beautifully illustrated and stands out
for its engaging explanations of a range of topics
linking to the geography of the rainforests and the
incredible places of planet Earth.
Tegan Burnett
Barr, Catherine
Water
Illustrated by Christiane Engel
Otter-Barry
2022, pp31, £12.99
9781913074463
Science. Water. Geography
This was published in conjunction with World Water
Day on March 22, and Catherine Barr is known for
‘sparking conversation and curiosity’. An extremely
informative book, it looks at the problems of
pollution and climate change, challenging the
reader to take action on how we use freshwater
and looking at ways in which we can protect our
diminishing supplies. Using double-page spreads,
it tackles major issues such as the importance of
sharing water, pollution, and the water cycle. There
is also an excellent piece on how we can use water
wisely. Every double-page spread has a ‘face the
facts’ section which could easy act as a springboard
to further research and discussion. Water is a vital
natural resource, and it is important that children
are made aware of diminishing supplies. Covering
key stage 2, the book is full of excellent illustrations
supporting the many issues discussed.
Endorsed by Frank Water, the publication includes
some excellent links to other resources and ways
in which we can protect freshwater. A thoroughly
recommended book for readers aged 7 and older.
Godfrey Hall
Bird, Daisy
Pigology: The Ultimate
Encyclopedia
Illustrated by Camilla Pintonato
Princeton Architectural Press
2021, pp76, £14.99
9781616899899
Farm Animals. Pigs. Encyclopedias
This short encyclopedia all about pigs is wonderfully
varied and educational with attractive and simple
colour-wash illustrations. I loved the witty, colourful
endpapers, the use of speech bubbles, and the
interesting ways of depicting concepts. For example,
the range of pork products we eat piled up on a
see-saw, and the discussion of how fast pigs run
compared to other animals, including humans,
depicted on a race track (pigs run faster than
people). Facts range from pig history, taxonomy
and number of breeds (c500), to sayings about pigs
in languages (with original script and translations)
including Japanese, Polish, Korean, German and
more, as well as their depiction in literature and
myth, and the range pig parts are used for, including
food products, and even heart surgery. There are
pages about pigs’ intelligence and pork dishes
around the world among other subjects. Children
will enjoy dipping into this fascinating book packed
with wide-ranging, well-explained and jauntily
illustrated information.
Lucy Chambers
Brydon, Alli et al
Britannica’s 5-Minute
Really True Stories
for Family Time
Illustrated by Anneli Bray et al.
Britannica Books
2022, pp191, £12.99
9781913750374
Families. Science. Social History
A fascinating book which will not only appeal to
children of all ages but also to the many teachers
who may have to run a year group or school
assembly.
Compromising of 30 stories written by established
authors, it concentrates around the importance of
family throughout the natural world. It is lavishly
illustrated, and I was particularly taken by two stories,
‘Work First, Then Play’ and ‘Game On’. The book
examines a number of family customs and traditions
including what happens globally when a baby is
born, and the many festivals linked to tidying up!
Bringing together the joys of everyday life around
the globe, it is an excellent example of how nonfiction
material can be woven into a series of stories
that will not only inspire but also develop a passion
for learning. Suitable for primary-aged children, this
superb book will definitely be popular with all ages
and abilities.
Godfrey Hall
Churchill,
Alexandra
The First
World War
Illustrated by Stephen Smith
Uniform Press
2022, pp400, £25.00
9781914414206
War. Army. Navy
This is the best narrative history for young people
covering the whole of the First World War that I have
reviewed. As well as areas such as the British sectors
in France and Belgium and in Gallipoli, which are
already well known to UK readers, it makes it clear
that this was a world war. It deals in detail with the
French sectors of the Western Front, the Eastern
Front, the Italian Front, the Caucusus, Mesopotamia,
Salonika, and Africa. It also gives a mention to
the role of the Japanese, the Portuguese, and the
Brazilians, not nations normally associated with
the war.
It is enlivened by Stephen Smith’s splendid
illustrations: some serious, some little cartoons. It is
written in simple language with military terms such
as ‘reservists’, ‘flank’ and ‘salient’ clearly explained.
This is one of the best books on the First World War
for young people I have seen in the last decade.
Highly recommended.
Charles Harvey
54
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Books: 8 – 12 | Fiction and Poetry
Comune, Luogo
Big Book of Boats
Translated by Catherine Bruzzone
Small Publishing
2022, pp48, £12.99
9781913918392
Boats. Ships. Transport
All aboard the big book of boats for a long voyage
across the seven seas to discover secret stories
and hidden adventures through the beautiful
artwork of Luogo comune (Jacapo Ghisoni).
The Italian illustrator employs the same pleasing
colour palette (predominately blue, red, and gold)
throughout this large format picture book, which
explores all kinds of vessels, the diversity of uses,
and some amazing stories about sea battles,
exploration, disasters, and more.
Some boats are people’s homes and some the means
of reaching a better future: ‘Still today in various
parts of the world, sometimes on rickety, unsafe
vessels, there are people pushed by war or famine
to take similar journeys across the sea in search of a
safe place to live.’ This poignant statement alludes to
recent news stories which might spark discussion or
even prompt further research.
This is an ideal book for dipping into, awash with
facts, stories, and history, brimming full of captioned
images and guaranteed to spark young readers’
interest and imagination.
Chris Routh
Coninx, Harry
Guardiola: Tales
from the Touchline
2021, pp120, £6.99
9781800472419
Football. Successes. Sport
This follows the career of
footballer and manager Pep
Guardiola, from his dream of becoming a player for
Barcelona as a child through to managing some of
the top football teams in Europe. This is a fast-paced
text. Each chapter is based around a particular game
in his career, right up to the present Covid-19 times.
If football is your thing, then you’ll really enjoy this
short novel as it contains lots of footballing details,
terms, teams, and match details for you follow.
Though not a football fan myself, I enjoyed the
format of the book, with each chapter based around
a key football match and watching someone work
hard and follow their dream. Failures and successes
are highlighted, and I think this is good for kids to
see, sharing a message of how you can learn from
failure to become better at what you do.
Stephen Leitch
Dahl, Roald
Beastly and
Bewildering Words
Illustrated by Quentin Blake
Oxford University Press
2021, pp62, £6.99
9780192779175
Creative. Writing. Inspiration
This quirky, fun, and educational little book captures
the essence of the wild words and stories of Roald
Dahl combined with Quentin Blake’s famous
illustrations; it’s suitable for fans both old and
new. With the size, shape, and bold colours used
throughout, it creates an interactive read with top
tips for young writers, including ‘Fantabulous Facts’
and ‘Phizz-Whizzing Tips’.
It captures the wit and style that Dahl is famous
for and what makes his books timeless; there is
something truly enjoyable about escaping into
his world. It’s an engaging read that takes you on
a ‘zoological journey around the world of Dahl’;
it provokes a learning experience through the
tone and explanations used that is enjoyable in a
swashboggling way. Readers discover and learn
while laughing and creating their own giant name
or writing a beastly fairy tale. This would truly
be a scrumdiddlyumptious addition to anyone’s
bookshelf for home, school, or a library.
Lucy Carlton-Walker
Dahl, Roald
Scrumptious and
Delumptious Words
Illustrated by Quentin Blake
Oxford University Press
2022, pp63, £6.99
9780192779199
Dahl. Words. Invention
Roald Dahl was a magnificent storyteller but what
made his books soar above other children’s literature
was his love of playing with language. In this book
Kay Woodward has brought together some of Dahl’s
finest and funniest inventions and twistings of
words in a celebration of what made Dahl unique.
These are arranged in sections, almost reminiscent
of a cookery book (and food was another of Dahl’s
delights). There are chunky quotations from Dahl
with the related Quentin Blake illustrations, which
will lead many readers to recall the original stories.
Teachers will love this book for bringing fizzing
clarity and pleasure to some of the potentially
more tedious aspects of learning about the
English language. Children are encouraged to play
around with such features of writing as aptronyms,
malapropisms, and idioms. All these terms are
explained and exemplified, encouraging children
to use them in their own writing. Like a conjuror,
Woodward shows young writers how to bring Dahl’s
magic to their own work. What a delight!
Jaki Brien
Evans, Harriet
Above and
Below: Dusk
till Dawn
Illustrated by Nic Jones
Caterpillar Books
2022, pp24, £12.99
9781838914028
Nature. Nighttime. Animals
An attractive introduction to nature at night, this
book is packed with information about creatures
and plants in a wide variety of habitats and what
they do between sunset and sunrise. Each doublepage
spread presents a different environment,
for example Arctic tundra, jungle, sea, desert, the
Himalayan mountains. On the left are clear, succinct
notes about the terrain and some of the wildlife
within it. On the right are appealing illustrations
that bring the scene to life, each animal or plant
easy to spot because of matching pictures opposite.
Adding considerably to the pleasure of the book,
each spread has a page-width flap. Turn it over, and
there are more creatures and plants to look at, often
ones that are seldom seen, perhaps because they
are in burrows or under water, or are just rare. The
book will invoke lots of discussion and hopefully
also some interesting nighttime forays outside. The
publisher suggests an age range of 5–10, but curious
3- and 4-year-olds will also enjoy and learn from it.
Anne Harding
Gardy, Dr. Jennifer
It Takes Guts
Illustrated by Belle Wuthrich
Greystone Kids
2021, pp152, £13.99
9781771645010
Digestion. Body. Poop
A fascinating illustrated
guide to digestion and the microbiome for young
readers. Dr Jennifer Gardy explains how the body
turns food into fuel and poop. The journey includes
‘Where It All Begins - The Mouth’; ‘The Food Tube -
Your Esophagus’; ‘Enzymes and Acid and Mucus, Oh
My! - Inside the Stomach’; ‘When What Should Go
Down Comes Up Again - The Science of Barfs and
Burbs’; ‘Destination Digestion - The Not-So-Small
Intestine, (and Friends)’; ‘Meet Your Microbiome -
The Trillions of Tiny Tenants Helping You Poop’; and
‘Peristalsis and Poop - The Large Intestine’.
The pitch and tone are ideal for children. There is
much humour and often the tone is light-hearted.
There are cartoon-style illustrations, diagrams,
text boxes, fast facts, and questions – ‘How Is Your
Liver a Lot Like Soap?’ – that draw in the reader. A
comprehensive glossary and a detailed index are
excellent features.
Entertaining and informative, the book creates a
sense of awe at the way the digestive system works.
Highly recommended for children aged 9 and over.
Brenda Marshal
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
55

Books: 8 – 12 | Information
Haig, Joan and
Lennon, Joan
Talking History
Illustrated by Andre Ducci
Templar Publishing
2022, pp80, £15.99
9781787417328
History. Speeches. Milestones
As the authors say, words can change the world,
and this book explores sixteen historic speeches
from the last one hundred and fifty years. The
speeches cover different nationalities and range
from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Mandela’s
Statement from the Dock to the lesser-known tribute
to Louis Braille by Helen Keller and Kuti’s support
for women in Nigeria. All speeches concentrate
on important issues, whether that is politics, war,
terrorism, racism, human rights, women’s rights, or
global warming and the need for change. They have
all made a powerful impact on society and represent
milestones in modern history.
Speeches are shortened and arranged
chronologically, taking up two double-paged
spreads. There is extra information about the
speaker, prior events, the message conveyed, and
its effect. This is a book of interesting facts and
inspirational people. Ideal for dipping into – a worthy
addition to a school or home library.
Lee Giddings
Hale, Kate
Return to Factopia!
Britanica Book
2022, pp207, £10.99
9781913750398
Facts. Links. Curiosity
Designed for short bursts of
browsing, children can meander
as they wish through the 400 facts presented here.
It is an interesting way to organise a book of facts so
that the interconnections between many branches
of knowledge are highlighted.
The content is gloriously eclectic which is certain
to ignite a pleasure in knowing bizarre facts in
all 8–12-year-olds. Each nugget of knowledge is
restricted to a single sentence, making the book
accessible to those who have yet to develop reading
stamina, while the links encourage everyone to
read a little more. It is also commendable that there
is a table of contents, an index, and a bibliography
which help those readers who wish to steer through
the book in conventional ways or pursue some
topics in greater depth.
Jaki Brien
Hargreaves, Joan-Maree
and Bullock, Marita
The Big Book
of Festivals
Illustrated by Liz Rowland
Faber & Faber
2022, pp80, £12.99
9780571370221
Festivals. Parades. Celebrations
This robust, vividly illustrated book should be
in every school collection. It provides an ideal
introduction to 21 cultural and religious festivals, the
Whirling Dervishes Festival, 8 seasonal festivals and 8
remarkable regional festivals from across the world.
Each of the 21 festivals are given a double-page
spread and, taking Diwali, the Festival of Lights, as
an example, we learn that it marks the beginning of
the Hindu new year, lasts five days and where and
when it is celebrated. Other religious festivals are
described as well as secular events such as Carnaval
in Rio de Janeiro and the Carnevale Di Venezia.
Seasonal festivals include Sweden’s Midsommar
and Inti Raymi, honouring the sun god Inti, in Chile.
The text is clear and accessible to young readers
and enhanced by helpful asides and commentary.
Liz Rowland’s illustrations deploy thinly and simply
applied gouache and watercolour, with some lining,
and a vivid palette to convey the essence and spirit
of the narration.
David Mallett
Howard, Martin
A World Full of
Journeys and
Migrations
Illustrated by Christopher Corr
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
2022, pp128, £12.99
9780711256170
Journeys. Migration. History
No book could possibly encapsulate all of the human
journeys that have taken place throughout time, but
what this book does so well is tell the most important
stories of movement around the globe that have
shaped history and the planet we all call home.
Starting with the first human migrations that
originated in Africa around 70,000 years ago and
then documenting each continent in turn, this
book captures the fascinating stories of hope, fear,
and bravery that people have faced during their
transformative journeys. This book celebrates the
richness that migration has brought to our planet
and does not seek to hide some of the atrocities of
our past, but instead helps the reader to develop an
understanding of the processes that have helped
and hindered the movement of people around the
globe. Howard has a gift for bringing stories to life in
a way that is accessible for young readers, without
removing the value and importance of the stories
being told.
Georgia Ramsay
Lawrence, Sandra
World of Food
Illustrated by Violeta Noy
Templar Publishing
2022, pp64, £14.99
9781787417434
Food. Global. Geography
Food is always an interesting subject; it is a thread
that runs through all our lives, and this book offers
a wonderful window into the topic. It provides
opportunities to share experiences as well as learn
about what others eat around the world. It moves
away from the typical style of books about food and
nutrition that are usually filled with photographs
that quickly date and are often dry. The text is
separated into different categories looking at where
different foods originate and how they are prepared
depending on where you live. It gives a good insight
into different cultures and there are foodie facts
on every page which readers would really enjoy
discussing with one another. Scientific elements are
included alongside ecological considerations.
The illustrations are colourful and energetic and
really add to the overall joyful feel of the text. There
is a helpful glossary at the back of the book for the
more technical terms used.
This is a book that would certainly facilitate reading
for pleasure as well as knowledge.
Rebecca Simpson-Hargreaves
Lindo, David
The Extraordinary
World of Birds
DK
2022, pp80, £14.99
9780241529058
Birds. Animals. Habitats
This book is written by the bird expert also known as
the Urban Birder, whose expertise shines through.
He explores birds across the world, looking at their
origins as ‘living dinosaurs’, their habitats, behaviour,
conservation, and more. I enjoyed the level of detail
about individual birds including record-breakers.
The description of different bird families and
their habitats is very well laid out, with interesting
information. For example, the secretary bird, a bird
of prey, ‘kills reptiles by stamping on them’.
What makes this book so effective, though, are
the clear and colourful illustrations. The page of
parrots is dramatic, depicting varieties of various
sizes against a green jungle background framed by
distant mountains. Much information is packed in,
through the use of captions.
Children will also enjoy the descriptions of how
to help birds survive locally and how to become
a birdwatcher. I appreciated the detailed glossary,
index, and a list of birds that represent countries.
This book is excellent for dipping into, studying the
detailed illustrations and nuggets of information.
Lucy Chambers
56
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Books: 8 – 12 | Information
Milosavljevich, Stefan
Tales of Ancient
Worlds
Illustrated by Sam Caldwell
Neon Squid
2022, pp160, £14.99
9781838991562
Archaeology. Ancient World. Adventure
This is an exciting, boldly illustrated volume which
imaginatively introduces and develops a first
understanding of archaeology. Rich colours and
dramatic scenes immediately draw you in so that you
want to find out more.
There are well over 50 discovery stories logically
grouped. We begin by meeting the first humans to
see how man developed, then travel to ancient cities
and empires. Each account is short, so you can dip in
and out or choose a particular area to research.
The writer creates a presenter-style intimacy using
humour and lively language. This allows the reader
to feel that they are personally sharing in the big
adventures. He is an archaeologist who tells us of
the latest scientific technologies and describes the
findings and unanswered questions of academic
research.
A glossary and light-touch explanations of tricky bits
within the text make it accessible, fascinating, and
hugely enjoyable for the independent reader.
Annie Pattison
Moldofsky, Kim
It’s Her Story:
Amelia Earhart
Illustrated by Alan Brown
Sunbird Books
2022, pp48, £7.99
9781503762428
Adventure. Female Pilots. History
This is a graphic novel depicting the story of Amelia
Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic
Ocean. This is a story of a woman who chased her
dream of flying the plane unapologetically and let
nothing come in between herself and her heart’s
deepest desire: to pilot a plane all on her own. It’s
a story about a woman who defended her rights to
pursue her ambition by breaking into the aviation
industry – a man’s world during her times – and
by doing so became a poster girl for women
empowerment.
The book is full of engaging illustrations depicting
Earhart at various stages of her professional
career, beautifully portraying her resilience and
perseverance in her long journey of breaking
world records. A great read that shatters all kinds of
gender stereotypes encouraging readers, especially
young women, to pursue their dreams and careers
no matter what and to believe in themselves. The
message is loud and clear – the world is your oyster,
aim for the stars!
Kasturi Roy Bardhan
Murphy, Macken
Animal Sidekicks
Illustrated by Dragan Kordioc
Neon Squid
2022, pp128, £12.99
9781838991531
Animals. Science. Nature
This is the first of Neon
Squid’s books I have seen, and it is a fascinating and
wide-ranging look at how symbiotic relationships
have evolved within nature. It covers creatures on
land, in the sea, and in the air, as well as exploring
our relationships with wildlife. These range from
very obvious relationships like the interdependency
between bees and flowers to more obscure and
often amazing links between life forms on our
planet. Did you know that badgers and coyotes not
only assist each other’s hunting patterns but can
also be playmates?
What is particularly helpful is the way often complex
relationships are explained in clear accessible
language ensuring this is suitable for a range of
reading abilities. The text is supported by a useful
glossary explaining key terms and concepts. The
128 full colour pages make this great value at the
listed price.
John Newman
Nelson, Kate
and Meikle, Olivia
The Book of Sisters
Neon Squid
2022, pp138, £12.99
9781838991487
Factual. History. Women
Empowerment
This beautifully illustrated book tells the tales of
incredible siblings throughout history. It delves
deep into stories from British royalty to the slave
trade and does not forget the importance of famous
female pioneers. The information is presented in
short, concise chunks, making it accessible for a
large range of reading levels. However, the nature
of some of the stories means the book does touch
upon more mature themes such as male dominance
and war, which might not suit a very young
audience. Throughout the book, readers will be able
to read short snippets of women’s history, from the
Suffragettes to the Salam witch trials, watching the
progression of female equality. The Book of Sisters
is a truly unique and beautiful experience.
Natalie Caudwell
Nwora, Christle
The Hospital:
The Inside Story
Neon Squid
2022, pp64, £9.99
9781838991524
Health. Jobs. Hospital
This informative book humanises a day in the life of
a busy hospital. It introduces a range of the people
who work there, and in the community, to help keep
us safe and healthy. Readers also meet patients and
their families and learn about the equipment and
procedures used to help them.
Clear text is presented in small sections or as
captions and labels, divided by bright, inclusive
pictures. Medical terminology is explained, with
some phonetic pronunciations offered, and there’s
a compact glossary at the back of the book. The
stylised accuracy of the illustrations contributes
significantly to the information offered by the text.
This high-quality book is ideal for a child attending
hospital, either as patient or visitor, but will also be a
valuable addition to the health or careers sections of
a school bookshelf.
In one family, the male patient is dying. His wife and
daughter visit. The piece is sensitive, acknowledges
the daughter’s emotions, and has a reassuring tone.
Sharon Corbally
O’ Neill, Poppy
This is Me! A Self-
Discovery Journal
for Girls
Summersdale Publishers
2022, pp160, £10.99
9781800071650
Journal. Wellbeing. Leisure
Reading
This book has everything you’d want from a
teenage journal! It is packed full of everything
from personality quizzes to tips and life hacks, to
advice on school life, social media, and friendship.
It includes some more substantial sections on
more sophisticated topics such as careers, periods,
consent, and unconscious bias, whilst providing
plenty of fun activities and ways to explore one’s
hopes, dreams, and worries either alone or with
friends. There are also multiple pages to fill in and
complete, so it may not be suitable for standard
library use, but it could be used as a reference
resource for group activities, wellbeing worksheets,
or leisure reading in the library. It is designed to be
used for 9–12-year-olds, but could stretch to all
of key stage 3 depending on the maturity of your
students.
Cassie Kemp
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
57

Books: 8 – 12 | Information
Pankhurst, Kate
Fantastically Great
Women Artists and
Their Stories
Bloomsbury Children’s Books
2022, pp179, £6.99
9781526615343
Artists. Biography. Feminism
Over half of the world’s artists are women. Yet most
of the paintings and sculptures that sit proudly in
museums and galleries are the work of men.
This book attempts to address this imbalance
by introducing readers to the lives of eight
inspirational female artists, from the famous Frida
Kahlo to the much less well-known Emily Kame
Kngwarreye. The artists featured come from a
diverse range of backgrounds, but all are united by
their ambition and desire to make their voice heard
through their work.
Written as a chapter book rather than the picture
books of the Fantastically Great Women series, this
manages to pack in a lot of detail about each artist,
whilst still being a joy to read. Pankhurst’s familiar
black and white illustrations really bring the text
to life.
A glossary is provided, as well as some
suggestions for further reading for those who
wish to find out more.
Shona Page
Sedgman, Sam
Epic Adventures
Illustrated by Sam Brewster
Macmillan Children’s Books
2022, pp64, £12.99
9781529065657
Geography. Travel. Engineering
Train travel remains a key component of world travel
and perhaps the best and in many cases perhaps
the most comfortable way to experience it. This is
a solid introduction to the process by an awardwinning
writer. The contents page contains a simple
but sufficiently clear world map identifying the 12
featured train routes spread across 6 continents.
The information is presented in small snippets,
displaying key facts about the countries crossed by
the train tracks; while some of this is fairly basic,
there are some well researched and interesting
facts to be gathered here, particularly in relation to
imparting a social and cultural context. The hope
perhaps is that these pockets of information might
encourage further reading and exploration.
Further spreads give more detail on historical train
travel, major engineering feats, and an absorbing
section on abandoned stations. The bright and
detailed illustrations provide a real sense of the
different geographical zones and the people and
places seen through those train windows.
John Newman
Stewart-Sharpe, Leisa
How Does Chocolate
Taste on Everest?
Illustrated by Aaron Cushley
Wren & Rook
2021, pp64, £14.99
9781526363077
Geography. Habitats. Senses
This book takes you on a journey exploring extreme
habitats round the world, from deserts to mountains,
experiencing them through the senses. The author
uses a teasing, humorous tone which will appeal to
children. The dramatic illustrations and page layout
feed the sense of excitement and potential dangers
of each stage of the journey. For example, you must
turn the book vertically to read about the deep-sea
Mariana Trench.
Children will savour the descriptions of what
Catatombo, Venezuela, ‘the world’s most electric
place’ feels, smells, looks and sounds like. These
descriptions bring each area to life, paired with the
dramatic illustrations of sparking lightning.
There are interesting nuggets of information, such as
the answer to the titular question … but I won’t spoil
it for you! Read about explorers in history, space
travel, the art of voyaging, and much more. The
book will appeal to adventurous children and would
work well as a class read, as a basis for discussion,
and for children to pore over themselves.
Lucy Chambers
Weiss, Sabrina
Amazing Animals
Illustrated by Paul Daviz
What On Earth Publishing
2022, pp64, £14.99
9781912920358
Animals. Science.
Adaptations
This is a really appealing book due to the weird
and wonderful facts that are given. There are some
little-known facts, presented in bite-sized sections
on bright vivid pages.
The illustrations of the animals make the book
visually appealing to the reader. Children will love
reading the weird and wonderful facts that will
probably be easier to remember. This book will
make a fantastic edition to a class or school library.
Kate Keaveny
Weltmann, Anna
Not Your Average
Maths Book
Illustrated by Paul Boston
Wide Eyed Editions
2022, pp96, £9.99
9780711273351
Mathematics. Puzzles. World
This is an excellent book for getting children hooked
on the wonders of mathematics; even those who
dislike the subject will find something inside to tempt
and intrigue them.
From the history of maths to life in other dimensions,
there really is no shortage of content to get the
reader enthralled. This is one of those books that
groups of readers would enjoy sharing and talking
about. Interactive opportunities are interwoven with
facts, such as working out what lucky number you
have or being prompted to solve the world’s most
difficult unsolved maths problems.
The graphics are bold, bright, and clear. They
support the content inside and are inclusive,
allowing children to see themselves on the page.
What is also valuable is the reference to career roles;
it mentions mathematical theorists and researchers,
something that children may never have even
considered a possibility. This is ideally suited for any
library or school classroom and would be something
to read again and again.
Rebecca Simpson-Hargreaves
Williams, Tyus D.
A Day in the Life:
Big Cats
Illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat
Neon Squid
2022, pp48, £7.99
9781838991548
Animals. Cats. Nature
As humans, we have a total fascination with cats,
whether you love them or hate them. However,
when it comes to large cats, we often have a sense
of awe regarding the way they live. This book looks
at the variety of species that are found around
the world. We learn about different habitats, size,
speed, diet, and the way they interact with their own
species, as well as with other animals.
This text gives us a huge amount of information, but
told in a very accessible way. It is aimed at the very
top of key stage 1 and lower key stage 2 and the text
is accessible and well laid out. The illustrations are
in a retro style that seems popular at the moment,
and gives the illustrator the opportunity to really
showcase the different patterns to be found on the
fur of each creature. This is a popular topic, and the
book will fit in well in the classroom and the library.
Margaret Pemberton
58
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

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Bookbuzz from BookTrust.
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VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
59

Books: 13 – 16 | Fiction and Poetry
Batty, Andrew
The Boy and the
Briefcase and
the Moose
The Book Guild Publishing
2021, pp296, £8.99
9781913913731
Coming-of-Age. Friendship.
Romance
Set in the 1970s, this book follows the story of
Andrew and his friends as they are given the
task of looking after visitors to their school. The
new students are sent on an exchange from the
nearby Rugby school to give them a taste of life
in a secondary school and to see how it differs
to their experiences in a private boarding school.
Tarquin and Quinlan both arrive with briefcases
to carry their belongings and their chaperones try
to convince them to swap them for rucksacks to
prevent any unwelcome attention. Tarquin doesn’t
want to give up his briefcase, as he feels it would be
a misrepresentation of the Rugby school and their
high standards. However, not long into their first
day, the briefcase goes missing and Andrew and his
friends do all they can to retrieve it.
A coming-of-age story about friendship, romance,
school life and the trials and tribulations of being
a teenager. A laugh-out-loud read suitable for
students in upper key stage 3.
Charlotte Cole
Bowen, Natasha
Skin of the Sea
Penguin Books
2021, pp309, £7.99
9780241413975
Black History. Fantasy. Myths
Blending African myths, Black
culture, and history with a touch
of fantasy, Natasha Bowen has written a stunning
novel that engages the reader from the first
sentence to the last. Simi is a Black mermaid tasked
with saving the souls of those who fall into her
waters, then taking them to be blessed before they
journey to the Supreme Creator, but when she finds
a young man who is not quite dead, she makes a
decision which has grave consequences for the
fate of her people and the land. The beautiful prose
flows, the characters are engaging but not always
what they seem, and the colourful settings are
varied and vividly described. The author reminds
us in her note that ‘Black history did not start with
slavery’ and this novel shows us that Africa had an
advanced, cultured civilisation that has been badly
misrepresented in the past. There are dark elements
to the story which I found distressing, but this novel
is a new classic that I hope will finds its way into
every secondary school library in the country.
Judith Palka
Clapham, Katie
Three Girls
UCLAN Publishing
2022, pp240, £7.99
9781912979806
Friendship. Young Adult. Sport
Three Girls is a fabulous young
adult novel with a hint of sports
and mystery throughout which is perfect for
fans of Louise Rennison, Holly Smale and Tamsin
Winters. It is a heart-warming novel, full of humour,
told from three different character perspectives,
about unlikely friendships and first loves. The three
main protagonists – Lena, Alice, and Minnie – are
relatable characters to young readers and readers
will be able to take some practical advice about
growing up from this story. The characters are
full of energy which is portrayed throughout, and
this really helps to bring this book to life. But there
is one secret that Alice keeps which will bind all
three characters together and change all their lives
forever. I loved the end to this story.
Emma Suffield
Dorison, Xavier and
Herzet, Emmanuel
Swan Song 1 & 2
Illustrated by Cedric Babouche
Cinebook
2021, pp64, £9.99
9781849185486
War. Friendship. Adventure
Graphic novels based during World War I in 1917.
The novels are for older readers as there is some
swearing; although the story is based during World
War I, the imagery is not upsetting.
The story told over both books is of a French
platoon that have been double crossed by their
Colonel, promised three weeks leave if they hand
over a notorious petition that has been circulating.
The story is of their journey towards the French
assembly in Paris to present the petition and put a
stop to soldiers being sent to their death by careless
leaders. I can see the appeal of this text, especially
for teenage boys who often enjoy a war story.
Tanya Henning
Doyle, Catherine and
Webber, Katherine
Twin Crowns
Electric Monkey
2021, pp528, £8.99
9780755503643
Adventure. Fantasy. Twins
A fabulously exciting adventure
which turns the traditional fairy tale upside down.
Follow twin sisters, Princess Rose and Princess Wren
who were separated at birth, and their battle for the
kingdom of Eana. As their lives are swapped, who
will ultimately rise to power to claim the crown as
their own? Readers will be utterly entranced from
the first page in this thrilling and epic romantic
fantasy, sure to engage even the most reluctant
of readers. Written in a pacy and accessible style,
each chapter alternates between following each
sister, producing a gripping and very satisfying plot.
With two feisty protagonists, as well as a subtle and
empathetic view of the antagonists, brains and wit
triumph over power and appearances. This is also
a rich discussion resource to introduce readers to
wider themes of being a twin, gender, difference,
acceptance, coming of age, resilience, discovering
and ultimately embracing who you are – all of which
are explored in subtle and gentle ways. This work is
a must-have for any young reader (and old too!).
Meg Barclay
Elliott, Joseph
The Burning Swift
Walker Books ltd
2022, pp388, £7.99
9781406385885
War. Adventure. Magic
The Burning Swift, the third
and final book in the ‘Shadow
Skye’ series, is a fast-paced fantasy adventure told
from three characters’ perspectives: Sigrid, Jaime,
and Agatha. The book opens with Sigrid getting
shot with an arrow from one of her own people
because she was trying to warn Jaime and Agatha’s
clan about a massive army headed their way. Then,
Agatha goes missing after being tricked by someone
she thought she could trust, leading Jaime and
Sigrid to leave the enclave to find her and attempt
to secure allies for the impending war. Elliott has
done a fantastic job creating very distinct voices for
his three narrators, so there isn’t ever any confusion
as to whose story you are reading. This book will
appeal to a lot of readers as it includes magic,
action-filled battles, animals, romance, friendship,
and humour. Also, although this is set in a mythical
ancient Scotland, the characters’ experiences will
be relatable to modern readers, for example Jaime’s
struggle to accept his feelings for another boy due
to his clan’s views on homosexuality.
Emily Kindregan
60
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Books: 13 – 16 | Fiction and Poetry
Emezi, Akwaeke
Bitter
Fine, Anne
Aftershocks
Gardner, Scot
Off the Map
Faber & Faber
2022, pp272, £7.99
9780571371198
Art. Revolution. Science Fiction
Bitter has been chosen to attend
Eucalyptus, a school for gifted
artistic teens. The outside world
is full of conflict and revolution. However, this world
contains angels and demons, and Bitter is able to
conjure them up from her artwork. At the same
time, Bitter and her friends are experiencing a life
similar to that of US high school teenagers. Their
language uses profanity and expletives, and some
words unfamiliar to British readers. An interesting
read for the politically aware teenager, with
on-going war all around us today.
Alison A. Maxwell-Cox
Old Barn Books
2022, pp274, £11.99
9781910646779
Bereavement. Ghost. Dystopian
The death of Louie’s older
brother, Toby, has pushed his
parents apart and he finds
himself accompanying his father on a work trip to
check out an old pumping station in the mysterious
Endlands when a tsunami devastates the local
community. Feeling compelled to return with his
father to help with the disaster relief efforts, Louie
finds that the Endlanders deal with death very
differently from what he is used to, and he is pulled
into listening to them talk of their lost loved ones
and how they died. Anne Fine has taken inspiration
from the ghostly sightings of wet figures seen after
the 2011 Japanese tsunami to write a compelling
story that is part dystopian fiction, part ghost story,
and part a coming-of-age tale. It encompasses how
families deal with death and grief in different ways.
Rather creepy and unsettling, it is, nevertheless, a
book that explores an important aspect of our lives
and one that, ultimately, grips the reader in the
otherness of the Endlander traditions.
Barbara Band
A & U Children
2021, pp192, £7.99
9781911679196
Identity. Relationships. Self-
Discovery
The 15 stories in this collection
explore overlapping themes, most prominently
those of identity and self-discovery. We meet each
narrator at a key point in their lives, ranging from
an exhilarating ride through a storm drain on a
Frankenbike in ‘The Tunnel’ to the discovery of an
unplanned pregnancy in ‘Grass’. Difficult experiences
are handled with sensitivity; a sudden death of a
family member is explored in ‘Magellan while the
narrator in ‘The Kid’ recalls the effect of her parents’
disintegrating relationship upon her childhood. Each
narrative voice is fresh, individual, and convincing,
inviting the reader to consider another perspective
on the human experience. The narrators frequently
acknowledge the power of the natural world in both
its beauty and its danger, while families are portrayed
as both a refuge and a source of misery. The most
ambitious story, ‘Another Theory of Relativity’, is a
plea both for tolerance and ecological awareness;
if everything is interconnected, how can we justify
destroying our home? An inventive, honest, and
engaging anthology.
Sandra Bennett
Glasgow, Kathleen
You’d Be Home Now
Rock The Boat
2021, pp387, £8.99
9781786079695
Addiction. Family. Mental Health.
An insightful look at the impact
of addiction on teens and their
families, You’d Be Home Now is a love letter to the
simple joys of everyday life.
Everyone knows exactly who Emory is – and exactly
who she isn’t. Not stubborn or beautiful like her sister
Maddie, not wild or in rehab like her brother Joey.
Emmy is quiet. Emmy is obedient. Emmy is reliable.
But, after an accident shakes up life in the small town
she calls home, can Emmy maintain the perfect
façade, or will the cracks begin to show?
Glasgow’s prose sparkles on the page, calling
for compassion and understanding regardless of
our circumstances. It’s a plea for us to remember
our own humanity and to forgive it in others.
Tightly plotted and paced to perfection, this is an
unflinchingly honest tale of addiction.
Glasgow clearly has a profound and unwavering
respect for her readers, holding their hand and
guiding them gently through the challenging but
vital steps of healing and acceptance on this raw and
utterly breath-taking journey.
Alison King
Khan, Muhammad
Mark My Words
Macmillan Children’s Books
2022, pp304, £7.99
9781529029949
Race. Class. Gender
Mark My Words is a powerful
novel that details the impact
of the merger of an inner-city
academy with an elitist private school. Once layers
of differences between the school students are
added to this and the main characters established,
this novel comes alive with energy and anger.
Muhammad Khan, a teacher, is expert in building
both the characters of the school students and the
atmosphere in the school. The novel focuses on
Dua Iqbal in Year 11 who was the best journalist at
Bodley Academy but now needs to win the approval
of the editorial committee of the Minerva Chronicle
if she wants to write for their school paper. And,
when they reject her article, she needs to set up an
alternative forum, which causes waves within the
new school community. However, Dua isn’t one to
shy away from the truth and finds herself in a battle
to make those around her hear hers and provide
justice for her fellow Bodlians. An uncompromising
look at race, class, and gender as well as a really
engaging read.
Sam Sinclair
Len, Vanessa
Only a Monster Can
Kill a Hero
Hodder & Stoughton
2022, pp361, £16.99
9781529380064
Fantasy. Romance. Family
Joan is half Chinese, half
English and she is spending the
summer with her late mother’s family whilst her dad
visits his sister. Joan loves history and volunteers
at the local historic house where she meets Nick.
She is excited about her date with Nick, but whilst
she waits for him to arrive, she helps an elderly
neighbour and then everything changes …
Her family are time travelling monsters! You must
never tell anyone you are a monster!
Monsters that look the same as you and me but can
take time away from humans.
I loved this story and look forward to the
follow-up books in the trilogy; I eagerly anticipate
the development of Joan’s relationship with Aaron
and/or Nick. A perfect addition to the library for
fantasy fans.
Tanya Henning
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
61

SHADOW TOWN
Richard Lambert
In a dangerous land enslaved by the cruel Regent, where the
Dreamers have the magical power to turn dreams into reality,
Toby meets Tamurlaine, a strange girl who has lost her memory.
To uncover the mystery of her identity and get Toby back
home, the pair must go on a thrilling journey to the heart of the
kingdom and the castle of the
Regent …
‘Richly imagined’ – Financial
Times
‘An evocative fantasy from
the acclaimed author of The
Wolf Road’ –Sunday Times
Paperback £7.99
THE WOLF ROAD
Richard Lambert
Winner of the Mal Peet
Longlisted for the Carnegie 2022
When Lucas survives the car accident that kills his parents,
one memory stays with him – of the wolf that caused the
crash. Forced to leave his home
and live with his Nan in the
Lake District, Lucas struggles
to adjust to his strange, new
world. And when he learns
that a wild creature is killing
livestock on the mountains,
he knows it’s the wolf, that it’s
come for him, and that he must
face it.
‘An astonishing exploration of
grief and love and courage and
wildness’ – Hilary McKay
A Times, FT and Guardian Best
Book of the Year
Paperback £8.99
THE SOUND OF EVERYTHING
Rebecca Henry
Nominated for the Carnegie 2022
Shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize
Betrayal, rejection, violence Kadie has known it all. She’s tough
and prepared for everything. Everything except love.
‘Brilliantly assured’ –
Guardian
‘A sensitive, mesmerising
coming-of-age novel, this
is a must-read for any YA
devotee’ – Independent
‘A rare precocious talent
with an incredible ear for
dialogue’ – Alex Wheatle
‘Outstanding complex
writing’ – Patrice
Lawrence
Paperback £8.99
SMALL!
Hannah Moffatt
When Harvey accidentally sets fire to his headteacher’s
trousers, Mum decides it’s time for a BIG change. So, she
packs him off to Madame Bogbrush’s School for Gifted Giants.
But Harvey’s not a giant. He’s a ten-year-old boy on stilts. And
if his classmates find out, they’ll stomp him into a sandwich!
‘A GIANT TRIUMPH! Funny,
creative and heart-warming’ –
A.F. Steadman, Skandar and the
Unicorn Thief
‘A totally original tall tale that’s
spurt-your-tea-out funny.’ –
Lucy Brandt, Leonora Bolt:
Secret Inventor
‘Vast in humour and heart.
A giant of a book.’ – Zillah
Bethell, The Shark Caller
Paperback £6.99
50% discount
on orders of six or more copies!
EverythingWithWords.com
Please contact mikka@everythingwithwords.com

Books: 13 – 16 | Fiction and Poetry
Best New Books – Graphic Novels
Editor’s pick
Russell Punter and
Andrea Da Rold (Illustrator)
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Usborne, 2022, 108pp, £9.99,
9781801314411
Detective, Horror, Mystery
Accessible text with illustrations
of this classic mystery with the
detectives facing the terrifying
Hound of the Baskervilles.
Brendan Deneen and
Bell Hosalla (Illustrator)
Stranded
D.C. Comics Inc, 2022, 144pp, £7.99
9781779501219
Adventure, Comics, Survival
When his dad disappears after their
plane goes down while on a hunting
trip, Ollie must overcome his fears
and figure out how to survive.
Stephanie True Peters and
Mel Joy San Juan (Illustrator)
Skateboard Summer
Raintree, 2021, 72pp, £6.99
9781398215993
Comics, Friendship, Sport
Two friends go to skateboard camp,
where they compete against one
another with a challenging trick. Will
their friendship survive?
Roye Okupe
Iyanu: Child of Wonder
Dark Horse Comics, 2021, 112pp, £16.99
9781506723044
Africa, Fantasy, Comics
An orphaned teenager who is isolated
from her community discovers she
has - key to bringing back an ‘age of
wonders’ to save a world on the brink
of destruction.
Amy Kim Kibuishi
Realm of the Blue Mist
Scholastic, 2022, 272pp, £8.99
9781338115130
Comics, Fantasy, Mystery
While on a quest to discover the
truth behind her father’s mysterious
death, Tabby finds herself in a distant
magical land.
Claudia Gray and
Eric Zawadzki (Illustrator)
The Enemy Delusion
D.C. Comics Inc, 2022, 208pp, £12.99
9781401296087
Comics, Dystopia, Science fiction
Two teenagers on opposite sides
of the same extinction-level event
get drawn deeper into conspiracies
that could doom them - if the planet
doesn’t self-destruct first.
Rainbow Rowell
Come Away with Me
Marvel, 2021, 168pp, £20.99
9781302925567
Comics, Science fiction
Part of a series with a group of friends
- the Runaways at high school. But
Molly has a tough decision to make.
Lara Kaminoff
How to Pick a Fight
Nobrow, 2021, 216pp, £14.99
9781910620786
Comics, Identity, Skill
Jimmy dreams of one day being
recognised as a world famous
featherweight so he sets off to seek
his fortune.
Mann, Manjeet
The Crossing
Penguin Books
2021, pp309, £7.99
9780241411445
Verse Novel. Refugees.
Dual Narrative
After the success of her debut
novel, Run Rebel, Manjeet Mann is back with
another incredibly powerful young adult verse
novel. The Crossing is a dual narrative story about
two teenagers from contrasting backgrounds.
British-born Natalie is struggling to cope with
the loss of her mum, her brother’s new far-right
leanings, and the general anti-refugee attitude in
her coastal town. She wants to follow in her mum’s
footsteps and help those in need, so she sets a goal
to swim the channel and raise money for refugees
such as Eritrean-born Sammy. He is ready to leave
his family behind in search of freedom and safety in
the UK. He has a perilous journey ahead of him and
his family’s life savings in his pocket.
Both narratives offer us a chance to experience life
in someone else’s shoes and open our minds to
the struggles of others, however close or far from
home they may be. It is a timely, beautifully written,
and extremely powerful book that will stay with you
long after you’ve finished reading.
Cassie Kemp
Marufu, Aneesa
The Balloon Thief
Chicken House
2022, pp438, £7.99
9781913696078
Adventure. Mystery. Fantasy
A fabulous, fantastic, fantasy
adventure and a stunning debut
novel. Khadja has a destiny – she is to be married
and bored for she is a Ghadaean girl. Having
arranged a match for his daughter, her father thinks
all is settled, but Khadja sees an opportunity to
escape when she sees a hot air balloon fighting
its ropes for the sky. She is off, flying across desert
sands and into the path of a friend, an unlikely
friend. Jacob is a glassmaker’s apprentice and
the two are about to find themselves part of an
adventure that will see them fighting black magic,
jinn, and a revolution. Be prepared for a breathtaking
and epic journey, a quest for freedom
and peace. This is a story of companionship, of
acceptance, and of personal and societal battles, a
book that immerses its reader in the power of story.
Magical, lyrical, the perfect fantasy adventure.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
Meyer, Marissa
Serendipity
Faber & Faber
2022, pp302, £12.99
9780571373543
Love. Short Stories. Humour
A collection of ten short stories
by ten different award-winning
American young adult
authors. This is a diverse collection with a real
feel-good factor. The stories range from unrequited
love to love that’s been there all along. They
radiate warmth and bring a smile to the reader’s
face. There’s a wry humour to many of them and
plenty of surprises in store. The collection includes
a story written in graphic novel format.
This collection is a celebration of love in its many
guises and is an uplifting read for those who need a
little love injection.
Ellen Krajewski
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
63

Books: 13 – 16 | Fiction and Poetry
Robertson, David A.
Sugar Falls
Illustrated by Scott B. Henderson
Highwater Press
2021, pp48, £13.99
9781553799757
Diversity. Residential Schools.
Survival
This graphic novel is based on the true story of Betty
Ross, a Native Canadian girl in the 1940s, who was
forcibly placed in a church-run residential school for
Native Canadian children. Betty’s story, told through
an interview given to a present-time schoolboy,
tells of her horrific experience at that institution,
highlighting the shocking physical and psychological
abuse at the hands of the people in charge of it.
With a truly compelling story and haunting
illustrations, this is a solid history lesson presented
in a way that should appeal to many young people.
The book focuses on an individual case of a Native
Canadian, but parallels can be drawn with many
other people and places, providing a valuable
insight into one of world history’s most shameful
and dark moments. This book could be useful in
any classroom environment (Year 8 and above) for
a specific case-study but also general discussions
on the subject of systemic abuse of the vulnerable,
and how it’s taken years to acknowledge it, let alone
learn from the mistakes that had been made.
Marzena Currie
Sanchez, Erika L.
I Am Not Your Perfect
Mexican Daughter
Rock The Boat
2022, pp362, £8.99
9780861543496
Immigration. Family. Depression
Julia, 15 at the start, is a firstgeneration
Mexican American. Her parents are
illegal, or “undocumented” immigrants, subsisting
on low-income jobs in Chicago. Julia has a sister,
Olga, some seven years older, who seems to be
a model Mexican daughter – quiet, home loving,
domesticated, amenable to her parents’ Mexican
culture. Julia, as the title says, is none of these
things. She is clever, feisty, and ambitious, with
dreams of being a writer and going to university in
New York. When Olga is killed in a road accident,
the pressures on Julia, the imperfect, intractable
daughter, intensify. Julia narrates the story of her
slide into anxiety, depression, and finally attempted
suicide, which proves the turning point in her quest
for independence and selfhood.
This powerful, compelling novel covers issues
relating to present-day teenagers – ethnicity issues,
cultural stresses, mental health – but the vivid
American context sets them at a slight distance
for British readers, and opens up opportunities
for discussion.
Peter Hollindale
Lin, Ann Sei
Rebel Skies
Walker Books
2022, pp352, £7.99
9781406399592
Fantasy. Japan. Adventure
Kurara is a servant girl on board
an airship called the Midori, but
she has a secret skill in that she can make paper
models that seem to come to life; wild versions
of these are called shikigami and they are causing
havoc within the empire. When Kurara and her
brother Haru are captured by a rebel vessel, their
lives are in danger, but the ‘crafter’ Himura realizes
how useful she could be, and they find their lives
taking a different path. Each of the main characters
has a reason to try and win the favour of the imperial
princess, but she also has her own agenda. As the
plot thickens, we begin to wonder who are the
aggressors and who are the victims?
This is a fascinating fantasy story set within a
Japanese style world, but with a hint of steam
punk. It is a totally incredible tale that takes you on a
roller coaster of emotions as the plot develops. The
characters have to overcome terrible danger and
discover their friends and enemies. Brilliant for
young teens.
Margaret Pemberton
Shusterman, Neal and
Shusterman, Jarrod
Roxy
Walker Books
2021, p388, £8.99
9781406392128
Drug Addiction. USA. Families
A full-length novel about high
school teenagers who gradually become addicted
to prescription drugs, and then street drugs. Ivy and
Isaac are siblings and have very different reasons
for their growing addictions. The drugs themselves,
with clever names relating to real life narcotics,
become characters in the novel. A fascinating
description of the experience of falling under the
spell of an addiction. Although I believe prescription
drug addiction is less prevalent in the UK, we do
have a real epidemic of drug addicts. I think some of
the drugs featured are known by different names in
Britain, and possibly ADHD treatment using drugs is
less common.
Alison A. Maxwell-Cox
Wheatle, Alex
Kemosha of
the Caribbean
Andersen Press
2022, pp311, £7.99
9781839131219
Slavery. Racism. Survival
This text is part history lesson
and part adventure and a definite must-have for
any school library. Kemosha, the eponymous
heroine, has grown up in the cruel life of slavery
and is working as a cook when the novel opens. All
of a sudden, she is sold to work in a tavern in the
infamous Port Royal. With threats of violence
(including sexual) hanging over her, she stages
a daring escape. Fortunately, Kemosha meets
Ravenhide, a blacksmith who helps her by teaching
her how to fight with a sword, a skill that proves
invaluable again and again in the story. While
staying with him, Kemosha meets Isabella, who
becomes more than just a friend and one of the
three reasons for her to embark on a dangerous
journey with pirates to earn the ‘pieces of eight’
to buy freedom for her brother Gregory and her
cookhouse sister Marta’s to enable them all to start
a safe, new life. Both an exciting and thoughtprovoking
book that deals with many unspoken
truths. Mentions sexual abuse.
Sam Sinclair
Wood, Laura and
Austen, Jane
Jane Austen’s Pride &
Prejudice: A Retelling
Barrington Stoke
2022, pp129, £7.99
9781800900240
Classic. Retelling. Austen
Barrington Stoke have recently hit on a perfect
combination – popular contemporary authors
rewriting well-known classic novels. The latest
pairing is particularly exciting – queen of historical
young adult fiction Laura Wood reworking Pride
and Prejudice.
The book manages to keep the original feel of the
text whilst still being distinctly “Laura Wood” in
style. Accessible to less confident readers, the book
enables them to experience the characters and plot
of the Austen masterpiece through a much shorter
word length and less complex sentence structures
and vocabulary. This would also be great for
younger keen readers who want to start Austen but
aren’t quite ready yet.
I know as one of Laura’s favourite books, this project
was special to her – and quite daunting. She has
done an absolutely wonderful job.
Helen Emery
64
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

From the educational to the entertaining,
engage young readers with PRESTEL titles
@presteljuniorinternational
@presteljunior
www.prestel.com

Books: 13 – 16 | Information
Caught, Alexis
Queer Up: An Uplifting
Guide to LGBTQ+
Love, Life and Mental
Health
Walker Books Ltd
2022, pp255, £7.99
9781406399226
LGBTQ+. Mental Health. Relationships
EDITOR’S PICK
An empathetic and inclusive reference book for
young and older adults alike, Queer Up: An Uplifting
Guide to LGBTQ+ Love, Life and Mental Health,
covers everything from the origins and history of
Pride, to what it is like to live as a trans woman, to
coming out.
Written in a friendly, frank, and accessible style,
with great nuggets of advice from notable LGBTQ+
people throughout, Queer Up provides a perfect
starting point for young adults beginning to explore
their gender identity and sexuality, or young people
who are simply curious. The book is really well
structured, giving readers the ability to dip in and
out of sections that are relevant to them as and
when they are ready.
This book also provides a fantastic resource for
teachers, parents, and supporters who want to
become more educated allies, and have open,
sensitive, and honest conversations and interactions
with the LGBTQ+ young people in their lives.
Sammie Boon
De, Nichols
Art of Protest
Illustrated by
Diana Dagadita (et al)
Big Picture Press
2021, pp74, £16.99
9781787417663
Art. Symbols. Demonstration
Banners and slogans have always been vital tools
when demonstrating and gathering support for
a cause. This book charts the history of such
Artwork. Some of the examples quoted can be easily
predicted; racial discrimination and environmental
concerns are of course featured but one might not
have expected the Dadaist work in the First World
War or the “Gilets Jaune” protests in modern France
to feature. Strong, bold, vibrant images are the key
to success in this media; the book contains plenty
of examples from a fascinatingly wide variety of
contexts. As a stimulus for students in an art class,
this book could be extremely useful. As a visual
realisation for social studies, it also has a place, but
perhaps it is best placed when it inspires the reader
to follow one of the examples in the book and
change some aspect of the world that the student
believes needs change. The book’s concluding
pages invite the reader to believe in the power of
protest and to proposing new ideas.
Nick Hunt
Lang, Karen
and Selim Tezel
Become an
App Inventor
MITeen Press
2022, pp224, £9.99
9781529504835
Coding. Apps. Programming
This official guide from MIT App Inventor contains
step-by-step instructions for six different projects
using the free MIT website. These include a personal
introduction, a translation app, a music app, a maze
game, a tour guide, and a personalised chat app. At
every stage of each project, a combination of words
and images provide clear guidance and explain how
to design, build, and share the apps. In addition, the
book contains stories about young app inventors
from around the world who have developed some
amazing apps that solve real problems. These
include sisters who were inspired to invent an app
with games to defeat virtual viruses during the
COVID-19 pandemic. In Moldova, a group of five
teenage girls invented an app to help prevent the
spread of hepatitis A by providing information about
the water quality in local wells. Other projects
include an app to report the location of potholes
to local councils and an app to help blind students
navigate school corridors. A practical and inspiring
book, ideal for coding clubs and school libraries.
Chris Routh
Maddox, Lucy
What is Mental Health?
Wayland
2022, pp48, £9.99
9781526311146
Mental Health. Stress. Drugs
The emphasis here is on “health”
rather than “illness” and the range of feelings
between. It is a refreshing book that explains
things in simple factual ways with no pussyfooting
about. Maddox is a psychologist specialising in
young people and families, and consulted with
young people as to what they wanted to know. She
includes her own experiences of mental health
issues when younger. Each double-page spread
stands alone, making it easier for readers to dip in
and out. It has a magazine-feel about it with ‘guest’
pages from other experts or ordinary people being
honest about their mental health problems or
experiences of being a young carer of a parent with
a mental health problem. There are quotes from
celebrities like Robert Webb and Stormzy. Stress,
stigma, social media and drugs are addressed,
and the content is useful as a basis for classroom
discussion. There are some suggestions for selfhelp,
reassurances about mental health support
services, a glossary of terms, and some website
resources. A very useful book to have for the class,
individual pupils, and adults!
Janet Dowling
O’ Neill, Poppy
No More Worries!
Outsmart Anxiety
and Be Positively You
Summersdale Publishers
2021, pp142, £10.99
9781787839359
Anxiety. Self-Help. Confidence
Part information book, part self-help journal, No
More Worries by Poppy O’Neill is an ideal book
to recommend to parents to buy for their teen
who suffers with anxiety; teachers who need
to tackle the topic of anxiety as part of a PSHEE
programme; or school counsellors who are tasked
with supporting anxious teens. Filled with ideas
on how to become ‘positively you’, this eight-part
manual leads the reader through a series of stages
and activities, from recognising the signs of anxiety
in Part 1, to finding positive ways of dealing with
it when it strikes in Part 2, and taking control of
anxiety in Part 3. Parts 4 to 7 encourage readers
to take a look at other aspects of life that can be
controlled, and situations that can be anticipated,
which can all help to reduce anxiety and lead to
a greater sense of self-confidence and wellbeing.
Throughout the book, one-page inspirational maxims
in bold graphics from authors, philosophers,
and celebrities encourage a positive mindset and
give the book a really contemporary feel.
Jane Broadis
O’ Neill, Poppy
You’ve Got This! Release
Your Inner Power and
Be Awesomely You
Summersdale Publishers
2021, pp144, £10.99
9781786858016
Self-esteem. Self-help. Wellbeing
An excellent resource that will enable young
people to believe in themselves and enhance their
self-esteem. It is laid out in eight parts that will
give teenagers an understanding of the concept of
self-esteem and guide them through the ideas and
tools they need to take care of themselves, enhance
their wellbeing, and deal positively with the stresses
that life throws against them. The text is engaging
and explanatory without going into too much detail,
and allows the reader to develop action plans, take a
pencil to circle or jot down ideas, or use the further
reading section to research and explore some of
the concepts. I took the self-esteem quiz and then
found that the sections on switching negative
thoughts into positive thoughts and meditation
were very useful. The use of different typefaces,
graphics, and three colours to highlight the
explanations, concepts, and ideas is excellent. There
are also some small amusing illustrations which help
to lighten the text. This is a toolkit that would be
useful in every secondary school library.
Judith Palka
66
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Books: 13 – 16 | Information
Rolle, Leon and
Owusu, Derek
About This Boy
Walker Books Ltd
2022, pp152, £9.99
9781529500622
Autobiography. Family. Advice
Leon Rolle will probably be better known to
the youthful audience he hopes to reach, by his
nickname, Locksmith, and membership of the band
Rudimental. He and his co-author describe the
difficulties he faced and overcame growing up with
his mother, a single parent, and two sisters in East
London.
An angry child, he often behaved aggressively, and
found it difficult to form meaningful friendships.
He blamed his father’s absence for this and recalls
almost joining a local gang, seeking comradeship.
However, he resisted doing so, as he realised he was
part of a strong, supportive, and loving family.
A gifted footballer, he played for Arsenal’s junior
teams, before being rejected. Although initially
devastated, he turned to music, his other great love
and with his true friends formed Rudimental.
This is an interesting book, in which Rolle hopes
by sharing these and other experiences, he can
demonstrate that when growing up, errors of
judgement are inevitable and can be learnt from and
that supposed failure is nothing to be ashamed of.
Martin Baggoley
Rose, Phoebe
Sex and Gender:
An Introductory
Guide
My Body is Me Publishing
2021, pp50, £3.99
9781399901475
Sex. Gender. Puberty
This accessible introductory guide to the differences
between biological sex (including puberty) and the
social construct of gender (including stereotypes
and sexism) is a slim twenty page booklet, printed
on high quality paper with stout glossy covers.
Presented as a conversation between a group
of under sixteens, it employs bold graphics with
speech bubbles, notebook entries, diagrams
and illustrations, and a simple handwritten text
throughout. The book includes an explanation of
the rare physical condition referred to as differences
of sex development or DSD; and although it does
not mention ‘gender identity’ it does help to explain
some of the confusing array of labels used today.
The book’s content and tone is designed to bring
clarity and reassurance to young tweens and
teens, and to embrace diversity and promote selfconfidence.
It also encourages young people to talk
about their concerns and feelings, and to listen to
and support their friends. A useful resource for form
tutors, PSHE departments and school libraries.
Chris Routh
Schutten, Jan Paul
Inside In: X-Rays
of Nature’s Hidden
World
Translated by Laura Watkinson
Greystone Kids
2021, pp136, £13.99
9781771646796
X-ray. Animals. Art
In this book X-ray technology is used for the
purposes of art. By adjusting the strength of the
X-ray both to suit the density of the plant or animal
and the desired finished image, the artist has been
able to produce some remarkable “photographs”.
The text explains and at times amuses but is skilfully
informative within its brevity.
We see and understand animals in quite a different
way; without the colours of their plumage, birds
look remarkably similar, while the skeletal and
dental differences between rodents are highlighted.
The evolutionary processes that have moulded
a particular animal are viewed from this new and
fascinating perspective.
Of course, animals do not sit still, and no one wants
to harm an animal by taking unnecessary X-rays, so
all the animals used had already died. This is almost
a “coffee table” book but certainly has a place in the
art room or for browsing in the library.
Nick Hunt
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VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
67

Books: 17 – 19
Blandiana, Ana
Five Books
Translated by Paul Scott Derrick
and Viorica Patea
Bloodaxe Books
2021, pp352, £14.99
9781780375380
Poetry. Repression. Protest
‘Do you understand what it means? Now do you
understand?’: these lines close this collection of
books written between 1972 and 2018 by a poet
who lived and wrote under the repressive Ceausescu
regime, through revolution and the collapse of
the Soviet Union to Romania’s current status as
democratic republic. This is a vivid account of life
under the yoke, with protest and rebellion couched
sometimes in Romantic terms of folklore and local
legend to maintain a sense of national identity. The
use of well-chosen metaphor conveys meanings
which cannot be expressed explicitly for fear of
censorship or worse. This is writing from the front
line, visceral and powerful, ranging from the desire to
escape ‘into silence, into books, into drink, it doesn’t
matter where’ to screams ‘up to the teeth savagely
clenched in endless silence’, while the poetry in the
later books is more lyrical and reflective, celebrating
‘freedom and solidarity’. An invaluable resource for
the library to supplement history and politics courses
with poetry written in extremis.
Frank Startup
Boivin, Lisa
I Will See You Again
Highwater Press
2021, pp56, £16.99
9781553798552
Grief. Art. First Nation
First Nationer, Lisa Boivin of the
Deninu Kue Nation has created
a beautiful and personal picture book exploring
the loss of her brother. Following the news that her
brother had passed away, our protagonist travels
from her homeland in Canada to collect his remains
and to return him to her family. The story is told
in a very profound way. There are few words, but
not one is wasted ensuring that the message of
love is woven through each page. The illustrations
throughout are unusual but in a very beautiful way.
Lending itself to a dreamlike quality at times, I felt
that it was closer to a work of art. This may not have
immediate shelf appeal, but I do think it deserves
a place in your library perhaps for those going
through a bereavement. I could also imagine this
book being used for inspiration by art lovers.
Jodie Brooks
Boulley, Angeline
Fire Keeper’s Daughter
Rock The Boat
2022, pp496, £8.99
9781786079060
Drugs. Murder. Thriller
If you want to encourage your
Karen M. McManus devotees to try
something more substantial, then The Firekeeper’s
Daughter is your book of choice. It is a fast-paced
thriller that introduces you to the world of Daunis,
an 18-year-old Native American teenager whose
community is thrown into chaos when her best
friend Lily is murdered right in front of her eyes.
What follows is a dangerous pact with the FBI,
born of the necessity to avenge Lily and defend
her Ojibwe community, that sees Daunis navigate
through the truth, lies, and secrets of her family and
friends to find out who is behind the local drugs ring
that caused Lily’s murderer to act out.
As well as being a fascinating whodunnit style
amateur investigation, it’s also a refreshing portrayal
of a lesser-written about aspect of American culture
and an in-depth look at teenage identity and sense
of belonging, with a little bit of romance on the side.
A great read for those open for a longer, but very
satisfying read. Contains repeated drug use and a
scene of sexual assault.
Cassie Kemp
Forsström, Tua
I Walked on into
The Forest
Translated by David McDuff
Bloodaxe Books
2021, pp95, £10.99
9781780375823
Poetry. Family. Grief
This is written in both English and Swedish by a
celebrated contemporary poet, so is a little niche
for a school library. However, if you are building
a wide and varied poetry collection or sourcing
contemporary poets from other parts of the world,
this would not be out of place. The poems deal
with the death of Forsström’s granddaughter and
are threaded through with the themes of death
and grief. The “chapters” experiment with different
poetic forms and reference work by other poets and
writers such as W G Sebald, Ralph Waldo Emerson,
and Vilja – Tuulia Huotarinen. This is definitely an
interesting collection, and the reader feels drawn
into and engaged by the writing. The feelings and
emotions resonate from the pages and leave the
reader with a sense of overwhelming sadness and
clear visual representations of Forsström’s grief. This
powerful collection of poems is grounded in the
natural world and makes the reader feel like they
are wandering lost in a forest, as the poet is lost in
her grief.
Sam Sinclair
Marazano, Richard
Memories from
the Civil War
Jean-Michel Ponzio
Cinebook
2021, pp56, £8.99
9781849185288
Utopia. Corruption. War
‘Today I have become what I am …’ If those words do
not sprout curiosity about what it means to embrace
your own identity, I do not know what will. Set
against the backdrop of the not-so-distant future,
this graphic novel deals with themes of power,
prestige, corruption, class, and liberation. And not
necessarily in that order. The story centres around
a team of elites, who are stationed around the
privileged parts of the city but are also sent outside
the city limits to bring in cheap labour. We follow
our main character – Virgil – on a mission, in which
he questions the society he lives in, and his own part
in maintaining the status quo.
Virgil’s battle with his own moral conscious is
precisely why this is perfect for older readers that
may wish to explore how morality plays a part in
everyday life and our actions. Beautiful coloured
illustrations bring life to both the characters and the
story, making it an invigorating graphical read from
start to finish.
Rabia Arif
Meyer, Marissa
Gilded
Faber & Faber
2021, pp504, £8.99
9780571371587
Fairy Tales. Gothic. Romance
Take a chance on the power of
Marissa Meyer to spin her tales
to ensnare her young adult readership with this
reworking of ‘Rumplestiltskin’. It’s in the Grimm
tradition, not for the feint-hearted or squeamish but
with its mix of elements: magic, mystery, ghoulish
terror and a first kiss, so full of promises.
Our feisty golden-eyed heroine, Serilda, is socially
unacceptable for the superstitious villagers, met
with prejudice and ostracism; is it any wonder that
she is adept at spinning tales/lies? When she has
nothing to lose but her life, will she ever learn to tell
the truth and stop her quest to find her mother?
The lunar calendar dominates the pagan world,
calling forth the ghoulish hunt and terrorising near
and far. But why does the fearsome Erlking need a
maiden to weave her golden threads, what has he
done to her father, and where does this ghostly Gild
boy feature in her life?
I can’t wait for Cursed to supply the answers and
to see Beyond the Veil when it is published later
in 2022.
Irene Marillat
68
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Books: 17 – 19
Best New Books – Independence
Editor’s pick
Aneesa Marufu and Catherine
Rowe (Illustrator)
The Balloon Thief
Chicken House, 2022, 448pp, £7.99
9781913696078
Friendship, Fantasy, Racism
Determined to break away from an
arranged marriage Khadija escapes
in a hot-air balloon into another
revolution where she has to choose
sides.
Katherine Webber
The Revelry
Walker, 2022, 272pp, £7.99
9781406388442
Fantasy, Friendship, Rites of passage
The Revelry is a long-held tradition
of Bitsy’s hometown but best friend,
Amy, wants independence early and
breaks tradition starting off a run of
bad luck.
Barack Obama
Dreams from My Father: A
Story of Race and Inheritance:
Adapted for Young Adults
Walker, 2022, 348pp, £7.99
9781406334470
Autobiographies, Famous faces, Politics
Self-discovery and belonging - a
journey to adulthood despite
obstacles along the way.
Bonnie Garmus
Lessons in Chemistry
Doubleday, 2022, 400pp, £14.99
9780857528124
Chemistry, Cookery, Sexism
Elizabeth is not content with the
status quo, coming up against
inequality and overt sexism. But
she is a survivor and manages
independently despite the odds
against her.
Phil Stamper
Golden Boys
Bloomsbury, 2022, 376pp, £7.99
9781526643841
Friendship, Romance, LGBTQ
A story of friendships & the transition
of starting out in the world. Told in
a four part narrative, it follows four
different pathways.
Naomi Klein and
Rebecca Stefoff
How to Change Everything
Penguin, 2022, 336pp, £8.99
9780241492932
Climate, Environment, Politics
A comprehensive look at the climate
crisis, related issues and how young
people can lead the way and make a
difference.
Ros, Manon Steffan
The Blue Book of Nebo
Firefly, 2022, 160pp, £7.99
9781913102784
Dystopia, Families, Survival
Dylan was six when The End
came - electricity off for good, and
the ‘normal’ 21st century world
disappeared. He and his mam had
to become independent, but with
different meanings to each of them.
Molly Morris
This is Not the End
Chicken House, 2022, 400pp, £7.99
9781913696214
Bereavement, Independence, Travel
Hugh has had to be independent
since the death of both parents but
embarking on a road trip can he
come to accept that endings are just
a part of life?
Mora, Francisco de la
Diego Rivera
Illustrated by José Luis Pescador
SelfMadeHero
2021, pp182, £16.99
9781914224003
Artists. Mexico. Biography
The life of the Mexican artist
Rivera, from his childhood to his death, is depicted
in this graphic novel. It shows his connections
to many important figures from the twentieth
century, from Lenin to Rockefeller via Picasso. In
the second half it also shows his marriage to Frida
Khalo and the influence of their 20-year partnership
on the artworld. His interest and involvement
in communism, socialism, and revolution was
eye opening.
The use of a graphic novel to tell his story is very apt
and is used to great effect. The illustrations reflect
Rivera’s evolving art style and the double fold-out
page of his final mural is stunning and made me
want to see the original. It doesn’t shy away from his
many flaws either, particularly his treatment of the
many women in his life as a serial adulterer.
It would be best used in a school to support A level
art students, either for research or as wider reading
in preparation for university. The content is quite
adult: it contains scenes of nudity, sex, violence,
and swearing.
Isobel Pwell
Szirtes, George
Fresh Out of the Sky
Bloodaxe Books
2021, pp134, £12.99
9781780375847
Identity. Memory. Poetry
Szirtes’ collection is a diverse
one, using different verse
forms to explore many of his common themes.
He goes back in time to his childhood in Budapest
and emigration to the UK in the first section, and
asks questions about his own cultural Jewishness
in ‘Inside the Yellow Room’, where he creates a
dialogue with his late father. The next section ‘Going
Viral’ comes bang up-to-date with meditations
on the pandemic. Szirtes continues his interest
in transformation and change in the final poems
‘Bestiary’, described as dreams songs that evoke
many of the painters and writers who have inspired
him in his art.
Although many of the poems touch on dark themes
involving the search for identity and belonging,
there is a thread of common humanity that goes
through them all. The themes in the book make it
most suitable for post 16 and ‘Bestiary’ in particular
could be used in classrooms to develop close
analysis and comparative skills as it provides glosses
on Ovid and other classical texts. This is a complex
collection that merits many rereadings.
Ingrid Spencer
Traynor, Jessica
Pit Lullabies
Bloodaxe Books
2022, pp93, £10.99
9781780376066
Poetry. Motherhood. Anxiety
The startling reproduction
of Truth climbing from the
well on the cover of this collection leads us into
an extraordinary maelstrom of blood, faeces,
and body parts, where Ophelia floats on a bed
of poisonous plants, and childbirth hurts like
hell: ‘your shoulders shut in the door-jamb of my
pelvis’, with the fragmentary nature of experience
mirrored in the fragmented lines on the page. We
go ‘Holidaying with Dad During the Divorce’ and
give a scathing response to a ‘guy at the till’ who
has the temerity to tell us to put a plastic fork we
have handled into the bin: ‘oh, love … we’ve all been
touched … soiled’. The poems are punctuated by the
eponymous pit lullabies which give the whole book
the air of a grimoire – elemental, magical and earthy
– as in a sequence titled ‘The Signs’ which watches
bananas go mouldy and observes, ‘small comforts
can be made from little deaths’. It is gloriously
obstreperous: strictly for older students – give it to
a discussion group and wait for the eruptions. I’m
sending a copy to my daughter – she’ll love it!
Frank Startup
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
69

Books: 17 – 19
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70
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

Books: Professional
Gross, Jean
Reaching the
Unseen Children
Routledge
2021, pp204, £22.99
9781032009322
Education. Underachievement.
Boys
When considering disadvantaged children who fail
to achieve their potential, an ‘invisible’ group that
is hidden in plain sight are white boys eligible for
free school meals. Gross passionately advocates for
improving the life chances for any child, through
an education that closes the attainment gap; in this
book she courageously champions poor white boys
who do poorly in school, as the ‘Unseen Children’.
She provides case studies to illustrate the argument
and provides a wealth of in-depth knowledge
and practical methods. She highlights the pithy
knowledge children can express about their learning
– a child who stopped reading voluntarily at school
responded, ‘At school whenever you read anything
you have to write about it’.
This book really helps to get into the shoes of the
poor white boys who underachieve, and to find
ways to open up education for them; it pricks the
conscience and stimulates practical thinking to
tackle the challenges. An excellent addition to the
SEND/Equality bookshelf in any school.
Stephanie Barclay
Harpham, Michael
The School Leader’s
Year
Routledge
2021, pp242, £16.99
9780367654931
Development. Leadership.
Management
This is a useful book for
new and aspiring school leaders, including
headteachers. It breaks down the tasks of running
a primary or secondary school by calendar month,
providing a structural overview of the school
year. This will help leaders plan and prioritise
their time and workload, and puts the emphasis
on impact, keeping the focus on outcomes for
school effectiveness. A practical guide written
by a former headteacher and leadership coach,
this will be an invaluable volume to embed good
practice for new leaders.
Jo Sennitt
Merga, Margaret K.
School Libraries
Supporting Literacy
and Wellbeing
Facet Publishing
2022, pp198, £50
9781783305841
Libraries. Literacy. Wellbeing
Measuring student literacy and fostering student
wellbeing are two areas that have become key
priorities for schools in recent times. This book
examines what school library professionals
contribute to student learning and how they support
reading for pleasure, with examples from Australia,
the UK, and the US offering a helpful perspective.
The theme of the library as a ‘sanctuary’ for students
has been prominent in recent literature, and a
chapter in the book offers valuable insights into the
benefits of what libraries offer for the creation of safe
and supportive spaces inclusive for all students.
Directions for future research are addressed,
including a call for further research on collaboration
that shows how it can benefit schools leading to
tangible advantages that are ‘meaningfully aligned
with the needs of school leaders’. With as many
as one-in-five young people experiencing mental
health problems globally this book is an important
resource to help support literacy development and
holistic wellbeing of students.
Cathal Coyle
Palastanga, Emma L
A Creative Primary
Curriculum for All
Routeledge
2021, pp120, £16.99
9780367470722
Creativity. Education. Leadership
It is a frustration of many primary school teachers
that they feel they don’t have room on the timetable
for creativity, but Palastanga maintains that’s simply
untrue. In this book she dispels myths around
prescribed time allocations and rigid rules to
demonstrate practical approaches for incorporating
creativity to inspire young children who need to
develop these skills for the good of all our futures.
Creativity is more than simply the arts. It increases
self-esteem and can contribute towards improved
mental health and wellbeing. Using her experience
of Montessori methods and the Mantle of the Expert
curriculum, Palastanga, an experienced teacher,
leader, and Ofsted inspector seeks to persuade
school leaders they can have it all. Examples of
action plans and how a cross curricular curriculum
can involve creativity are included, but Palastanga
does stress that every school is individual, giving
even more autonomy to school leaders. At this
moment in time, this book is very much needed.
Dawn Woods
EDITOR’S PICK
Sedgewick, Dr Felicity,
Hull, Dr Laura, and Ellis,
Helen
Autism and Masking:
How and Why People
Do It, and the Impact
It Can Have
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
2021, pp272, £16.99
9781787755796
Autism. Neurodiverse. Masking
Masking is a survival technique used by many autistic
people in social situations to try and be perceived
as being neurotypical. This book explains what
masking is, different types of masking and who does
it, and how to identify when someone is masking;
it looks at the strategies that people use when they
mask; why and where people mask, including at
school, university, work and social events; the
consequences and impact of masking; and how
different groups, such as parents, siblings, educators,
etc. can help to support people who mask. Another
excellent publication from Jessica Kingsley, the
book is accessibly written with text broken up by
sub-headings, personal pieces and ‘other things to
think about’ boxes. It combines research with case
studies and anecdotes, and features a diverse range
of voices across gender, ethnicity, and age. A useful
addition for the staff library.
Barbara Band
Shenton, Andrew K.
Facilitating
Effective Sixth Form
Independent Learning:
Methodologies,
Methods, and Tools
Facet Publishing
2021, pp277, £55
9781783305582
EPQ. Learning. Independence
Shenton opens by acknowledging one of the
major challenges to modern independent learning,
which is the wide array of information that can be
found online that is not necessarily reliable and
vetted. Shenton also acknowledges the pandemic
has made us more aware of the importance of
independent learning.
I appreciated that Shenton pointed out that guidance
from librarians and teachers as well as collaboration
with peers is an integral part of effective independent
learning. After establishing the groundwork, the
text guides readers through developing an effective
information literacy programme, covering topics
such as developing research questions, evaluating
information, and time management.
I recommend this title to librarians who work with
sixth form students, especially those involved in the
EPQ, as well as teachers who want to improve their
students’ learning inside and out of the classroom.
Emily Kindregan
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022
71

Books: Review Index
Page numbers in italics indicate a book that features
in the Editor’s Picks highlight box on that page.
A
Abercombie, Lou – Coming Up for Air 46
Adams, Anna – What’s the Hurry, Murray? A Child’s Guide to
Finding Calm 36
Adams, Anna – Don’t Worry, Murray! A Child’s Guide to Help
Overcome Worries 36
Aggs, Patrice – It’s Her Story: Shirley Chisholm 54
Ameri-Siemens, Anne – Explore the Rainforest 54
Anderson, Laura Ellen – Rainbow Grey: Eye of the Storm 46
Ayto, Russell – An Earth-bot’s solution to plastic pollution 49
B
Bailey, Susanna – Raven Winter 46
Balen, Katya – The Light in Everything 46
Barr, Catherine – Water 54
Barroux – I Love You, Blue 36
Batty, Andrew – The Boy and the Briefcase and the Moose 60
Beaty, Andrea – Aaron Slater, Illustrator 46
Beaty, Andrea – I Love You Like Yellow 36
Beaty, Andrea and Griffith, Theanne – Ada Twist, Scientist:
The Why Files 36
Beswetherick, Emma & Woodbine, Anna – The Honeybee
Treasure Hunt 49
Bird, Daisy – Pigology: The Ultimate Encyclopedia 54
Blandiana, Ana – Five Books 68
Boivin, Lisa – I Will See You Again 68
Bondestam, Linda – My Life at the Bottom:
The Story of a Lonesome Axolotl 36
Boulley, Angeline – Fire Keeper’s Daughter 68
Bowen, Natasha – Skin of the Sea 60
Boxall, Ed – Carried Away with the Carnival 37
Bradman, Tony – Bruno and Frida 46
Brandt, Lucy – Leonora Bolt Secret Inventor 47
Brouillard, Roxane – My Dog Banana 37
Brown, Ian – Albert Upside Down 37
Brydon, Alli et al – Britannica’s 5-Minute Really
True Stories for Family Time 54
Butterfield, Moira and Verona, Jesus (Illustrator) –
Look What I Found at the Seaside 39
C
Carroll, Emma – Escape to the River Sea 47
Caught, Alexis – Queer Up: An Uplifting Guide to
LGBTQ+ Love, Life and Mental Health 66
Chancellor, Henry – Jack Toliffe Goes Forth 47
Chester, Camilla – Call Me Lion 47
Chisholm, Alastair – Dragon Storm: Tomás and Ironskin 47
Chowdhury, Radhiah – The Katha Chest 37
Churchill, Alexandra – The First World War 54
Ciddor, Anna – The Boy Who Stepped Through Time 47
Clapham, Katie – Three Girls 60
Cleveland-Peck, Patricia and Tazzyman, David (Illustrator)
– You Can’t Take an Elephant on Holiday 39
Coelho, Joseph – Luna Loves Dance 37
Comune, Luogo – Big Book of Boats 55
Coninx, Harry – Guardiola: Tales from the Touchline 55
D
Dahl, Michael – Save the Day, Wonder Woman! 37
Dahl, Roald – Beastly and Bewildering Words 55
Dahl, Roald – Scrumptious and Delumptious Words 55
Dance, Arielle – Dearest One 38
Dartnell, Chris – Most Animals Like to… 38
Davidson, Zanna and Williamson, Melanie (Illustrator) –
Monsters At The Seaside 39
Davies, Stephen – The Ancient Egypt Sleepover 48
Davis, Rachael – I Am Not a Prince 38
De, Nichols – Art of Protest 66
Delporte, Corinne – A Picnic in the Rain 39
Demetriou, Annette – Me, in the Middle 38
Deneen, Brendan and Hosalla, Bell (Illustrator) – Stranded 63
Dias-Hayes, Michaela – Colour and Me! 38
Dicamillo – The Beatryce Prophecy 48
Dodd, Emma – The Little Things 38
Dorison, Xavier and Herzet, Emmanuel – Swan Song 1 & 2 60
Doyle, Catherine and Webber, Katherine – Twin Crowns 60
E
Earle, Phil – While the Storm Rages 48
Elliott, Joseph – The Burning Swift 60
Emezi, Akwaeke – Bitter 61
Evans, Harriet – Above and Below: Dusk till Dawn 55
F
Fine, Anne – Aftershocks 61
Forsström, Tua – I Walked on into The Forest 68
Fraser, Lu – One Camel Called Doug 39
G
Gardner, Scot – Off the Map 61
Gardy, Dr. Jennifer – It Takes Guts 55
Garmus, Bonnie – Lessons in Chemistry 69
Glasgow, Kathleen – You’d Be Home Now 61
Gledhill, Carly – Frog goes on holiday 39
Gold, Hannah and Pinfold, Levi (Illustrator)
– The Lost Whale 48 & 49
Goodhart, Pippa – Stop the Clock! 39
Gourlay, Candy and Ballesteros, Carles – Mike Falls Up 48
Gray, Claudia and Zawadzki, Eric (Illustrator) –
The Enemy Delusion 63
Greig, Louise (adapted by) and de Saint-Exupéry,
Antoine – The Little Prince 39
Gross, Jean – Reaching the Unseen Children 71
H
Haig, Joan and Lennon, Joan – Talking History 56
Hale, Kate – Return to Factopia! 56
Hargreaves, Joan-Maree and Bullock, Marita –
The Big Book of Festivals 56
Harpham, Michael – The School Leader’s Year 71
Hart, Caryl – Thank You for the Little Things 40
Henry-Allain, Laura – My Skin, Your Skin 40
Howard, Martin – A World Full of Journeys and Migrations 56
Howell, Izzi (Editor) – The Greatest Ideas in Conservation 49
J
Jamar,Leo and Corine – Mutations: Episode 1 50
Jukes, Sarah Ann – The Hunt for the Nightingale 48
K
Kaminoff, Lara – How to pick a fight 63
Khan, Muhammad – Mark My Words 61
Kibuishi, Amy Kim – Realm of the Blue Mist 63
Killick, Jennifer – Dread Wood 49
Klein, Naomi and Naylor-Ballesteros, Chris – Frank and Bert 41
Korte, Steven – Cave of Kryptonite 40
L
LaRocc, Rajani a & Palacias, Sara – I’ll go and I’ll come back 39
Landman, Tanya – Meg and Merlin 49
Lang, Karen and Selim Tezel – Become an App Inventor 66
Larwood, Kieran – Carnival of the Lost 49
Lawrence, Sandra – World of Food 56
Len, Vanessa – Only a Monster Can Kill a Hero 61
Lester, Alison – Noni the Pony Counts to a Million 40
Li, Yijing – Through the Forest 40
Lin, Ann Sei – Rebel Skies 64
Lindo, David – The Extraordinary World of Birds 56
Loring-Fisher, Jo – Wolf Girl 40
Lumbers, Fiona – Clem and Crab 39
M
Macx, Logan – Swift and Hawk: Cyberspies 50
Maddox, Lucy – What is Mental Health? 66
Mann, Manjeet – The Crossing 63
Marazano, Richard – Memories from the Civil War 68
Martin, Claudia – Ocean pollution 49
Marufu, Aneesa – The Balloon Thief 63
Marufu, Aneesa and Rowe, Catherine (Illustrator) –
The Balloon Thief 69
McCaughrean, Geraldine – A Tale of Two Dragons 41
McKee, David – Elmer and the Bedtime Story 41
Mckenna, Skye – Hedgewitch 50
McNicoll, Elle – Like a Charm 50
Merga, Margaret K. – School Libraries Supporting
Literacy and Wellbeing 71
Meyer, Marissa – Gilded 68
Meyer, Marissa – Serendipity 63
Milford Haven, Clare – The Magic Sandcastle 41
Milosavljevich, Stefan – Tales of Ancient Worlds 57
Mohammed, Leah – Luma and the Pet Dragon 50
Moldofsky, Kim – It’s Her Story: Amelia Earhart 57
Montgomery, Ross – The Chime Seekers 50
Mora, Francisco de la – Diego Rivera 69
Morris, Molly – This is not the end 69
Mortimer, Helen – Big Words for Little People: Being Healthy 41
Murphy, Macken – Animal Sidekicks 57
N
Nainy, Mamta – Rainbow Hands 41
Nelson, Kate and Meikle, Olivia – The Book of Sisters 57
Nicholls, Sally – Out of the Rubble 51
Nwora, Christle – The Hospital: The Inside Story 57
O
Obama, Barack – Dreams From My Father: A Story of
Race and Inheritance: Adapted for Young Adults 69
O’Hara, Natalia – Frindleswylde 51
O’Neill, Poppy – This is Me! A Self-Discovery Journal for Girls 57
O’Neill, Poppy – No More Worries! Outsmart Anxiety and
Be Positively You 66
O’Neill, Poppy – You’ve Got This! Release Your Inner Power
and Be Awesomely You 66
Okupe, Roye – Iyanu: Child of Wonder 63
Owen, Karen – Major and Mynah 51
P
Packham, Simon – Has Anyone Seen Archie Ebbs? 51
Palastanga, Emma L – A Creative Primary Curriculum for All 71
Pankhurst, Kate – Fantastically Great Women Artists
and Their Stories 58
Paquette, Ammi-Joan – All from a Walnut 42
Patrick, Kat – The Spectacular Suit 42
Paulson, Gary – Northwind 51
Perry, J Jamar – Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms 51
Ponti, Claude – Blaze and the Castle Cake for Bertha Daye 42
Punter, Russell and Da Rold, Andrea (Illustrator) –
The hound of the Baskervilles 63
R
Richards, Jasmine – The Unmorrow Curse 52
Robertson, David A. – Sugar Falls 64
Robinson, Michelle – Isabelle and the Crooks 42
Rolle, Leon and Owusu, Derek – About This Boy 67
Ros, Manon Steffan – The Blue Book of Nebo 69
Rose, Phoebe – Sex and Gender: An Introductory Guide 67
Rowell, Rainbow – Come Away With Me 63
Rowland, Lucy – A Hero Called Wolf 42
S
Sanchez, Erika L. – I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter 64
Santat, Dan – The Aquanaut 49
Sarda, Julia – The Queen in the Cave 52
Saunders, Rachael – Cluck Cluck Duck: Lift the Flaps 42
Saunders, Rachael – Tractor, Tractor: Lift the Flaps 43
Saxby, Claire – Iceberg 43
Schutten, Jan Paul – Inside In: X-Rays of
Nature’s Hidden World 67
Seal, Julia – Bloom 43
Sedgewick, Dr Felicity, Hull, Dr Laura, and Ellis, Helen –
Autism and Masking: How and Why People Do It,
and the Impact It Can Have 71
Sedgman, Sam – Epic Adventures 58
Senior, Suzy – Octopants: The Missing Pirate Pants 43
Shenton, Andrew K. – Facilitating Effective Sixth Form Independent
Learning: Methodologies, Methods, and Tools 71
Shusterman, Neal and Shusterman, Jarrod – Roxy 64
Sirdeshpande, Rashmi – Yes You Can, Cow 43
Slack, Michael – Dinosaurs on Kitten Island 43
Smith, Maudie – My Must-Have Mum 44
Soundar, Chitra – Manju’s Magic Muddle 44
Stamper, Phil – Golden boys 69
Stevens, Roger – Raze ma Taze 52
Stewart-Sharpe, Leisa – How Does
Chocolate Taste on Everest? 58
Stone, Tiffany – Little Narwhal, Not Alone 44
Szirtes, George – Fresh Out of the Sky 69
T
Traynor, Jessica – Pit Lullabies 69
True Peters, Stephanie and Joy San Juan, Mel
(Illustrator)– Skateboard Summer 63
Tzomaka, Vassiliki – Dart and Dive Across the Reef:
Life in the World’s Busiest Reefs 49
W
Webber, Katherine – The Revelry 69
Weeks, Kathy – What’s New Harper Drew 52
Weiss, Sabrina – Amazing Animals 58
Wells, Hayley – The More Monster 44
Weltmann, Anna – Not Your Average Maths Book 58
Wersocki Morris, Eve – The Bird Singers 52
Wheatle, Alex – Kemosha of the Caribbean 64
Williams, Tyus D. – A Day in the Life: Big Cats 58
Wood, Laura – Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice: A Retelling 64
Woolley, Katie and Pepper , Charlotte (Illustrator) –
Seaside animals 39
Y
Yeoman, John – Quentin Blake’s Magical Tales 52
Z
Zepf, Maire – Rita Wants a Fairy Godmother 44
Zepf, Maire – Rita Wants a Ninja 44
72
VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2022

From the author of WHEN THE SKY FALLS
From the author of WHEN THE SKY FALLS
winner of the Books Are My Bag Readers Award for Children’s Fiction,
shortlisted Winner for the of British the Books Book Are Awards My Bag and Readers the 2022 Choice CILIP Award Carnegie Medal
Shortlisted for the 2022 CILIP Carnegie Medal
‘A truly
brilliant story
of courage
and resilience’
EMMA
CARROLL
‘This book
doubles down
on Phil Earle’s
reputation as a
masterful writer;
a compelling,
action-packed and
heartfelt story’
M. G.
LEONARD
‘Another
stunning read
from one of the
most authentic
storytellers
writing for
children today’
LESLEY
PARR
‘Lyrical, powerful
and beautiful –
this is a writer at
the very top of
their game’
MAZ EVANS
‘A magnificent story…
it deserves
‘A magnificent every prize
story…
going’
it deserves every prize going’
PHILIP PULLMAN
PHILIP PULLMAN
‘Deeply felt, movingly written,
‘Deeply felt, movingly written,
a remarkable achievement’
a remarkable achievement’
MICHAEL MORPURGO
MICHAEL MORPURGO
2nd June | 9781839132056 | Artwork by Levente Szabo | andersenpress.co.uk
Artwork by Levente Szabo | andersenpress.co.uk

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