The School Librarian 71-3 Autumn 2023

A Community World Book Day
By Lucy Davis
Love to Read: Six Principles to Promote
Reading for Pleasure
By Sarah McGeown
The Quarterly Journal of the School Library Association
Volume 71 Number 3 Autumn 2023
An Insight into the SLA Awards 2023
www.sla.org.uk

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Contents
Welcome from the CEO 2
Editorial 3
SLA News 4
Features
Crossing the Line: The County Lines Pandemic
Tia Fisher 5
A Community World Book Day: Hosting a World Book Day Festival for All of the
Schools in Our Trust
Lucy Davis 6
Love to Read: Six Principles to Promote Reading for Pleasure
Sarah McGeown 8
The Quarterly Journal of the School Library Association
Volume 71 Number 3 Autumn 2023
SLA Awards 2023 10
Research Highlights 14
Frequently Asked Questions 15
The Future of Education 16
A View From... 18
Between the Library and the Classroom 20
Media and Information Literacy Alliance Update 20
Curriculum Links 22
Digital
Empowering Educational Creativity with Adobe Express 24
The Opportunities that AI Presents for School Librarians 26
Social Media Accounts and Hashtags: Illustrators 27
Review: The Education Platform from the Copyright Licensing Agency 28
Review: The Island of Brilliant 28
Enhancing Educational Experiences: How Can Generative AI Tools Support
School Librarians? 30
Review: Booklet 32
BookTok Book Awards 33
Three from YouTube – Induction and New School Settings 34
Closing the Reading Gap through Literacy Support 36
YouTube – Illustrators 38
2022–2027 SLA Strategy Update 39
Book Reviews
7 & Under 40
8 -12 46
13-16 62
17-19 68
Dates for Your Diary 70
Professional Reviews 71
Book Review Index 72
6
A Community World
Book Day:
Hosting a World Book
Day Festival for
All of the Schools in
Our Trust
8
Love to Read:
Six Principles to
Promote Reading for
Pleasure
10
SLA Awards 2023
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
1

Welcome from the CEO
The summer always means the SLA is a hive of activity
– much as September will be for you – and so as I sit
and write this, I’m wondering what to include and what
should be left out … difficult decisions!
Since the beginning of June, we have held the weekend course
– ‘Empowering All Pupils for the Future’ – which was a fantastic
two days of thought-provoking keynotes, breathtaking book talks,
and great comradery from delegates.
July saw Great School Libraries host an event for MPs at the
House of Commons, and we were delighted to secure the support
of Michael Rosen and have a very successful event.
We also had a mini award season, starting with the Pupil Library
Assistant Award being presented to Megan Urmston from
Abbeyfield School in Chippenham; seven other pupil library
assistants were also celebrated. It was a lovely ceremony, with the
impact their school libraries and librarians had on the pupils clear
to see. We are looking forward to running it again, and next year will
see it open to nominations from primary age pupils as well.
Just a few weeks later the celebrations continued as we honoured
our SLA Awards finalists – you have the opportunity to read more
about them all in this issue.
Throughout all this we have been focused on delivering our
strategy, and you can see an update in this issue as well.
This cover is our third by Swindon author and
illustrator, Steve Antony.
Published four times a year by the School Library Association:
spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Cover illustration by Steve Antony.
Copyright © 2023 School Library Association. All rights reserved.
ISSN 0036 6595
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.
However, one of the main things we’ve
been working on is very much in the
background … in the autumn we
will be launching a new website and
Association Management System. We
have been working on this for over a
year already, and it’s still under wraps
for the main part, but we want to start
making you aware that things will be
changing. The new system is more
Alison Tarrant
powerful, faster, and with a much
improved search function – allowing you to navigate the 600+
documents more easily than ever before. It’ll also allow you to
change your own details, renew at any time within three months
of your renewal date, and have a lot more functionality. We
are proud to be investing in the SLA community, and although
change is never easy, we are determined to provide what we can
to help you maximise your school libraries for your pupils.
We will send out more information about what you need to do
and how to do it nearer the time – the expected changeover will
happen end of September/October, so it’s not something that will
interrupt your start of terms.
So, with the buzz that comes from a hive of activity, and a
new academic year underway or about to start, let’s plan for a
great 2023/24.
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
Advertising: 4 Welbeck Avenue, Tunbridge Wells,
Kent, TN4 9BD
Tel: 01892 677742
Email: sharonm@spacemarketing.co.uk
All other communications should be sent to
info@sla.org.uk. Phone number: 01793 530166
We are always keen for feedback.
Subscriptions
The current cost of annual membership of the School Library
Association is £95.00 to include one copy of each quarterly
journal, The School Librarian, or £131.00 to include two
copies. The rate for retired and fulltime student members
is £50.00. Details and membership forms may be obtained
from the SLA website.
Members of the SLA receive this journal free; they may
purchase other SLA publications and training courses
at reduced rates; and may use our telephone advisory
service and access members-only resources on the website.
Worldwide institutional subscriptions to the journal only are
available at £122.00 for the calendar year 2023.
2
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Editorial
The rains have been lashing down and the
winds swirling as I write this, and I’m not
just referring to the political shenanigans.
However, the summer has still been
one of the hottest ever, bringing its own source of
concern for us as we look to deal with increasingly
unpredictable seasons and landscapes. The new
school year is a source of worry as well as renewal,
and that applies not just to pupils, old and new.
The Quarterly Journal of the School Library Association
Volume 71 Number 3 Autumn 2023
A Community World Book Day
By Lucy Davis
Love to Read: Six Principles to Promote
Reading for Pleasure
By Sarah McGeown
An Insight into the SLA Awards 2023
In the school library sector things have
been looking a little more positive.
However, in the school library sector things have
been looking a little more positive. There has been
a flurry of research involving school libraries,
covering digital resilience, the impact of attractive
school libraries, reading attainment and attitudes,
and a new reading framework from the Department
for Education (read more in the extended Research
Highlights section).
The last few weeks have also seen Margaret
Greenwood MP launch an Early Day Motion for
MPs to show their support for school libraries,
due to the hard work of all those involved with the
Great School Libraries campaign. You can read the
motion here: https://edm.parliament.uk/earlyday-motion/61208
and do email your MP and ask
them to sign, or to get in touch with the campaign
to find out more.
I was also delighted to see the inclusion and
celebration of so many school librarians on CILIP’s
125 list. The list commemorates the past (the
125th anniversary of their Royal Charter) but is
forward facing as nominees have to be in the first
seven years of being a librarian or information/
knowledge professional, and it was fantastic to
celebrate so many SLA members being on the list.
This issue holds much to inspire and encourage,
and celebrates the SLA community as a whole.
We take some time to learn from the finalists for
our school staff focused Awards, and I’m sure
there’ll be much thought as to what problems could
be solved, how things might work in your context,
or just cheering for your colleagues.
Political unease is pervasive at the moment, and
will only grow more so as we get closer to a general
election and big issues continue to impact our
daily lives. SLA President Richard Gerver asks us
all to consider that we should be able to ‘challenge
our policy makers and to ensure that they in
turn, represent us, our children, and our society
as they endeavour to move education forward’.
He gives ten areas which are going to be foci
www.sla.org.uk
moving forward and asks us to consider how SLA
members, our work, and our stories can play a part
in that conversation.
Meanwhile, in the digital section Kojo Hazel
explores Adobe Express, which sounds like it might
be a contender with Canva, and which includes
Adobe’s own AI generator… Other opportunities
which AI presents are explored by Elizabeth
Hutchinson, and we bring the section to a close
with some quick induction ideas and illustrators
to follow – a great way to build links with your
art departments.
This issue, you’ll find the ‘dates for your diary’ at
the back next to the ‘Professional Reviews’ section,
so don’t miss that.
Finally, we’re working on another TSL special.
The first, on information literacy, is still available on
the website if you missed it, and the next one will be
on designing school libraries. With these specials
we reuse older content with some recent additions
and bring it all together in one place; making it
easier to browse and get a range of perspectives
in one area. We’d like to continue doing these in
future, so what other topics would you want to see?
Let us know on our socials or via email.
Thank you to all the contributors for this issue, and
we’ll be back at the beginning of December with
more articles, ideas, and reviews. Have a great term,
from us all at the SLA.
Alison Tarrant is the Chief
Executive of the School
Library Association, and
is Co-Chair of the Great
School Libraries campaign.
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
3

SLA News
Some support never ends
Photo: Aberystwyth University
The past few months have brought some sad news as we learnt
that school library titan Frank Hogg and children’s author Kate
Saunders had passed away.
Frank Hogg
Frank had an immense impact on the
SLA – he was President from 1977 until
2003, and he was awarded an OBE in 1988.
He is remembered fondly in the SLA office
as someone who always found the time to
support us and gave generously to support
staff wellbeing. He was charming and great
fun, and will always be remembered as a
true champion of libraries.
Kate Saunders may be
best known for Five
Children on the Western
Front (2014) and The
Land of Neverendings
(2019) but she will also be
remembered as a delight to
work with and listen to as
she spoke about her books.
We are hugely grateful to her sister, Etta, for fundraising for the
School Library Association in her memory, reflecting her passion
for, and belief in, school libraries and adding to her legacy.
Faber and Faber
Join us to welcome new trustees and
be in with a chance of winning an SLA
gift voucher
The SLA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held online at 6.30pm on
Wednesday 13 September. It’s not only a legally required meeting but an
important chance for you to have a say in the running of the SLA. The papers
will be sent out three weeks in advance and voting can be done online in
advance of the meeting, or at the time if you have any questions.
SLA Trustees will be there to answer your questions, give you an update
on the business of the SLA, and say thank you to those trustees who are
stepping down.
These things can feel very unknown, so to help you take part, here’s some
FAQs. Just let us know if you want to know anything else.
Who can take part? Any SLA member can take part and vote or propose or
second items during an AGM.
What if I can’t make that time, can I still vote? You can nominate a proxy
to vote on your behalf during the meeting, but that person must attend the
meeting. They do not have to be a member. You can find more information in
the Notice of AGM, but in short, you email the office and nominate the person
you want to vote on your behalf – this can be the Chair for example.
How important is the AGM? It’s very important. It’s legally required to keep
the SLA running, and it’s an important opportunity for you to find out about
the priorities, running, and spending of the organisation.
When do new trustees start? New trustees are elected at the AGM. You can
find out more about who’s standing by reading the documents below.
What if I have a question, but can’t attend? Any questions can be sent to the
Chair. If you have something you want to ask, or are unsure of, please do get in
touch. If you’re thinking it, someone else may be too!
All attendees will be entered into a draw to win a £20 SLA voucher. You can
book your attendance at the AGM now via the calendar on the SLA website or
this link: ww.sla.org.uk/ticket/sla-annual-general-meeting-2023-agm/
Alert! New website
incoming
The office team have been working hard on
a new Association Management System and
website to improve your experience as a
member.
The website will be split into two sections,
similar to our current one. There’ll be the
public site with our advocacy pages, and
then our members section. However, this will
have two different levels – level one will be all
the free to access content (which will still be
free, but people will have to sign in to access
it) and level two will be the paid for content
(which will still only be available to current
paid members). We are changing this around
to help us understand the numbers of people
we help, and which resources/pages are the
most popular.
Improvements for members will include
better search functionality and sight of the
support documents, more control of your
profile and your schools’ details (if relevant),
greater ability to engage, and much more. It’s
coming in the autumn, but we’ll let you know
what you need to do and when in due course.
4
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Feature
Crossing the Line:
The County Lines Pandemic
Tia Fisher
Tia Fisher explains the reality of the county lines issue and what
we can do to help the vulnerable young people targeted.
Since lockdown, county lines have grown to
pandemic proportions. Vulnerable children are
targeted and groomed into running and selling
drugs – and what starts with attention and gifts
from gang members becomes coercion. Children
are pressured to act as mules, travelling miles
away from home to live in trap houses in squalid
conditions. They are at risk of violence, and in this
form of modern slavery, drugs or money might even
be “stolen” from the victims by their gangmasters
to create a bondage debt. In the first nine months
of 2022, there were over 1,500 referrals flagged as
county lines to the National Referral Mechanism.
Although victims are primarily boys in their midteens,
gangs are turning increasingly to those who
won’t attract suspicion. So-called ‘clean skins’:
primary age children, girls and well-groomed
children from middleclass homes with no police
record – like my character Erik, in my novel Crossing
the Line.
Books against county lines
We know that children need to find themselves –
their emotions, experiences and dilemmas –
reflected in what they read. Giving the right book to
the right teenager at the right time could potentially
change or save their life: it could be the first time a
young person feels seen and understood. It’s about
understanding others too: Empathy Lab research
proves that reading builds real life empathy, which
leads to increased socialisation.
Books are a safe space to raise and explore
difficult topics. The more aware we can make
children, the better armed they are against grooming
attempts. Young people may not see themselves as
exploited because they’ve been manipulated into
thinking it’s their choice. Credible fiction can help by
providing an alternative narrative.
I wish my book was a work of pure of imagination,
but unfortunately it isn’t: it happened to the son
of a close friend. Although some subsequent plot
elements were fictional, the grooming was not, and
what happens to my character Erik actually happens
to many children every day.
Sadly, although the coverage in the media has
increased, county lines is an issue that is still underrepresented
in books for young people. I wrote
Crossing the Line to help fill that gap and chose to
write it in verse to make it more accessible to those
who may find large amounts of text off-putting.
Narrative verse is a fast, pacy read which pulls a
reader through.
Who is vulnerable?
County lines gangs exploit children who are
susceptible to what’s being offered: “family”, money,
status, or – in these times of dire poverty – even food.
If children’s home circumstances are traumatic and
chaotic, they may not want to spend time there,
seeking instead the sense of belonging and affection
from gang members.
If they witness abuse or were abused – sexually or
otherwise – children can grow up with low selfesteem
which leaves them particularly vulnerable
to exploitation.
Failing to receive support for special educational
needs, or other needs, can lead to falling out of the
school system (as happened to my friend’s son).
As the recent Commission on Young Lives report
on county lines notes, children who have been
labelled as trouble makers at school and excluded
are especially vulnerable. “Exclusion is always a
factor in our serious cases, both with perpetrators
and victims. Schools are ill-equipped to manage
traumatised children’s behaviour and the
children in the criminal justice system are often
highly traumatised.”
Spot the signs
Early intervention is essential. The first and most
obvious thing is to look – and listen – for the early
signs that a young person has been recruited and
continued on page 17 >>>
Tia Fisher works in a library
in South London. She had a
YA novel longlisted for the
Mslexia Children’s Novel
Award. Crossing the Line is
her debut novel. @tiafisher_
Crossing the Line by Tia
Fisher was published on
30th March, by Hot Key
Books.
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
5

Feature
A Community World Book Day:
Hosting a World Book Day Festival
for All of the Schools in Our Trust
Lucy Davis
Lucy Davis and her team tackled a World Book Day with
students from not one but three different settings. How did
it go?
As this is the first year (since the Covid-19
pandemic) I have felt confident that my
team and I would be able to deliver a
full festival-style World Book Day set of
events, I started having initial conversations with
my team back in November 2022. Since joining the
college in October 2019 I have always believed that
there would be numerous benefits from hosting
collaborative events which the students from all
three settings (Frimley CofE, Tomlinscote, and
The Sixth Form College Farnborough) in our trust
could attend, so it was always my intention to start
hosting such events.
I feel strongly that we are in very privileged
positions in the jobs that we do as we have more
autonomy than most and are less constrained by
“red tape”. So, with this in mind, I developed a plan
whereby we would deliver a variety of events and
activities for the three settings in our trust as well as
the nursery children (who are based on the college
site) in order to celebrate World Book Day 2023.
workshop (I hadn’t decided at this stage if the
content of the workshop would be just creative
writing or if it would include other creative aspects
– this would largely depend on the most suitable
person we could find!). All I knew for sure was
that we would have students from Year 5 working
alongside students from Year 12!
The next important step was to source the right
person for the job, so I, and two members of my
team set about finding them: we primarily used
traditional organisations online like Authors Aloud
UK and Contact an Author. I was very specific
with our requirements, i.e. that the author must
have experience of working with a wide age range
of students in one group, must be able to inspire
our attendees on the day, and we must value
their work.
Thankfully we managed to find the perfect person
to deliver the creative writing workshop and Q&A
session to the students: Richy K. Chandler, a writer,
illustrator and stand-up comic! As well as being
Lucy Davis is the LRC
Manager at The Sixth Form
College in Farnborough.
She has worked in school
libraries for the past sixteen
years. Starting in a primary
school, she then worked
in two secondary schools
before joining a specialist
Sixth Form College in
October 2019.
As with all good ideas, it very quickly
took shape, grew bigger, and grew
in momentum!
As with all good ideas, it very quickly took shape,
grew bigger, and grew in momentum! I had the
initial conversation with my counterparts at the
other two settings in the trust early on in the
planning stage in order to gauge their support
for my plans; luckily for me they were keen
to be involved and participate. They also fully
understood the many gains that could be had by
choosing to collaborate in this unique way. I felt
strongly that the key purpose of the main event
on the day would be an opportunity for students
from all three settings to participate in a creative
The community got fully involved.
6
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

A Community World Book Day
impressed with his obvious writing and illustrating
skills, I was also particularly impressed with Richy’s
work experience as it included working with a wide
variety of people of varying ages and from a variety
of backgrounds. Thankfully Richy was available and
was keen to be involved in our plans for the day.
There was a definite feeling of
excitement in the room.
I next set about planning the other elements of
the day: inviting the children (and staff) from
the nursery, planning the internal activities that
would be taking place for our “customers” in
the college on the day. At this point I appointed
three members of my team to take ownership of
three specific elements of the planning. One was
responsible for getting our internal “customers”
(i.e. the sixth form students and staff) to sign
up to our sessions, one was responsible for the
marketing aspects of the project, and one was
responsible for organising the children and staff
(who were visiting us from the nursery) in order to
participate in a Gruffalo storytime session in the
Library on the same morning. Over the next two
months we encountered numerous hiccups (as is
always the case with these events!), so we met on a
regular basis to ensure that our priorities remained
consistent and accurate.
In the later stages of our planning, we launched
our internal marketing campaign which included
communicating the information to all staff and
students in the college, together with QR codes
in order for them to sign up for the creative
writing workshop or author Q&A session. We
communicated this information on a weekly
basis through as many communication channels
as possible and we liaised with the tutor team of
staff, our careers department, student services
department and study support team of staff to
ensure that they were fully aware of the event
and were able to support us in a variety of ways.
We then launched our external marketing
campaign, which included: inviting all members
of the Senior Leadership teams in all 3 settings to
the events (and providing them with a schedule for
the day); inviting the CEO of the trust; inviting the
local mayor; and contacting the local newspaper
to outline the day’s events and explain that we
would be providing them with an article (and
accompanying photos) after the events had
taken place.
It was very apparent in the final week prior to the
event taking place that it was a talking point within
the college. I was approached by numerous staff
members asking what was happening on the day
and how could they support us!
The day finally arrived, so me and my team
proudly arrived at work dressed in our World Book
Day costumes!
The children from the other two schools started
arriving from 9 a.m. onwards, which allowed us
to start the “ice breaker” activity promptly at 9.15
a.m. which encouraged all of the students to mix
and get to know each other. By the time the author
(Richy K.Chandler) arrived, there was a definite
feeling of excitement in the room, as the students
felt comfortable being in each other’s company by
this point.
Richy was incredibly enthusiastic
and instantly built a rapport
with his audience which allowed
the students to fully engage
right from the beginning of the
creative writing session. The
mayor arrived shortly after
the session began, promptly
followed by the CEO of the
trust; I introduced them to the
students when they arrived
and this definitely raised the
excitement levels in the room.
The creative writing session
went very quickly and it was
evident that the students from all
three settings gained a lot from
attending. You could hear excited
conversations taking place
throughout the session, as Richy
had ensured that all ages (and
abilities) could fully engage in
the process. This session finished
promptly at 11 a.m. and was
then followed by a Q&A session
which was attended by students
from the sixth form college. As
before, Richy had a wonderful
manner with his audience who very quickly felt
at ease in his company. The session flowed well
and encompassed his passion for drawing from a
young age right through to his career now and the
challenges he faced and still faces. The students
then had the opportunity to ask Richy questions,
which ranged from the most effective ways to plan
your ideas, through to how to combat writer’s
block. Richy’s answers were informative, personal,
and honest. After a series of farewells to our guests,
we began rearranging the room! As with any event
you organize, there will always be things that
you’d do differently next time … but I can honestly
say that the day exceeded my expectations. My
main reason for wanting to host such an event
was to provide an opportunity whereby students
from all three educational settings in our trust
could work alongside each other in an inclusive
environment and which would allow them to feel
confident enough to learn and practice new skills.
My intention is for us to host this event on an
annual basis.
As with everything (when there’s a large amount of
planning involved) there was a degree of problemsolving
throughout the planning process, but I
can honestly say that the benefits of organising
such an event significantly outweigh the hiccups
that we experienced. For me, these type of events
are crucial to these roles, in which we have the
opportunity to engage and enrich the learning of
the students in our settings.
Pupils enthralled at one of
the events.
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
7

Feature
Love to Read: Six Principles to
Promote Reading for Pleasure
Sarah McGeown
The Love to Read programme focuses on increasing children’s
reading for pleasure. Read on to find out more about the six
key principles involved.
Sarah McGeown
University of Edinburgh,
Scotland.
There is a considerable body of research
illustrating the rich and diverse
experiences and outcomes that books
have to offer. Reading develops children’s
literacy and language skills, knowledge of the
world, themselves and others, and can support
children’s empathy, perspective taking and
wellbeing (McGeown & Wilkinson, 2021). When
children speak about their reading experiences,
they often speak about reading books as providing
a time to relax, laugh, experience escapism,
spend time with fictional friends and explore their
interests (McGeown et al., 2020). However, many of
these benefits and experiences only happen when
children really connect with the books they read,
and are choosing to read of their own volition.
In the UK, evidence consistently illustrates
declining attitudes to reading during primary
school (Clark & Teravainen-Goff, 2020). The Love to
Read project focused on this issue, and involved a
team of researchers, teachers, other professionals,
and children, working together to co-create and
evaluate a new programme for teachers and school
staff to increase children’s reading for pleasure
(ages 8–11).
The Love to Read programme centres around six
research-informed principles (access, choice,
time, connection, social, and success) to support
children’s motivation to read (i.e. increase their
desire to read) and reading engagement (i.e. the
quantity and quality of their book reading
experiences). In this article, we define each of
these principles, share tips for embedding these
principles into practice, and provide details
from our evaluation. Full details of the project,
including the Love to Read programme, resources,
and evaluation outcomes, can be found on our
website: https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lovetoread/.
Access
Teacher definition:
Children have regular and easy
access to books at school that
align with their reading habits
and interests.
Child definition:
I can access books I enjoy.
Access tips for practice:
Involve children in new book purchases to
ensure book provision reflects the interests, lives,
experiences and abilities of all the children in your
class/school.
Strengthen the relationship with your local
community library to increase book provision.
Fundraise or encourage families to provide book
swaps/donations from home.
Choice
Teacher definition:
Children have choice over their
independent reading activities;
schools have the structure,
and children have the skills,
to ensure ‘good’ (i.e., skill and interest aligned)
reading choices.
Child definition:
I know how to choose books I will enjoy.
Choice tips for practice:
Provide guidance and model effective strategies
for children to select books aligned with their
interests and abilities. Discuss different strategies
for choosing books.
Scaffold reading choices, particularly for less
experienced readers, by providing a few book
options aligned with their interests and abilities.
Ensure books are organised optimally in the school
library and/or classrooms to facilitate student
choice. Include visible reviews to support choice.
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VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Time
Teacher definition:
Children have regular quality
time to read books they engage
within school and at home.
Child definition:
I have quality time to read at school and at home.
Time tips for practice:
Ensure quality time is set aside for reading in
school and children have a book they enjoy reading
during this time.
Nurture reading outside of school by encouraging
reading time at home.
Create extra opportunities to read in school, for
example in breakfast or after school clubs, reading
clubs, etc.
Connection
Teacher definition:
Children can access and choose
books, and book-reading
activities, which are personally
relevant, and relevant to their
reading goals.
Child definition:
I can access and choose books which I connect
with.
Connection tips for practice:
Audit, organise and celebrate diversity within
books. Take stock of the books available in your
school library and classrooms and plan future
purchases to reflect the interests, lives, and
experiences of all your students.
Encourage children to explore personally
meaningful content when they read, by
encouraging children to make connections
between what they read and their own interests,
lives, and experiences.
Encourage children to find books that connect with
the type of reading experience they are seeking by
asking what they are looking for (e.g. something to
make them laugh, relax, go on an adventure) and
then choose a book to align with this.
Social
Teacher definition:
Children have the time, activities,
and the skills, to share and
discuss books with others.
Child definition:
I enjoy sharing and discussing books with others.
Social tips for practice:
Introduce book-talk in an inclusive way,
recognising that children may like to share
their opinions in different ways (e.g. by writing,
speaking) and to different people (e.g. friends,
whole class, anonymously, etc.)
Develop children’s skills and confidence to
contribute to book-talk via Love to Read resources.
Social reading activities can extend beyond
the classroom. Involve families and the
local community in your own schools’
reading community.
Success
Teacher definition:
Children have the time,
activities, and the skills, to
share and discuss books
with others.
Child definition:
I enjoy sharing and discussing books with others.
Success tips for practice:
Ensure all children have access to high-quality
books which align with their reading abilities as
well as their reading interests.
Success is a broad concept and is different for all
children. Ensure this idea is embedded into your
class reading culture.
Encourage and support children to set meaningful
and achievable reading goals for themselves,
recognising the different ways in which they can
develop as readers.
Evaluation
In 2022, Love to Read was implemented in 4 UK
schools, with 425 children across 18 classes
(with 93 children and 8 teachers also participating
in interviews). Following six weeks of participating
in Love to Read activities we found statistically
significant increases in children’s reading
motivation and engagement if children started with
low levels of reading motivation and engagement
at the beginning (n = ~60 children). Teachers
and children involved also provided positive
anecdotal feedback:
If you are interested in learning more about Love
to Read, you can access the programme and
accompanying resources for free here: https://
blogs.ed.ac.uk/lovetoread/ and follow us on
Twitter for updates: @_Love_to_read
References
Teachers
Clark, C., & Teravainen-Goff, A. (2020). Children and Young People’s
Reading in 2019. National Literacy Trust Research Report.
McGeown, S., Bonsall, J., Andries, V., Howarth, D., & Wilkinson, K.
(2020). Understanding reading motivation across different text types:
Qualitative insights from children. Journal of Research in Reading,
43(4), 597–608. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9817.12320
McGeown, S., & Wilkinson, K. (2021). Inspiring and sustaining reading
for pleasure in children and young people: A guide for teachers and
school leaders. UKLA Minibook.
Children
Love to Read
Acknowledgements
With thanks to our funder,
Nuffield Foundation, and
all those involved in the
development and evaluation
of Love to Read.
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
9

SLA Awards 2023
The Primary School Librarian of the Year
Launched in 2021, the Primary category of School Librarian of the Year Award has
drawn attention to the important support primary school libraries provide pupils.
One of the joint winners in 2021, Jenny Griffiths, said: ‘Winning has made a huge
impact on my role at my school and on joining the wider librarian community. I am
so happy that I was nominated. My school is incredibly proud of this achievement
... Every school should take part and shout loudly about encouraging all pupils to be
great library users’. It’s proudly sponsored by Authors Abroad.
Find out more about
the finalists here.
Sarah Cross
Whitwick St John the Baptist CE Primary
School, Leicestershire
Which part of your role has had the most
impact? It has to be the ‘book talk’ sessions
I run during PPA time across the school
from Year 1 to Year 6. In these sessions,
with the younger children, we share books
and learn about different authors.
The school library doesn’t just allow
children and staff to borrow books, it is a
safe place for many of our children to come
at lunchtime, whether to read in the dark
with a torch during cosy reading sessions,
to share a picture book with a year 6 reading
pal or to just chill and browse the shelves.
What’s the community reaction been?
Since the shortlist has been published,
our deputy head has sent messages
out on our school social media which
has prompted some lovely replies from
parents and staff past and present. The
children have been extremely excited
about the nomination, especially as I feel
it is as much their nomination as mine.
They play such a huge role in the running
of the library, coming up with ideas for
displays and clubs and initiatives such
as the ‘recommendation corner’. The
librarians have even accompanied me on
a trip to the CLS Schools’ Library Service)
to choose new books for our loan stock.
Natasha Delaney
Westwood Primary School,
Cambridgeshire
Which part of your role has had the most
impact? A favourite part of my role is
organising author visits and competitions;
they have been great for inspiring readers,
helping children to read a diversity of
texts, and generally bringing reading to
the forefront of school life.
What are your thoughts on entering
the Award? I’m very passionate about
reading in schools and children reading
for pleasure. I’d very much like to immerse
myself into the world of children’s reading
as much as possible. I think being part of
SYLA is a great way to do that, especially
as it means being part of a very likeminded
community. I initially found the
awards and when I mentioned it to my
head, he was 100% behind supporting and
nominating me. He’s cheered me on the
whole way.
I think librarians in general aren’t good
at selling themselves, but librarians
are incredible and an essential part of
school life, so don’t be afraid to show off
those accomplishments!
Sally Hamerton
Two Mile Hill Primary School, Bristol
Which part of your role has had the
most impact? I started the reading for
pleasure conversation; the whole school
community has embraced it!
Our library is diverse, and our children are
able to see themselves reflected back in
the books they read. We frequently discuss
books being mirrors and windows. The
books on offer in our library are carefully
selected and every book has to earn its
shelf space.
What was your experience of entering
the Award? Our deputy head teacher
discussed nominating me with our literacy
lead, and discovering that I had been
nominated was a complete surprise. The
whole process is incredibly supportive.
What’s the community reaction been?
During the first class library visit after the
finalists were announced, a Year 2 child
whispered to me, ‘my mum told me that
you might win an award for librarians’.
This was the first time a pupil had
mentioned it and it was a perfect moment.
After I introduced a visiting author to
Years 3 and 4, he told all six classes about
my shortlisting, and encouraged them
to give me a round of applause before he
started his event!
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VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

SLA Awards 2023
The Secondary School Librarian of the Year
The School Librarian of the Year Award was proposed in 2003 by Aidan Chambers, who was
the president of the School Library Association at that time. It was intended to be an award
for excellent practice and to be given annually ‘in recognition of outstanding and exemplary
work by a school librarian ... whose work may be within the conventional bounds of library
and information resource centres or be in unconventional areas.’ (Aidan Chambers’ initial
proposal, October 2003). It’s proudly sponsored by Sora, by Overdrive.
Find out more about
the finalists here.
Bridget Hamlet
Rushey Mead Academy, Leicester
Which part of your role has the most
impact in your school and how? I begin
with building relationships with staff
and students in school so that they
know me and trust me – and seek me
out for recommendations and ideas. I
then ensure the library book stock is the
absolute best so that I have incredible
books to promote. I am relentlessly
enthusiastic about reading, and I read all
the time so that I have comprehensive
book knowledge which allows me to
match books to readers quickly and with
gusto. The combination of knowing
my school community really well and
knowing my books really well allows me
to create a welcoming library and a truly
positive reading culture in my school.
Why did you want to be nominated
and/or why do you think SLYA is
important for school librarians and
school libraries? The SLYA is important
for raising the profile of school libraries
and the profession of a school librarian.
School libraries are very different to local
libraries and university libraries, and the
librarians who run them have specialised
knowledge and skills, and adhere to very
high ethical standards, that ought to be
recognised and valued at a national level.
What’s been the best response from
students to you being a finalist for SLYA?
The students’ reactions have been a
combination of wonder – “There’s a School
Librarian of the Year Award?!” – and total
pride in our school and our library.
Jacqui Hale
St Hilda’s CE High School, Liverpool
Which part of your role has the biggest
impact? Combining my role as school
librarian with my literacy coordinator
role. By working with departments, I
can recommend excellent books which
complement each subject and enable our
pupils to get a deeper understanding of
the topics they are studying, to develop
their empathy and spark their curiosity. By
sharing my love and knowledge of books
with pupils and staff I can help ensure that
every pupil leaves us as a confident reader.
What’s your experience of being
nominated? My line manager nominated
me in 2021 but my nomination was
unsuccessful. I was talking to a colleague
about it earlier this year and she
convinced me to try again. She said she
would nominate me but that we should
work on the nomination together as she
wasn’t confident that she knew everything
I did, just that I deserved to be recognised.
Even colleagues who I count as my
greatest supporters were surprised by
the number of different things I did, the
initiatives I ran, and the impact that had
on different areas of the school when they
read my application.
Saffron Williams
Haberdashers’ Monmouth
Schools, Monmouth
Which part of your role has the biggest
impact? Ensuring the library is a friendly,
welcoming space, open to all, and that the
library team is able to help and support no
matter what need or request students and
staff may have.
Why did you want to be nominated?
School libraries are unique venues and
invaluable hubs within schools that can
seamlessly intersect with and support
academic, pastoral, literacy, wellbeing,
and all aspects of school life. With school
finances being stretched, it is important
to shine a light on everything libraries
can provide for students, staff, and
the community, as well as providing a
valuable opportunity for fellow librarians
across the country to hear about, share,
discuss and swap new ideas, thinking, and
ways of working.
How has the community responded?
The pupils have been fantastically
supportive throughout the whole process
– especially our pupil librarians. Perhaps
the best and funniest answer in response
to my being Honour Listed was ‘of course
you did, Miss - we always knew you would’,
closely followed by ‘does this mean we’ll
get more squash and biscuits in the library
from now on?’.
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
11

SLA Awards 2023
The Community Award
This award recognises the community effort, so it could go to a School Library
Service, an external team, or even a local business who goes ‘above and beyond’
to support a school library. It will also be open to individuals who have supported
schools, and we reserve the right to award to a team and an individual in one year
as the contributions they make will vary so widely.
Find out more about
the finalists here.
Mycenae House Reach
Out Community
Librarian Scheme with
the John Roan School
What sparked the idea for your project?
We wanted to be able to show other
generations another side to teenagers,
and to help bridge the gap that develops
between the different ages.
Which part of your project has had
the most impact? During lockdown,
students created a book of drawings and
photographs that we sent to care homes
and Mycenae House. The students really
enjoy working with the seniors and
we’ve seen some lovely bonds develop.
This project was particularly important
as it was the first time that students
had taken the lead, with support from
Mycenae House.
If you could give one piece of advice for
someone looking to embark on a similar
project, what would it be? Involve the
students as much as possible – there is
a wide range of activities that you can
develop for the students that go beyond
reading and books, and students will
always rise up to the challenge and enjoy
developing new and exciting ideas.
Students have an amazing imagination,
helped by reading – allow them to use it to
help develop projects and ideas.
Swindon Youth
Festival of Literature
What sparked the idea for your project?
In 2008 a group of secondary school
librarians were asked what would help
most with reading in schools; their answer
was author visits. Another six schools
joined in 2009.
Which part of your project has had the
most impact? This is hard to answer
but there are four areas of impact. The
collective experience is priceless: the
impact of visiting ‘big school’ for the first
time in Year 5 or 6 with a positive author
experience; the competitions as there
is something for everyone; the author
visits have the biggest overall impact on
an individual level. We cannot keep their
books on the shelves after a good author
visit. It makes authors real!
How does the project meet the needs of
the schools involved? Schools have the
development of hinterland knowledge
and cultural knowledge as part of
curriculum development. The events
are recognised as developing a love of
reading; the librarian can tie in the school
keynote author into cross-curricular to a
very high level with their choice of author.
Whatever it Takes
What sparked the idea for your project?
Whatever it Takes was conceived by a
group of local professionals with a shared
vision to improve literacy levels by raising
the profile of reading in Leicester.
What’s been the best response from
students towards your project? ‘I never
saw myself as a reader, but I do now.’ The
creation of a community of readers, as
pupils are reading the same books at the
same time as other schools across the city.
Staff nominate students for recognition
of who has been “all in” to the best of
their ability.
If you could give one piece of advice or
tip for someone looking to embark on
a similar project, what would it be? The
power of teamwork, collaboration, and
partnerships has been key to our success.
Whatever it Takes could not do all it does
without the commitment, hard work, and
support from the schools of Leicester,
their Reading Champions, staff, children,
and our partners. By working with others,
we have been able to add to the quality
and breadth of what we offer and really
strengthen our approach.
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VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

SLA Awards 2023
The Enterprise of the Year
This award celebrates one-off or progressive projects (rather than regular library
activity) such as a rebuilding/refurbishment, or a whole school information
literacy project. There are no restrictions as to what the project is, but submissions
should be able to demonstrate the need for the project. It’s sponsored by
Reading Cloud.
Find out more about
the finalists here.
Blanchelande College
What’s been the best response from
students towards your project?
A Year 6 student, in preparing his
final presentation on his ‘Signature
Work inquiry’, suddenly realised that
the problems he was experiencing with
his presentation were not linked to his
presentation skills, but to a poor grasp of what he was trying to
say. He then went back to address this gap in his knowledge and
understanding, which resolved the problems he was experiencing
with his presentation.
If you could give one piece of advice for someone looking to
embark on a similar project, what would it be? Simon Sinek
makes a compelling case for starting with why. For us, the library
exists to enable students to come to know and understand the
world and themselves in it as the basis for their responsible
participation in community. We do this primarily through reading
in its broadest possible sense, both non-fiction and fiction. This is
our identity, and it gives rise to and shapes everything that we do,
both within and beyond the Library, and this would be our advice:
be sure of your identity, and then be purposeful about all of the
activities that are necessary to give full expression to it.
Oswestry School
What sparked the idea for your
project? As an educationalist I
would strongly argue that, even in
the digital age, books, reading, and
libraries remain important. They are,
in fact, more important now than ever
before. Not just important, but essential.
(Mr Middleton, Headteacher)
Which part of your project has had the most impact? A huge
win is that we have managed to produce a space which
accommodates all interests and needs, therefore making our
school library inclusive. The pupils have access to the library and
spend social/study/research/prep/club times alongside library
lessons in a welcoming creative, diverse, and dynamic space.
If you could give one piece of advice for someone looking
to embark on a similar project, what would it be? Enjoy the
process and celebrate all the little wins along the way.
Colham Manor
Primary School
What inspired your project? The idea
for a new library was sparked when we
saw the impact lockdown had on our
children and the lack of reading across
the school. Being a large primary school
in a disadvantaged area, we knew we had to
improve their joy of books and make a dedicated area to make
books exciting again.
Who have been your main supporters? Our children: they have
given ideas and advice of what they would like to see in their
library. We see this very much as an ongoing project and would
like to increase its use.
If you could give one piece of advice for someone looking
to embark on a similar project, what would it be? We would
definitely recommend spending time on the planning stage.
Think what its use will be and who will be using it. Could you
amend anything at the last minute, and could you incorporate
new ideas? Ultimately, go for it. We took on a big project to help
our children to increase their reading for pleasure and we are so
glad we did. You will definitely notice the benefits.
Stratford Girls’
Grammar School
What sparked the idea for your
project? Our project was the result of
an evaluation of student welfare post
pandemic and a whole school audit of
spaces. This showed that there was a need
for a space in school that could support those
students who, for a variety of reasons, were struggling with the
noise and busyness of the school day.
Which part of your project has had the most impact? We now
have a beautiful, calm, quiet space that can support wellbeing
as well as reading and studying. You can see students, and
staff, visibly relax as they come in and shut the rest of the school
out. The booths provide respite for those who need it at breaks
or sometimes during lessons if they become overwhelmed
or anxious.
If you could give one piece of advice for someone looking to
embark on a similar project, what would it be? Think big, be
brave, and go for it. The hard work, disruption, and many, many
meetings will be worth it!
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
13

Research Highlights
Read for Good – Inviting and Inclusive School Libraries
A new report by the charity Read for Good highlights the dire
state of primary school libraries across Gloucestershire. Many of
the 15 primary school libraries audited had books in bags and
boxes on the floor; were full of outdated and inaccurate books;
and lacked inclusive books that reflected the identities and
experiences of children across the school. This was despite an
enormous commitment from staff who, due to a lack of budget,
told us they were purchasing quality books for their class with
their own money: ‘As staff, we have bought more quality books
out of our own money.’
In total, the 15 schools received 4,500 brand-new
books (including 1,500 inclusive titles) and 780 comics,
alongside specialist, bespoke in-person support from
Gloucestershire Libraries.
The project shows why school libraries matter:
• Schools unequivocally agreed that children were now
enjoying reading more and reading more often.
• 85% of schools said the new books and comics had
encouraged reluctant readers to read more: ‘A reluctant
reader in my class wanted to spend playtimes and
lunchtimes in the library.’
• The new inclusive books had a particularly marked impact
on children who saw themselves reflected back within the
stories: ‘One of our refugees found a book about a refugee –
his face when reading it was magical.’
This report builds on the work to shine a spotlight on the benefits
of having a school library; and centres the expertise and time
needed by staff to ensure they have the desired impact.
Department for Education – new Reading Framework
The Department for Education has released Reading
Framework – July 2023 which brings the whole reading process
together. From early years in primary through to key stage 3, this
links the importance of reading, talking, listening and writing and
stresses the teamwork of teachers, librarians, leaders, and carers
working together to ensure children have a good experience
of learning to read so that reading for pleasure becomes a
natural consequence.
School librarians are mentioned and noted as influencers of
children’s reading, helping pupils choose suitable titles. The
document highlights key points: a daily time for stories should
be a priority in early years; book clubs should have space on
the timetable – in primary weekly and in secondary at least
fortnightly – and not as part of the English curriculum. The
importance of having new stock to refresh the selection is
emphasised and time to browse needs to be planned into the
school day.
This report is a must read for anyone creating a library
development plan or building a reading culture.
https://www.sla.org.uk/article/hannah-groves/read-for-goodreveals-state-of-primary-school-libraries/2793
https://www.sla.org.uk/article/dawn-woods/dfe-readingframework-2023/2791
The ‘Third Space’ School Library: Fostering Digital
Capability for Young People’s Mental Health
The SLA was proud to instigate this project with Professor Julian
McDougall (also an SLA Patron), and for it to be carried out in Ali
Kennedy’s school (now SLA Chair).
The introduction reads: ‘This study seeks to understand better
the digital lives of 14- to 15-year-old children with a focus on
schools and peers. It applies a theory of change for dynamic
digital literacy to foster wellbeing, positive mental health and
good consequences in the digital environment and builds on a
collaboration between a research centre specialising in digital
literacies (CEMP) and the School Library Association (SLA).
The research generates transferable findings to support capacity
building for school librarians to work with young people in third
spaces to foster better mental health through digital literacy. This
project report:
1. Synthesises the intersection between school libraries and
digital literacy with the theoretical concept of ‘third space’;
2. Describes the project’s methods, activities and data
collection;
3. Shares the findings with regard to a new practice model,
situating school libraries as a third space in which to enable
the positive impact of digital literacy development on the
mental health, capabilities and resilience of students.’
It’s a very interesting report highlighting the opportunities we
have as school library staff to instigate reflective engagement in a
digital world.
https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/centres-institutes/
centre-excellence-media-practice
(Scroll down to The Third Space Library)
English Progress International Reading Literacy Study
(PIRLS) Data
The new PIRLS data was released earlier this year to fanfare, as
England was ranked 4th for reading ability out of 43 countries,
behind only Singapore, Hong Kong, and Russia. More than
400,000 children took part across the world in 2021, with 4,150
completing the assessments in England.
The study also showed both the gender gap and the attainment
gap has narrowed. However, more English children reported
decreased enjoyment of reading. 29% of children said they ‘Very
Much like Reading’; while 24% said they ‘Do Not Like Reading’,
and 48% they ‘Somewhat’ liked reading.
Irene Picton, Research Manager at the NLT also noted that:
‘Researchers also found that, across all countries, positive
reading attitudes – such as liking reading and feeling confident
about it – and higher average reading achievement tended to
have “mutually reinforcing” relationships.’
These would make a valuable benchmark for any school
undertaking an attitude to reading survey.
You can read the rest of Irene’s analysis here: https://
literacytrust.org.uk/blog/englands-10-year-olds-reach-highestever-place-in-pirls-international-reading-rankings/
and see the
full results here: https://pirls2021.org/results
14
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Frequently Asked Questions
answered by Lucy Chambers
How can I work with subject leads to get
them more engaged with the library?
It’s important to demonstrate that the
library, reading, and information sources
are provided for the entire curriculum and
across the whole school. Ways to develop
working relationships with subject
leads include:
1. Hold regular staff sessions in
the library. Outline stock and
online resources and how you can
support teaching.
2. Talk to teachers about how you can
help with curriculum delivery and
developing students’ research skills;
set up an information/research
skills programme; deliver this in the
department or library, working in
tandem with teachers to deliver the
lesson. Offer to visit departments
to deliver the information/research
skills programme.
3. Include the library on School
Development Plans and Schemes
of Work.
4. Liaise with subject leads to produce
regular reading lists of non-fiction,
online resources, and fiction to
support the curriculum and discuss
their reading needs too. They may
welcome suggestions of subjectrelated
fiction, for example.
5. Produce reading lists of recommended
reads for university applicants.
Discuss these with subject leads.
6. Attend head of department meetings
and get the library on the agenda
with a regular report of initiatives
and successes.
7. Send relevant current awareness
information, such as recent
developments in reading/information
research, to targeted staff.
8. Set up a staff bookclub. It could meet
every few weeks as a social group.
Encourage staff from all areas of the
curriculum to take part.
Lucy now concentrates on
writing after 20 plus years as
a primary school librarian.
Answers are her personal
opinion based on long
experience.
How should I work with my line
manager? They have no experience of
school libraries.
Your line manager, whether a senior
leader, a department head or a teacher,
can help you, with inside knowledge of the
school and links to senior management.
They may want to learn about what you do
or leave you to get on with your job as you
see fit. They should always be supportive
of your work. Some tips to developing
the relationship:
1. Arrange regular meetings, with
an agenda. Summarise and share
formally what has been discussed
for continuity.
2. Discuss and set achievable targets,
previous successes, and improvements
to be made. These notes form the basis
of future meetings.
3. Discuss details of relevant school
activities (e.g. STEM Weeks, visitors,
assessment visits, etc.) and how you as
librarian can contribute to the success
of the school
4. Discuss concerns you have and
possible solutions with your line
manager, e.g. behaviour issues, budget
issues, etc. They may have relevant
insight from the experiences of other
departments. Agree mutual solutions.
5. Ensure your line manager visits the
library regularly and has a good
understanding of the importance of
your role.
6. Work with your line manager to
strategically manage the library.
7. You may be line manager to any
assistants in your library. Apply the
good relationship you develop with
your line manager to the process.
Can you give me some tips on how
to promote the library to the wider
school community?
Day-to-day in the library is spent
working with students and teachers, but
it’s important to promote its benefits
to the wider community, including
senior management, governors,
families, and beyond the school gates.
Suggested actions:
1. Create general information about the
library’s aim, contents, and activities
on your website page.
2. Research the diversity needs of
your school demographic, e.g.
languages spoken, special needs. This
information affects what resources
you provide.
3. Consider different stakeholders’
needs, e.g. wide range of resources for
all abilities, diversity, inclusivity.
4. The senior management team need to
know what benefit the library provides
to justify the budget. Write regular
impact reports, including quantitative
and qualitative data.
5. Encourage visits to the library
by stakeholders. Be positive
and welcoming.
6. Link with feeder schools: run joint
school transition events, organise joint
book buddying visits.
7. Get involved in community initiatives:
• Public library: promote the
Summer Reading Challenge
(for 4–11-year-olds)
• SLS: take part in book awards with
different local schools.
• Local businesses: useful if you are
fundraising, or running a careers
event, e.g. organise a book drive.
8. Invite local authors to speak.
9. Media: report on library events for the
local press and on the school’s social
media accounts.
10. Advocate for the library profession
through positive reporting.
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
15

The Future of Education
Richard Gerver is President
of the School Library
Association, and a worldrenowned
speaker and
author. He was previously a
headteacher.
As we head towards the next General
Election, we know that education will
be, as it always is, a major issue for
voters. Sadly, in my lifetime, under
successive Governments, we have seen hundreds
of policies that have promised to change the
system for the better; very few have. I believe we
always come back to the same place: policies
that are designed to make the existing system
run more efficiently. Most policy ends up being
reactive: responses to league tables, reports or
current affairs; they often tend to be narrow,
political, and based on some kind of ideological or
intellectual battle.
The growing frustration for most of the people I
speak to – real people, living real lives – is that they
can see that the system is no longer fit for purpose,
but don’t really know how to make their voices
heard or even how to begin the process of system
redesign. This is frustratingly true for our school
libraries and librarians. I want us as members
of the School Library Association to find ways to
challenge our policy makers and to ensure that they
in turn, represent us, our children, and our society
as they endeavour to move education forward.
I want us to have a broad voice, to present ourselves
as leaders in the evolution of education. I have
always said that a great school library is at the
beating heart of our schools … now I want us to
be the same at the heart of the system. So here, I
provide my take on ten of the big picture issues
that need to be debated. I ask you to consider how
we already do or could contribute through our
experiences, stories, and expertise.
1. How do we remove education from
political control?
A sustainable and successful education system
must be held to account and that is the role of
Government. A successful education system
needs coherent, sustainable and long-term
developments; not the short-term policy shifts that
we see occur with every new Government or every
ministerial appointment. How do we find a more
independent way to manage mass education?
2. How do we broaden the voices that help
define future developments?
Collaboration must be at the heart of education,
the sharing of ideas, the broadening of contexts
and the understanding of the challenges in our
global society. To do that we must explore ways
that enable more stakeholders, and particularly
children and parents, to have a greater say. We
must build better and more productive links
to the business sector, too. We must explore
whether vested interest groups such as some
higher education institutions and publishing
organisations have too much control of schoolbased
education policy development.
3. How do we move away from the restraints
of trying to develop a new education system
when the existing outcomes are always
the focus?
We cannot hope to develop a new approach if we
must meet existing outcome models. We must
debate whether the existing qualifications model
is fit for purpose any longer. Are we limiting
education development because of our fixation
with exams and qualifications? Does that lead to
a narrowing of opportunity and development? We
must find the courage and trust to develop a new
model and a new process and then find new ways
to hold that model to account.
4. Have we spent too long debating how our
schools should be managed, rather than how
they should be led?
In recent years, there has been fierce argument
over the desire to restructure who runs our schools.
Considerable time and resources have been spent
on setting up new models of school ownership
and control. Does that really matter, or are we
missing the point? All schools can be great but
that is defined by how they are led, not by who
manages them.
5. How do we move away from the belief that
schools improve by primarily focusing on
industrial efficiency models?
Schools are not factory production lines. They are
organisations that exist to aid human development
and potential. Children are gloriously individual
and organic. As a species, we are born with free
will; we all see the world through different eyes.
How do we develop an approach that is more
organic than a battery farm?
6. Do we not need to learn far more from how
young children learn and think more bottom
up than top down?
Do we really spend enough time, not only valuing,
but learning from early years education and
the remarkable rate of development that young
children make in that phase of their lives? Do
we live with the misunderstanding that the most
skilled educators are most often seen at the highest
levels of education, in universities, rather than,
what is more often the case, in early years settings?
7. Skills verses knowledge?
Is it not time to move beyond this divisive and
misinformed debate? You cannot have one without
the other. What we do need to do is reflect on the
fact that too often reforms around curriculum tend
16
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

to descend into arguments about content. We must
spend far more time developing learning that is
both rich in context and experience so that children
learn faster and with greater purpose. How much
of the content you were taught at school can you
really remember?
8. If it takes a village to raise a child, how
do we?
Should schools be seen as places where children
are dropped off at 3 years old and picked up at
18, educated? What role should schools play in a
future where we must all be more actively involved
in the development of our children and their
futures? How do we turn schools into collaborative
hubs rather than gated communities? How do
we ensure that all members of our society act on
their responsibility to be directly involved in that
education?
9. How do we recruit and train the right
people to lead our education system?
At its core, education is about human development;
therefore education professionals need to be highly
skilled people with a diverse set of skills. They need
to be able to adapt and to be committed to personal
growth and development as well as to designing
and delivering great learning opportunities.
They need to be constantly challenging their own
experiences and practice, to be prepared to step
outside of their comfort zones, to review and
research and to self-manage. We need people with
high levels of emotional intelligence, outstanding
communicators and with entrepreneurial spirit.
Great educators do not control through fear and are
not simply the transmitters of information. How do
we attract, train, and retain such people?
10. What place does technology have?
If education must reflect the world beyond the
gates, then technology must be at its heart.
Technology though is not, in itself, the future of
education. It is a key element of life and living
but we must ensure that it isn’t treated like a
gimmick but that it is used to reflect life and
society – part of everything that we do – socially
and culturally embedded. Whatever our fears, we
cannot tell our students to leave their technology
at the gates, for example. We must debate how
to use technology within an educational context
so that we reflect on its impact on society. We
also need to understand and respect that the
early adopters of new technologies are usually
our children and, therefore, we must allow them
to help us understand the cultural shifts that
technology brings.

A View From …
… a primary school
Our school community returned from May half term to the
devastating news that a member of our site team had passed
away unexpectedly. Mo was a much-loved part of the RPPS
family. He will be missed terribly.
When someone you care about passes away, a natural reaction is
to offer to help their loved ones. My immediate thought went to
books. Mo loved books. He would drop into the library to discuss
recommendations he had been given. He borrowed books for his
personal reading for pleasure, and we discussed books he could
read to his daughter.
As soon as I read the email from our headmaster, I asked if I
could find (and gift) books for Mo’s daughter. Mo’s family are
Muslim, so it was vital that I chose books following Islam. The
more I researched, the more I learnt about Jannah, which is
explained on the BBC Bitesize website in their Key Beliefs in
Islam section as ‘Jannah is Paradise, where those who have been
good go. It is described in the Qur’an as gardens of pleasure
(Qur’an 31:8)’. Finding children’s books to describe Jannah was
not straightforward, and I went far beyond my usual sources.
However, I was pleased to find: The Way to Jannah by Zaheer
Khatri; Imagine Me In Jannah! by Rabia Bashir and Upit Dyoni;
Bilal Learns About Jannah by Laki Isra and Upit Dyoni; and
My Baba’s House: A Poem of Hope by
Dr Amani Mugasa and Eman Salem.
The latter is a stunning poetry book,
written for a daughter whose father
has died.
When we returned to school, there
was a heavy feeling of sadness at the
loss of Mo. His wonderful smiling
face was not at the gates at the start
and end of the day, which is the
Jenny Griffiths, Librarian,
main time pupils saw him, and tears Ravenscourt Park
were in my eyes as I issued books in Preparatory School, London
library lessons. Many hugs happened
between staff, and parents were shocked and upset.
To help our kind and caring pupils understand their grief, I again
turned to books. We have a grief and illness section in our PSHEE
collection, at an accessible height level for pupils, where I chose
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst to read with our lower school
in all of their lessons. Books help to heal, but the passing of Mo
will always be felt at our school and a plaque will be going up in
this library in his honour.
… a secondary school
Gillotts School Library Lessons – Adding structure and meaning to Year 9
At Gillotts, all classes in Years 7, 8 and 9 have a fortnightly reading
lesson in the library.
This year there has been a very challenging Year 9 class. In this
year group, some students think that reading is optional. There
are six motivated students. The rest consider it a challenge to see
how much they can get away with in terms of noise and running
around the room, along with inappropriate book selection.
I suggested to the teacher a series of more structured lessons
which I’d be happy to lead. Part of the remit would be to not
allow the students the freedom of picking their own books;
a penalty for bad behaviour was part of the deal. She readily
agreed; the majority of the class was spending the lesson chatting
so what had we to lose?
I put the students in groups for these lessons. From the start, I
decided that insisting on silence was not going to be achievable
or effective. Some of the sessions I have planned have included:
• A version of ‘The Reading Game’ with no changing tables.
Students were asked to rate books on a genre by looking at
the blurb, opening line, cover, and a random place in the
middle of the book.
• A non-fiction session, with a theme on each table. With this
one I let them change tables once.
• A genres session with a mix of
fiction and non-fiction on each
table. This one was interesting
as I asked them to look at index,
contents, and glossary as part
of their tasks. It was worrying
how patchy their skills were in
navigating their way round a
non-fiction book.
Sarah Seddon, Librarian,
Gillotts School, Henley-on-
Thames
My lesson today is to be based on
graphic books. We celebrate and enjoy
these at Gillotts and I have recently made new purchases.
I finish the lesson by reading a short story. This has a calming
effect, and it is heartening how many students listen quietly.
I invite the students to talk about a book their group has chosen
from their table selection. All who take part are rewarded with
house points.
One of the downsides of this approach is that the well-behaved,
keen students miss out on their preference for a quiet reading
lesson; I feel strongly that for the lesson to work, everyone needs
to be engaged and take part.
I have just one more lesson to plan. Something more relaxed?
18
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

A View From …
… a school library service
This year we are celebrating the 21st birthday of our Hampshire
Book Award with a Champion of Champions vote. Started in
2003, HBA is an annual award for the best paperback fiction
title published in the previous year for the 11–14 age group,
running from the spring into the summer term. Year 8 students
are involved in every stage of the award, from selection of both
the long and short lists, to the final vote and even interviewing
the winning author on occasion. The students read 6 shortlisted
books and discuss and evaluate them using the evaluation
criteria of ‘Enjoyment’, ‘Enrichment’ and ‘Engagement’.
The aims of the award have always been:
• to promote the enjoyment of reading;
• to foster a reading ethos within the school;
• to draw attention to the most rewarding and accessible
fiction for the age group;
• to challenge students to critically assess books and to make a
reasoned argument in group discussions.
Voting Day is held in person across four sites, and following lively
debate on tables of students from several schools, votes are cast
for the students’ favourite title. It’s always so rewarding to be part
of the informed discussion and to hear the hand drum rolls and
whoops as the winner is revealed. The
culmination of the whole award is the
award presentation for the winning
author in the autumn term.
This year’s winner is the amazing
Liz Kessler for her wonderful When
the World was Ours which will be
pitched against 20 other amazing
winning authors in our ‘Champion
of Champions’ votes. Starting in Helen Bryant, Hampshire
September, students will be able to School library Service
vote first in the group stages and then Manager
three knockout rounds until a winner
is identified and announced in December.
There is huge value in participating in book awards, not least
for the encouragement of reading and development of critical
skills in the students. But something that has also become clear
during our preparations for the CofC is the true appreciation that
authors have for the recognition of being nominated or winning
an award. Knowing that their work is valued by their readers and
the opportunity to engage with them face to face is rewarding for
authors and empowering for young people whose opinions have
decided the winner.
… a sixth form library
The Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre, Guernsey
Bananas and Whale Earwax
Summer term begins on Portuguese Freedom Day, which gives
me the chance to spotlight our collection of Lusophone books.
Many islanders share a Madeiran Portuguese background, dating
from the time when tomato growing employed large numbers,
and the display aims to show how the library can cater for them.
Preparing it, I was delighted to learn that ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’
translates as ‘Diario de um Banana’!
A weekend in Cardiff takes me to Waterstones, to fill my bag
with books and my mind with ideas. I’d love a large bookshop
to open here – although our local retailer, Lexicon, does a
great job in the space available. I also visit Cardiff’s brilliant
Corporation Market, where I can’t resist a jacket of unblinking
eyes from Twinmade. I wish I had 360-degree vision to detect
mischief! The market is a huge former pub, built of grey stone in
the monumental Cardiff style. On the corner of Library Street,
it adjoins Canton Library, a wonderful original Carnegie library
building from the days when libraries were considered to be as
important as pubs.
Guernsey also enjoys a historic public library, in a beautiful
building that dates from 1782. The Guille-Allès Library was
founded by Thomas Guille and Frederick Allès, two local
apprentices who emigrated to New York and were inspired by
its public libraries. The library has just celebrated 140 years of
existence with a special exhibition.
I’m constantly promoting the benefits
of membership to our sixth form,
especially when they start their
Extended Essay or Extended Project
Qualification coursework.
Along the seafront, red ribbons
flutter as a protest against the
proposed introduction of VAT, which
was defeated in local parliament.
Anna Quick, Grammar
School and Sixth From
Centre, Guernsey
Its backers (equivalent to the Treasury) threaten funding
cuts, including the sixth form centre rebuild. Sadly, staff
recruitment has suffered from this treatment of education as a
political football.
May brings the Guernsey Literary Festival, when we have many
visiting authors. A highlight this year is the BBC science presenter
Helen Czerski, who talks to our Year 12s about her book Blue
Machine, on the science of the ocean. She speaks brilliantly
about unexpected global connections: how whale earwax is a
historic record of stress levels at sea, and how overfishing in
the South Atlantic once caused the price of British bacon to
skyrocket. Staff and students are fascinated and applaud her
enthusiastically. We hope she’ll return soon!
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
19

Between the Library and the Classroom
Becoming Integral to the Educational Process
In September 2021, I was appointed at
Blanchelande College as Head of Inquiry-Based
Learning and am the first librarian in the college’s
long history. In May 2023, Blanchelande was
shortlisted for the SLA Enterprise of the Year Award.
The award is an opportunity to demonstrate this
column’s thesis, which is that the library becomes
integral to the educational process through the
purposeful implementation of its inquiry-centred
instructional programme as outlined in the IFLA
School Library Guidelines, even within a GCSE and
A-Level educational pathway.
The library becoming integral to the educational
process at Blanchelande was not inevitable.
As the principal, Rob O’Brien, explains: Although
the creation of a well-proportioned library space
and a suitable budget was a highly significant
and symbolic statement of intent, this material
and financial aspect proved to be comparatively
simple to achieve. Our vision was for a library that
facilitates liberal education in the truest sense –
students capable of independently inquiring into
subjects and learning to question perceptively and
think deeply. However, it took the appointment of a
librarian with deep insight into the inquiry process
and the subsequent creation of an inquiry-based
learning department for us to begin using this vital
resource to effectively equip students (and their
teachers) with the knowledge that enables them to
get more knowledge for themselves.
This powerfully illustrates Harold Howe’s profound
observation that what a school thinks of its library
is a measure of how it feels about education. On the
one hand, the college’s view of education allowed
for a library that was integral to the educational
process. On the other hand, this required a
librarian who could describe what such a library
looks like and does, and explain how it becomes
so. For this the guidelines were necessary but
not sufficient. While the guidelines translate the
principles of the IFLA/UNESCO School Library
Manifesto into practical terms, it falls to us,
individually and as a profession, to wrestle these
principles into actual practice. Without realising
it at the time, this is what I had been doing since
becoming a school librarian in 2003, a struggle that
led to FOSIL in 2011 and the FOSIL Group in 2019,
and that leads still further on.*
The revolution will not be televised.
* This personal journey, upon reflection, mirrors the evolution of the
library’s instructional focus from information literacy in the first edition
of the guidelines (2002) to information literacy within an inquiry
process in the second edition of the guidelines (2015).
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
Media and Information Literacy Alliance
Since its inception in 2021, the Media and Information Literacy
Alliance (MILA) has helped develop the evidence base by
bringing together stakeholders representing different areas
of expertise. It has played this role in the recently-completed
project on Evaluating Media Literacy with a Theory of Change.
This work, funded by the UK government and led by
the Centre for Excellence in Media Practice (CEMP) at
Bournemouth University, involved MILA as a critical
partner, contributing to the elaboration of a robust
evaluation framework for measuring the impact of
media literacy interventions.
The Alliance’s involvement in this project is a pointer
to future such activities. MILA has joined with
other partners in two current proposals. The first is CIVI-UP, a
proposed participatory action research project to motivate media
literacy for resilience through agency among refugee youth in
Europe. This bid is in response to a call from the European Media
and Information Fund (EMIF). The second proposal, submitted
to the Economic and Social Research Council, is for a project
to establish a research centre on the influence industries and
emerging technologies. The outcome of the two bids will be
known over the coming months.
Ultimately, it is hoped that MILA will be able to play more than
a supporting role in projects. Achieving this should be easier
once it evolves from its current status as a loose grouping into
a formally-constituted body. MILA is taking steps to become a
registered charity and to appoint trustees. Achieving charitable
status can be a lengthy process, but once this is done, MILA’s
credibility and capability will be enhanced. Mechanisms
will be put in place to ensure that it reflects
multiple communities with an interest in media
and information literacy – including the school
library sector.
Until then, MILA continues to engage with different
sectors. For instance, there have been recent
interactions with Arts Council England, with which
MILA is exploring the possibility of securing smallscale
seed funding; with The Economist Educational Foundation;
and with the Media Education Association. Importantly, MILA
remains in frequent touch with Ofcom and with the Department
for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), which has taken
over from DCMS as the government department responsible for
the implementation of the UK’s national Online Media Literacy
Strategy.
To keep up to date with such developments, and with
MILA news, please feel free to join the MILA mailing list,
at https://mila.org.uk/contact/.
20
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

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VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023 21

Curriculum Links
Primary – Aliens & Monsters
Video: Storybook for Kids –
Monsters vs Alien – Read
Along Story
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrjNiEcGU0U
A human changes into a monster and
learns how the human and monster
worlds react, doing her best to help both.
Book: Coyle, Sarah and Walker-
Parker, Adam, A Pirate Alien
Jungle Adventure
Harper Collins, 2022, 32pp,
£7.99, 9781405299046
Choose your own adventures with
animals, pirates, aliens, and jungles –
with different outcomes dependent on
your decision.
Video and resources: British Council –
Learn English Kids
tinyurl.com/4sth93y7
Short video on Nessie with activities
and discussion points. Intended to
help learn English but entertaining for
young children.
Podcast: Curious Kid Podcast
tinyurl.com/mscm73cu
American fun educational podcast
discussing possibility of existence of
aliens, who they could be and weighs
up ‘proof’.
Book: Newson, Karl and Hicks,
Zehra, Watch Out! There’s a
Monster Coming!
Andersen Press, 2023, 32pp,
£12.99, 9781839132544
Monster is hungry and is creeping
through the streets to find something
to eat. A rhyming story with sufficient
suspense and reassurance.
Podcast: Brains On! Science Podcast
For Kids
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZJl6hucY6I
Encouraging kids’ natural curiosity and
wonder using science and history, here
astronomer Laura Danly talks about the
search for life on other planets.
Book: Suarez, Laura,
The Werewolf’s Tale
Flying Eye Books, 2023, 56pp,
£8.99, 9781838740894
Twelve-year-old Lowell struggles to fit into
his new village and new school, especially
when he discovers that he is turning into
a werewolf.
Website: History.com
www.history.com/news/6-mythical-monsters
With some content free and other
requiring a subscription. ‘6 Mythical
Monsters’ provides information on six
legendary beasts from history.
Website: Owlcation –‘100
Greatest Mythological and
Legendary Creatures’
tinyurl.com/bddka44c
A site created by educators and experts as
a place to share expertise and knowledge,
this time on mythological creatures – with
sources and further reading.
Secondary –
History – 19th, 20th, 21st Centuries
App: Historical Calendar
tinyurl.com/5fdx3b5d
Allows an exploration of history facts for
each day, with illustrated events and links
to related articles.
App: BBC History Magazine online
tinyurl.com/4su2ke6f
Key events and historical characters from
ancient civilisations to the two world wars.
How research changes our understanding.
Video: The History of Europe:
Every Year
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY9P0QSxlnI
Fascinating video of boundary changes in
Europe over time from 400BC to 2017AD,
with appropriately threatening music and
a shock at 1941 with German domination.
App: Timeline World History
tinyurl.com/5n7yzt5b
Preset timelines to explore on world
history from the Big Bang to the modern
world – for enjoyment as well as study.
Book: D.K. Publishing, Battles that
Changed History
DK, 2023, 256pp, £25.00, 9780241641484
Discover battlefields of history, from the
ancient world to the American Civil War,
World War II, Vietnam, the Cold War,
and beyond.
Website: History Homework
tinyurl.com/2y56pkb3
To help teachers assess student progress
with the help of quizzes for homework or
in class.
Podcast: The Rest is History
shows.acast.com/the-rest-is-history-podcast
Historians Tom Holland and Dominic
Sandbrook discuss different characters in
history in 50-minute episodes with access
to a chatroom if signed in.
App: GCSE History
tinyurl.com/424y2bc2
To save teachers work creating multiple
choice tests for main exam syllabuses to
engage students and help their revision.
Video: World War II (short version)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUXIuYHFgBE
Background to and summary of the main
stages of the World War II.
22
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

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3 AUTUMN 2023 23

Digital
Empowering Educational
Creativity with Adobe Express
Kojo Hazel walks us through the varied features of Adobe
Express and how these can help create a dynamic and creative
learning environment.
Kojo Hazel
Teacher of IT and Diversity
& Inclusion Fellow for
Microsoft Education UK.
@kojohazel
In the digital era, the landscape of education
has been transformed, thanks to a multitude of
online tools. One such remarkable application
is Adobe Express, a comprehensive content creation
platform that assists educators and students in
designing stunning graphics, videos, and web
pages. Let’s delve into the features of Adobe
Express, its benefits for the educational sector, its
compatibility with Google Classroom and Microsoft
Teams, and its cost-effectiveness.
Features of Adobe Express
At its heart, Adobe Express is engineered to
make content creation simple, enjoyable, and
aesthetically pleasing. Its standout features
include a rich template library, an intuitive
interface, multimedia elements, collaboration, and
customisation. The platform provides a wide variety
of customisable templates, catering to different
educational needs and styles. The user-friendly
interface allows for easy editing and designing,
even for those with limited design experience.
Adobe Express supports the addition of multimedia
elements such as images, videos, and text overlays,
fostering engaging and dynamic educational
content. Furthermore, it offers collaboration
features, allowing educators and students to
work together on projects, enhancing learning
and creativity.
Uses in Education
Educators can create interactive presentations,
incorporating multimedia elements to engage
students and cater to different learning styles.
The webpage creator is excellent for producing
engaging content from which to deliver lessons,
as an alternative to PowerPoint or Google Slides,
allowing for the easy integration of text, images,
and videos, creating a dynamic and interactive
learning experience for students.
Adobe Express empowers students to develop
essential skills while fostering creativity: students
can create visually appealing presentations,
refining their communication and storytelling
skills; use the app for group projects, promoting
teamwork and organisation; and showcase their
work and achievements in a digital portfolio,
enhancing their digital literacy and self-expression.
Training Materials
Adobe Express provides a range of training
materials to help users maximise the platform.
Through a comprehensive library of tutorials,
articles, and community forums, users can learn
about the various features and best practices for
designing content.
Compatibility with Google Classroom and
Microsoft Teams
Adobe Express integrates seamlessly with Google
Classroom and Microsoft Teams. This compatibility
allows for easy sharing of Adobe Express creations,
facilitating content distribution and class
management. Adobe Express offers a free tier
with basic features, which is a great starting point
for educators and students. For more advanced
features, Adobe Express offers a premium plan at a
reasonable cost – educational institutions may also
be eligible for discounts.
Adobe Express Beta Version with
Adobe Firefly
The new beta version of Adobe Express integrates
Adobe Firefly, Adobe’s AI model for generating
image and text effects. This integration allows users
to input prompts to generate unique and creative
designs, enhancing the possibilities for content
creation.
Adobe Express is a powerful and versatile
application. Its user-friendly interface, extensive
template library, and compatibility with Google
Classroom and Microsoft Teams make it an
invaluable tool for creating engaging, interactive
content. With the abundance of training materials
and resources available, teachers and students can
unlock their creativity and redefine the learning
experience with Adobe Express.
This truly is a tool you’ll use every day.
24
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Britannica School
& Britannica
ImageQuest:
The Ultimate Learning
Tools for Your School
Britannica School and ImageQuest are two of the most trusted and comprehensive learning tools
available. With over 300,000 articles, videos, and images, Britannica School is a vast library of
information on any topic. And ImageQuest is a treasure trove of copyright-free images and videos
that can be used for teaching, research, and creative projects.
We’re thrilled to unveil a range of exciting updates to these platforms. These updates are designed
to provide a better user experience and improve your teaching and learning outcomes! These
include:
Britannica School:
A refreshed, modern and engaging new look
featuring curriculum-focused content, quick
links to popular features, and a new “Video of
the Week” component. We have also introduced
an optional Early Learning level to support a
wider range of ages and abilities, with games,
read-aloud books and science exploration.
ImageQuest:
An updated, streamlined design that will now
be fully responsive and mobile-friendly. The
platform now offers video clips that can be
downloaded and used to create video projects,
and the new Galleries feature offers collections
of the best images and videos on a variety of
topics.
Special Offer for School Library Association Members: 20% discount on
Britannica School or ImageQuest*
Britannica School
ImageQuest
£999.00 £799.00
£399.00 £299.00
Or, purchase them together for just £1050.00, a saving of 25%.
This is a limited-time offer, so don’t miss out!
Learn more today and start using Britannica School and
ImageQuest to transform your teaching and learning!
Visit our website or contact us to request a free trial.
*Limited-time offer for School Library Association members only.
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
25

Digital
The Opportunities
that AI Presents for
School Librarians
AI is here to stay. Find out how we can take advantage of
the opportunities AI provides us with in this timely article by
Elizabeth Hutchinson.
effectively. By teaching inquiry skills, school
librarians equip students with the ability to
critically evaluate sources, discern reliable
information, and avoid misinformation or fake
news. Although AI can support this process by
providing AI-powered fact-checking tools, such
as Full Fact or NewsGuard, there is nothing
better than equipping students to do this
independently.
3. Responsible data use and privacy: Just like
our cautious approach to social media, school
librarians must continue to teach privacy within
AI tools. It is important that students understand
why they should not share personal information.
We know that AI models can be used to
manipulate or deceive individuals by generating
content that appears legitimate or persuasive, so
we need to teach our students this.
Photo: Mohamed Nohassi
on Unsplash.
Elizabeth Hutchinson FCLIP
BEM is a school library
specialist, trainer, adviser,
mentor, blogger, and
podcaster. She specialises in
FOSIL and helping schools
value the library across the
curriculum..
The school librarian’s role is constantly
evolving, and never more so than with the
introduction of ChatGPT in November 2021.
While artificial intelligence (AI) offers exciting
opportunities to enhance education, we must also
remember that school librarians have skills that
will be essential going forward. There are new AI
tools out on the market every day, but we must
not forget that they are just that: tools. Tools that
need expertise and understanding to use and
utilise. In this article, we will explore how school
librarians can harness the opportunities that AI has
given them.
1. Ethical considerations in AI: It is important to ask
questions about new technology. This does not
mean that you are against it. It means that you
are using your skills and knowledge to help move
forward. There are some serious ethical concerns
about ChatGPT and AI, including copyright, bias,
misinformation, and privacy, to name a few. Find
out more and start talking about it.
2. Teaching inquiry skills: Information literacy is
more important than ever in the age of AI. School
librarians play a vital role in teaching students
how to navigate the vast sea of information
Information literacy is more important
than ever in the age of AI.
School librarians need to share their
expertise in inquiry skills and their
understanding of ethical consideration
4. Collaborating with teachers: To fully leverage
the potential of AI tools for school librarians
it is essential they be part of the conversation.
School librarians need to share their expertise
in inquiry skills and their understanding of
ethical considerations, in order to support
teachers in integrating AI tools effectively into
the curriculum. Collaborative planning sessions
can ensure that AI technologies are aligned with
learning objectives and promote meaningful and
ethical use of these tools for student success.
Together, we can empower our
students to be critical thinkers.
As schools embrace AI tools, school librarians must
remain ethically aware and promote information
literacy skills among students so they can navigate
the evolving digital landscape with integrity. In
order to collaborate with teachers, school librarians
need to stay informed about AI advancements and
engage in ongoing professional development to
ensure they have knowledge and understanding
of all these tools. Together, we can empower our
students to be critical thinkers, responsible digital
citizens, and lifelong learners in the age of AI.
26
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Social Media Accounts and
Hashtags: Illustrators
Digital
X (Twitter)
Books for Keeps @BooksForKeeps
Keep up to date with the newest issues
of long-running book magazine
and access reviews and interviews
with children’s book authors and
illustrators.
Rob Biddulph @RobBiddulph
Check out this account from awardwinning
children’s author and
illustrator for drawing tutorials
(#drawwithrob). Fun for all ages!
Mr Doodle @itsmrdoodle
A must-follow site for anyone who
enjoys doodling!
Tom Gauld @tomgauld
Illustrator and cartoonist Tom
Gauld is a regular contributor for
the Guardian and New Scientist.
Predominantly science and literacy
themed, his cartoons are hilarious
and cover a range of topics. Be sure to
check out his recent compilation book, Revenge of
the Librarians.
Chris Riddell @chrisriddell50
Former Children’s Laureate and
best-selling author/illustrator
Chris Riddell shares his political
cartoons and other illustrations.
Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration
@qbcentre
Follow the account for The
Quentin Blake Centre for
Illustration to find out about
exhibitions, industry news and all
things illustration.
Picture Hooks @PictureHooks
As a charity for emerging picture
book artists this is an excellent
account to follow to increase your
knowledge of illustrators.
Society of Children’s Book Writers
and Illustrators @scbwi
Professional organisation for writers
and illustrators; follow their account
to keep up to date with the scbwi podcast and
reading recommendations.
( )
Instagram
Oliver Jeffers @oliverjeffers
Bestselling illustrator, artist
and writer shares artwork
and posts showing an
insight into his studio and
creative processes.
Martin Salisbury
@profmartinsalisbury
Professor of illustration
Martin Salisbury shares posts
highlighting notable illustrations,
design, and his own artwork.
A Daily Cloud @adailycloud
After spending time in the garden
during lockdown, the founder of
this account started to turn cloud
photos into creatures and now posts
one a day. You can even send in your
own cloud photo!
Nanoclustering Illustration @nanoclustering
This account blends bright and detailed
illustrations with science. Could be
useful to help students understand
scientific concepts such as cells.
Tom McLaughlin @_tommclaughlin
Children’s book author and illustrator
shares funny illustrations on a variety
of themes.
Worry Lines @worry_lines
This combines illustrations with
wellbeing as posts share artwork
to help understand anxiety and
encourage positive mental health.
Charlie Mackesy @charliemackesy
Author of The Boy, the Mole
and the Fox, follow this site for
inspirational illustrations.
Yuval Zommer @yuvalzommer
This environmental-themed
account shows how nature can
inspire illustration projects.
Nina Chhita @nina.draws.scientists
Learn about history and
science and enjoy beautiful
illustrations with this account
that celebrates diverse female scientists.
Lauren Thow is a Librarian
and Guidance Teacher at
Stewart’s Melville College.
She is passionate about
school libraries, loves
engaging young people
with literature, and when
she’s not reading, can be
found walking the hills
of Edinburgh.
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
27

Digital
Review: The Education
Platform from the Copyright
Licensing Agency
Roshan Hunt is a Chartered
Librarian with experience
of managing corporate and
school libraries.
The Education Platform from the Copyright
Licensing Authority (CLA) is a service
available as standard to all schools with
a CLA licence (all state-funded schools and
most independent schools are covered by a CLA
Licence). It offers school staff access to digital
versions of the printed books and magazines which
the school already owns.
With many schools doing away with their
reprographics department or combining
reprographics roles with other functions, including
the library, this is a useful service well worth
registering for. It is particularly helpful if you plan to
reuse the same content next academic year.
Staff can print excerpts, use the text in front of a
class, and share them with pupils. The same rules
apply as for traditional copying i.e. you can make
copies of up to 5% or a chapter of a book per class
per academic year.
The platform is free to use and provides high quality
digital images from textbooks and revision guides,
a great alternative to lower quality photocopies.
Simply scan the ISBN or click the ‘Confirm
ownership to copy’ button to unlock the book in
digital form.
Once a book’s ISBN is scanned into the platform,
the school has immediate digital access to the
textbook.
Content can be shared on a school VLE or on
Google Classroom or by emailing a link. This
delivers a greener way of working and saves money
by reducing photocopying and printing and saves
staff time.
There are thousands of digital books available.
Texts can be annotated online and shown in full
screen direct to a class. You can also browse all the
school’s unlocked resources and see copies made
by colleagues.
The platform can synchronise with Wonde so
that staff logins are automated with the school’s
management information system, e.g. SIMS.
Limitations include the platform currently not
having older textbooks; however, new books are
being added all the time and you can contact the
helpdesk to request a book be added. The scope of
the platform is primarily for use with textbooks and
revision guides; however, there are some fiction
books available.
Review:
The Island of Brilliant
uk-podcasts.co.uk/podcast/the-island-of-brilliant
Dawn Woods is the Member
Development Librarian
for the School Library
Association @Dawn_sI
Nadia Shireen and Frank Cottrell Boyce’s new
podcast takes the form of the pair having been
shipwrecked on the Island of Brilliant with nothing
but 3,000 children’s books and hammocks in
which to lie and read. Nadia and Frank chat about
what they have enjoyed reading either recently
or in their childhood and what’s new, and they
welcome different visitors each episode who arrive
by various bizarre means – Cressida Cowell on
the back of a dragon (how else), Maise Chan on
a carousel. The trio then chat more about their
visitor’s books. They also have a seashell which
relays them messages from children’s literature
critic and Head of Children’s Books Promotion
at Booktrust, Emily Drabble. The world’s greatest
ukulele band, the Ukulele Uff Trio, also make
appearances at the beginning and end and from
time to time as they are the indigenous inhabitants
of the island.
The pair have an easy, chatty relationship with
jokes – Nadia asks each guest if they have snacks
and gets excited about jammy dodgers. This is very
much a conversation to explore important topics in
the children’s literature world. Whilst interviewing
Cressida Cowell they talked about the fact that
children nowadays don’t have the freedom to
roam for fear of child safety, so books are a means
to enable children to experience that freedom.
Maise Chan is asked about representation in her
titles as well as the intergenerational relationships.
Facts about the authors’ childhood’s come out in
both episodes.
These book recommendations are of picture books
and middle grade and are recently published titles.
This is a podcast for adults rather than children.
Frank makes a point of saying that Nadia was billed
as ‘having a lovely radio voice’ but Frank has such
a calming voice that you could listen to it for ages.
They last not quite an hour and don’t appear to
be regularly scheduled, but more are promised.
It is billed as a podcast of treasures and all that’s
brilliant in children’s literature and it is just that.
It’s available on the usual podcast channels and
produced by Geoff Bird.
28
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

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Reports to help track usage and maximize your ROI
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company.overdrive.com/ebooks-now/uk
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
29

Digital
Enhancing educational
Experiences: How Can
Generative AI Tools Support
School Librarians?
Photo: Andrew Neel on
Pexels.
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
Digital technologies have already
revolutionised many aspects of education.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools
are the latest trend and could transform how school
librarians foster a love of learning and literacy.
Perhaps the most well-known of these tools is
ChatGPT. This is a conversational bot that uses AI
to respond to users’ prompts. It’s able to scan text
and databases from across the internet to create a
wide variety of text.
Some educators have responded with fear and
concern. ChatGPT has already been banned by
numerous universities and governments. But
many educators and librarians are embracing it
and exploring its potential (and that of other AI
technologies) to transform learning.
For librarians, this is likely to focus on three
main areas.
1. Generative AI tools can offer invaluable support
to school librarians in content creation. They
have the ability to quickly generate high-quality,
original content such as lesson plans, study
guides, and book summaries.
The power of AI enables librarians to save time,
allowing them to focus on one-to-one interactions
Generative AI tools can offer
invaluable support to school librarians
in content creation.
with students. Importantly, AI tools can easily
adapt the content produced to individual students’
needs, helping librarians to cater to diverse abilities
and interests.
2. AI tools can also help school librarians (and
students) to curate and organise digital content,
making it easier to discover relevant and reliable
information. Such tools can also recommend
books, articles and online resources based on
students’ interests and academic requirements.
A simple prompt like ‘I really enjoyed the
Hunger Games series, what should I read next?’
will provide a list of suggested reading.
Librarians can therefore create curated lists,
thematic collections and reading guides that
engage students and encourage independent
research skills. Students can explore a wide
range of subjects, fostering critical thinking and
deeper understanding.
3. Librarians can also use AI solutions to
inspire creativity and foster collaboration.
Tools can help generate creative prompts,
quizzes, writing exercises, or even interactive
storytelling experiences. ChatGPT could even
suggest some ideas to create an eye-catching
library display.
But how should librarians actually use ChatGPT
and other similar tools? The STAIR approach is one
tried and tested way to provide the best results.
S = Specific. Be precise with your prompts and
what you want the tool to produce: ‘Write a
500-word essay on …’, ‘Give me a quiz with 10
questions on …’
T = Tell. Tell it exactly what you want: ‘Answer in a
table’ or ‘Answer using bullet points’
A = Activity. Ask for suggestions, ‘Give me ideas
for …’, and use restrictions to hone the response:
‘Write in short sentences …’
I = Iterate. The tool will not get it right the first
time. Evaluate and rewrite the results until you
get what you need.
R = Role. Give the tool a clear sense of context.
Make it clear that you’re looking for something
that’s appropriate for a Year 6 student,
for example.
Of course, as technology continues to advance,
educators and librarians must embrace these
tools responsibly and retain the essential human
element in the educational process. But if they
can inspire new approaches to teaching and
learning, that should be something that inspires
librarians everywhere.
30
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
31

Digital
Review: Booklet
Lauren Thow is a Librarian
and Guidance Teacher at
Stewart’s Melville College.
She is passionate about
school libraries, loves
engaging young people
with literature, and when
she’s not reading, can be
found walking the hills
of Edinburgh.
With the use of technology in schools
increasing, so too has the number of
learning platforms on offer to students
and staff. Blooket is a platform that lives up to
its claim that it creates the ultimate learning
experience. It is easy to use and proves highly
popular with teens. Another bonus is that many of
its features can be accessed for free!
Blooket is similar to Kahoot! and Quizlet in that it
asks participants to answer questions. One person
must have a Blooket account and “host” the game.
Once the game is started, a code is generated
and only those with the code can enter the game.
Participants do not need a Blooket account to take
part but do need individual access to the internet.
The uniqueness of Blooket is that each quiz is tied
into a game mode. There are currently 15 different
game modes to chose from, each with its own
rules and style. For example, in Gold Quest game
mode players have to answer questions in order to
earn money and try and steal it from other players.
Choosing a game mode with a class can sometimes
be difficult!
The quiz nature of the site is a fantastic way to help
students revise and review learning, but the game
modes add in a little extra fun to the task. Some
game modes make a class quiz more inclusive as
the winning player is not necessarily the person
who has correctly answered the most questions,
engaging everyone in the class.
Quizzes (called “sets” on Blooket) can be written by
anyone with a Blooket account and can therefore
be tailored to the learning needs of your students.
I often use it during our library lessons for literaturethemed
quizzes but it would be equally useful
for any subject. A range of quizzes that have been
created by other users can also be accessed for free
which can be invaluable for time management.
A word of warning here though is to check questions
and answers in advance if you haven’t created the
set as sometimes they can be inaccurate.
What is also great about Blooket is that it is visually
appealing. Graphics are bright and clear, and the
quiz questions follow a standard layout.
All in all I would highly recommend that you try
Blooket if you haven’t already!
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VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Digital
BookTok Book Awards
newsroom.tiktok.com/en-gb/tiktok-book-awards-and-hay-festival
Since coming onto the
social media scene
in 2016, TikTok has
been taken up by many,
especially the under 25s
who like the format of short
videos of 15–30 seconds. The TikTok algorithm
learns what content users like to see faster than
other apps, resulting in the ease with which users
see content from likeminded people. Because
of this, one subcommunity on the app which
has sprung up is the use of TikTok to talk about
favourite books, earning its own name: #BookTok.
Here avid readers or ‘BookTokkers’ share their
favourite reads and recommend books based on
popular demand. Videos capture readers’ reactions
to books in a powerful way that can be difficult to
convey in a written review. Nielsen BookData has
noted the impact on increased interest in books
and on book sales (1) .
Findings from the UK’s What Are Kids Reading
report (2) , show children’s literacy rates have
increased since last year, a steady trend having
positive educational impact. The report states that
young people and children are engaging in more
challenging literature as well as it encouraging
them to write themselves.
National stats from the 2022 SAT scores show
that despite multiple lockdowns and delays in
education, individual subject results showed
reading levels increased slightly, with 74% of pupils
meeting the expected standard (3) .
At this year’s Hay Literature Festival, TikTok
partnered as digital media partner, harnessing the
influential viral spread of
BookTok. As a result the
TikTok Book Awards for
the UK and Ireland has
been launched, creating
a people’s choice book
award and giving the BookTok community the
chance to vote for the winning books, authors,
and creators.
The long list of nominees has already been curated
based on BookTok data. This long list will be
reviewed by a judging panel of experts, which is
made up of authors such as Candice Brathwaite
and Elizabeth Day and people in publishing from
the Bookseller to individual publishers.
The final winners of a prestigious TikTok Book
Award will be decided by the TikTok community in
the UK and Ireland, through an in-app vote.
The TikTok Book Awards categories include the
obvious BookTok Creator, Book and Author of the
Year, as well as Best BookTok Revival and Best Book
I Wish I Could Read Again For The First Time.
By the time TSL goes to print, winners will
have been announced, but you can still use
the #TikTokBookAwards hashtag to share your
favourite #BookTok titles of the year.
Notes
(1) https://nielsenbook.co.uk/examining-the-booktok-potential/
(2) https://www.renlearn.co.uk/what-kids-are-reading-2023/
(3) https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/07/05/sats-results-yourquestions-answered/
Dawn Woods is the Member
Development Librarian
for the School Library
Association @Dawn_sI
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
33

Digital Three from YouTube –
Induction and New
School Settings
TED Talk – ‘Teaching Methods
for Inspiring the Students of
the Future’ by Joe Ruhl
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCFg9bcW7Bk
This is a video of a TED Talk by Joe Ruhl about
teaching methods in the classroom that students
may not be familiar with. When students transition
to secondary school, not only will they be in
unfamiliar classrooms with new teachers, students,
and subjects, but they will also experience new
teaching methods and learning activities. Joe talks
about how he reorganised his teaching methods
to be more student than tutor led so his students
could have more choice and ownership over
their learning. He uses critical thinking skills,
collaboration and creativity to inspire the students
in his biology classroom. He uses a menu when
introducing new topics throughout the year so
that the students can choose what they learn first
and has created online tutorials which they can
watch and learn from whilst working through the
topics. The classroom is divided up into different
areas of the learning tasks which the students
can undertake, such as the tutorials and website
information on computers, the video about
the topic on the classroom screen, the science
equipment area for experiments, and a space for
students working on their Science Fair projects.
This would be an unusual classroom setting for a
student starting a new school, but from the talk,
seems to work. The talk is just over 17 minutes long
and shows how students might work in schools in
the future.
for a whole year or maybe more and will have to get
used to many teachers who teach them different
subjects, so relationships are really important to
make the student feel part of their new school
community. This video shows how teachers in a
US school build relationships with their students
so that they feel welcome in their class and valued
as learners. It is a short video, but covers a range of
different techniques used by staff to communicate
with the young people they teach every day.
‘Top Tips for Starting
Secondary School’ –
BBC Newsround
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzvm1m8zq5g
BBC Newsround have created a series of short
videos which help students who may be worried
about starting secondary school. They are between
one and two minutes long and have tips and advice
about what to do and not to do when starting a
new school. They interview several Year 7 students
who share their experience of their first year where
they talk about how nervous and anxious they
were until they found new friends and became
used to the environment. They answer questions
such as ‘What was the hardest thing about starting
secondary school?’ and ‘What advice would
you give Year 6 students who might have to face
unexpected changes next year?’ There are top tips
like don’t worry about getting lost, just ask for help
and try to make friends and have fun. The students
all seem relaxed and give a good impression of their
school communities.
Beth Khalil is the LRC
Manager/Literacy
Coordinator Northern
Education Trust Thorp
Academy. She has been a
librarian for 30 years and
her passion is encouraging
young people to discover a
lifelong love of reading.
‘The Power of Relationships
in Schools’ – Edutopia
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzvm1m8zq5g
When students make the transition from primary to
secondary school, there will be a whole host of new
experiences and situations that they face from the
first day. They will be used to having one teacher
34
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

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Digital
Closing the Reading Gap
through Literacy Support
Beth Khalil explores some of the digital options to measure and
improve reading in UK schools.
Since Covid, when students were away
from classrooms or directed learning for a
considerable amount of time, schools have
been making use of catchup funding which is
awarded to help students raise their reading ages
and attainment grades. This is so the achievement
gap does not widen further between Pupil
Premium (PP) and Special Educational Needs
(SEN) students and the rest of their peers in
secondary schools across the UK. Literacy seems to
be one of the main focuses of OFSTED inspections
currently, and there are many literacy programmes
both online and offline which claim to advance
reading ages in a relatively short space of time.
Lexonik Advanced is the next stage up from LEAP
and is delivered in groups of four students for one
hour a week in a concentrated six-week period.
This programme is very fast paced and engaging,
with the students having to stay focused to keep
up. These activities focus on how words are built
with prefixes, suffixes and syllables using longer,
more complex vocabulary alongside definitions
and spellings. In my experience, students we have
delivered this to in our academy have raised their
reading ages substantially and you can see the
progress from the very first session which helps the
students immediately grow in confidence.
Lexia – Powerups (online)
Lexia uses online interactive word, spelling and
grammar activities to help students navigate a
variety of texts on the screen. They have to work
fast in some units to try and beat the time it takes
to finish a task and the student works their way
through the programme until they master the
different units. This is very different to the Lexonik
interventions as the students are in front of a
screen with headphones, so the tutor very rarely
interacts with the group unless they are struggling
to complete a unit. When this happens, there are
many skill building activities which can be printed
off and used in a small group setting if needed or
given as extended work to be completed at home.
Beth Khalil is the LRC
Manager/Literacy
Coordinator Northern
Education Trust Thorp
Academy. She has been a
librarian for 30 years and
her passion is encouraging
young people to discover a
lifelong love of reading.
Lexonik – Leap and
Advance (offline)
Lexonik is an award-winning company based in
the Northeast of England which aims to improve
the literacy levels of students through small group
interventions delivered by trained staff in schools
across the UK. Because it is staff led, the students
are engaged with the tutor throughout the sessions.
Lexonik LEAP is aimed at those students who
struggle in classrooms and have low literacy skills
or have English as an additional language (EAL).
The structured programme uses basic phonics,
building on the sounds and spellings of words and
is delivered to small groups of four to six students
daily. The students learn about graphemes,
digraphs, the part time vowel, prefixes, and
vocabulary, which teaches them how to look at a
word and understand how it is put together so they
can sound the word out and spell it correctly.
36
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Digital
Accelerated Reader (offline
reading with online quizzes)
Accelerated Reader is a literacy programme
which many schools are familiar with, and it
can be delivered in small intervention groups or
with whole key stages or classes. It aims to pair
pleasure reading with recall, understanding and
retrieval of the book read. This tests the fluency and
comprehension of each individual reader. The main
aim is for readers to start at a certain book level
achieved through a ‘Star Reading test’ and then for
them to work their way through the different levels
as they quiz, being exposed to more ambitious
vocabulary as they read and move up the levels
with more difficult texts. Some schools find it works
incredibly well, while some schools find it intensive
and expensive.
Reading Plus – (Reading
Solutions – Online)
Reading Plus is a unique online reading platform
which is tailored to a student’s ability following an
initial baseline test at the start of the programme.
This puts the students on a certain level for their
ability, and as they read through the hundreds
of texts they can unlock new texts, level up,
achieve combos and raise their word count to
gain certificates. The text helps the reader by
highlighting a word at a time on the screen which
keeps the students focused on the screen and it
tracks their reading speed as they go. We have seen
a lot of progress from many of our KS3 students
and they can stay on the programme as long as is
needed to advance their reading age.
Obviously all schools are different, so some
interventions will work better than others
depending on staffing or how many students need
literacy support. Some schools have found better
results through whole year group intervention
and others find small group activities work more
efficiently. Well trained staff, who know and
understand the needs of the students in front of
them will get the best out of almost any programme
they deliver.
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
37

Digital
YouTube – Illustrators
creating the projects and talking to various artists,
so are extremely engaging and relevant. More
games and activities about art can be found on the
Tate website: www.tate.org.uk/kids
Anna Lepeshkina
www.youtube.com/@AnnaLepeshkina/featured
Anna Lepeshkina is a concept artist. On her
YouTube channel you can find drawing lessons
in Photoshop for beginners as well as videos
about game art. There are speed painting tutorials
and cartoon style characters portraits. With her
distinctive and often manga-like style, these videos
will appeal to gamers, graphic novel, and manga
enthusiasts. Anna starts by building her creations
in 3D then puts her composition into Photoshop to
add colours and details, resulting in lifelike images.
Her portfolio can be found on Art Station: www.
artstation.com/lepyoshka
Tate Kids
www.youtube.com/@TateKids/featured
I Love Drawing
www.youtube.com/@ILoveDrawing/videos
I Love Drawing is a great channel for inspiring
young artists to expand their doodling and drawing
talents. The 44 videos, ranging from around 5
minutes with the longest being 17 minutes, inspire
the viewer to create with just a box of marker pens
and some blank paper. They also cover a wide
range of topics including art history, which looks at
various art movements; drawing techniques such
as cross hatching and perspective; a huge range
of how to draw videos from monsters to unicorns
to caricatures; and even drawing 3D letters and
numbers. Although the delivery is slightly zany, the
pace of the videos is slow enough to follow easily
and there’s plenty to appeal to a wide range of
artists and illustrators.
Barbara Band is a chartered
librarian with over 30 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.
The YouTube channel Tate Kids has a wide range of
videos about art and art history. It covers various
art movements such as ‘What is impressionism?’
and ‘What is pop art?’ in short, amusing films whilst
the ‘Becoming an artist’ and ‘Famous artists’ videos
look at the life stories of a diverse and international
selection of artists. ‘Make with an artist’ are
longer videos that encourage viewers to have a go
alongside an artist in their studio, and there are a
range of easy art projects to try. Aimed at primary
level, the videos are informative and interesting as
well as being easy to follow. They feature children
38
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

2022–2027
SLA Strategy Update
Our Priorities
• Build a community of members to share best practice and
provide practical support.
• Raise the profile and benefits of school library provision and
their contribution to the UK’s educational agenda to regional
and national governments and educational bodies.
• Support senior school leaders, governors, parents, teachers,
Trust leadership, and others in the development of their
school libraries to improve literacy and learning in a realistic
and constructive manner.
Our Objectives
1) Engage in active advocacy
• Great School Libraries campaign
• the SLA Awards
2) Create new research
• We worked with BounceTogether and the Open
University’s Teresa Cremin to launch a new paper into
Children’s Reading Choices.
• We worked with Bournemouth’s CEMP to apply
for funding to research ‘The “Third Space” School
Library: Fostering Capability in the Digital World for
Positive Mental Health’ – which was successful, and
the results will be released in 2023/24.
• We introduced a new regular section in TSL
highlighting new research relevant to school libraries
and their work.
3) Build strong partnerships
• We applied to Arts Council England for funding for
School Library Services to attend our 2022 weekend
course and were significantly oversubscribed
for places.
• We are building our branches network with termly
meetings and have introduced ‘Ambassadors’ for
those regions without a branch who want to engage
and support their local community.
• We work closely with Empathy Lab, NLT (writing their
Library Lifeline blog), the Reading Agency on their
Summer Reading Challenge (strategic group and book
selection) and Reading Well programmes, and added
The Week Junior Book Awards, Reading Teachers =
Reading Pupils, and BBC Education to launch the
return of 500 words.
4) Increase understanding
of how school libraries support literacy, media and
information literacy, knowledge acquisition, wellbeing
and employability:
• Information literacy TSL special
• Added Curriculum Links as regular section to TSL
• Developed LAL: Secondary
• Worked on Wellbeing through Reading
5) Promote member use
of a full range of digital
and physical educational
resources
• Source and utilise digital expertise for TSL
• Meet the Creator
• Training courses on Canva and other digital provision
• Upcoming support around AI
Keep up to date with our progress vis socials or your
members’ newsletters. If you have any questions please
email info@sla.org.uk
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
39

Books: 7 & Under
Allen, Kelly and
Allen, Zoey
My Brother George
Illustrated by Tara O’Brien
UCLan Publishing
2023, pp32, £7.99,
9781915235398
Family. Diversity. Acceptance
My Brother George, from partners Kelly and Zoey
Allen, is a bright, bold, inclusive picture book that
encourages children and adult readers to accept
each other with all our unique differences. Told in
the first person by Molly, who is George’s younger
sister, we explore the siblings’ likes and dislikes,
and hear how they love to play together. Warm
familial bonds are celebrated through Tara O’Brien’s
eye-catching 2D illustrations, as is the growing
determination of Molly to stick up for her brother
when others are confused by his long hair and call
him a girl, which Molly finds upsetting. As Molly says
to a lady who suggests that George is too pretty to
be a girl, ‘I think you should get to know someone
before finding out their gender.’
My Brother George, for children 5+ years,
is a sensitive exploration of difference and
acceptance, and deserves a place in all primary
school collections, where it could be a really
supportive resource for prompting conversations
about the importance of acceptance and being
true to ourselves.
Jane Broadis
Allen, Kelly and
Allen, Zoey
My Momma Zo
Illustrated by Tara O’Brien
UCLan Publishing
2023, pp26, £7.99
9781915235084
Family. Transgender. Acceptance
A timely and sensitive book from UCLan publishing
which explores family life, as Momma Zo, who was
once called Daddy, comes out and is loved and
accepted for ‘who she was always meant to be’. From
LGBTQ+ parents and authors, Kelly and Zoey Allen, this
book is dedicated as a support to others in the trans
community who are embarking on a similar journey.
Tara O’Brien’s illustrations celebrate and radiate
diversity and acceptance.
The book, like its sister volume My Brother George,
is narrated by Molly, who introduces her family
members: brother George, Mommy Kel and Momma
Zo, and shares all the things they enjoy together. We
learn that Momma Zo was once so unhappy when
called Daddy, she would spend time alone and
wouldn’t join in family activities. Readers gently learn,
through Molly’s eyes, the challenges that diverse
families face and of her wish for more people to
demonstrate the unconditional love shown by family
dog Ziggy. Momma Zo would be a hugely supportive
book in helping children to understand and warmly
accept trans parents in school communities.
Jane Broadis
Barnett, Mac
John’s Turn
Illustrated by Kate Berube
Walker Books
2023, pp30, £12.999781529506778
Individuality. Fear. Ballet
John’s Turn is my favourite picture book so far this
year. Mac Barnett has created an instantly relatable
book for children who are familiar with the concept
of ‘Show and Tell’, although in this stunning story
John shares a talent rather than bringing in an item.
Pupils are in assembly, and once Mr Ross has
finished his announcements, everyone is ready for
‘Sharing Gifts’. Previous performances by other
pupils are described with love and humour, and
John is waiting nervously backstage for his turn to
share. We have already seen that he has carefully
packed his bag and was quiet at breakfast. Now he
has changed for his performance and sits nervously
before he goes on stage.
Kate Berube’s soft and expressive illustrations
bring John’s increasingly joyous and powerful
performance to life, culminating in huge applause
from his peers, and a very happy and relieved John!
I read this book to many classes and with every class
we discussed what John’s facial expressions were
telling us about how he felt through this tender tale.
This is a beautiful story celebrating individuality and
facing fears.
Jenny Griffiths
Brown, Ian
Albert and the Pond
Illustrated by Eoin Clarke
Graffeg, 2023, pp36, £7.99
9781802584066
Habitat. Friendship. Diversity
One of a series about a real tortoise called Albert,
this book explores seasonal changes in a pond,
specifically introducing the lifecycle of amphibia,
in this case frogs. Delightfully personal and
imaginative yet grounded in good science (a short
but well considered fact page at the end gives
relevant information and wise advice), this book will
attract young minds who want to explore the world
of creatures in ecosystems. The central character,
Albert, is a non-native species, and his interactions
with the other animals will stimulate and encourage
discussion about diversity and inclusion. Clarke’s
beautiful illustrations are warm, engaging, and very
helpful to introduce garden creatures – including
‘creepy-crawly’ types – to small people; they
prompt discussion about reading emotion in facial
expression, developing understanding of inference.
The text is thoughtfully placed on the page to
explicate the illustrations; the simple informal font
is easy to read, and there are interesting vocabulary
and punctuation choices. A fabulous addition to
a classroom shelf for individual, small group, and
whole class teacher-led reading.
Stephanie Barclay
Blunt, Fred
Unicorn NOT Wanted
Happy Yak, 2023, pp30, £7.99
9780711281318
Humour. Friendship. Diversity
Picture the scene: a horse and rider are galloping
across a Wild West landscape, but all is not what
it appears to be. Despite the narrator’s claims that
this adventure will be completely unicorn-free, the
horse in its suspiciously high headgear is revealed
to be a bright and bold unicorn and the able rider a
loyal and enthusiastic pug.
When the duo is given their big chance to be more
involved in the story, their zany suggestions as to
how they can add drama and action are delightfully
imagined in hilarious ways. The exasperated narrator
at first asks them to just blend in, but eventually
accepts that unicorns and pugs are meant to stand
out in amazing ways which can enrich any story,
including this one.
On every page, colourful illustrations show the
humour and mayhem that ensues from the antics
of the two main characters, accompanied by lots of
entertaining dialogue. This would be a good picture
book to share with children when exploring the
themes of being yourself, appreciating differences in
others, and staying true to who you are.
Sue Polchow
Brunellière, Lucie
My Big Book of Nature
Sounds
Twirl, 2023, pp24, £16.99
9782408042165
Nature. Plants. Animals
Nature is important to us all, and learning more
about it is part of the national curriculum in science
and geography. Discovering the outdoors is also a
pleasure for children and adults alike, but sometimes
we have to take the outdoor indoors; My Big Book
of Nature Sounds is the perfect companion for such
times. Giving children the opportunity to learn and
discover what nature both looks and sounds like by
making their own choices, this is a wonderful book
for young learners.
There are so many sounds in the world around us,
but do we know which ones are nature? Do you
know what a barking dog sounds like or which
creatures buzz? When you are outside, do you smell
flowers, dig holes, water the plants, spot animals
in the meadow or make music with a leaf whistle?
This book gives us 100 different sounds to identify
and suggestions for how we can enjoy the many
different places and settings the outdoors provides.
Fun and interactive and perfect for young learners.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
40
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Books: 7 & Under
Forces
Editor’s pick
Barnham, Kay & Badari,
Marcelo
What’s a Force?: A Snow-
Day Adventure!
Wayland, 2023, 32pp, £12.99,
9781526319968
Forces. Science. Weather
Robot characters Zeb and Astro
discover the science behind forces in
this First steps in science series.
Howell, Izzi and Skaltsas,
Christos
Forces and Magnets:
Discover the Science All
Around You
Wayland, 2023, 32pp, £8.99,
9781526315045
Forces. Magnetism. Science
An interactive title discussing the
properties of forces and magnets
with clear layout and text.
Newland, Sonya
Forces
Wayland, 2022, 32pp, £8.99,
9781526309471
Forces. Physics. Science
Teaches the scientific principles
of forces with practical outdoor
activities and photographs to back up
the information.
Riley, Peter
Forces and Magnets
Franklin Watts, 2023, 32pp, £8.99,
9781445185682
Forces. Magnetism. Science
Explores key facts about forces with
a focus on magnetic forces including
experiments children can easily do.
Griffey, Harriet
Earthquakes and Other
Natural Disasters
DK, 2023, 48pp, £4.99, 9780241599099
Earthquakes. Natural disasters.
Volcanoes
Discovers what happens when nature
runs wild, from deadly volcanoes
and shocking earthquakes, to floods,
hurricanes, avalanches and fires.
Martin, Claudia
Earthquakes and
Volcanoes
Wayland, 2023, 32pp, £12.99,
9781526321381
Earthquakes. Physical
geography. Volcanoes
Find out why earthquakes shake the
ground and what makes volcanoes
erupt with simple activities.
Ravishankar, Anushka &
Hazarika, Pia Alize
Gravity for Smartypants
PRH, 2023, 40pp, £9.95,
9780143454106
Forces. Gravity. Science
Answering questions such as ‘Why
do things drop down and not up? Will
the moon fall on us? With the help
of a cat.
Twiddy, Robin & Li, Amy
Forces
Booklife, 2023, 24pp, £12.99,
9781801558242
Forces. Science. Technology
Looks at the properties of forces and
how they work in the series STEM
and me.
Coelho, Joseph
Courage Out Loud:
25 Poems of Power
Illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett
Series: Poetry to Perform
Wide Eyed Editions, 2023, pp40,
£12.99
9780711279193
Courage. Bravery. Poetry
Courage Out Loud, the third book in the beautiful
poetry series by 2022–2024 Children’s Laureate
Joseph Coelho and illustrator Daniel Gray-Barnett, is
just as lovingly appealing as Smile Out Loud and Poems
Aloud, and an absolute joy to explore with children.
With a beautiful bright cover, you will be spoilt for
choice with the poems inside. As I read this to the
children, we really enjoyed the brief notes about the
types of poems we were about to read, and what to
listen out for as we read them. Pupils excitedly told me
about the poems they were exploring in class, and I’ll
be recommending that their teachers borrow this book.
The ‘Limericks of Courage’ pages were particularly
popular as they are especially accessible and funny for
all. ‘The Toilet of Death’ had the children roaring with
laughter!
It is appealing to all, with a strong recommendation
for pupils reluctant to read aloud, as the poems spark
courage and bravery. With PSHEE themes throughout,
you should definitely have this in your collection.
Jenny Griffiths
POETRY
Cranfield, Robin Mitchell
Wings, Waves & Webs:
Patterns in Nature
Greystone Kids, 2023, pp36, £12.99
9781771646765
Patterns. Nature. STEM
The book explores the large and
small patterns that can be found everywhere in the
natural world. From spots on feathers and ladybirds,
to stripes on skunks and seeds and spirals on snails
and spiders. It explores mirror symmetry, radial
symmetry, waves, honeycombs, cracks, branches,
and meanders, with the end of the book challenging
the reader to find patterns in the world around them.
It takes an interesting approach to patterns and
one which will appeal. Illustrations are big and bold
and I think this is a book that could be fun to use in
classrooms and families to ignite children’s curiosity
and get them learning without realising they are
doing so as they try to find patterns around them.
Annie Everall
Devolle, John
Germs
Series: Big Science for Little
Minds
Pushkin Children’s Books, 2023,
pp30, £12.99
9781782694021
Science. Germs. Virus
A brightly coloured cover with eye-catching artwork
attracts readers to ‘Germs – THE GOOD, THE BAD
& THE FRIENDLY’. Inside, the book teaches us about
germs, with plenty of fun along the way. There are
fascinating facts, plenty of jokes, bold illustrations
and a variety of fonts and colours. The explanations,
vocabulary, illustrations, and humour are perfectly
pitched for young children. We meet viruses, bacteria,
fungi, protozoa, vaccines, penicillin, and antibiotics.
We learn what causes a cold, why we should always
cover our mouths when we wash or sneeze and
why grown-ups are always telling us to WASH OUR
HANDS. A dramatic double-page spread explains why
you should not eat an old sausage in your coat pocket
from last winter. A hilarious double page shows
what life was like in olden days before toilets. Then
we see why antibodies are superheroes, and we are
introduced to germs that we need.
An excellent introduction to ‘the mindboggling, yucky
world of germs!’ The book informs, entertains, and
intrigues. Highly recommended.
Brenda Marshall
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
41

Books: 7 & Under
Donaldson, Julia
The Bowerbird
Illustrated by Catherine Rayner
Macmillan Children’s Books,
2023, pp32, £12.99
9781529092240
Birds. Courtship Behaviour.
Humour.
A beautiful story from an award-winning author
and illustrator team. This is based on a real bird
which lives in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
The bowerbird is known for its elaborate courtship
rituals, which involve the male collecting delightful
objects for the nest. However, another charming
habit is that males steal these objects from other
bowerbird nests. The story is written in simple
rhyme with evocative watercolour pictures. Will
Bert manage to lure Nanette into his nest, or is there
someone more reliable waiting in the wings?
Sarah Seddon
Fong, Adriena
Ning and the Night
Spirits
Flying Eye Books, 2023, pp40,
£12.99
9781913123161
Friendship. Fear. Empathy.
This delightful debut picture book by a Singaporeborn
author and illustrator tells the story of a quiet
boy called Ning and how he finds the courage to
face his fears.
Lighting bright orange lanterns to ward off scary
night spirits is the villagers’ nightly task. For Ning,
however, other children are far more frightening
as he struggles with social skills. Sneaking from
the house to avoid his parents’ concerns about his
lack of friends, Ning finds himself in the forest at
night where he befriends the night spirits – not the
frightening monsters of legend but misunderstood,
gentle creatures who retreated to the forest when
humans arrived and lit bright flames that hurt their
eyes. To help his new friends Ning devises a plan to
bring humans and night creatures together to live
in harmony. But will he have the courage to ask the
other children to help him?
Beautiful illustrations throughout this magical
folktale are rich with cultural detail, adding depth
to this simply told yet powerful story. Useful for key
stage 1 to explore issues around self-confidence,
overcoming fear, empathy, and acceptance.
Lynn Marshall
Fraser, Lu
Mavis the Bravest
Illustrated by Sarah
Warburton
Simon & Schuster Children’s,
2023, pp32, £6.99
9781471191435
Courage. Feelings. Humour.
With rhyming text that is a joy to read aloud, this
is the story of a very timid chicken called Mavis,
who sits and knits in the barn because everything
out there is way too scary. She is very unlike her
adventurous friend Marge, who wears the most
delightful, knitted jumper! But when a thief tries to
make off with Sandra the sheep (and of course the
source of all her wool for knitting) then Mavis looks
deep inside herself to find that spark of bravery and
leaps into hilarious tractor-driving action to stop the
thief getting away. The brilliant illustrations from
Sarah Warburton are full of characterisation and
really emphasise the humour with amusing little
details on every page. Children will find the message
about finding your courage when you thought you
had none very reassuring.
Joy Court
Gooding, Louise
The Memory Book
Illustrated by Erika Meza
Wren & Rook, 2023, pp31, £12.99
9781526363756
Dementia. Families. Grandparents
A gentle story about a little girl who loves visiting
her grandma and having fun together – reading,
feeding the birds and looking through old photos
– but who one day notices grandma is different,
forgetting things and put items in strange places.
Her mum explains that she has dementia which
alters the way people think and behave and they can
help by explaining about any changes and putting
labels around the house. They also make a memory
book of all the old photos with notes about who is
in them and what they’re doing so Grandma can
still share her memories and stories. This is a good
introduction to dementia for young children to help
them understand the condition. It is sympathetically
and sensitively written with a positive approach. The
illustrations are in muted colours with a diverse array
of characters. There is also some useful information
about what dementia is and how you can help
people with the condition.
Barbara Band
Gregg, Stacey
In or Out: A Tale of Cat
Versus Dog
Illustrated by Sarah Jennings
HarperCollins Children’s Books,
2023, pp32, £7.99
9780008517250
Cooperation. Humour. Picture Book
This book has wonderfully bold, bright illustrations
throughout, with few words – ideal for a beginning
reader. It looks at the frustration that can happen
between friends and what happens if your ideas
don’t coincide. Simply told and full of humour, I can
see this being a favourite book between siblings and
school friends.
It’s told through the simple device of the frustrations
of Cat wanting to be out … then in … then out when
Dog only wants to be in! After pages of frustration,
they both want to be out, together – as together
is better!
Tricia Adams
Hillyard, Kim
Flora and Nora Hunt
for Treasure: A Story
About the Power of
Friendship
Ladybird Books, 2023, pp32, £7.99
9780241488607
Friendship. Adventure. Treasure
I love this book! It is a wonderful story celebrating
the power of friendship and will be loved by adults
and children, sharing its positive message. It
emphasises that even though friends might be apart,
they are still important to each other.
The minute you open this book you are swept
away with the excitement, sense of adventure, and
gorgeous illustrations. Flora and Nora have a ship
and are on a journey to find the ‘Secret Treasure’.
But disaster strikes and the ship is split in two – Flora
goes one way and Nora the other – how will they
cope? But then they remember that friends do not
always need to be near each other for the magic of
friendship to work.
Sue Bastone
42
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Books: 7 & Under
Joof, Emily
I Will Swim Next
Time
Illustrated by Matilda Ruta
Floris Books, 2023, pp32,
£12.99
9781782508298
Overcoming Fear. Water. Change
A young girl describes her fear of swimming in the
sea and how it makes her feel small and scared. Told
in the first person in lyrical rhymes, we are gently
taken through her encounters with water as, over
time, she comes closer to conquering her fear. We
learn that progress is a gradual, supported process;
we see the power of learning through vicarious
experiences in books. In her own time, the young
girl is ready to take a little leap into the swimming
pool and eventually learns that water is her special
place. This is a very well-structured poetic text, with
warm and vibrant double-page illustrations. While
this will specifically appeal to young children who
are afraid of the water, it also has a strong message
of overcoming fear of new experiences in general.
Highly recommended.
Carolyn Boyd
Kazi, Natasha Khan
Moon’s Ramadan
Farshore, 2023, pp30, £7.99
9780008587888
Ramadan. Togetherness.
Celebration
Ramadan is one of the
best-known celebrations in Islam, and as such needs
to become more widely represented in children’s
literature. Kazi’s book is a delightful celebration of
Ramadan and what it is all about. Starting with a
picture of the moon itself, we see how the moon
smiles on the world while still just a waxing crescent,
for this signals the start of Ramadan. With warm
and detailed illustrations, Kazi guides us through
the main ways in which Ramadan is celebrated
throughout the world – given the large number of
Muslims in the world and the fact each country has
slightly different ways of celebrating Ramadan, this
is no mean task. But Kazi carries it off effortlessly,
and by the end of the book any reader will have had
their knowledge and interest very much enriched.
Facts inside the front cover of the book tell us about
the moon’s phases as well as introductory facts on
Islam, with the end of the book giving us a useful
glossary with the main words all clearly defined.
Well worth having in the school library.
Rudolf Loewenstein
Lynas, Em
The Goat and the
Stoat and the Boat
Illustrated by Matt Hunt
Nosy Crow, 2023, pp32,
£12.99
9781839944208
Humour. Friendship.
Toddlers
This is a story that reads like a tongue twister and
would lend itself to being read out loud or read
along with. Goat and stoat do not get along, and
goat’s exuberance doesn’t gel well with stoat’s
delicacy and calmness. The antics that ensue on a
very wobbly boat in a moat are portrayed lyrically in
rhyming text and bright funny pictures. Essentially
the story is about accepting each other’s differences
and making friends, but this idea is portrayed with a
very light touch. Full of slapstick humour and visual
jokes, this story will have any young reader giggling
in no time, and I can already hear the shout of
‘again, again’! that would be heard on finishing it.
Bev Humphrey
McGuinness, Christine
Amazing Me,
Amazing You
Illustrated by Hannah Jayne Lewin
Scholastic, 2023, pp25, £7.99
9780702323201
Autism. Kindness. Understanding
This is the first children’s book from autism
ambassador Christine McGuiness, and it is a perfect
introduction to talking about autism with younger
children. It covers a lot of the differences a pupil
with autism may have from their peers and explains
in a way that will be accessible to young children.
It also has the potential to be used with young
children with autism to help them to understand
some of the difficulties they have and then to
allow opportunities for them to talk about what
helps them.
Kate Keaveny
McLaren, Marguerite
When I’m Gone
Illustrated by Hayley Wells
Ladybird Books, 2023, pp26, £7.99
9780241528631
Mourning. Grieving. Death
The death of their parents is difficult enough for
adults. For children it’s much worse: they may not
understand what is happening and will be confused
by their changes of mood. Living with a terminally
ill parent is much more difficult even if what is
happening has been explained.
When I’m Gone is unusual in that a mother is talking
to her two children about the way that they may feel
while she is still alive and after she dies. She appears
in the early pictures and then is no longer visible,
even if her voice is present.
This is Marguerite McLaren’s love letter to her two
young daughters, written from her experiences as
somebody who is terminally ill, and gently trying
to help her children through what is to come. It’s
a refreshingly honest book about what is often a
taboo subject.
The illustrations capture the joys and sorrows in
beautifully clean colours, from photographs of
family holidays to games with gran and grandad and
future expeditions when dad will be there but mum
not. Poignant and positive.
Peter Andrews
Meddour, Wendy
Cleo the Completely
Fine Camel
Illustrated by Carmen Saldaña
Oxford University Press, 2023, pp31,
£7.99
9780192778550
Friendship. Desert. Honesty
To all her friends, Jerboa, Lizard and Ostrich, Cleo
insists she is ‘completely fine’. Her friends are not
so convinced. Through learning about the desert
and the way camels survive, Wendy Meddour also
teaches the importance of being honest about your
feelings. It’s OK not to be ‘completely fine’! With the
help of her loving and dedicated friends, Cleo finally
admits to them, and to herself, that she is not feeling
her best.
A lovely ode to the beauty but harshness of the
desert, and an important lesson in honesty with
those who love you, Meddour manages to bring life
and personality to these animals in just a few pages.
The onomatopoeic language makes for a vivid read,
and the tonal shift of the illustrations from orange
sands to luscious rainforest echoes Cleo’s relief in
finding the oasis.
With the help of her friends, Cleo finds an oasis
which not only replenishes her physical body, but
one which allows her to be her true self, even when
she’s not ‘completely fine’!
Tarika Sullivan
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
43

Books: 7 & Under
Meza, Erika
To the Other Side
Hodder Children’s Books, 2023,
pp40, £14.99
9781444971774
Refugee. Journey. Family
This book has been getting so much love and
attention, and it is richly deserved. What starts as
a game for a brother and sister – with rules and
a finish line – quickly becomes all too real and
not so much fun. They dream of what they might
win – a new home, school or friends, but their
journey is long, tiring and fraught with uncertainty.
Help is sometimes found, other times not. A richly
immersive story about the plight of children
refugees, fleeing for safety, for protection or for
a better chance at survival and success. Realising
the game is real, they stick together and find their
way to safety and stability. This is a hugely powerful
story, in illustration and text, and would be an
incredible book to share to highlight the refugee
crisis and discuss ways to help.
Erin Hamilton
Morgan, Angie
Small Stanley’s Big
List of Scary Stuff
Otter-Barry Books, 2023, pp33,
£12.99
9781913074135
Fear. PSHE. Anxiety
I like that this story doesn’t belittle or dismiss
Stanley’s fears but is gently accepting of them. I
also like the end note which looks like a page out
of Stanley’s notebook and offers three simple
suggestions for children who have fears of their
own. And I love Angie Morgan’s illustrations which
accentuate the story: they are whimsical and have a
strong design element which will help readers and
listeners when the book is read aloud, as I hope it
will be – in key stage 1 classrooms, perhaps for a
PSHE lesson, or in assembly, or by parents at home
– because sharing the experience of feeling anxious
is, as Stanley discovers, a big step towards a more
positive outlook.
Jane Rew
O’Neill, Richard
The Can Caravan
Illustrated by Cindy Kang
Travellers Tales Child’s Play, 2022,
pp30, £7.99
9781786286147
Recycling. Romany. Environment
Penned by Richard O’Neill, a Romani storyteller,
The Can Caravan is a story in picture-book format
suitable for children aged 4–10. It describes how
Janie and her friends save an elderly neighbour’s
dilapidated caravan, preventing her from needing
to be rehoused. After a school visit to an aluminium
recycling plant, led by Janie’s enthusiasm, the local
children collect enough cans to start their project
and after a lot of hard work, a supportive community
and a green light from the social services team, the
new caravan is ready. Of course, it is a far-fetched
tale, but it will tickle the fancy of young creative
minds. Built into the tale is detail about the drinks
can recycling process which in itself is relevant and
interesting. An ‘aluminium recycling’ facts box and
diagram are included inside the back cover.
The colourful pictures are rather flat, but seamlessly
illustrate an inclusive society and are scattered
throughout the text, making what could be
challenging text more accessible. A helpful Romani
glossary is tucked inside the front cover, explaining a
few unusual words.
Janet Sims
Rae, Susie
Young Adventurers:
Outdoor Activities
in Nature
Illustrated by Caroline Attia
Little Gestalten, 2023, pp56, £16.95
9783967047448
Nature. Activities. Adventures.
Young Adventurers: Outdoor Activities in Nature is
full of ideas and inspiration about how young people
can enjoy the outdoors, whether it be things on your
doorstep or further afield. Throughout the book the
pages are covered in bright illustrations that show
different activities taking place in the outdoors, and
this is supported by informative text displayed in
a number of ways, including text boxes. I enjoyed
the way that some of the illustrations were quietly
labelled, highlighting key parts of a bike or canoe,
for example, without being intrusive. You’ll find lots
of ‘Did You Know’ boxes throughout the book with
extra facts and information in them. Keeping safe is
stressed throughout and there is a handy glossary
too. Ideas covered are wide and vary from camping,
swimming, using maps, and plant identification to
geocaching, bouldering, and slacklining, which was
something new to me! While some may not be your
everyday accessible activities, this book shows what
is possible and will inspire and encourage children to
look at how they can enjoy nature and the outdoors.
Stephen Leitch
Robert, Na‘Ima Bint
A Child Like You
Illustrated by Nadine Kaadan
Otter-Barry Books, 2023, pp32,
£12.99
9781913074173
Climate Change. Refugees.
Representation.
A Child Like You has been created by the perfect
combination of award-winning author Na’ima B.
Robert, and award-winning and Kate Greenaway
Medal nominated illustrator, Nadine Kaadan. It is a
thought-provoking and inspirational picture book
which brings together four incredibly brave real
children who have fought to make significant positive
changes to our world.
Addressing the themes of poverty, refugees, climate
change, representation in literature, child-slavery, and
hope, this powerful book would also work well for
older pupils, as it would be an excellent starting point
for discussions about what other children are doing
to try to make this world a better place for us all. I will
definitely be recommending this as a class loan for our
refugee topic in Year 5.
I enjoyed the poetic text alongside the stunning
illustrations. Co-operation, championing others, and
being the change you want to see are all messages
which come across very strongly. This is a vital book to
have in your collection.
Jenny Griffiths
Robinson, Michelle
1, 2, 3, Do the Robot
Illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
Farshore, 2023, pp25, £7.99
9781405298872
Robots. STEM. Teamwork.
What a really great introduction to the world of
STEM for the very young. The heroine of this book
is young Layla, who is something of an inventor,
despite her young age; so, as she is not ready for
bed, she decides to make a robot. During the length
of the book, she builds three of these companions
and they have great fun, that is, until number 3
blows up! But working as a team, Layla shows the
robots how to repair their friend and they all have
great fun. Finally, they are all tired and snuggle down
for a good night’s sleep.
Layla is a delightful character with her tool
belt, goggles and overalls, and she shows that
imagination and a few skills can come in very
useful. There is a great deal of humour from the
robots as they try and help, and I love the real
sense of energy and joy that is exuded by the
characters. This will make a great addition to the
reception classroom and will also encourage young
children, especially girls, to dream.
Margaret Pemberton
44
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Books: 7 & Under
Stevens, Bethan
A Damsel Not in
Distress!
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books,
2023, pp32, £7.99
9780711275171
Fairy Tale. Subversion. Gender Identity
This damsel is definitely not in distress. She lives
with her grandma rather than a wicked witch in a
tower. There are animals in the moat, but they are
frogs and ducks. A fire-breathing dragon is flying
by, so the prince, the knight, and gnome come
to rescue her, but they all fail, getting stuck in the
moat, caught on the thorns, and unable to climb up
the tower. So the princess has to ride on the dragon
and rescue them.
A Damsel Not in Distress is a funny and engaging
book that subverts traditional gender identity in
conventional fairy tales. It does this using role
reversal and humour. The story also thoroughly
updates historical fairy tale concepts with the
damsel doing yoga and using ropes to rescue the
prince, knight, and gnome. Above all else it is a fun
story that will encourage children to enjoy being
themselves.
Andrea Rayner
Tosdevin, Frances
An Artist’s Eyes
Illustrated by Clémence Monnet
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books,
2023, pp32, £6.99
9780711264861
Art. Language. Imagination
A compact (18 cm by 18 cm) board book complete
with action levers is an ideal ‘parent and toddler’
resource. It is sturdy enough to withstand the
rigours of a playgroup or nursery and the action
handles are simple enough (on the whole) for a
three-year-old to manipulate. This title is in the
series Sing Along with Me, complementing other
action rhyme books for babies.
Illustrating the well-loved song, in pastel shades, this
little companion works well. I particularly enjoyed
the final leap, as the lonely frog joins his pals in the
water and little fireflies appear in the evening sky.
Details on each page give plenty of ideas for talking
alongside the song. Why is there a bear floating
on his back? Do frogs really catch flies on their
tongues? With only three ‘pages’ inside the cover
boards, a quick and satisfying book experience for
the very young.
A QR code leads to a very jolly version of the song
for those needing help with the tune!
Janet Sims
Wakeling, Kate
A Dinosaur at the Bus
Stop: Poems to Have
Fun With!
Illustrated by Eilidh Muldoon
Otter-Barry Books, 2023, pp80,
£8.99
9781913074203
Poetry. Playful. Read Aloud.
This is a very joyful anthology of 37 little poems on
a variety of subjects, including animals, daily drama,
and experiences such as getting a splinter, suffering
from a cold, flying a kite, and other relatable and
hilarious dramas..
I really enjoyed the cheerful tone of this book and I
think that young readers will appreciate not only the
content – especially the fact that the poems are nice
and compact and fun to read out loud – but also
the book’s gorgeous cover and inside illustrations.
It’s a small, slim book which should please even the
most reluctant poetry readers who may otherwise
feel overwhelmed. The poems are simple and
often use repetition, onomatopoeia, and other
clever linguistic and pictorial devices to show the
reader that reading poetry can be a truly happy and
light-hearted experience, even if the poems touch
upon more serious (but never too serious) subjects
such as sadness or mild illness (just a cold). A lovely
addition to any classroom library.
Marzena Currie
POETRY
Webster, George and
Taylor, Claire
This Is Me!
Illustrated by Tim Budgen
Scholastic, 2023, pp25, £7.99
9780702319143
Diversity. Friendship. Family.
A lovely book to share,
celebrating what makes us special and different.
The illustrations show a range of children who are
all different. The book would be great to use in class
so that children can think about what makes them
special and what they can do. It covers trying new
things as well as finding your special glow, so will
ensure all children can think about what they might
want to do rather than trying to think of what makes
them special at that time.
Kate Keaveny
Wilson, Anna
Grandpa and the
Kingfisher
Illustrated by Sarah Massini
Nosy Crow, 2023, pp30,
£7.99
9781839942105
Nature. Death. Relationships.
EDITOR’S PICK
A beautiful book for the younger listener about
the close relationship between a grandfather and
grandchild and how the grandfather passes on his
knowledge of nature and the circle of life to a new
generation. The story follows a year in the life of the
kingfisher and introduces the subject of death in a
way that isn’t frightening for younger children.
The paperback book is beautifully illustrated
throughout, and has a front cover highlighted in
bronze.
Linda Nash
Woolf, Alex
Super Poopers: All
About Poo and What It
Can Do!
Illustrated by Isobel Lundie
Caterpillar Books, 2023, pp44, £14.99
9781838914899
Science. Nature. Humour.
I picked up this book with some trepidation
after spotting the word ‘Poopers’. I then became
engrossed in how fascinating excrement can be
and how it functions in so many ways for so many
different species. Yes, there are enough poo jokes
to keep the average primary-aged child sniggering
at the back, but the interesting facts kept me turning
the pages. Although we are not entirely sure why
dogs sense the Earth’s magnetic pull and defecate
standing in a north-south direction, we do know
a great deal about how functional it is for many
species to have particular toiletry habits. This
can range from using it to identify themselves to
potential mates (rhinos,vain vultures) to using it as
a source of food (dung beetles, rabbits, mole-rats).
There are accounts of how it is used in defence and
attack as well as helping provide a food source for
others. The book is well illustrated and there are
small accessible snippets of information with quirky
jokes contained in speech bubbles. I quite liked, ‘It’s
a hippo-potty mess!’ myself.
John Newman
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
45

Books: 8 – 12 | Fiction and Poetry
Baines, Nigel
A Tricky Kind of Magic
Hodder Children’s Books, 2023,
pp245, £7.99
9781444960266
Grief. Magic. Graphic Novel
This sweet graphic novel is about
Cooper, who loves magic tricks
and is dealing with the death of his dad. It seems
to Cooper that his mum is doing fine, and after an
argument, he runs away. Luckily, he finds refuge
in a magic shop, but he is transported to another
land, a land where all the magic that goes wrong
ends up. Think rabbits who don’t get pulled out of
hats or playing cards that weren’t picked! Cooper
is convinced he will find his dad in this land, but
actually he has been trapped by Dimblechip –
a terrible magician who wants Cooper to teach him
to be good at magic.
Cooper is joined by Rabbit Di Nero, a rabbit toy
pulled from his dad’s magic hat, who comes to
life as a funny sidekick. Along with magician’s
assistant, Rori, they guide Cooper to the realisation
that although it is painful to lose loved ones, their
memory and love stay with you. The book provides
a sensitive way to deal with grief for younger
readers, with some laughs for light relief.
Jenni Prestwood
Baker, Jeannie
Desert Jungle
Walker Books, 2023, pp38, £12.99
9781406387872
Desert. Nature. Environment
What struck me most about this
book were the illustrations. It
looked as though scenes had been created in 3D, in
a mixture of media and then photographed to make
them come alive.
The story is about Chico and his
grandfather. Grandfather had taken Chico on
holiday to the place where he used to live in the
desert jungle. Chico was afraid of the desert jungle
and the noises, and preferred to stay indoors and
play on his tablet. Eventually he was persuaded by
grandfather to explore, resulting in Chico becoming
more familiar with the nature in the desert and
less afraid of the sights and sounds, consequently
developing knowledge about how important it all is
to the universe.
A lovely story, incorporating the importance of
nature and how it needs protecting and also how
spending too much time on screens can rob us of
the chance to learn more about the environment
around us.
Linda Nash
Bell, Alex
The Train of Dark
Wonders
Rock The Boat, 2023, pp320, £7.99
9780861545964
Fantasy. Trains. Quest
Trains have always been important
in children’s literature and in The Train of Dark
Wonders, Alex Bell offers an exciting new entrant
to the fantasy engine shed. Bess has always been
closer to her grandfather than her somewhat
Matildaesque parents. When he dies, she learns she
has been left the odditorium, a bizarre museum full
of strange and magical things. She needs to save the
museum from closure, and a train ticket enclosed in
a letter from her grandfather may offer hope.
When the ‘Train of Dark Wonders’ arrives in town,
Bess doesn’t hesitate; she smuggles herself aboard,
meets wonderful new friends, and shares in their
adventures.
The Train of Dark Wonders has a great deal to offer
a young enthusiastic reader who wants something
securely like other books which they have enjoyed
while offering enough new excitement to satisfy the
imagination. Characterisation is particularly clever
as there is ample opportunity to add detail to the
outlines given, enabling the reader to populate the
book with perfect friends, mentors – and enemies.
Jaki Brien
Bennett, M. A
The Mona Lisa Mystery
The Butterfly Club Series
Welbeck Flame, 2023, pp304, £7.99
9781801300384
History. Time Travel. Adventure
There have been other Butterfly
Club books but there is no need to have read them
to thoroughly enjoy the adventure here.
The Butterfly Club is so called because members
time travel to steal artefacts from the future to help
bring progress forward. Any changes in history can
have a big effect – and only time will tell what this
is – and this is known as the butterfly effect! Here
our three young heroes are tasked with finding da
Vinci’s lost masterpiece Il Salvator Mundi – the clues
to its location are hidden in the Mona Lisa painting,
hanging in the Louvre in Paris. How to steal a wellguarded
painting, and not get caught?
Travelling to 1911, the trio, with famous escapologist
Houdini, come up with an ingenious solution – and
have many scrapes and near miss escapes along
the way! A race, a madcap adventure, and time
travel all in the mix. Especially enjoyable were the
explanations of some of Houdini’s escapes. Great
fun and very readable.
Tricia Adams
Bradman, Tony
Operation Banana
Illustrated by Tania Rex
4U2read series
Barrington Stoke, 2023, pp64, £7.99
9781800901872
World War II. Rationing. Families
This story is set in London in 1942;
Susan’s dad is away fighting in North Africa whilst
her mum works at a local factory. When Susan
notices her mum is a bit down and never seems to
smile anymore, she’s determined to do something
to cheer her up. And so begins ‘Operation Banana’
that finds Susan raiding her piggy bank and setting
off for Covent Garden with her best friend, Jimmy,
for support. When this attempt to buy a banana is
unsuccessful, she has to resort to trying to get hold
of one using the ‘black market’. A story about family
and friendship that is packed with historical details
creatively woven into the plot; a great starting
point for learning about rationing, schools, predecimalisation
money and life during the war.
Barbara Band
Bushby, Aisha
Suitcase S(witch)
Illustrated by Coralie Muce
Barrington Stoke, 2023, pp88, £7.99
9781800901766
Family. Magic. Nervousness
On a trip to take part in a poetry
competition, Zahra picks up a suitcase identical to
hers by mistake when leaving the train. This could
be a disaster but leads to a series of strange and
magical situations involving dancing shoes, a magic
cloak, and a spell that can make her Dad’s food
edible! But will she be able to overcome her nerves
and perform at the poetry competition? And will she
even want her own suitcase back?
I really enjoyed this story. As well as saying how
nervous she is about the competition, Zahra
also explains about the types of poems she’ll be
performing – a limerick, haiku and sonnet – which
is great to see in a novel. There’s lots of fun to be
enjoyed when the magic kicks in, including a line-up
of cats who suddenly appear to audition to be her
familiar! There are also things to think about like
being nervous about performing in front of people.
Overall, a fun story with a touch of magic as well as
situations many young children may relate to.
Stephen Leitch
46
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Books: 8 – 12
More Able
Editor’s pick
Balen, Katya &
Smith, Sydney
The Light in Everything
Bloomsbury, 19 Jan 2023, 328pp, £7.99,
9781526622983
Blended families. Domestic violence.
Emotions
Zofia’s dad and Tom’s mum have a
chance of a new life after previous
trauma, but their children are
not happy.
Brahmachari, Sita & Ray,
Jane
Corey’s Rock
Otter-Barry, 2023, £8.99,
96pp, 9781913074159
Families. Islands. Legends
Ten-year-old Isla has moved from
Edinburgh to the Orkney Islands
with her parents, to start a new life
after the death of Isla’s beloved
young brother.
Harrold, A.F. & Pinfold, Levi
The Worlds We Leave
Behind
Bloomsbury, 2022, 272pp, £12.99,
9781526623881
Emotions. Friendship. Self-esteem
A boy meets a mysterious old lady
who offers him the chance to change
history to erase a mistake he has
made but with serious consequences.
Nabi, Zohra & Cole,
Tom Clohosy
The Kingdom Over the
Sea
Simon & Schuster, 2023, 369pp, £7.99,
9781398517707
Adventure. Fantasy. Journey
When Yara’s mother passes away, she
leaves behind a letter and instructions
for Yara to travel to a place not on
any map.
Hardinge, Frances
Fly By Night
Macmillan, 8 Feb 2018, 436pp, £8.99,
9781509842339
Friendship. Historical. Mystery
Set in an alternative historical world, a
young girl and her goose companion
become accidental heroes of a
revolution.
Hargrave, Kiran Millwood
A Secret of Birds and
Bones
Chicken House, 2021, 336pp, £7.99,
9781913322960
Fantasy. Historical. Magic
In an Italian city during the plague
Sofia’s Mother disappears. Sent to
an orphanage, with her little brother
Sofia must try to find out the truth.
Murray, Julia
A Word a Day: 365 Words
gor Curious Minds
Harper Collins, 2022, 128pp, £12.99,
9780008545840
Dictionary. Language. Words
Introduces words relevant to each
day throughout the year, including
a pronunciation guide, meaning
and origin.
Norry, E L & Idowu, Lola
Fablehouse
Bloomsbury, 2023, 336pp, £7.99,
9781526649539
Adventure. Friendship. Fantasy
Sent to an orphanage for unwanted
children Heather discovers a plot
from a fae realm to overthrow the
human world and is empowered
to fight.
Caldecott, Elen
The Blackthorn Branch
Andersen Press, 2022, pp255, £7.99
9781839132032
Fantasy. Adventure. Wales.
Cassie and Sian are cousins. When
Cassie’s older brother, Byron,
whom she finds intensely annoying, mysteriously
disappears, Cassie and Sian decide to do whatever
it takes to find him. They suspect correctly that he
has been taken by the little people, the Telwyth Teg.
If Byron stays with them too long, he will be lost
forever, like several children before him. Can Cassie
and Sian save him? This book really focuses on
Welsh folklore. There are some phrases in the Welsh
language which are then translated into English. For
Year 6 and up.
Rebecca Butler
Chambers, Roland
The Rage of the Sea
Witch
The Adventures of Billy Shaman
Zephyr, 2023, pp168, £7.99
9781789541465
Adventure. Magic. Oceans.
Billy has yet to realise his powers as a Shaman.
When his selfish globetrotting parents abandon
him at Charles Darwin’s house for the summer, Billy
stumbles across the unexpected – a 200-year-old
giant talking tortoise called Charles Darwin.
The tortoise, knows everything about the mansion,
from its fossils to the beautifully carved Inuit ivory
necklace that whisks Billy back in time. In the midst
of the shrieking chaos of an Arctic blizzard, Billy
meets the rightful owner of the necklace, Annan,
her shapeshifting grandmother, and the mysterious
Greek geographer, explorer, and astronomer
Pytheas.
The Rage of the Sea Witch is a wonderful adventure
about time travel and is full of humour and historical
facts accompanied by black and white illustrations.
This first instalment of a series about explorations
and discovery through the ages offers learning
through fun. This book will make a wonderful
addition to any upper primary school library or
classroom.
Emma Suffield
Coelho, Joseph
Budgie
Illustrated by David Barrow
Little Gems series
Barrington Stoke, 2023, pp96,
£6.99
9781800901407
Friendship. Empathy. Kindness.
Miles and his friend Chris love climbing the trees
outside their tower block, but neighbour Mr Buxton
always shouts at them.
When Miles finds a lost little green budgie he names
it Pippin and takes it home to look after. Although
Pippin doesn’t survive, Miles discovers a connection
to Mr Buxton, leading to an understanding and
friendship between the generations.
Drawing on his own childhood experience of
finding a lost budgie, Joseph Coelho has created
a small masterpiece which is joyful, empathetic,
and thoughtful, dealing gently with issues such
as bereavement. The expressive, lyrical story is
complemented by glowing, full-colour illustrations
from David Barrow. An utterly gorgeous little book,
filled with warmth and compassion, with wide appeal
for newly independent readers. The jacket flaps
include fun budgie facts and a spot the difference
activity to help extend the reading experience, which
is a a feature of the aptly named Little Gems
Jayne Gould
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
47

Books: 8 – 12 | Fiction and Poetry
Collins, Tim
Sherlock Bones and
the Mystery of the
Vanishing Magician:
A Puzzle Quest
Illustrated by John Bigwood
Adventures of Sherlock Bones
Buster Books, 2023, pp192, £6.99
9781780559216
Humour. Detectives. Puzzles
This is the latest in a series of ‘puzzle quest’ books.
This Bones is a Dog Detective, and with his assistant,
Dr Jane Catson, he embarks on a cheery, humorous
romp to solve the mystery of ‘the Vanishing
Magician’. Highlights include pacy writing in the first
person by Catson, and a world peopled by talking
animals; there is also gentle wit that will appeal to
KS2 – a lemur moves … ‘faster than a cheetah who’s
desperate for a wee.’ This is a highly appealing story.
Bigwood’s delightful line drawings illustrate the
plot, just sufficiently for this age group, without
distracting from reading. His regular puzzle pages
are super; really challenging and appropriate to the
story. Together Collins and Bigwood have created a
winning combination. This is a highly recommended
addition for small group reading as well as for more
indepependent individuals.
Stephanie Barclay
Davis, Ben
Lenny Lemmon and the
Invincible Rat
Illustrated by James Lancett
Lenny Lemmon
Nosy Crow, 2023, pp160, £6.99
9781839949296
Funny. School. Rivalry
Davis and Lancett have teamed up to create a
genuinely hilarious story about a school history day
gone wrong. The whole school is dressed up and
ready for ‘Olden Days School’ – an immersive step
back in time for a day. Students have been tasked
with bringing in historical items, and Lenny is certain
that what he has brought in his top-secret box will
be so incredible that it will win his class the grand
prize at the end of the day, finally beating class 5A
(who always win). Everyone wants to know what
Lenny has in the box, but his big reveal doesn’t quite
go to plan.
The genius of this laugh-out-loud book lies in the
combination of text and illustration to inject as
much comedy and slapstick as possible, and just
when you think it can’t get funnier, it does! I cannot
wait to recommend this to Dav Pilkey, Liz Pichon
and Pamela Butchart fans. I really hope there are
more Lenny Lemmon books in the pipeline.
Bridget Hamlet
Ellis, Deborah
One More Mountain
Oxford University Press, 2023,
pp179, £7.99
9780192786937
Families. Adventure. Afghanistan
EDITOR’S PICK
This is the fifth book in a series
about a brave, unselfish Afghan girl, Parvana, who
fights endless dangers and injustices in Afghanistan
to protect her family and others, especially women
and girls. Parvana is 32 now, with an 11-year-old son,
Rafi, and she is running a women’s refuge, Green
Valley, when the Taliban retake power in 2021. The
Taliban’s return means that Parvana and her charges
must leave Green Valley and undertake a perilous
journey in search of a new sanctuary. This is also the
story of Rafi, who makes an unselfish sacrifice and
endures his own lonely and courageous journey. At
its simplest, this is a gripping adventure story about
a group of women and children (and Rafi and his
father) fighting bravely for a better future in a cruel
country for girls. Putting flesh and blood on the
headlines, this is a raw but optimistic story. However,
there are graphic details of the violence at Kabul
Airport which make it more appropriate for older
readers in this age group.
Peter Hollindale
Evans, Maz
Oh Maya Gods!
Chicken House, 2023, pp336, £7.99
9781913696870
Fantasy. Adventure. Friendship
Elliot and Virgo from the Who Let
the Gods Out series return, but
here their children, Vesper and Aster, take centre
stage. Elliot and Virgo had saved the world by
imprisoning the most evil mythological gods below
Stonehenge. Voices draw Vesper to the nearby
Stonehenge Heel Stone. The stone opens at her
touch, and she goes deep into the earth, but before
being rescued by Virgo she has been tricked into
releasing three evil daemons, including Kirin, the
Mayan God of Death. Kirin threatens to destroy the
world unless Elliot and Virgo travel to the Mayan
underworld ‘to play with him’. They lose. Vesper
and Aster join them, and Vesper uses Aster’s power
to transform himself into a constellation of stars to
trick Kirin into being consumed in the House of Fire.
This is a long read requiring stamina, but it moves
at pace and the reader is rewarded by discovering a
rich cast of characters – mortal and immortal – and
the fruits of the writer’s expansive imagination. At
times a certain resilience is needed, but humour
eases this.
David Mallett
Farook, Nizrana
The Boy Who Saved a
Bear
Nosy Crow, 2023, pp160, £7.99
9781839943928
Adventure. Animals. Friendship
This is a beautiful story set in
Serendip, a fictional version of Sri Lanka. Nuwan
has taken over his brother’s book deliveries for
the library while his big brother is ill. He wants to
prove himself useful to the family and take on the
long journey from his village to the King’s City.
Unknowingly, he takes something important from
dangerous thieves and determines to reach his
queen and present her with this real treasure instead
of a copy. Nuwan hides in a cave and meets his
protector for the journey – a bear. The two travel
together on this quest and Nuwan realises that he
is not only the protected, but also the protector of
this magnificent animal. Hunters are looking for his
new friend and he will do all he can to save her. This
is a quest in the truest sense: there is danger and
intrigue in this story and also a developing, heartwarming
friendship. Beautifully written and easy to
follow, this is a fitting end to Nizrana Farook’s tales
of Serendip.
Erica Dean
Fox, Matthew
The Lovely Dark
Hodder Children’s Books, 2023,
pp272, £7.99
9781444964745
Adventure. Grief. Myths
From The Sky Over Rebecca
author comes this exploration
of death. Twelve-year-old Ellie and her friend
Justin visit an archaeological site near the Thames
which depicts the Greek myth of Orpheus and the
Underworld. When there is an accident at the site
and it is flooded, the story plays out in both their
lives. They enter an underworld that takes her to
Eventide House. Why must they travel separate
paths? Who are the characters they meet and how
do they play out in real life? How can she get back
to the land of the living to meet her newly born
baby brother? Fantasy readers will enjoy Ellie’s
explorations as she, and the reader, unpick her
journey out of her coma and back to her family.
Carolyn Boyd
48
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

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Books: 8 – 12 | Fiction and Poetry
Gold, Hannah
The Lost Whale
Illustrated by Levi Pinfold
HarperCollins Children’s Books,
2023, pp330, £7.99
9780008412968
Family. Mental Health. Animals
While his mum is struggling
with her mental health, Rio is forced to stay with his
estranged Gran in California.
Despite his reluctance to be there, Rio soon settles
into life near the ocean. After discovering he has a
gift for listening to whales,
Rio’s new friend Marina and her dad welcome him as
part of the ‘Spyhopper’ crew – a boat for whalewatching.
Rio is looking for one particular whale
himself – ‘White beak’, a whale very special to his
mum years ago. After a close encounter with White
Beak, Rio instantly feels emotionally and spiritually
connected to her, much like his mum did all those
years ago.
Rio begins to track White Beak’s migration to
Mexico on the Happywhale database, but starts to
worry when there have been no sightings of her
for a few days. Rio knows the whale is in trouble
and he knows he’s the only one who can find her.
Once again Hannah Gold highlights the threats of
climate change with an engaging story filled with
empathetic characters and beautiful creatures.
Angela Dyson
Hodson, Matthew
Forwards Always
Cicada Books, 2023, pp60, £12.99
9781800660359
Poetry. Playful. Relatable
This small hardcover collection
of poetry instructs the reader,
before they even open the book,
that its poems are meant to be read out loud,
which immediately makes it sound more like a fun,
interactive game than a solitary reading experience.
There are 43 poems in this anthology and they
cover a variety of subjects: some are abstract,
others more realistic, always referring to all sorts
of personal experiences and relatable emotions
and observations, often presented in a linguistically
playful style.
It’s a very well-made book, with joyful full-colour
illustrations which young readers will enjoy looking
at; personally, I’m very fond of the blue monkey
accompanying the poem called ‘CAN A MONKEY
GROW A BEARD?’ I also liked the way the author
toyed with the layout of the text, adding even
more fun as sometimes you have to turn the book
sideways or upside down to complete the poem. A
very useful, fun tool to use in an early introduction
to poetry, helping to inspire creativity as well as
confidence in young people.
Marzena Currie
POETRY
Green, Simon
Finn Jones Was Here
Illustrated by Jen Jamieson
Scholastic, 2023, pp273, £7.99
9780702303647
Adventure. Bereavement. Love
Finn Jones was unwell, and he
and his best friend Eric had an argument. Before
either could apologise, Finn died. Eric then receives
an invitation to Finn’s funeral with a dress code of
‘Unicorns’. So, Eric duly dresses as a unicorn but
finds everyone else in black. Eric also receives
a note which is the start of a trail which Eric is
convinced will lead to finding Finn still alive and
enjoying the joke. This trail involves Eric venturing
out of his comfort zone and being forced to tell lies
to his overprotective mum.
Eric is in denial about Finn’s death, a common
occurrence when children are faced with the death
of a loved one. He also feels very guilty about their
argument – again a common worry for anyone.
This is a reassuring book about coming to terms
with death; it is also very funny despite the subject
matter.
Dawn Woods
Huxley-Jones, Lizzie
Vivi Conway and the
Sword of Legend
Knights Of Media, 2023, pp320,
£7.99
9781913311421
Neurodiversity. Welsh Myths.
Fantasy
A wonderful opener to a new fantasy series that
impeccably mixes Welsh mythology with everyday
reality, in a thrilling fast-paced adventure that has a
satisfying stand-alone ending, but one that leaves
you eagerly awaiting more! Vivi Conway must
grapple with moving from Wales to London, starting
a new school, and making new friends – but also
finding out that she is the reincarnation of the Lady
of the Lake and must now help protect the earth
from destruction. She is one of a group of children
who share the souls of legendary witches with
their own powers and talismans. The way authentic
representation is woven into the story without
becoming the story is particularly well done. Vivi is
autistic and has two mams. Each of the new friends
she makes on this quest face their own problems
in how they can tackle challenges and the way the
world itself perceives them, but they inspiringly rise
to the occasion. Convincing world building and
storytelling which is inclusive, magical, and exciting
make this one not to be missed for your library.
Joy Court
Hargrave, Kiran
Millwood
Leila and the Blue Fox
Illustrated by Tom de Freston
Orion Children’s Books, 2023,
pp256, £7.99
9781510110281
Climate Change. Parent–Child
Relationship. Environmental Research
Leila is visiting her mother, Amani,, a researcher into
climate change with the Tromsø Arctic Institute.
Refugees from the Syrian Civil War, Leila has been
in London with relatives, Mum in Norway obsessed
with her work, currently tracking the path of a
blue Arctic fox as she crosses the increasingly
treacherous Arctic ice from Norway westwards
towards Canada.
Against her instincts, Leila joins Amani on an
expedition on the Floe, a rust-flaking boat, in an
attempt to make direct contact with the elusive fox
and remove the tracking device.
The fox, called Miso by the researchers, will quickly
disappear if she becomes aware of the humans,
distrustful of their smell. Leila’s story alternates
with that of the fox in abrupt changes of style. The
illustrations are an integral part of the story, where
the precariousness of the Arctic world is conveyed
by distinctive figures set against broad-brushed
backgrounds.
Peter Andrews
Jassat, Nadine
The Stories Grandma
Forgot (And How I
Found Them)
Orion Children’s Books, 2023, pp240,
£7.99
9781510111578
Mystery. Alzheimer’s. Memory Loss
Twelve-year-old Nyla’s dad died when she was four
so when Grandma Farida insists she saw him in
the supermarket and asks Nyla to find her dad and
bring him home, Nyla promises she will. I love a
verse novel and I am so happy more middle-grade
ones are being published, as the language, the
play on words and storytelling is just sublime. This
story is gripping, powerful and a fast-paced page
turner about memory loss, love, trust, identity,
and unbreakable family bonds. It is written with
such sensitivity and compassion with wonderful
character building, this book won’t just support
some readers (younger and older) but it will educate
as well. Covering themes of bullying and racism,
it gives readers an understanding of complex
issues they may face when growing up and how to
deal with them. This is an emotional and heartwrenching
read which will make you laugh and cry
and will make a wonderful addition to any primary
or secondary school library. It is accessible for all
readers and will make a wonderful class read.
Emma Suffield
50
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Books: 8 – 12 | Fiction and Poetry
Kessler, Liz
Code Name Kingfisher
Simon & Schuster Children’s,
2023, pp368, £12.99
9781398512498
World War II. Family history.
Dementia
With such a wealth of World War II historical fiction
being published, Liz Kessler has successfully
produced a stand-out middle grade novel which is
both engaging and realistic.
Chapters shift between 1940s Holland to modern
day Britain and back again, and the writer uses
various characters’ point of view, artifacts and
documents to cleverly weave the narrative
together. The novel keeps good pace via a collection
of letters, voices, and remembered events. I just
loved watching the characters’ development
through the events they experience.
Issues of dementia, bullying and family dynamics,
loss and death link the contemporary storyline to
the past bravery of the Dutch resistance movement
with subtlety yet effectiveness.
With predominantly female protagonists, this is
perfect for upper key stage 2 or lower key stage 3
students who would benefit from a story of hope
and strength in adversity. Whilst the reality of the
Holocaust is not sanitized, this book would still be
suitable for those with a sensitive disposition.
Helen Emery
McKay, Hilary
Jodie
Illustrated by Keith Robinson
Barrington Stoke, 2023, pp96,
£7.99
9781800902206
Ghosts. School Trip. Friendship
Jodie feels isolated from the
world: her brother has been sent to prison; she has
moved halfway across the country, starting a new
school which she doesn’t want to attend; and she
finds herself on a school trip to an isolated field
centre on salt marshes, in the middle of nowhere.
Jodie is a loner and a listener, not a talker, and
never shares anything with anyone. She has to
share a room with other girls, who find her strange
and talk about Jodie behind her back, so she finds
an opportunity to escape and find the solitude
she craves. The sound of a barking dog and the
appearance of a mysterious old lady draw Jodie
away from the field centre, but her curiosity leads
her into danger.
This is another brilliantly engaging, accessible
Barrington Stoke title from award-winning author
Hilary McKay, with a reading age of 8 and an interest
age of 9+. Jodie is a great accessible title to join a
library collection for readers who enjoy real-life
fiction imbued with a dark sense of foreboding
and mystery.
Jane Broadis
Lawrence, Sandra
Tales of Wonder
Illustrated by Jane Newland
Caterpillar Books, 2023, pp64,
£8.99
9781838915001
Myths. Legends. Celebrations
My instant reaction on seeing this book was to pick
it up and look inside – the front cover illustrations
contained just enough detail to make me wonder
just what would happen inside the book. And in no
way was I disappointed. After a gentle introduction
referring to celebrations, the reader is told about
what myths and legends mean. Turning the page
then leads the reader into a riot of colour, fact, and
fascinating detail where the many different aspects
of different celebrations throughout the world are
clearly described. A contents page allows the reader
to select whatever is of interest, which is then neatly
illustrated with just the right balance of text and
illustration to satisfy one’s curiosity. However, the
reader is cautioned – it is very difficult to stop at just
one double-page spread, as there is so much fact to
fascinate ... A glossary at the back helps to list all the
important words contained in the book. A real gift
for any classroom!
Rudolf Loewenstein
Morpurgo, Michael
The Boy Who Would
Be King
Illustrated by Michael Foreman
HarperCollins Children’s Books,
2023, pp64, £14.99
9780008615406
Royalty. History. Commemorative
The school days of King Charles III are reimagined
as a fairy tale in this book by Morpurgo. Join
the future king as he deals with busy parents,
homesickness, and the feeling that he does not
quite fit in. After deciding to run away from boarding
school, Charles meets a mysterious old woman,
who gives him the advice he needs to fulfil his duty
and his destiny. This book is beautifully illustrated
by Michael Foreman; the coloured pictures on every
page bring the story to life!
This commemorative book could be useful
for classes studying royalty, history, politics,
or propaganda. King Charles is presented in a
very sympathetic way, focussing only on his
difficult childhood and desire for environmental
conservation.
Matt Cowie
McCombie, Karen
The Boy Who Stole the
Pharaoh’s Lunch
Illustrated by Anneli Bray
Barrington Stoke, 2023, pp88, £7.99
9781800902015
Humour. Adventure. Time Travel
Another brilliant Barrington Stoke novel, which
would appeal to even the most reluctant reader.
Seth struggles to concentrate in school and when
he dresses as a mummy for a prank during his
class assembly on the Egyptians, he is in really
BIG TROUBLE. While waiting for his detention,
he touches his teachers’ scarab decoration and
finds himself reed deep in the Nile in the reign
of Akhenaten. He is befriended by Mery and her
brother who explain to him how they live. He
finds himself for once being valued and praised
as he is strong and agile, qualities appreciated in
children of the time who are not afforded the luxury
of education. Although the ending is (perhaps
inevitably) a bit corny, there is much to enjoy, not
least the illustrations by Annell Bray which really
bring out the humour and strangeness of the tale. A
great book for key stage 2 pupils who struggle with
longer texts or find them lacking humour. Great also
for younger confident chapter book readers who
have a special interest in Ancient Egypt.
Ingrid Spencer
Moses, Brian
Selfies With Komodos:
Poems by Brian Moses
Illustrated by Ed Boxall
Otter-Barry Books, 2023, pp96,
£8.99
9781913074098
Word Play. Humour. Poetry
POETRY
This is a wonderful collection of poems, particularly
suited to reading aloud and performance. In this
collection you can find an exciting mix of earwigs,
rock’n’roll, iguanas, cats, dragons, dogs, unicorns
and other mythical creatures. You can send a
postcard from Pluto, have a vampire facial, learn to
fly or take umbrage, but be warned – it is not wise to
take a selfie with a komodo dragon. The poems are
full of clever, humorous word play that will delight
children and make them laugh. Other poems such
as ‘Instead’, ‘Remarkable Names’ and ‘Reasons Why
Your Train Was Late’ are great for discussions and
stimulating children’s imaginations. They can be
encouraged to write their own poem in a similar
style. This collection contains lots of ideas to
encourage children to read and write poetry, to get
them hooked, and to realise how much they can
enjoy it, getting away from any misconception that
poetry is boring! There are two poems, ‘Librarians’
and ‘Lost in a Book’, that I shall be printing out and
putting up in the library. Thank you, Brian!
Lee Giddings
52
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Books: 8 – 12
Oliver, Jamie
Billy and the Giant
Adventure
Illustrated by Mónica Armiño
Puffin, 2023, pp352, £14.99
9780241596111
Adventure. Magic. Food.
Having had a lot of practice making up bedtime
stories for his five children, Oliver’s first novel is a
fantastic adventure story in which his love for food
comes through as he describes Billy’s mealtimes
before he heads off for another adventure. There
are even some recipes at the end. The novel can
be likened to a modern day Famous Five or Secret
Seven story. It is filled with magical moments and
adventure as Billy and his friends discover a secret
way into Waterfall Woods and find themselves
surrounded by Buzzing Sprites, stinky Boonas, and
a huge giant. There is a strong message of how we
are all responsible for making sure that everything
in nature keeps to its own rhythm. Billy uncovers
the work of a dodgy farmer and manages to install
peace and harmony back into the woods. I couldn’t
put it down as it really is a page turner. The fantastic
illustrations and the vibrant front cover just add to
the story which is so well written. I can’t wait for
Billy’s next adventure in 2024.
Becky Taylor
Noakes, Laura
Cosima Unfortunate
Steals a Star
Cosima Unfortunate
Harper Collins Children’s Books,
2023, pp304, £7.99
9780008579050
Disability. Adventure. Heroism.
This debut novel by Laura Noakes, a disabled
historian and very skilled writer is an absolute treat.
It features ‘unfortunates’, girls whose disabilities led
to them being put in a Victorian children’s home run
by the embezzling, cruel Stains siblings. Considered
‘defective’ in those times, finding a ‘cure’ is just one
shocking revelation in this tightly plotted hugely
enjoyable novel. Very far from being defective,
the girls working to thwart the machinations of
sketchy Lord Fitzroy are all clever, brave and loyal:
true heroes and role models. It is a delight to read
a novel where all the leads are disabled, and their
differences are celebrated rather than glossed over.
One girl is coded as neurodivergent and how the
girls support her to leave the home is truly moving.
The girls are backed up by yet more fantastic
characters; a boy thief living by his wits on the street
and a cunning female journalist who is a master
of disguise. I cannot recommend this novel highly
enough for free reading and as a class text in key
stage 2.
Ingrid Spencer
Nory, Emma
Fablehouse
Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2023,
pp352, £7.99
9781526649539
Family. Adventure. Historical.
Set in post-war Britain,
Fablehouse tells the story of four children and their
quest to protect the world from the Fae. Heather,
Lloyd, Nat, and Arlene were born to white English
mothers and African-American GIs. They all lost
their guardians in one way or another and now live
at an orphanage called Fablehouse. One day, they
come across an Arthurian knight, Palamedes, who
had been guarding the gate to the realm of the
Fae. The gate is open, and they must stop the Fae
invading before it is too late!
Fablehouse deals with themes of racism and
bereavement. Both the children and Palamedes
face discrimination because of their skin colour and
the children have all lost their immediate families.
Norry vividly portrays the emotions caused by this
discrimination and loss, and shows how the children
learn to harness their emotions and recognise their
own value as people and friends. This exciting and
touching book is well worth a read!
Matt Cowie
Randall-Jones, Emily
The Witchstone Ghosts
Chicken House, 2023, pp352, £7.99
9781915026101
Ghosts. Adventure. Mystery
Autumn is considered a bit odd
by her peers because she talks
to herself. Well, she’s not really talking to herself,
she’s talking to the ghosts who populate her
life – Jack the chimney sweep and Mrs Kaur, the
Science teacher, among others – but nobody else
can see them. When Autumn’s dad dies in strange
circumstances, she and her mum find themselves
going to live on the mysterious island of Imber off
the coast of Cornwall where, unknown to them, her
dad had a house. Or, at least, that’s what the will
seems to indicate. As Autumn explores the storm
battered island and meets the locals, she slowly
becomes ensnared in a chilling mystery. Is Lamorna
from the Big House really her first proper friend, or
is there an ulterior motive to her friendliness? What
is the meaning of the Witch-stones? And what has
this island got to do with her dad?
A dark, gothic ghost story for younger readers, this
is a gripping and atmospheric tale.
Ellen Krajewski
Sellon, Carrie
Pizza Pete and the
Perilous Potions
Illustrated by Sarah Horne
Guppy Books, 2023, pp244, £7.99
9781913101954
Humour. Magic. Mental Health
This is an enjoyable story about a boy, his dad, and
his best friend who try to turn around their fortunes
by using some magic potions they find in the attic.
Their pizza shop, on the cusp of closing, finds a
new lease of life when their pizzas can turn people
into animals, make them fly, grow and shrink. But
of course things get out of control! It’s funny and
relatable, and has a delicate touch of seriousness as
Pete is dealing with bereavement after the death of
his mother and is not in school due to having panic
attacks. Both issues are handled lightly but well and
give a positive message about healing. A strong
debut that will be followed be others in the Pizza
Pete series.
Jo Sennitt
Soontornvat, Christina
The Last Mapmaker
Walker Books, 2023, pp317, £7.99
9781529511833
Identity. Adventure. Oceans
If ever there was a good
indication of a great read then it
is a book that starts with its own fictional map; and
Christina Soontornvat’s The Last Mapmaker is no
exception. Set in the fictional kingdom of Mangkon,
Soontornvat immediately envelops the reader in a
rich and culturally vivid world of war, struggle, and
history. Sai, the shrewd and ambitious protagonist
of the tale, begins as a humble assistant to the
master mapmaker Paiyoon, vying to maintain her
position before she turns thirteen and must start
school. Unfortunately for Sai, Mangkon is steeped
in a rigid class-based system, and Sai’s prospects of
receiving a good education are hampered by her
father’s criminal position in society. Terrified that
the truth about her father’s background will ruin
her chances of success, Sai joins a naval expedition
exploring the southern seas and searching for the
mythical Sunderlands, a place drenched in legend
and danger. The Last Mapmaker is a wonderful story
of identify, ambition, and courage. Despite a map at
the start, it is easy to lose oneself in its pages.
Ben Lunn
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
53

Books: 8 – 12 | Fiction and Poetry
Thompson, Lisa
The Treasure Hunters
Scholastic, 2023, pp327, £7.99
9780702301605
Adventure. Friendship. Families
To some kids, ‘The Wilderness
Warriors’ challenge is the
opportunity of a lifetime. It will test your resilience,
commitment, endurance, and team-building skills.
To Vincent, it is his idea of hell!
Vincent has dyspraxia and struggles with physical
activities, but he has been selected to form part of
a team with three other misfits and is forced to go
away on the Wilderness challenge.
It would appear, though, that one team member has
ulterior motives for being on the trip. She believes
there is some ancient pirate treasure hidden in the
mountains, and encourages her teammates to go off
trail and on an adventurous quest.
While the team endure injuries, squabbles and the
threat of a thief, Vincent manages to overcome his
own insecurities and discovers who he is meant
to be.
I would have to say that it does take a while for the
actual adventure to start, but once it has begun
there are a lot of great twists and turns along the
way.
Angela Dyson
Traoré, Efua
One Chance Dance
Chicken House, 2023, pp336, £7.99
9781915026507
Families. Heartbreak. Loyalty
Jomi lives in a small village in
Nigeria. He misses his mum, who
left for the big city to find her ‘Ayanmo’ (destiny),
so one day he decides to go to Lagos to find her,
convinced that if he and his new friends manage to
get on the TV show that his mum loves, they’ll be
reunited.
This is a hugely compelling novel which beautifully
shows a child’s innocent understanding of the world
around him, with all its obstacles and imperfections,
which add to his daily frustrations – even if they
remain undetected and are usually imposed by
adults, who always think they know better. It’s also
a story about friendships, loyalty, compassion, and
the significance of childhood, which should not be,
but often is cut short because of social, economic,
and geo-political circumstances. Jomi’s story is a
perfect illustration of the kind of life that children in
the UK may be completely unfamiliar with, although
there are multiple elements in Jomi’s adventure,
reactions and observations which are universal and
relatable.
Marzena Currie
Westmoreland, Paul
Rudy and the
Secret Sleepskater
Illustrated by George Ermos
Oxford University Press, 2023,
pp128, £6.99
9780192782533
Friendship. Adventure. Fun
Rudy is excited for a sleepover with his friends
Femi and Edie, but what he expected to be a
fun-filled night soon turns into a nightmare. Femi is
a sleepwalker, and when Rudy sneaks out to howl
at the moon, he accidentally leaves the window
open and Femi sleepwalks right onto the roof! What
follows is a madcap chase around town for Rudy
and Edie as they try to get Femi back home to bed
without waking him.
This is the third book in the Rudy series; however
it can be read as a standalone story as there is a
helpful introduction to the main characters at
the start, as well as a map of Rudy’s town. The
chapters are short, and the text is often structured
interestingly around full-page, three-colour
illustrations which really bring the story to
life. Themes of friendship and difference are
thoughtfully explored. Perfect for a confident
beginner’s first chapter book but with some
excellent vocabulary as well.
Beth Jenkinson
Willis, Jeanne
Jacko
Andersen Press, 2023, pp192, £7.99
9781839133220
Animals. War. Families
A true story of how a young
lad, Mick, in the 1960s rescued
a baby jackdaw. It became a pet to the regulars in
his parents’ pub and at the local railway station. It
travelled to Waterloo and was well known there
as well. A parallel story reveals how Mick’s father’s
war service in the RAF is gradually revealed to his
son. Press cuttings and photos of the real Jacko
are included at the end of the story. Mick grew
up to work at London Zoo. For fans of My Family
and Other Animals. A real delight for readers of
every age!
Alison A. Maxwell-Cox
Woltz, Anna
My Especially Weird
Week with Tess
Rock The Boat, 2023, pp176, £7.99
9780861542963
Families. Holidays. Friendship
There is something very unique
about Anna Woltz’s storytelling style – it’s fantastical
yet firmly set in reality, and quirky without being
too far-fetched. My Especially Weird Week with Tess
tells the story of 11-year-old Sam, who’s on holiday
with his family on the Dutch island of Texel, where
he befriends a girl called Tess. Until recently, Tess
knew nothing about her father, and she’s secretly
invited him to stay at her family’s holiday home on
the island. Her father has no idea she exists and
thinks he’s won a competition to be there – but what
he finds instead is a young girl with a huge heart
who wants to win him over … once she’s decided
whether she wants him as a father.
I’ve come across very few characters who jump
off the page like Tess does. She’s headstrong,
determined and a tad feisty, but incredibly likeable
too. Teamed with Sam, who narrates the book,
the two take you on an escapist rollercoaster of an
adventure that is both deeply charming and at times
gently philosophical.
Cassie Kemp
Wood, Laura and Louisa
May Alcott
Little Women:
A Retelling
Classic Retellings
Barrington Stoke, 2023, pp136,
£7.99
9781800901797
Family. Sisters. Historical
Little Women is set during the American Civil War
and tells the tale of four sisters: kind Meg, delicate
Beth, artistic Amy, and wild Jo. Their father is away,
so the girls are at home alone with their mother
and, although money is tight, they manage to
have fun and find friendship amongst the usual
sibling squabbles. The original novel is a well-loved
classic and often retellings fall short, but this is a
wonderful illustration of how a story can be adapted
yet maintain the same spirit of the first book. The
language is more accessible, and the stories of the
March girls are brought to life in a simpler form,
making it perfect for both younger and less-able
readers who may struggle with the original.
Published by Barrington Stoke using dyslexia
friendly paper and font, it has a reading age of 9
years and an interest age of 11+.
Barbara Band
54
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

For a confident back to school,
choose books from
the trusted children’s therapist
7+
11+
visit collins.co.uk/emotionallyhealthykids to find out more

Books: 8 – 12 | Information
Arlon, Penelope
My First Dinosaur
Atlas: Roar Around
the World with the
Mightiest Beasts Ever!
Illustrated by Paul Daviz
Weldon Owen Children’s Books,
2022, pp32, £14.99
9781915588036
Dinosaurs. Palaeontology. Atlas
132 awesome creatures presented initially according
to the historic periods they lived in (Triassic, Jurassic
and Cretaceous) as evidenced in the fossils found.
Each of the following double-page spreads has a map
populated by the dinosaurs found there, from North
America to Oceana and Antarctica, complemented by
an index to help mini-experts to locate their favourites.
Engaging features include help with the pronunciation
of names and challenges to spot details and answer
text-based questions. An expert palaeontologist has
been consulted, although to my knowledge the bright
colours used here are yet to be scientifically proved. And
although organised by place, I would also recommend
having a world map or traditional atlas to hand when
sharing the book, as the stunning illustrations of the
dinosaurs take precedence over the maps. But with
the popularity of this subject unlikely to wane, this is
guaranteed to appeal to and excite budding young
palaeontologists.
Chris Routh
Beer, Julie
Animal FACTopia!
Follow the Trail of 400
Beastly Facts
Illustrated by Andy Smith
Britannica Books, 2023, pp207,
£10.99
9781913750725
Facts. Funny. You Choose
I’ve often recommended the first in this series, and now
have takers for this latest title among Year 4 children.
But its appeal is not restricted to this age group: any
primary school child with a curiosity about the natural
world will derive hours of pleasure from navigating
different routes through these colourful pages with
their natty combination of photographic and cartoon
illustrations. One can read the book from cover to
cover, of course, following the themes outlined
sequentially in the contents pages, or alternatively look
at the index for all references to a particular animal or
attribute, or simply flit around as your interest is piqued.
Every reader will have their own favourite fact. Mine is
on p. 172. The writers clearly know their audience well.
Why else would poo feature quite so much? ‘Meet the
Factopians’ at the end of the book is just as funny and
interesting as the rest of the book, while even the list
of sources could provide hours of online amusement
and scope for learning. A must-have for the non-fiction
school library or classroom book corner.
Jane Rew
Bestard, Aina
How Our Solar
System Began:
The Planets,
Their Moons
and Beyond
Thames and Hudson, 2023, pp80, £19.99
9780500653197
Solar System. Big Bang. Science
An excellent book introducing the origins of our Solar
System. Bestard’s richly detailed, serious scientific
work will delight probing minds eager to get beyond
generalised texts; she describes what scientists believe
to be the processes by which matter expanded from the
Big Bang, and the dynamic ongoing formation of the
Universe we can see.
Each page is rich in easy-to-access detailed information,
organised into small sections which do not daunt.
This book is a must for school science shelves; it would
be difficult to find a better start for inquisitive pupils
wanting to learn about the solar system. Additionally,
Bestard does not offer judgement or opinion as to ‘why’
(or ‘who’) initiated the Big Bang.
Stephanie Barclay
Caldwell, Stella
The Magnificent Book
of Treasures. Ancient
Rome
Illustrated by Eugenia Nobati
Weldon Owen Children’s Books,
2023, pp80, £14.99
9781915588135
History. Museums. Romans
This impressive book is a large format social history
of the Roman Empire, predicated on artefacts
found all over the empire – my favourite is a folding
pocket eating tool made in silver with hinged
spoon, fork, and spike for eating snails. Found in the
Mediterranean area, today it lives in the Fitzwilliam
Museum in Cambridge. Also explored in this
comprehensive book are mosaics, statues, a theatre
mask, coins, a child’s toy, jewellery, and a lot more.
Alongside excellent illustrations sits beautifully
written, informative text in simple language which
never patronises. I learned a lot and so will any
young reader. Who knew that people who’d been
robbed left ‘curse tablets’ at Sulis Minerva’s Temple,
asking the goddess to curse the thieves? Or that
only one example of a Roman soldier’s shield
(scutum) has ever been found – in Syria. Today
it’s in Connecticut. And I was left reflecting on
the enormous amount we’ve learned and are still
learning from the volcanic destruction of Pompeii in
79 AD. This is a book which brings everyday Roman
life into sharp focus.
Susan Elkin
Castaldo, Nancy
The World That Feeds
Us
Illustrated by Ginnie Hsu
QED Publishing, 2023, pp80, £12.99
9780711277694
Food. Environment. Sustainability
This book follows the seasonal cycle of our food
and explains why sustainable farming is important
throughout the world. We see the seasonal workings
of farms and how farmers produce delicious food
and make choices that affect the planet. The
content is diverse and global, including heritage
breeds; free range; city farms; harvesting cacao;
nospray weed control; technology on the farm;
ways of preserving food; urban indoor farms; green
energy; and fish farms. There is an excellent balance
between text and illustration. Information is pitched
at the appropriate level and is enhanced by bright,
colourful, attractive artwork.
In the ‘Doing Our Bit’ section, we learn about ways
we can help, such as knowing our farmer, shopping
locally, growing our own fruit and vegetables, and
avoiding food waste. The book ends with a glossary
which defines key terms clearly.
An engaging, important book that presents the
challenges and opportunities facing the world that
feeds us.
Brenda Marshall
Conlon, Dom
Fly, Butterfly, Fly!
The Wild Wanderers Series
Graffeg, 2023, pp34, £7.99
9781802580785
Butterflies. Nature. Migration
This is a non-fiction picture book suitable for all
primary from Year 2 upwards. Each butterfly species
is described in a short poem along with vibrant yet
realistic illustrations in full colour. At the end of the
book, there is a page of more detailed information
in prose about butterflies and their migratory habits.
This book could be used in Science, Geography or
English depending on the choice of focus.
Rebecca Butler
56
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Books: 8 – 12
Crumpton, Nick
Everything You
Know About Sharks
Is Wrong!
Illustrated by Gavin Scott
Everything You Know About
Nosy Crow, 2023, pp64, £14.99
9781839944512
Sharks. Environment. Oceans
A fascinating look at the evolution of sharks and
the many myths and misconceptions surrounding
them. The beautiful illustrations by Gavin Scott
really enhance this informative book which leads
us through all the things we thought about sharks
that are WRONG. We learn how important sharks are
to the environment and in maintaining their ecosystem,
and how essential it is to protect our oceans.
A dip in, dip out book packed full of facts and
pictures imparted in a fun way to the young reader.
Ellen Krajewski
Dawnay, Gabby
Round and Round
Goes Mother Nature
Illustrated by Margaux Samson-
Abadie
Nature’s Storybook
Wide Eyed Editions, 2023,
pp107, £20.00
9780711279766
Nature. Life Cycles. Earth
This is a beautifully illustrated book which describes
43 different life cycles, each over a double-page
spread. It includes a diverse range of topics not
usually covered by other books on the same topic:
interesting animal lifecycles, like the anglerfish and
the tardigrade; plants like the squirting cucumber
or the sequoia; and more thought-provoking topics
such as on earth, the life cycle of a storm, sand or a
diamond, and in space, the life cycle of a black hole
or a comet.
A really striking book, that students will love to look
through, great for a primary topic box, but also a
stunning addition to the library shelves.
Jenni Prestwood
Deary, Terry
The Worst in the World
Illustrated by Martin Brown
Horrible Histories
Scholastic, 2023, pp281, £7.99
9780702323768
History. Horror. Children
This 30th anniversary Horrible
Histories release is packed with the usual blood,
guts and gore that is oh so enticing to children.
Hugely interactive, with engaging comic strips,
rhetorical questions, and modern analogies (‘the
warring states of China were a bit like the World
Cup’) the fun and bold appearance of this book
must not encourage anyone to dismiss it; it is highly
informative and very well written with advanced
vocabulary. This book organises short bronze,
silver, and gold entries for certain topics (e.g. The
Worst Emperor; The Worst Olympic Sport) together,
giving an interesting, creative, fast paced structure
through which even the most reluctant reader can
feel a sense of progress and achievement. This
fully illustrated book is full of the usual puns and
witticisms that old fans enjoy, but which are perfect
for a modern audience.
Jess Senior
Demonti, Ilaria
Sheepology: The
Ultimate Encyclopedia
Illustrated by Camilla Pintonato
Princeton Architectural Press, 2023,
pp80, £14.99
9781797222431
Sheep. Farming. Shepherds
Sheepology is an encyclopaedia of sheep related
facts – strange and true. It includes sections
exploring what sheep and the shepherds who look
after them are like; how milk, cheese and wool are
made and used; sheep breeds and the symbiosis of
sheep and humans. It also includes a fun fact about
each breed of sheep.
Illustrations are amusing and the end pages are fab.
An interesting book which may have greater appeal
in more rural schools.
Annie Everall
Fried, Hedi, translated by
Alice E. Olsson
Questions I Am Asked
About the Holocaust
Illustrated by Laila Ekboir
Scribble, 2023, pp208, £12.99
9781914484995
Holocaust. History. Personal
Account
This brilliant work is shaped around questions Heidi
Fried, a Romanian-Hungarian Jew, has been asked
over her lifetime educating young people about
what happened to her at the hands of the Nazis and
their collaborators. It is an essential addition for
those learning about the Holocaust, refugees, and
the complexities of WWII.
A gentle but honest account, she expertly weaves
in useful prompts and questions to encourage
reflection on pupils’ own lives, emphasising the
necessity of thinking through their actions, and not
just following orders. Despite her experience, the
book is ultimately full of love and compassion. It
candidly highlights how human weakness means
humans end up perpetrating such atrocities on
others. And it is full of hope for preventing such
atrocities from being repeated today. Useful
reference details are at the back, including further
reading. The work does not hold back on details
of her experiences in Auschwitz which readers will
rightly find distressing.
Meg Barclay
Goldsmith, Mike
The Shocking Truth
About Energy
Very Short Introductions for Curious
Young Minds
Oxford University Press, 2023, pp96,
£7.99
9780192782915
Physics. Energy. Machines
Perhaps the most scientific title in this handy and
affordable Oxford UP range, this small paperback
manages to explain physics in accessible English
without referring to its mathematical basis. Starting
with ‘Matter includes most of the things you can see
around you … Energy is everything else, like light,
heat, sound and electricity’, it then summarises
physics, including magnetism, chemical energy, the
first two laws of thermodynamics, that our bodies
are ‘energy-changing machines’ and our thoughts
electrical.
Key measurement units and scientists are noted.
Every page carries an interesting explanation.
Attractive diagrams explain a storm, compound
pulley, pendulum, fridge, Faraday’s motor, solar
wind, and Joule’s energy experiment. An invaluable
9–12 science reference, and excellent crib for 13–16.
Henrietta Price
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
57

Books: 8 – 12 | Information
Greener, Rachel
Growing Up
Illustrated by Clare Owen
Nosy Crow, 2023, pp30, £12.99
9781839947001
Puberty. Body. Change
The changes our bodies undergo
from childhood to adulthood are quite drastic and
hard to understand at times. Books like this are vital
for children to understand those changes and the
ways in which we adapt and accept our bodies over
time. Honest and inclusive, this book is colourful
and representative of unique bodies and changes.
As a parent of two teens, I know first-hand that
this book would help to answer questions no one
wants to ask their parents. It will certainly offer the
opportunity for open conversations and discussion
of images as they read the pertinent pages for
their own changes. A brilliant book for growing up,
perfect for schools and home.
Erin Hamilton
Grulke, Wolfgang
She Sold Seashells
... and Dragons:
The Curious Mary
Anning. Re-
Imagined
At One Communications, 2023, pp96, £12.00
9781916039452
Science. History. Families
Produced in association with Lyme Regis Museum, this
book is a fascinating read – certainly for me as I spend
a lot of time along the Jurassic Coast and in Lyme.
Suitable for upper primary range, it is divided into
very manageable sections, each looking at a different
aspect of her life and career. It has been considered
by many that she was never really recognised in her
lifetime. A recent film, Ammonite, looked at some
elements of her life, but this book goes into much
more detail about her character and pioneering work.
An amazing scientist, her daily trips to the cliffs in
search of fossils became well known and many people
travelled to the town to get a glimpse of this female
scientist at work. Through her own excellent research
and persistence, Mary became well known within
the geological community and in 1846 became an
honorary member of the new Dorset County Museum.
She died of cancer at the very young age of 47. An
excellent book to use as a starting point for further
investigations and more in-depth research.
Godfrey Hall
Harman, Alice
Mona Lisa and the
Others
Illustrated by Quentin Blake
Thames and Hudson, 2023, pp96,
£14.99
9780500652749
Art. Paintings. Sculptures
This beautifully produced, approachable book
describes 30 art works in the Louvre, Paris. It
includes a section on the history of the museum
itself, too. Harman writes in a witty and chatty firstperson
style. It’s like going on a guided tour with
the Mona Lisa herself. Quentin Blake’s charming
sketches add to the light-heartedness. I like the
exhortation to have one’s own views on paintings
and the bite-sized explanations of how to look at art.
The book is not chronological but includes a timeline,
glossary, index, and full details of the works. The style
is humorous but not lacking in detail; for example,
Harman explains the sfumato technique for hazy
painting. Rather than thorough descriptions, Harman
describes a few aspects of each work, e.g. the disputed
identity of the Venus de Milo and fascinating information
about why the eyes of the Seated Scribe are so arresting.
I highly recommend this book for upper primary
and secondary school libraries. It’s full of interesting
information nuggets to make the reader think positively
about art.
Lucy Chambers
Hayes, Larry
How to Be a Kid Boss
Illustrated by Joëlle Dreidemy
Walker Books, 2023, pp159, £8.99
9781529506631
Science. Jokes. Self-Help
Children from 8 to 12 will
enjoy this self-help book. Lots of ideas to prevent
boredom, play tricks on others, and some useful tips
to help with problems with managing friends and
family. Something for everyone!
Alison A. Maxwell-Cox
Howard, Jules
The Who, What,
Why of Zoology: The
Incredible Science of
the Animal Kingdom
Illustrated by Lucy Letherland
Wide Eyed Editions, 2023, pp75, £12.99
9780711277045
Animals. Science. Environment
First comes a useful summary of zoology and
why it is relevant, including definitions of ‘species’
and ‘genus’ and how they form the basis of
nomenclature. Then, a potted history of the
subject, including the significance of Charles
Darwin, the role of new technology and the
importance of diversity in the profession. Readers
are then introduced, to different habitats. In each
environment we see which animals live there what
zoologists do there, and why their work is valuable.
The design has been given careful consideration,
ensuring that reading it is not taxing. Muted but
varied colours throughout, quirky artwork and
clearly defined annotations in easy-to-read font
all contribute to the ease with which children will
absorb the information presented here.
A concluding glossary and beautiful end papers
simply add further appeal to this highly
Jane Rew
James, Tim
Brain Detective
Illustrated by Aaron Cushley
Wren & Rook, 2023, pp63, £14.99
9781526363947
Human Body. Brain. Memory
With artificial intelligence in the
news, this book provides explanations about the
limits of computers (they work sequentially) and
the power of the human brain (does many things
simultaneously.) The author describes the brain’s
attributes and how information is transmitted via
the senses with much interesting detail. Short
nuggets about topics range from the various
brain lobes and their functions, to how neurons
work and how scientists investigate brains. It also
covers the quirks of memory, with case studies
of different memory problems, feelings, phobias,
mental health issues and more. This is a book to dip
into, whether studying random details in ‘Did You
Know?’ boxes, examining the jaunty illustrations
or reading more explanations in the main text. I
enjoyed the case studies, such as details of people
with memory issues, whether mind-reading is
possible, how to trick the brain, animals’ brains and
how people learn. There is also a chapter on what
is still to be found out about the brain (a lot!). This is
a fascinating book and is perfect for upper primary
and secondary school libraries.
Lucy Chambers
58
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Books: 8 – 12
Johnson, Marcus
#TECHNOLOGY:
From the Wheel to the
Metaverse, The Story
of Technology and
How Things Work
Illustrated by John Devolle
NQ Publishers, 2023, pp 80, £14.99
9781912944552
Informative. Science. Factual.
Marcus Johnson and John Devolle have created
a fantastic book, Here you can find out all about
the history of technology, how we obtain energy
and power, key information about the way we
communicate, modern transport, industrial
developments, materials and construction and
technology’s place within the medical field. Packed
with facts and information, this book covers
everything to do with modern technology, why we
need it, and how it has developed. Johnson and
Devolle also address the world’s growing energy crisis
and what we must do in order to protect our planet.
They educate readers on the planet’s growing needs
as well as giving key information about technical
advances. The design of this book is also brilliant,
with lots of excellent images to engage its reader
further. The book’s use of coloured boxes with bigger
text makes it suitable for most reading ages and is
dyslexia friendly.
Sophie Matter
Kane, Patrick
Human 2.0
Illustrated by Sam Rodriguez
Big Picture Press, 2023, pp64,
£16.99
9781800781689
Bionics. Medical Engineering.
Disability
This hardback explains how limb prostheses,
orthoses/exoskeletons, pacemakers and
colourfiltering spectacles work – as well as cochlear,
retinal, brain and other implants. These explanations
are aided by attractive, CGI- style colour illustration.
The engaging foreword by a co-director of
Massachussetts Institute of Technology’s Center
for Bionics, himself an amputee – as is the author –
explains the two-way communication of ‘bionic’
equipment, conferring the ‘ability to control
prosthesis through thought, and to experience
natural touch and movement sensations’ The text
is concise, accessible and upbeat. It also covers
cultural impact on the arts and sports; paralympics
athletes are restricted to unpowered prostheses,
bionics users can compete in a new event, the
Cybathlon. Mentioning scuba, wings and space
travel, the author considers whether (or rather
when) bionics will enable cyborgs to exceed human
capability. The book concludes with a history
timeline of prostheses, exoskeletons and implants.
Henrietta Price
Lerwill,Ben
Wild Family
Illustrated by Harriet Hobday
Puffin, 2023, pp61, £14.99
9780241514931
Biodiversity. Animals. Families
This beautiful book of 25
true stories from the animal kingdom explores
biodiversity and the nature of animal families. The
premise that ‘the natural world is a giant family
tree’ is reflected in the design of the contents page,
which also suggests the connectedness of life. The
colour palate of each spread evokes a real sense of
place, ranging from the heat of the African plain to
the icy cold of Antarctica. The title of each ‘story’
incorporates the collective noun for the animal
featured – some familiar, some less well known,
such as a sleuth of pandas or a circus of puffins –
and the use of lyrical prose to tell the stories makes
this ideal for reading aloud. Additional facts and
comments appear on each page in a smaller font.
This engaging book ends with a clear message that
‘by the actions we take and the choices we make, we
can help our wild biodiverse family to stay strong’.
But this is not a preachy book – rather one that
celebrates the one wild family we are all part of.
Chris Routh
Long, David
What It Was Like to Be
a Viking
Illustrated by Stefano Tambellini
What It Was Like to Be …
Barrington Stoke, 2023, pp96, £7.99
9781800902121
History. Vikings. Migration
In this work, Long brilliantly brings to life the Viking
world, including details from politics, religion, farm
life, legacy and archaeology, and how they are still
influencing our society today. This is a book which
is packed with accessible and relatable facts and
information which all budding historians will love,
presented in a matter of fact and straightforward
manner. Also, Long doesn’t cover up the limits of our
knowledge of the Viking world and shows where
interpretation begins. Black and white cartoons help
create the atmosphere of a changing and volatile
society, as well as providing useful reference resources
such as maps and diagrams of archaeological
artefacts. The work includes details from across
the Viking world, not just Europe and the UK, and
essentially covers useful information on how Viking
and Anglo-Saxon societies overlapped and interacted.
This makes it a useful tool for any pupils learning about
this complex time period. It is the first volume in a
much-anticipated information non-fiction series, the
rest of which I’m sure will not disappoint.
Meg Barclay
Martynoga, Ben
The Cell, The Gene
Moose Allain
Explodapedia
David Fickling Books, 2023, pp160,
£7.99
9781788451918 & 9781788452458
Science. Life. Genes
Two little books, packed with information. Luca,
the Last Universal Common Ancestor, emerged
four thousand million years ago. (S)he was the first
living cell with the ability to reproduce and from
there we all originate. The Cell explores what a cell
is, how varied they are and how they manipulate life
itself. The book explains how every living thing is
different but also linked to each other. The second
book, The Gene, looks at the amazing information
carried inside each cell. Human DNA inside each of
our cells is 2 m long and contains 6.2 billion letters
of code. Scientists have now learned to decode the
human genome but a majority of it is referred to as
“junk” DNA. It probably serves some purpose – as
yet unknown. The wealth of information contained
in these books is truly impressive, but everything is
engagingly presented with cartoon style illustrations
to support the text. The aim of the books is to inspire
the young reader to love science and to want to
investigate further; they should do exactly that.
Nick Hunt
Mucha, Laura and Ed
Smith
Welcome to Our
Table: A Celebration
of What Children Eat
Everywhere
Illustrated by Harriet Lynas
Welcome to Our…
Nosy Crow, 2023, pp64, £14.99
9781839945045
Food. Countries. Cooking
A beautifully illustrated book full of interesting facts
about eating all around the world. 104 countries
feature, and every kind of food, from wheat to
insects. Five types of bananas are described; they
are the most popular fruit, but would you believe
the second most popular is ... watermelon! Ukraine
produced so many watermelons that they had to be
frozen. I was intrigued by a stretchy ice-cream that
doesn’t melt. It’s made from goats milk, flowers, and
a sticky syrup from trees! So many interesting facts –
and all children love food, don’t they?
Alison A. Maxwell-Cox
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
59

Books: 8 – 12 | Information
Peridot, Kate
Caring
Conservationists
Who Are
Changing Our
Planet
Illustrated by Sarah Long
People Power
Walker Books, 2023, pp42, £14.99
9781529506150
Environment. Animals. Nature
Learn about 20 conservationists from all over the
world, many of whom you might not have heard
of before, in this brilliantly uplifting and important
book. Beautifully illustrated throughout, each
double-page spread absolutely packs a punch
with the amount of information presented whilst
still being accessible and easy to read. Read about
each conservationist and their work as well as
the creatures they are involved in protecting –in
addition every section has a fun and interesting
activity for children to try at home. This book
is sure to be a hit with both animal-lovers and
budding environmentalists alike, but everyone will
undoubtedly find out something fascinating that
they didn’t know before reading.
Beth Jenkinson
Pick-Goslar, Hannah
My Friend Anne Frank
Rider Books, 2023, pp382, £20.00
9781846047442
Biography. War. Friendship
This deeply moving story does
not begin with the horrors of
war as so many do. The friendship that developed
between Hannah and Anne as little girls is our
starting point. Portraying a normal childhood full
of the carefree hours we would expect belies the
truth of what we know about the future life of Anne
Frank. The fun and laughter the two girls shared is
overshadowed by the impending darkness. When
reading this book I was constantly aware of the
changes that were to take place, and Hannah shows
us these first hand. We see how society changes and
Anne vanishes with her family. Hannah is concerned
for her friend, but soon her life also changes for
the worse. Taken to Bergen-Belsen, Hannah could
have given up and lost all hope. Through her
determination, and the kindness of others, Hannah
and her little sister survive the camp. Many people
might pick up this book because of the Anne Frank
connection, but most will find a new heroine in the
life of Hannah Pick-Goslar.
Erica Dean
Sanghera, Sathnam
Stolen History: The
Truth About the British
Empire and How It
Shaped Us
Puffin, 2023, pp208, £8.99
9780241623435
History. Empire. Britain
Stolen History should be in every school library as
an interesting and accessible introduction to the
British Empire for young people. Sathnam Sanghera
has written an excellent account of empire for
children that does not sugar-coat the past whilst
remaining engaging and interesting. Sanghera
answers all the important questions children
may have, or may have heard, about empire, in
an entertaining fashion, such as the legacy of the
empire in Britain today and the complicated story
of British museums. Throughout the book are short
story-esque pieces on interesting facts about the
British Empire, including the origins of Coca-Cola
and the Scouts, each accompanied by brilliant
illustrations. These entertaining snippets maintain
a serious note on the colonial actions of the past
and create a full and historical account of the British
Empire. This a truly excellent piece of writing and
will allow young people to learn the truth of the
empire and how our country fits into history, and
the impact of this history on the modern day.
Tegan Burnett
Stewart, Alexandra
Let’s Fill This World
with Kindness: True
Tales of Goodwill in
Action
Illustrated by Jake Alexander
Thames and Hudson, 2023, pp120,
£14.99
9780500653104
Kindness. Resistance. Ethics
This book is subtitled ‘True tales of goodwill in
action’, and is a collection of examples of real-life
selflessness, ranging from the well-known to the
more obscure. Each example is told in a chatty,
accessible style. The pages are scattered with
cheerful full-colour illustrations by Jake Alexander.
Each section (kindness during disasters, illness,
etc.) ends with discussion questions, and the book
would be ideal for reading aloud and class use at
key stage 2. It could also be used for Year 7 PSHCE
discussions. The opening chapter describes the
pleasant effects of neurotransmitters generated by
doing or watching kind acts, and suggests ‘flexing
the kindness muscle’ regularly. The conclusion gives
short profiles of further ‘kindness stars’ such as the
Buddha and Confucius (although not Jesus Christ),
and leads to a useful glossary and index.
Anna Quick
Thomas, Isabel
The Earth’s Immense
Oceans
Very Short Introductions for Curious
Young Minds
Oxford University Press, 2023, pp96,
£7.99
9780192780324
Oceanography. Exploration. Exploitation
This pocket-size paperback relentlessly shares key
facts and issues about the oceans throughout its
90 plus pages of lively, accessible text, photos,
and illustrations. The first half contains a wealth of
wellorganised information about tectonic theory,
water cycle, salt, currents, waves, tides, weather,
marine life, habitats, and coasts. Every charming little
page includes at least one interesting comparison,
‘good’ question (and answer) or an unexpected
fact. The second half maintains the pace and mood,
despite covering serious issues as it charts the history
of oceanic surface travel (including the mythical
kraken), underwater exploration, and exploitation to
the present day; p. 59 ‘… hooped skirts fashionable
in the 1700s and 1800s were made from cotton and
baleen, products of the slave trade and whaling’.
Pages 72–73 summarise fish conservation measures.
Supported by a glossary and index, this looks like an
essential ages 9–12 science reference, and a useful
biology/geography crib for older readers.
Henrietta Price
Walmsley, Naomi and
Dan Westall
Forest School
Handbook
The Guild of Master Craftsman
Publications, 2023, pp168, £14.99
9781784946654
Outdoors. Nature. Forest
This book, aimed mostly at primary-aged children,
is the perfect antidote to being stuck inside, glued to
a screen, and caters for a wide range of ages. With
ideas for even the youngest explorers (2–3) such as
colour chart nature matching and nest building, with
more advanced activities such as spear and charcoal
creation being more suitable for those aged 9 and
above, this is a book that will certainly not lose
appeal as children grow.
Each activity gives an indication of the age range
that it is suitable for, the time it takes to complete
that activity, as well as the tools and materials that
you would need to make each activity a success. A
chapter on useful knots will help young people to
not only master this skill, but to also understand why
each knot might be used, and the wild food chapter
will help to turn foraging into an exciting, finished
treat. For schools that don’t have access to a forest
school, there are still plenty of outdoor activities to
engage young people in nature.
Georgia Ramsay
60
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Books: 8 – 12
Whaley, Ashley
I Am, You Are: Let’s
Talk About Disability,
Individuality and
Empowerment
Illustrated by Ananya Rao-
Middleton
Ladybird Books, 2023, pp32, £12.99
9780241573112
Disability. Individuality. Diversity
This is a comprehensive sensitively written inclusive
resource on disability that will help adults to
talk about disability to the children in their care.
Accompanied by colourful illustrations of disabled
children and their abilities, it shows disabled people
as individuals with rights who should be treated like
everyone else. The book starts with an explanation
that everyone is different and people from all walks
of life have disabilities. There is an outstanding
double page spread explaining that not ‘everyone
can do everything and that’s ok’. The final chapters
focus on how accessible policies and technology
are changing the world and that differences create a
more inclusive, richer society for us all. The vibrant
graphics illustrate the points the author is making and
add clarity to the text. There is a useful glossary and
a note for adults on how to have honest and open
conversations about disability.
Judith Palka
Wilson, Jamia
Young, Gifted and
Black Too: Meet 52
More Black Icons
from Past and Present
Illustrated by Andrea Pippins
See Yourself in Their Stories
Wide Eyed Editions, 2023, pp64, £14.99
9780711277007
Biography. Diversity. Celebration
It is good to see a second volume detailing the lives
of another 52 Black icons. As someone who believed
himself to be well versed in Black history, I was only
previously aware of 28 of those presented here.
There are writers and musicians alongside political
activists, scientists, leaders, athletes, and fashion
designers. It is helpful to be made aware of brothers
Moses and Calvin McKissack who established the first
Black-owned architectural company in the United
States. I am also left wanting to know more about
Black African artist Bertina Lopez and Jamaican
freedom fighter Queen Nanny. The biographical
details consistently provide a clear idea of how each
has made their mark on history and will hopefully
encourage readers to undertake some further
research. The illustrations are bright and distinctive
and give emphasis to the author’s stated intention to
celebrate these lives and their achievements.
John Newman
Winter, Kate
The Fossil Hunter:
How Mary Anning
Unearthed the Truth
About the Dinosaurs
Puffin, 2023, pp80, £14.99
9780241469880
Dinosaurs. Women. History
We all know how fascinating dinosaurs are to almost
all children. This beautifully illustrated book exploits
that fact so skilfully. It is in truth a biography of Mary
Anning, who lived in Lyme Regis 200 years ago. It
was she whose discoveries on Jurassic Coast both
earned her a living and advanced the science of
palaeontology. She found unknown species and
her work began our understanding of the distant
past. To have done so against the sexist prejudices
of the time is extraordinary and to have done so
while barely having sufficient funds to live a decent
life is all the more amazing. Inevitably, she was
not properly recognised in her own time, but in
2010 she was recognised as one of the ten most
influential women in the history of British science
and a statue has since been erected in Lyme Regis.
The book not only relates her story but provides
information about the different periods of our
planet’s early life and the different dinosaurs which
existed. It is a fascinating book and worthy of a place
in any school library.
Nick Hunt
Exciting page-turners from Everything with Words
Engaging fiction for developing minds
Berlin, 1948. A city besieged. A boy
reaches for the sky.
A spine chilling story about survival,
betrayal and self-discovery at the time
of the Berlin air-lift.
9+ £8.99 ISBN 9781911427322
Paris 1887. Can Piaf catch the Memory Thief
and restore the lost children?
A Guardian Best Book of the Year, shortlisted
for The Week Junior Awards
‘An unforgettable Paris adventure’ Times
‘A feast for the senses’ Observer
9+ £8.99 ISBN 9781911427292
A whirlwind of a story with talking tigers, a
knitting elephant and a sinister monkey. In
the Kingdom of Broken Magic, who can you
trust?
Inspired by true stories of people of colour in
the circus and entertainment.
9+ £8.99 ISBN 9781911427308
How to deal with vampires, werewolves and
tooth-fairies! Follow Harvey deep into the
stinking, sinking swamp as he dodges
vampires and zombies!
A Sunday Times Book of the Week
‘Perfect for fans of Loki’ Louie Stowell
6+ £7.99 ISBN 9781911427346
Leo is running out of time. Are there enough
days left for him to learn to live, love and catch
a killer? Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go meets
The Catcher in the Rye.
‘Mesmerising’ Zillah Bethell
12+ £8.99 ISBN 9781911427360
A killer has entered our world from the kingdom
of Balthasar, a land ravaged by ecologial
destruction. Who can defeat him and save the
world from fires and floods?
By the acclaimed author of The Wolf Road, a Times
Guardian Best Book of the Year
9+ £8.99 ISBN 9781911427285
www.everythingwithwords.com
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
61

Books: 13 – 16 | Fiction and Poetry
Albertalli, Becky
Imogen, Obviously
HarperCollins Children’s Books,
2023, pp416, £8.99
9780008607333
LGBTQ+. Friendship. University
Imogen’s little sister is gay; one
of her friends, Gretchen, is bisexual; and another
friend, Lili, is panromantic. Imogen, on the other
hand, although she is the Number One Queer Ally,
is 100% straight. Or at least, she thinks she is. When
she visits Lili at college, she is forced to pretend to
be bisexual to prevent her friend from being caught
in a lie. Spending a weekend with Lili’s queer college
friends may cause her to realise that she’s not as
straight as she thought.
Imogen, Obviously shines a light on the relatable
queer experience of doubting your own queerness
and feeling like there is only one way to be queer.
Despite feelings of compulsory heterosexuality
and the assumptions of others, Imogen learns that
her queerness is as valid as anyone else’s, and that
only she can decide when and how to embrace
her identity.
Matt Cowie
Boakye, Jeffrey
Kofi and the Rap Battle
Summer
Faber & Faber, 2023, pp 240, £7.99
9780571367344
Adventure. Families. Music
Entering the action-packed
fun world of Kofi’s family and friends through this
superbly crafted story will be a joy for all key stage
3 students whatever their preferred genre is. It is
a story of true friendships, family relationships,
school life and music. Kofi is an extrovert who wants
to become an entrepreneur, and when he realises
that his friend Kelvin has a photographic memory
for lyrics, words and raps he formulates a plan. He
uses the school’s photocopier to manufacture a
magazine to enhance students’ lunchtime verbal
play competitions and make some cash. The plot
thickens and soon Kofi finds himself caught up in
interesting events and situations – some of which
are entertaining while others are of a more serious
nature. The characters are larger than life, including
sister Gloria, her assertive friend Shanice, Uncle
Delroy – with his habit of getting into trouble – and
undomesticated Jeanette. The magical, lyrical prose
is interspersed with raps and song titles. This is a
wonderful story of Black British culture that should
be in every secondary school’s library.
Judith Palka
Boulley, Angeline
Warrior Girl Unearthed
Rock The Boat, 2023, pp400, £14.99
9780861544196
Families. Cultures. USA
A twisting tale of honouring our
families and fighting for what is
right, Warrior Girl Unearthed follows the story of
rebellious Perry, a 16-year-old with Native American
heritage who makes some unsettling discoveries
on her summer internship at a local museum. She
discovers that human remains of potential tribal
ancestors have been stored illegally, and vows to
return the bones and belongings of these unknown
people to their rightful resting place.
Meanwhile there’s a romance brewing for Perry,
and her twin sister is risking her safety when Ojibwe
women like them are disappearing on the streets.
It mixes political and social issues such as museum
practices, cultural clashes, and prejudices with
teenage drama – whilst being an intense thriller and
an enlightening journey through Native American
culture and attitudes towards tribes in the 21st
century America. A great read for older teens those
who want to explore another culture. It is the sequel
to The Firekeeper’s Daughter, which featured on
Waterstones Children’s Book Prize Shortlist 2022,
but stands alone well.
Cassie Kemp
Carter, Aimée
Royal Blood
Royal Blood
Usborne Publishing, 2023, pp384,
£8.99
9781803701721
Murder. Mystery. Scandal.
Evan has faced lots of hardships
throughout her life. However, being the illegitimate
daughter of the king of England and having to keep
it a secret from the world is definitely the hardest.
When this massive secret is accidentally revealed
to the press, it feels as if Evan is the most hated
person in the whole world. To top it off, she then
finds herself with the flirty, reckless son of a famous
journalist just before he is found dead. Evan is now
not only a new, scandalous royal heir but also the
top suspect in a murder investigation. She doesn’t
know where to turn. The only one seemingly willing
to help is the young, attractive Lord Kit. Can Evan
prove her innocence to the public and find out
who is really responsible for this murder? Only time
will tell.
A captivating read for young adults, Aimée Carter
creates a story full of drama and mystery. Full of
twists and turns throughout, this novel is easy to
follow, and the perfect book to read on a rainy day.
Sophie Matter
Conaghan, Brian
Swimming on the
Moon
Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2023,
pp318, £7.99
9781526653925
Families. Autism. Neurodiversity.
Another sensitive and perceptive book by the
amazing Brian Conaghan, who has a deft touch
with difficult subjects and creates very readable
stories and realistic characters you really empathise
with. Anna’s parents are fighting – a lot. She
thinks a family holiday to Italy might bring them
all closer, but then she discovers the truth behind
the arguments and has to deal with some difficult
feelings. Her twin brother Anto is autistic and
communicates through a complicated system
using Lego bricks, and this also brings some painful
moments when her friends aren’t understanding or
tolerant. Finely observed and very believable, this is
a moving family tale for middle grade, and a musthave
for promoting diversity and empathy.
Jo Sennitt
Extence, Gavin
Finding Phoebe
Andersen Press, 2023, pp336, £8.99
9781839133312
Autism. Grief. Pregnancy.
Phoebe is 16 years old. She is
autistic and is very articulate. She
really struggles socially. She has one best friend,
Bethany. They have been friends since childhood.
Bethany’s family are very strongly Christian.
Her father is a Vicar. What will they do when
they discover that Bethany has had an abortion,
supported by Phoebe? This book is about the
strength of friendship between the two girls and
how each manages the challenges facing them.
Rebecca Butler
62
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Books: 13 – 16
Manga
Editor’s pick
Ashura, Akinari &
Obata, Takeshi
Show-ha Shoten!: Vol. 1
Viz Media, 2023, 192pp,
£7.99, 9781974736829
Comedy. School. Friends
Two classmates team up to form a
comedy duo for their school show in
this safe school series.
Kawaguchi, Yuki
The Hunters Guild: Red
Hood, Vol. 1
Viz Media, 2023, 192pp, £7.99,
9781974734689
Cartoons and comics. Monsters.
Supernatural
Velou’s village is in danger of being
destroyed by werewolf attacks, and
they risk all their livelihoods to hire a
hunter to deal with it.
Midori, Wataru
Run On Your New Legs.
Vol. 1
Yen Press, 2022, 164pp, £12.99,
9781975339005
Cartoons and comics. Disability. Sport
Kikuzato dreams of playing for the
school football team until a terrible
accident abruptly stops that. But can
he still achieve his dreams?
Nadatani, Wataru
Cat + Gamer: vol 1
Dark Horse, 2022, 9781506727417
Cats. Computer games. Cartoons and
comics
Riko, an office worker with an
obsession for video games, finds her
quiet life upended when she takes in
a stray cat.
Kanai, Chisaki
My Dear, Curse-Casting
Vampiress
Yen Press, 2023, 178pp, £10.99,
9781975364908
Conflict. Paranormal. Romance
In an unfolding conflict between
humans and vampires, one vampire
woman will prove to be the weapon
that protects their futures.
Kubo, Tite
Bleach: 1: Strawberry and
the Soul Reapers
Viz Media, 2022, 192pp, £7.99,
9781974735983
Cartoons and comics. Ghosts.
Supernatural
A boy adds the powers of a Soul Reaper
to his existing ability to see ghosts in
the first in this action packed series.
Miura, Kouji
Blue Box: Vol. 1
Viz Media, 2022, 192pp, £7.99,
9781974734627
Cartoons and comics. Romance. Sport
A badminton guy falls for a basketball
girl at the start of this romantic
manga series.
Ojiro, Makoto
Insomniacs After
School: 1
Viz Media, 2023, 192pp, £9.99,
9781974736577
Friendship. Hobbies. School
Two sleepless teenagers find they
have a lot in common as they
escape to their school’s astronomy
observatory.
Hagger-Holt, Sarah
Just Like Everyone Else
Usborne Publishing, 2023, pp288,
£7.99
9781801315784
Families. LGBTQ+. Identity
With four little sisters and
annoyingly social parents, introvert Aidan often
feels trapped, with only fell running providing the
freedom and autonomy he craves. When his mum
decides to become a surrogate for Justin and Atif,
Aidan feels resentful towards the couple, especially
as he begins to question his own sexuality. This
title is a nuanced character study, exploring family
dynamics and identity through the perspective of
a 13-year-old boy. Aidan’s insecurities are skilfully
and sympathetically drawn, particularly his struggle
to support his best friend Jack, whose behaviour
Aidan worries will be read as gay. The inclusion
of homophobic bullying, most worryingly by a
teacher, brings a darker — but sadly, realistic — edge
to the book. However, the kindness and openness
of Aidan’s family, the defiant spirit of Jack, and the
multifaceted portrayal of Justin and Atif — who
show that there are many ways to be gay, none of
which need justification — give Aidan the space to
accept himself. Set in working-class Sheffield, this is
a valuable and enjoyable story.
Samantha Lockett
Harmer, Joyce
How Far We’ve Come
Simon & Schuster Children’s, 2023,
pp352, £12.99,
9781398510999
History. Slavery. Racial Equality
This book begins in 1873, where
17-year-old Obah works on a plantation in Barbados.
She is a slave and has no idea of what freedom could
be like, until she meets Jacob. Jacob is from the 21st
century and has found a way to time travel; he wants
to make amends for the atrocities committed by
his slave-owning ancestors. He convinces Obah to
travel with him back to present day so that she can
live a better life, but Obah is hit with a real culture
shock and her freedom isn’t as sweet as she first
thought.
Obah’s perspective is written in her native dialect,
so this may be a challenge for some readers. A very
important and thought-provoking book.
Charlotte Cole
Ireland, Jenny
The First Move
Illustrated by Janelle Barone
Penguin Books, 2023, pp443, £8.99
9780241591826
Chess. Romance. Families
The book is told from the
perspective of the two main characters, Juliet and
Ronan. Ronan is new to Juliet’s school and is quite
happy to be left alone. Juliet suffers from chronic
arthritis and constantly feels that she isn’t enough
because of her condition. They have both been
keen chess players in the past, playing with family
members, and to give them some distraction from
their problems, unbeknownst to one another, they
sign up to an online chess forum – Chess Life.
They start playing and chatting via the platform,
completely oblivious to the fact they attend the
same school. As their relationship develops,
it eventually comes to light who they are, and
romance starts to bloom. But when Ronan’s past
comes to the forefront, things don’t work out as
Juliet would have hoped.
A page-turning, easy, and entertaining read. Suitable
for readers in key stage 4 and upwards.
Charlotte Cole
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
63

Books: 13 – 16 | Fiction and Poetry
Jennings, Paul
The Lorikeet Tree
Old Barn Books, 2023, pp240,
£7.99
9781910646878
Love. Death. Conservation
In Victoria, Australia, 15-yearold
Emily lives with her widowed father and twin
brother Alex on a 60-acre farm which they are
rewilding, removing feral and non-native species
to restore the natural habitat. Then her father falls
ill with a terminal brain tumour. Emily’s story takes
the form of four writing assignments for her course
at secondary school, covering the seasons of her
father’s final year. It is a time of domestic tumult,
with not only the ordeal of caring for the dying man,
but a stormy relationship with her very different
brother, who is gifted but less stable than she is,
and anxiety about the rewilding, to which she is
deeply committed. This is a family and ecological
drama of considerable power. Emily’s first love,
for a young wildlife officer, on top of her love for
family and wild creatures, pushes her to the limit. A
satisfying epilogue, one year later, shows how well
she has survived. Her remarkable and moving story
is strongly recommended.
Peter Hollindale
Landy, Derek
Hell Breaks Loose
The Skulduggery Pleasant Series
HarperCollins Children’s Books,
2023, pp307, £14.99
9780008585730
Time Travel. Adventure. Battles
This is a prequel to the 15-book
Skulduggery Pleasant series. It takes place 300
years before the start of the series and explains how
the opposing sides in the battles for life and death
began. A gate to Hell has opened up, and our heroes
have been sent back in time to seal it. For fans of
time travel, there are references to the ‘butterfly
wing’ problem, when Skulduggery potentially
changes the course of history. This is best enjoyed
by fans of the series, as there are so many characters
whose adventures in the future are frequently
referred to. Fans of battles will be very content!
Alison A. Maxwell-Cox
lockhart, e
family of liars
Hot Key Books, 2023, pp384, £8.99
9781471413520
Secrets. Families. Supernatural
An arresting title followed by
an arresting first sentence:
‘My son Johnny is dead.’ Chapter one presents
a conversation between the narrator, Carrie,
and the ghost of her son. Undoubtedly a good
beginning with sufficient pull to engage and
maintain the reader’s interest. The prequel to the
highly successful We Were Liars, this novel delves
back into the previous generation of the family at
the centre of the 2014 publication. These wealthy,
very privileged people spend their summers on
Beechwood, their privately owned island off the
coast of Massachusetts.
The protagonist is one of the four sisters who
arrive on the island. Shortly after their arrival, one
of them dies in a drowning accident. Meanwhile,
Carrie is addicted to the pain killing drug Codeine
prescribed in the aftermath of surgery to her jaw.
The advent of boys brought to the island by a cousin
introduces a love interest. A gripping storyline
uncovers a mesh of secrets and lies; there are tales
within tales; ghosts recur throughout. While this is a
free-standing novel, readers are advised to read We
Were Liars first.
Elizabeth Finlayson
Lupo, Kesia
Let’s Play Murder
Bloomsbury Young Adult, 2023,
pp400, £7.99
9781526635464
Crime. Gaming. Adventure
The feel of Lets Play Murder
is somewhere between a Miss Marple, an Escape
Room and the latest VR chiller. If these resonate with
you in any way, then I would strongly recommend
this book. Veronica doesn’t understand how she
found herself trapped in a very real VR game, but
she knows there’s only one way out. Discover the
murderer of the body found in a manor house and
work with four strangers to do so.
With glitches in the game, new murders to solve,
and a life-changing prize to aim for, escape should
be at the forefront of the players’ minds. The story
turns darker as we find out more about players
and the lengths they will go to in order to win.
Veronica is a victim in real life as well as VR, but
one thing is certain, she will do what she can to
win the prize money and save her brother’s life on
the outside. Time is ticking as she knows his illness
will have all but taken him, and the game is close to
taking her as well.
Erica Dean
Matula, Christina
The Not-So-Uniform
Life of Holly-Mei
Holly-Mei Book
Inkyard Press, 2023, pp268, £12.99
9781335424884
Friendships. Diversity. Self-
Discovery
Twelve-year-old Holly-Mei has been removed from
the class chat and excluded from her friends’ lunch
table, so when her mother announces that the family
is moving to the opposite end of the world this
seems the answer to her friendship problems. Soon,
Holly-Mei and her family are living in a beautiful
apartment overlooking the waterfront, and although
she misses her grandmother, Holly-Mei is excited
to begin a new life. But when the new school term
starts, Holly-Mei has to renegotiate the tricky world
of middle-school friendships. Her class is tasked with
devising presentations to mark the opening of a new
arts centre, and Holly-Mei is determined that her
group’s presentation will be amazing; she just has to
persuade her peers that her ideas are the best. The
ways in which Holly-Mei has to develop her approach
to peer relationships and avoid past pitfalls becomes
the main theme of the novel. Holly-Mei’s honesty
when it comes to facing her faults makes her an
engaging character, and readers will be pleased to
know the novel is the first in a series.
Sandra Bennett
Nicholls, Sally
Yours from the Tower
Andersen Press, 2023, pp368,
£14.99
9781839133190
Victorians. Friendship. Women’s
Rights
Three young women have just left boarding school
and gone back to their very different lives in Victorian
England. The story is told through a series of letters
between themselves and others in their lives.
Through these letters we share their hopes, dreams,
dramas and sadness, their romances, and their
frustrations at the restrictions of being a woman in
a world that enables their roles to be defined only
by their gender. This is a superbly written epistolary
novel. Sally Nicholls has a real gift for drawing
characters that feel so real to the reader and for
making readers feel they are walking alongside them
through the historical period in which the book is
set. The political, social, and societal atmosphere is
brilliantly drawn but with such a lightness of touch.
The crafting of the letters is exquisite and wonderfully
depicts the bonds of friendship between the girls. A
great acknowledgement section highlights several
other primary source materials to explore. I LOVED it,
was completely engrossed and when I got to the end,
wanted more. I know it’s a book I will read again.
Annie Everall
64
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Books: 13 – 16
Sheppard, Alexandra
Friendship Never Ends
Knights Of Media, 2023, pp320,
£7.99
9781913311414
Friends. Summer. Postcards
Four best friends end Year 9 with
a cringingly embarrassing moment at the end of
term party, so they all endeavour to become more
mature over the summer. The only problem is that
they will all be apart and without internet access –
the horror! But fear not, they hatch a plan to send
each other postcards to keep in touch. We glimpse
each girl’s attempt to grow up, from meeting new
crushes to spending time with far-flung family,
they all make relatable mistakes along the way. The
friends soon learn that honesty is always the best
policy and being yourself is enough.
It is refreshing to read a humorous novel that depicts
modern teen girls so realistically and positively; it’s
sometimes difficult to find genuinely funny books
for girls who have outgrown Dork Diaries but aren’t
ready for the heavy issues and language of most
young adult fiction. I think Sheppard has solved that
problem. I hope there’s more to come!
Bridget Hamlet
Turner, Megan
The King of Attolia
The Queen’s Thief Novels
Hodderscape, 2023, pp403, £8.99
9781529387704
Adventure. Secrecy. Assassins
Lies snowball. And in the third
instalment of Megan Whalen Turner’s Queen’s Thief
series, Eugenides finds himself trapped as the king
of Attolia in a growing web of deceit and secrecy.
Reeling from the plans and machinations that led to
his new appointment, Eugenides is coming to terms
with the fact that the people of Attolia hate him:
his chefs put sand in his foot; his servants snakes
in his bed; and now one of the Queen’s guards has
punched him square in the face. Turner invites us to
view Eugenides’ scheming through the perspective
of this impetuous guard, Costis, as he manoeuvres
through the courtly intrigue and assassination
attempts on the king’s life. Like a literary game of
chess, we watch as the characters plot and vie for
absolute power. And with an almost Macbethian
quality, questions of loyalty, courage, and monarchy
are continuously raised and probed. The kingdom
of Attolia is a dangerous place, but from the comfort
of our living rooms, the reader may never want to
leave.
Ben Lunn
Whittam, Kimberly
Quiet Storm
Usborne Publishing, 2023, pp272,
£7.99
9781803708065
Family. Identity. Sport
Storm has always felt safer
blending in, never standing out, and staying in the
shadow of her star older brother, Isaiah. But when
she breaks a school record in running, she begins to
see what life can be like in the spotlight.
But things aren’t all smooth sailing. With disasters
at home and friendship issues at school, Storm
is finding it difficult to navigate life in Year 7.
Maybe now is the time to find her voice and start
standing out.
Quiet Storm is an engaging and empowering novel
about growing in confidence and being proud
of who you are. Kimberly Whittam has written an
incredibly relatable protagonist who will resonate
with anyone who has suffered from shyness or
social anxiety, as well as anyone who’s struggled to
manage evolving friendships after the transition to
high school.
It’s always refreshing to read a book that focuses on
girls in sport, though Quiet Storm has plenty to offer
those who are less sporty too.
Becca Watts
Wills, S.J.
Bite Risk
Winter, Tamsin
Bad Influence
Woodson, Jacqueline
Brown Girl Dreaming
EDITOR’S PICK
Simon & Schuster Children’s, 2023,
pp368, £7.99
9781398520943
Horror. Fantasy. Mystery
Sel Archer lives in Tremorglade,
when every time there is a full moon, all adults over
the age of 18 turn into Rippers, or werewolves as we
would know them. On the night of the full moon,
teens are to be confined to their own homes, for
their safety, and to make sure their adults are kept
behind lock and key, so as not to cause harm. But
on one confinement night, Sel finds himself in a
tricky situation when he discovers his mum out of
her locked cage – and hungry for meat. This is the
beginning of a series of strange events that lead Sel
on a mission to work out what exactly is happening
in Tremorglade.
A gripping read that will keep you guessing with
some brilliant twists and turns. This is suitable for
readers age 11+ and a great introduction to the
horror genre.
Charlotte Cole
Usborne Publishing, 2023, pp352,
£7.99
9781474979078
Bullying. Social media. Self-Image
Amelia is academic star of Year
9, first cello in orchestra, great at baseball … and
hates herself. She’s never good enough for her
high-pressure parents – her American father always
says ‘Second place is first loser’. Her schoolmates
call her ‘Maggot’, and rank her at the bottom of the
‘ugly girl list’, created by a toxic but popular bully.
No wonder that when a new boy shows an interest,
she is pleased and not repelled (kissing lips on a first
meeting? Alarm bells surely!). But he turns out to
be toxic too, and when she sends him an intimate
photo, he shares it with the school.
We start with Amelia being verbally abused (‘Slag!’)
after the photo goes public, then flashback to
preceding events. By the ending, happily, Amelia
finds her true voice, with allies such as her sister
and grandpa. The depiction of intelligent girls
whose confidence can be shattered by one word
is painfully familiar. Amelia’s obsession with TikTok
likes allows the book to explore problems of social
media and self-esteem. A cautionary tale for key
stage 3.
Anna Quick
Orion Children’s Books, 2023,
pp336, £7.99
9781510111738
Memoir. Free Verse. Coming of
Age
Fans of Punching the Air by Ibi
Zoboi and Jason Reynolds’s Long Way Down will be
sure to love Brown Girls Dreaming whose free verses
of internalised conflict, exposition on the divide
between race, and social commentary on growing
up in the 1960s is insightful and authentic. As the
title suggests, we navigate the many backdrops of
Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Brooklynn through the eyes
of our author. Woodson beautifully articulates her
journey in growing up in various cities, offering her
own historical accounts of the civil rights movement
without the necessity of over-explaining or having
the whole focus of the book be on politics. Instead,
this memoir encompasses the simplicity of childhood
dreams, the internal battles and losses that come with
growing up, and the nostalgia that takes a hold of all of
us when thinking back to our journeys into adulthood.
This book transcends all ages and provides a catalyst
for great discussions to take place between students
and classes on topics that impact both children and
adults alike.
Rabia Arif
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
65

Books: 13 – 16 | Information
Harford, Tim
The Truth Detective:
How to Make Sense of
a World That Doesn’t
Add Up
Wren & Rook, 2023, pp192, £9.99
9781526364579
Statistics. Fake News. Critical Thinking
Harford’s writings for adults are informative and
stimulating, and this book for young adults is in the
same mould. Critical thinking and understanding
data quoted in official and social media are vital
skills for everyone. Taking the persona of a ‘Truth
Detective’, Harford uses real characters (e.g. Florence
Nightingale) alongside fictional ones (e.g. Darth
Vader) to demonstrate approaches to critical thinking,
fake news, and understanding and using data. Case
studies demonstrate concepts such as the impact of
emotion on rational judgement and the concept of a
‘Brain Guard’, a personification of the critical thinker,
with techniques for applying caution to so-called
facts. Harford writes in anecdotal style with wit
and fascinating detail; the illustrations and graphic
page design add to this stylish book. Three broad
sections cover areas such as spotting what is not said,
understanding bias, the power of graphics, how data
analysis and interpretation changed the progress
of Covid-19, and checking the validity of sources.
A must-read for students and adults alike.
Lucy Chambers
Kassis, Reem
We Are Palestinian: A
Celebration of Culture
and Tradition
Illustrated by Noha Eilouti
Studio Press, 2023, pp111, £12.99
9781800783287
Palestine. History. Guidebook
As someone who believes that the voices of all races
should be heard – especially in times of conflict – I
am pleased that here is a book that encompasses
and showcases the brilliant light of Palestine. No
politics to be had here! Instead, what you have is a
celebration of the best Palestine has to offer: from
the rich cultural histories of the oldest cities to
the great literary minds of the region, to the foods
and the culture, all are included in an easy-to-read
layout framed by sensational illustrations from
Noha Eilouti. I had a brilliant time discovering the
beauty of Palestine and have fallen in love with the
rich culture Kassis articulates delightfully. It is now
in times of conflict that we need to appreciate the
legacies that countries leave behind and I am glad
to say that its author does justice to that legacy. A
beautiful book to read alongside students and adults
alike! I could not recommend this enough!
Rabia Arif
Kovalyshena, Inna
Translated by Hanna
Leliv
A Cool History of
Ukraine: From
Dinosaurs Till Now
Illustrated by Galochka Ch
Scholastic, 2023, pp172, £9.99
9780702324932
History. Geography. Non-Fiction
Just as the title suggests, A Cool History of Ukraine
is exactly that – cool! Beautiful illustrations line
the text as Kovalyshena gives a basic rundown of
the time between the ancients and the modern. It
is a fairly comprehensive read with some complex
vocabulary thrown in; suitable for students who
need to stretch and challenge their abilities. Whilst
Ukraine’s history is condensed into a series of
conversations between the characters, it soon
becomes quite a read when you only want a quick
snapshot of the history. However, this is a great book
to pair up with resources such as maps, infographics
and even for kids who would like to learn Ukrainian
and are interested in the culture. Overall, a good
read for those interested in Ukraine and its history.
Rabia Arif
Sparkhall, Olivia
A Young Person’s
Guide to Vocal Health
Compton Publishing, 2022, pp56,
£16.95
9781909082717
Singing. Health. Drama
Written by an experienced
school singing teacher, this book is aimed at young
singers who want to look after their voices so that
they sing as well as they possibly can, whether as
soloists or in choirs. Sparkhall has singers in mind
but her calm, reasonable advice about lubrication,
rest, warm-ups, hydration, sensible eating, allergies,
medication, braces and the rest would apply equally
well to young actors or speakers. There is basic
anatomical and physical information about how
the voice works too. The book is cheerfully and
colourfully accessible with lots of boxes, bubbles,
balloons, and engaging illustrations by the author’s
father, David Walsby. It could be very useful indeed
for both young voices and for music and drama
teachers looking for ways of communicating the
links between good health and good voice.
Susan Elkin
Walden, Sarah
All the World’s a Stage
Illustrated by Hannah Li
Express Yourself
Noodle Juice, 2023, pp80, £12.99
9781915613042
Information. Guide. Careers
If the reference to Shakespeare did not clue in,
perhaps this review might. Suitable for all ages
who are interested in roles behind the scenes and
on stage, this book provides a basic breakdown of
what it means to stand on stage, as well as all the
roles that can be done behind the curtains and still
mean being involved in stage productions. A fairly
quick read accompanied by relevant illustrations
to convey its premise and function, All the World’s
a Stage provides a great overview of the career
without detailing it to the extreme – a great
sourcebook for those who are curious about their
own career path in theatre.
Rabia Arif
It’s not too late to vote for
the Information Book
Award 2023.
Find out more here:
www.sla.org.uk/iba-2023
66
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Bring poetry
off the page with
Poetry By Heart
Don’t miss out! Register now to take
part in the competition and be in with
a chance to win a place at next year’s
Grand Finale at Shakespeare’s Globe,
South Bank
The 2024 Poetry By Heart competition opens on National
Poetry Day, Thursday 5 October 2023.
The 2024 registration pack includes full information and
guidance plus new display material and posters.
Registration is FREE for schools and colleges in England
and gives you access to as much support and guidance as
you need and to the poems and poetry resources on the
Poetry By Heart website.
“ School libraries are a space where young people
can express themselves, develop their passions
and share the impact of the literature they love
with others - this is exactly what Poetry By Heart
enables and the SLA is proud to support their
incredible work”.
Helen Emery, SLA Membership Officer
Find out more www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/register

Books: 17 – 19
Almond, David
Island
Bourne, Holly
You Could Be So Pretty
Clarke, Jane
A Change in the Air
POETRY
Illustrated by David Litchfield
Hodder Children’s, 2023, pp192,
£9.99
9781444954180
Bereavement. Journey.
Relationships
Louise and her dad have gone to Lindisfarne again
where they annually spend some time reconnecting
with the magic of the island and trying to recapture
feelings from when Louise’s Mum was still alive. This
year seems different, and that change is noticeable
when they cross the causeway and see a visitor
striding through the water towards the island. The
young man makes an impression on Louise although
her dad dismisses him because of his unkempt
appearance. Her dad does not dismiss Coral, whom
they meet on a walk, and he invites her to eat with
him and Louise later. Louise becomes jealous of
someone else spending time with her dad when
she feels they should be remembering Mum. David
Almond has done it again and painted the landscape
of Northumbria, with different people searching for
what they need from life. The connections between
people and nature are there, the writing is beautiful
and poetic and, impossible as it seems, is enhanced
by David Lichfield’s black and white illustrations.
Good and bad shine through to make this a thoughtprovoking,
emotional read.
Dawn Woods
Dooley, Maura
Five Fifty-Five
Bloodaxe Books, 2023, pp64,
£10.99
9781780376578
Literature. Time. Translation
This collection is rooted in
the experience of literature,
redolent with reference and inspiration – a poem
is ‘a message in a bottle, a ship in a bottle’ – from
Omar Khayyam by a restaurant window to Paul
Muldoon on a car radio. In ‘Mayday in Ravenna’,
the poet ‘looks for Dante’ and is ‘seeking Virgil’,
while elsewhere we stand by Ann Bronte’s grave
and visit homes lived in by Louisa M. Alcott, Ted
Hughes and Jane Austen. One poem ends with
a line from MacNeice, while another has a line
from Chesterton as its title. We travel further, into
Jean Rhys’s Caribbean and the haikus of Yasuaki
Inoue. There is a wonderful observation of life in the
Minster Gate Bookshop, and a warm appreciation of
an Anne Tyler novel which helped the poet through
lockdown, making her ‘smile to see that only when
we get up close will the everyday, the ordinary,
shine’. The collection closes with helpful notes
which make the literary connections clear. All this,
and much more, makes it a welcome addition to any
library or poetry group.
Frank Startup
POETRY
Usborne Publishing, 2023, pp416,
£8.99
9781474966832
Control. Dystopia. Regulations
Described as dystopia, this is a
dual narrative. Belle follows ‘The Doctrine’ of applying
daily Masks, exercising, and restricting her intake
of Sins so that come Selection Day she gains the
most votes for her beauty. Her whole life revolves
around being a Pretty. Joni, on the other hand, is an
Objectionable – she rejects the constant pressure
to look good but is comfortable instead and eats
what she wants and needs. She saves endless hours
because of this.
It is sold to all young people that equality has been
achieved. But boys and men are allowed to do what
they want to women’s bodies, including grabbing
them, commenting on them, watching Smut openly.
Men are allowed to age naturally, yet women are
working to avoid it, with surgery very common.
When these two very different girls are thrown
together, their lives become further entwined,
especially when they are both competing for one
scholarship for Education, important to both of them
for different reasons.
This is a shocking, compelling read and all teens
should read it.
Dawn Woods
Govett, Sarah
The Territory: The
Complete Trilogy
Firefly Press, 2023, pp562, £10.99
9781915444295
Dystopian. Climate. Families
An easy read in terms of the
storyline, but the issues raised are for the mature,
serious reader. Set in 2059, this is a dystopian
novel with strong echoes from the past; it is also
a commentary on the present; in particular it is a
swingeing indictment of the current educational
system in the UK. The protagonist, Noa, recounts
her experiences in a concise, conversational,
teenage style and the first paragraph presents
the predicament in which she and her friends
find themselves: they must pass the forthcoming
TAA exams as the consequences of failing are
banishment to the Wetlands, a dreadful environment
in which one becomes a fish! This requires a
significant suspension of disbelief!
Children of wealthy parents are at a huge advantage
because they have a ‘node’ fixed to their heads
whereby information is fed into their brains,
dispensing with the need to study. They are much
more likely to pass than poorer students: a veiled
reference to the advantages conferred by privilege
in today’s society. Shades of Nineteen Eighty-Four?
Thought-provoking and highly recommendable.
Elizabeth Finlayson
Bloodaxe Books, 2023, pp80,
£10.99
9781780376592
Ireland. Landscape. Culture
This collection divides into
six sections, including one
taking us to the trenches of the First World War,
writing of what will happen ‘after we’re gone’,
with images of the gradual restoration of land
merging with those of loss and grief. This echoes
the first section, memories of life on a farm in Eire,
in which collecting eggs, milking the cow, and
picking raspberries are intertwined with others of
looking after an aging mother: ‘I feed, bathe and
console my mother who fed, bathed and consoled
me.’ Elsewhere, we visit a lead-mining community,
observing pit ponies, and children on Christmas
morning as they ‘listen to the story of hope, then
kneel to petition for clear lungs’. The collection is
permeated with Irish landscape and history. The
poetry is nostalgic, but never sentimental, its
distinctive style – which might be described as
mostly free unrhymed couplets – while not lending
itself to ornate imagery, brings a concise clarity
to her subject matter, as in a sketch of a squirrel
‘needle-nimble’ springing ‘windblown limb to
limb’. A feast for poetry groups.
Frank Startup
Hollis, Matthew
Earth House
Bloodaxe Books, 2023, pp96,
£14.99
9781780375625
Poetry. Landscape. Time
POETRY
Earth House is described as an
evocation of the landscape,
language, and ecology of the
isles of Britain and Ireland and an exploration of how
our most intimate moments have resonance in the
wider cycle of life. In the poems there is always a
strong sense of place and time, with meditation on
present and past, often prompted by a simple, single
event or a quiet moment.
The poems are in four groups, each one set in a
different location, city as well as country. There is a
particular interest in the poet’s home region of East
Anglia and an enjoyment of oral links to the past
through dialect words. The place notes at the end
explain these.
It’s a collection for readers with an established
understanding of poetry, who are widening their
awareness. The poet’s much earlier work, Earth
Water, was about landscape and water.
Matthew Hollis has written extensively about
Edward Thomas and T. S. Eliot. They are poets who
might very usefully be read alongside this collection.
Annie Pattison
68
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Books: 17 – 19
Democracy
Editor’s pick
Cunliffe, Philip, Ramsey,
Peter & Jones, Lee
Taking Control
Polity Press, 2023, 208pp, £15.99,
9781509553204
Europe. Politics. Sovereignty
Did Brexit answer our questions on
control of our nation or was it a bigger
question than anyone realised?
Keane, John
The Shortest History of
Democracy
Old Street Publishing, 2023, 240pp,
£8.99, 9781913083380
Foundations. History. Introduction
Concise yet insightful overview of the
history of democracy over the past
4,000 years, from its earliest forms to
the present day.
Lenard, Patti Tamara
Democracy and Exclusion
OUP, 2023, 304pp, £54, 9780197585818
Citizenship. Human rights. Politics
State policies excluding citizens such
as stateless peoples, migrants and
refugees, returning foreign fighters,
and LGBTQ+ identification violating
democratic principle.
Webster, Scott
Caring Confrontations for
Education and Democracy
Routledge, 2023, 156pp, £38.99,
9781032138336
Education. Misinformation. Society
Education for democracy must
encourage commitment to important
ideals and strengthen the vulnerabilities
of people which make them easily
manipulated by politicians and the media.
Feinberg, Walter
Education for Democracy
CUP, 2023, 178pp, £22.99,
9781009219280
Citizenship. Education. Responsibility
Education to provide the skills needed
to use your role as a citizen responsibly,
caring for and protecting democracy.
Kennard, Matt & Provost,
Claire
Silent Coup
Bloomsbury Academic, 2023, 296pp,
£20.00, 9781350269989
Control. Democracy. Power
Guide to the rise of a corporate empire
that now dictates how resources are
allocated, how territories are governed,
and how justice is defined.
Susskind, Jamie
The Digital Republic
Bloomsbury, 2023, 464pp, £12.99,
9781526625298
Freedom of speech. Politics.
Technology
How can freedom and democracy
survive in a world of powerful digital
technologies without monitoring of
some kind?
White, Stephen K. &
Scudder, Mary F.
The Two Faces of
Democracy
OUP, 2023, 208pp, £18.99,
9780197623893
Conflict. Injustice. Politics
The challenges of philosophical
questions about the core values of
democratic life and practical issues of
threats to democracy.
Johnson, Kris
Ghost River
Bloodaxe Books, 2023, pp72,
£10.99
9781780376479
America. Landscape. Myth
This is centred on the
landscape of America’s Pacific
Northwest, but it is no rural idyll: ruggedly beautiful,
steeped in myth and mystery, but also dark and
dangerous. Man intrudes: while ‘the owl splits the
night into whispers’, elsewhere is ‘an industrial
lawn mower churning goose shit into chlorophyllic
pulp’. An encounter with a doe is juxtaposed with
the death of a motorcyclist on the road, and a
‘skinny dip’ in the lake is haunted by memories of
boys who drowned there. The poet’s identification
with the region is strong; the collection is suffused
with memories of childhood and childbirth, water,
mountains and moon as ‘belief becomes memory
becomes myth becomes mustard’. Poems such as
the eponymous ‘Ghost River’, ‘Myth’, and ‘Corona’
linger in the mind: the imagery throughout is
beautiful and haunting. The central sequence takes
us to an eighteenth-century explorer’s attempt
to locate the Northwest Passage and adds a
different perspective while still addressing the main
themes. Impossible to do this rich and complex
collection justice in a short review: it will reward
frequent rereading and group discussion.
Frank Startup
POETRY
Longman, Finn
The Hummingbird
Killer
Simon & Schuster Children’s, 2023,
pp368, £8.99
9781398507371
Crime. Betrayal. Change
Espera is a lawless city-state in which powerful
criminal groups, ‘Comma’ and ‘Hummingbird’
compete for dominance. Isabel Ryans, although
young, is Comma’s most notorious assassin, but
disillusioned with her brutal work and socially
isolated, she craves a normal life.
Isabel takes her first hesitant steps by sharing a flat
with another young woman and finding work in a
library. But continues to kill and on one memorable
afternoon, she slaughters 21 victims.
Furthermore, things do not turn out how she had
hoped. She becomes with a group committed to
ridding Espera of the criminal gangs and helping
one of its members to escape from the city. To
ensure the plan’s success, she must not commit a
murder she is ordered to carry out, thereby bringing
her into conflict with Comma and Hummingbird.
She thus finds herself alone and for the first time in
her life, afraid.
This intriguing thriller is the second volume of
a trilogy and I look forward to the final book to
discover how Isabel fares.
Martin Baggoley
Reddick, Yvonne
Burning Season
Bloodaxe Books, 2023, pp72,
£10.99
9781780376455
Oil. Fire. Grief
Burning fossil fuels sear
through this remarkable
collection in which the poet, whose father was a
petroleum engineer and whose formative years
were spent around oilfields and platforms, including
Kuwait after the first Gulf War, writes movingly of his
sudden death and of his legacy. We are reminded of
our dependency on these fuels and the depths from
which they are dredged in ferocious imagery: her
father departs ‘to raise the Jurassic’, we have ‘a
pipeline of what stirred in the Cretaceous’. Oil: ‘the
plastic cup leaches it into my arteries ... it bubbles
up from the tarmac outside.’ Coal, distilled from
oil: ‘carbon-black smoke still sears the sky.’ Rigs
with ‘the flames blown backwards down the steel
throat of the flarestack dragon’. Her love and
admiration for nature’s resilience is clear as we
follow a storm petrel flying between platforms or
observe pike surviving in ‘drained land where earth
is silt and blood and river’. This collection is born of
deep feeling and scientific knowledge. Powerful,
beautiful poetry in itself, it will also illuminate
discussions on the environment and climate change.
Frank Startup
POETRY
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
69

Books: 17 – 19
Rosenblum, Cameron
The Sharp Edge of
Silence
Hot Key Books, 2023, pp473,
£8.99
9781471413476
Young Adult. Boarding School.
Revenge
EDITOR’S PICK
The privileged students at Lycroft Phelps School
are marked for success. Teenage fans of 13 Reasons
Why, Beartown, or We Were Liars will love reading
about these Lycroft students: the nerds, the
outsiders, and of course the jocks, who rule the
school. But there is a dark secret at the heart of the
school, a secret born from toxic masculinity and
grounded in rape culture. Told through alternating
perspectives, Q and fellow Lycroft pupils have to
watch the boys responsible continue to play at
the top of the food chain. This fast-paced YA book
will excite and engage readers as they follow Q
taking justice into her own hands, but it is also
heartbreaking and will encourage readers to ask
themselves: just what is the cost of popularity, and
how far would you go to protect your reputation?
Be warned that there are some graphic scenes, and
this book is best suited to readers 15+.
Jess Senior
Sutter, James
Darkhearts
Andersen Press, 2023, pp352, £8.99
9781839133374
LGBTQ+. Music. Friendship
This is an engrossing LGBTQ+
Young Adult love story about two
teenage boys who start the story as ex-best friends
and enemies before falling unexpectedly, and
secretly, in love.
Chance, Eli, and David started the band Darkhearts
when they were in their early teens. A couple of
years later, David left and shortly after, the band hit
the big time – think One Direction at their prime,
but with a punk-goth twist. Fast forward a few years
and Eli has tragically just died of alcohol poisoning,
leaving Chance bereft and lost. He returns home to
Seattle and reaches out to David.
The story that follows is a slow burning romance
that emerges from the ashes of their former
friendship. But what will happen to Chance’s
heartthrob status if the world finds out he’s got
a boyfriend?
A thoroughly enjoyable and gripping story that was
difficult to put down. It’s full of teen drama, the
perils of fame, and lingering remorse. There are
some scenes of sexual activity and discussion that
would make it more suited to key stage 4 students
and above.
Cassie Kemp
Tawse, Daniel
All About Romance
Hodder Children’s Books, 2023,
pp352, £8.99
9781444971323
Romance. Family. LGBTQ+
Being a teenager on the lookout
for love is tricky enough, but add to that the fact
that you’re non-binary and living in Tynemouth and
the odds aren’t in your favour. All About romance is
based on the authors own diaries from their teenage
years. Full of fun characters and a remarkable
protagonist, this is a novel I will be recommending
to my Alice Oseman fans. Roman is receiving
anonymous notes pushed through their locker door
from ‘Big Red’. When graffiti signed with the same
name crops up around school, Roman is sure it’s
the same person. Could this be a secret admirer and
more excitingly, could it be from JJ their fling from
last summer?
A book that includes a vintage fur cape called
Marlene and a wonderfully supportive mum, this
is the read that anyone feeling at odds with their
surroundings needs in their life. How to be adorably
different and manage to survive your teenage years
all wrapped up in a glorious package.
Erica Dean
Dates for your Diary
SEPTEMBER 2023 OCTOBER 2023 NOVEMBER 2023
6th September National Read a Book Day
8th September International Literacy Day
13th September Roald Dahl Story Day
18th–24th September Recycle Week
18th September Read an e-Book Day
21st September Booker Prize Shortlist
Announced
21st September International Day of Peace
22nd September Hobbit Day
1st–31st October Black History Month
1st–31st October International School
Libraries Month
1st–31st October International Walk to
School Month
1st–31st October The Big Draw
2nd–8th October Dyslexia Awareness Week
4th–10th October World Space Week
5th October National Poetry Day
10th October World Mental Health Day
1st–30th November Non-Fiction November
10th November World Science Day
11th November Remembrance Day
13th–17th November Maths Week
13th–17th November World Nursery Rhyme
Week
13th–17th November Anti Bullying Week
13th November World Kindness Day
20th November Universal Children’s Day
26th November Booker Prize Winner
Announced
70
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023

Books: Professional
Baker, Stephen
That Behaviour Book:
The Simple Truth
About Teaching
Children
Crown House Publishing, 2023,
pp160, £19.99
9781785836688
Behaviour. Management. Teaching
This author has been a secondary school teacher, a
subject leader, head of year and now a consultant,
mainly in areas of deprivation, so he is speaking
from years of experience with sometimes
challenging behaviours and gives many examples of
what he has learned over that time. Described as a
book for teachers, this is equally relevant for library
staff to manage behaviour in a library environment,
even if said library staff do not ‘officially’ teach.
There are chapters on values, styles, routines,
relationships, expectations, modelling, rewards, and
causes. Baker assures the reader that it takes time,
but the tips in this book will help shortcut that time.
There are takeaways and ‘now try this’ at the end
of each chapter and in the appendices there are
checklists and phrases to use or avoid. If you learn
to automatically implement just one action every so
often, this book is a great help for library staff who
have received no other behaviour training.
Dawn Woods
Busch, Bradley and
Edward Watson
Teaching & Learning
Illuminated: The Big
Ideas, Illustrated
Routledge, 2023, pp150, £22.99
9781032368955
Learning Concepts. Visual.
Professional Development
A truly excellent book for busy educators (at any level)
to easily understand contemporary ideas/ concepts/
applications of learning. For readers with limited time,
but keen interest, this book is a delight in its clarity
and ease of use; information about each concept is
visualised into inviting, well-designed diagrammatic
forms (left page) opposite distilled, written explanations
(right page). For language reading from left to right, this
is a highly intelligent format, familiarising the concept
visually before attempting the written text; the natural
flow from left to right also allows you to refer back
to the graphics whilst reading, for clarification, as the
whole is confined to one double-page spread. The text
is a joy to read, with satisfyingly ‘normal’ vocabulary
choices – for example (p. 115 Cornell Note Taking
Method) describing dividing a page into unequal
columns, as ‘one thin and one wide’, focuses on the
outcome rather than the method. All the subjects are
relevant; the contents are exemplary in organisation;
the authors are humorous. Highest recommendation.
Stephanie Barclay
Hampton, Andrew
Working With Boys
Creating Cultures of
Mutual Respect in
Schools
Routledge, 2023, pp136, £19.99
9781032319551
Masculinity. PSHE. Lessons Plans
Hampton clearly understands schools, boys, and
teachers very well. He has written a book that is
practical and concise, divided into two halves. Part
one includes discussions of concepts of masculinity
and how they apply to boys in school, with clear
examples to make it applicable to teachers; part two
is a programme of lessons to use specifically with
Year 7 (but with optional amendments for Years 5,
6 and 8). The author has included a very brief part
3, which contains questions for auditing students
about the ‘quality of relationships between boys’ in
their school.
This book would make an excellent addition to staff
CPD libraries in schools, and of particular interest
to PSHE teachers and coordinators, pastoral teams,
as well as staff who lead transition from primary to
secondary school.
Bridget Hamlet
Mattock, Peter
Conceptual Maths:
Teaching ‘About’
(Rather Than ‘How To
Do’) Mathematics In
Schools
Crown House Publishing, 2022,
pp400, £32.99, 9781785835994
Mathematics. Foundations. Concepts
Conceptual Maths is a book written to walk
teachers through key concepts behind fundamental
classroom mathematics logically and plainly,
giving methods of teaching procedures. The
author believes that a learner must understand
concepts, not just learn procedures, in order to
become proficient in Mathematics. In each section
of the book he lays out what a student needs to
understand in order to understand the topic in
question. He goes through how this understanding
can be developed and what might assist learners
in stepping from one level of understanding to the
next. He suggests a mixture of useful concrete and
pictorial representations to aid understanding.
I thought it was a very thorough exposition, and it
would be useful for teachers to dip in and out of,
but would require concentrated time and attention
reading to gain the most from it. There were
some ideas for exercises or explanations for the
classroom, but the book didn’t include ready-made
resources to use.
Sarah Taylor
Moir, Taryn
How to Create
Autonomous
Learners: Teaching
Metacognitive, Self-
Regulatory and Study
Skills: A Practitioner’s
Guide
Routledge, 2022, pp166, £22.99, 9781032325835
Learning. Independence. Self-Reflection
This is a book which practises what it preaches. The
Covid-19 crisis dramatically highlighted the need
for children to learn how to work independently
and take responsibility for their own learning. With
classrooms closed, success or failure devolved on
parents and children themselves. The purpose of
this guide is to train teachers to educate children
in the skills of confident self-direction. Numerous
‘strategies’ which can help them are presented
and explained, against a background of supportive
theory and evidence. ‘Strategies’ is a catch-all
word which covers everything from analytical
self-awareness to handy tricks (like mnemonics).
Newly intimidating terms like ‘metacognitive’ are
defined and applied to school practice : this is a
book about learning how to learn. The book itself is
an excellent teacher: readers are constantly helped
by ‘self-reflective tools’ and practical suggestions
to assess and develop their own understanding of
what is now an essential teaching skill.
Peter Hollindale
Rae, Tina
Understanding
and Supporting
Refugee Children
and Young People:
A Practical Resource
for Teachers, Parents
and Carers of Those
Exposed to the Trauma of War
David Fulton Publishers, 2023, pp160, £22.99
9781032405506
Education. Specialist. Refugee
An incredibly insightful guide for those who care
for and educate young people and children who
have been exposed to the aspects of this world
many of us cannot understand. This book acts as
a resource for those seeking to understand and
support children in different settings as the number
of refugee children continues to rise and along
with it the presence of high anxiety and traumarelated
behaviour in children. This guide tackles the
multitude of difficulties and circumstances that may
arise when caring for or teaching refugee children.
This includes sections on the developmental stages
of children, as well as sections specifically designed
for interacting with the children themselves
and building relationships with their families. A
great go-to guide with its plethora of advice and
resources for anyone who works with refugee
children and young people.
Tegan Burnett
VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 AUTUMN 2023
71

Books: Review Index
Page numbers in italics indicate a book that features
in the Editor’s Picks highlight box on that page.
A
Albertalli, Becky - Imogen, Obviously 62
Allen, Kelly and Allen, Zoey - My Brother George 40
Allen, Kelly and Allen, Zoey - My Momma Zo 40
Almond, David - Island 68
Arlon, Penelope - My First Dinosaur Atlas:
Roar Around the World with the Mightiest
Beasts Ever! 56
Ashura, Akinari & Obata, Takeshi -
Show-ha Shoten!: Vol. 1 63
B
Baines, Nigel - A Tricky Kind of Magic 46
Baker, Jeannie - Desert Jungle 46
Baker, Stephen - That Behaviour Book:
The Simple Truth About Teaching Children 71
Balen, Katya & Smith, Sydney - The Light in Everything 47
Barnett, Mac - John’s Turn 40
Barnham, Kay & Badari, Marcelo - What’s a Force?:
A Snow-Day Adventure! 41
Beer, Julie - Animal FACTopia! Follow the Trail of
400 Beastly Facts 56
Bell, Alex - The Train of Dark Wonders 46
Bennett, M. A - The Mona Lisa Mystery 46
Bestard, Aina - How Our Solar System Began:
The Planets, Their Moons and Beyond 56
Blunt, Fred - Unicorn NOT Wanted 40
Boakye, Jeffrey - Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer 62
Boulley, Angeline - Warrior Girl Unearthed 62
Bourne, Holly - You Could Be So Pretty 68
Bradman, Tony - Operation Banana 46
Brahmachari, Sita & Ray, Jane - Corey’s Rock 47
Brown, Ian - Albert and the Pond 40
Brunellière, Lucie - My Big Book of Nature
Sounds 40
Busch, Bradley and Edward Watson -
Teaching & Learning Illuminated:
The Big Ideas, Illustrated 71
Bushby, Aisha - Suitcase S(witch) 46
C
Caldecott, Elen - The Blackthorn Branch 47
Caldwell, Stella - The Magnificent Book of Treasures.
Ancient Rome 56
Carter, Aimée - Royal Blood 62
Castaldo, Nancy - The World That Feeds Us 56
Chambers, Roland - The Rage of the Sea Witch 47
Clarke, Jane - A Change in the Air 68
Coelho, Joseph - Courage Out Loud: 25 Poems of Power 41
Coelho, Joseph - Budgie 47
Collins, Tim - Sherlock Bones and the Mystery of the
Vanishing Magician: A Puzzle Quest 48
Conaghan, Brian - Swimming on the Moon 62
Conlon, Dom - Fly, Butterfly, Fly! 56
Cranfield, Robin Mitchell - Wings, Waves & Webs: Patterns
in Nature 41
Crumpton, Nick - Everything You Know About Sharks
Is Wrong! 57
Cunliffe, Philip, Ramsey, Peter & Jones, Lee - Taking Control 69
D
Davis, Ben - Lenny Lemmon and the
Invincible Rat 48
Dawnay, Gabby - Round and Round Goes Mother Nature 57
Deary, Terry - The Worst in the World 57
Demonti, Ilaria - Sheepology: The Ultimate Encyclopedia 57
Devolle, John - Germs 41
Donaldson, Julia - The Bowerbird 42
Dooley, Maura - Five Fifty-Five 68
E
Ellis, Deborah - One More Mountain 48
Evans, Maz - Oh Maya Gods! 48
Extence, Gavin - Finding Phoebe 62
F
Farook, Nizrana - The Boy Who Saved a Bear 48
Feinberg, Walter - Education for Democracy 69
Fong, Adriena - Ning and the Night Spirits 42
Fox, Matthew - The Lovely Dark 48
Fraser, Lu - Mavis the Bravest 42
Fried, Hedi, translated by Alice E. Olsson - Questions I Am
Asked About the Holocaust 57
G
Gold, Hannah - The Lost Whale 50
Goldsmith, Mike - The Shocking Truth About Energy 57
Gooding, Louise - The Memory Book 42
Govett, Sarah - The Territory: The Complete Trilogy 68
Greener, Rachel - Growing Up 58
Green, Simon - Finn Jones Was Here 50
Gregg, Stacey - In or Out: A Tale of Cat Versus Dog 42
Griffey, Harriet - Earthquakes and Other Natural Disasters 41
Grulke, Wolfgang - She Sold Seashells ... and Dragons:
The Curious Mary Anning. Re-Imagined 58
H
Hagger-Holt, Sarah - Just Like Everyone Else 63
Hampton, Andrew - Working With Boys Creating Cultures of
Mutual Respect in Schools 71
Hardinge, Frances - Fly By Night 47
Harford, Tim - The Truth Detective: How to Make Sense of a
World That Doesn’t Add Up 66
Hargrave, Kiran Millwood - A Secret of Birds and Bones 47
Hargrave, Kiran Millwood - Leila and the Blue Fox 50
Harman, Alice - Mona Lisa and the Others 58
Harmer, Joyce - How Far We’ve Come 63
Harrold, A.F. & Pinfold, Levi - The Worlds We
Leave Behind 47
Hayes, Larry - How to Be a Kid Boss 58
Hillyard, Kim - Flora and Nora Hunt for Treasure:
A Story About the Power of Friendship 42
Hodson, Matthew - Forwards Always 50
Hollis, Matthew - Earth House 68
Howard, Jules - The Who, What, Why of Zoology:
The Incredible Science of the Animal Kingdom 58
Howell, Izzi and Skaltsas, Christos - Forces and Magnets:
Discover the Science All Around You 41
Huxley-Jones, Lizzie - Vivi Conway and the
Sword of Legend 50
I
Ireland, Jenny - The First Move 63
J
James, Tim - Brain Detective 58
Jassat, Nadine - The Stories Grandma Forgot
(And How I Found Them) 50
Jennings, Paul - The Lorikeet Tree 64
Jess Senior - Johnson, Kris - Ghost River 69
Johnson, Marcus - #TECHNOLOGY: From the Wheel to the
Metaverse, The Story of Technology and How Things Work 59
Joof, Emily - I Will Swim Next Time 43
K
Kanai, Chisaki - My Dear, Curse-Casting Vampiress 63
Kane, Patrick - Human 2.0 59
Kassis, Reem - We Are Palestinian: A Celebration of Culture and
Tradition 66
Kawaguchi, Yuki - The Hunters Guild: Red Hood, Vol. 1 63
Kazi, Natasha Khan - Moon’s Ramadan 43
Keane, John - The Shortest History of Democracy 69
Kennard, Matt & Provost, Claire - Silent Coup 69
Kessler, Liz - Code Name Kingfisher 52
Kovalyshena, Inna - Cool History of Ukraine: From Dinosaurs
Till Now 66
Kubo, Tite - Bleach: 1: Strawberry and the Soul Reapers 63
L
Landy, Derek - Hell Breaks Loose 64
Lawrence, Sandra - Tales of Wonder 52
Lenard, Patti Tamara - Democracy and Exclusion 69
Lerwill,Ben - Wild Family 59
lockhart, e - family of liars 64
Long, David - What It Was Like to Be a Viking 59
Longman, Finn - The Hummingbird Killer 69
Lupo, Kesia - Let’s Play Murder 64
Lynas, Em - The Goat and the Stoat and the Boat 43
M
Martin, Claudia - Earthquakes and Volcanoes 41
Martynoga, Ben - The Cell, The Gene 59
Mattock, Peter - Conceptual Maths: Teaching ‘About’
(Rather Than ‘How To Do’) Mathematics In Schools 71
Matula, Christina - The Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly-Mei 64
McCombie, Karen - The Boy Who Stole the Pharaoh’s Lunch 52
McGuinness, Christine - Amazing Me, Amazing You 43
McKay, Hilary - Jodie 52
McLaren, Marguerite - When I’m Gone 43
Meddour, Wendy - Cleo the Completely Fine Camel 43
Meza, Erika - To the Other Side 44
Midori, Wataru - Run On Your New Legs. Vol. 1 63
Miura, Kouji - Blue Box: Vol. 1 63
Moir, Taryn - How to Create Autonomous Learners: Teaching
Metacognitive, Self-Regulatory and Study Skills: A
Practitioner’s Guide 71
Morgan, Angie - Small Stanley’s Big List of Scary Stuff 44
Morpurgo, Michael - The Boy Who Would Be King 52
Moses, Brian - Selfies With Komodos: Poems by Brian Moses 52
Mucha, Laura and Ed Smith - Welcome to Our Table:
A Celebration of What Children Eat Everywhere 59
Murray, Julia - A Word a Day: 365 Words gor Curious Minds 47
N
Nabi, Zohra & Cole, Tom Clohosy - The Kingdom Over
the Sea 47
Nadatani, Wataru - Cat + Gamer: vol 1 63
Newland, Sonya - Forces 41
Nicholls, Sally - Yours from the Tower 64
Noakes, Laura - Cosima Unfortunate Steals a Star 53
Norry, E L & Idowu, Lola - Fablehouse 47
Nory, Emma - Fablehouse 53
O
O’Neill, Richard - The Can Caravan 44
Ojiro, Makoto - Insomniacs After School: 1 63
Oliver, Jamie - Billy and the Giant Adventure 53
P
Peridot, Kate - Caring Conservationists Who Are Changing
Our Planet 60
Pick-Goslar, Hannah - My Friend Anne Frank 60
R
Rae, Susie - Young Adventurers: Outdoor Activities in Nature 44
Rae, Tina - Understanding and Supporting Refugee
Children and Young People: A Practical Resource for
Teachers, Parents and Carers of Those Exposed to the
Trauma of War 71
Randall-Jones, Emily - The Witchstone Ghosts 53
Ravishankar, Anushka & Hazarika, Pia Alize - Gravity for
Smartypants 41
Reddick, Yvonne - Burning Season 69
Riley, Peter - Forces and Magnets 41
Robert, Na‘Ima Bint - A Child Like You 44
Robinson, Michelle - 1, 2, 3, Do the Robot 44
Rosenblum, Cameron - The Sharp Edge of Silence 70
S
Sanghera, Sathnam - Stolen History: The Truth About the
British Empire and How It Shaped Us 60
Sellon, Carrie - Pizza Pete and the Perilous Potions 53
Sheppard, Alexandra - Friendship Never Ends 65
Soontornvat, Christina - The Last Mapmaker 53
Sparkhall, Olivia - A Young Person’s Guide to Vocal Health 66
Stevens, Bethan - A Damsel Not in Distress! 45
Stewart, Alexandra - Let’s Fill This World with Kindness:
True Tales of Goodwill in Action 60
Susskind, Jamie - The Digital Republic 69
Sutter, James - Darkhearts 70
T
Tawse, Daniel - All About Romance 70
Thomas, Isabel - The Earth’s Immense Oceans 60
Thompson, Lisa - The Treasure Hunters 54
Tosdevin, Frances - An Artist’s Eyes 45
Translated by Hanna Leliv - A Cool History of Ukraine:
From Dinosaurs Till Now 66
Traoré, Efua - One Chance Dance 54
Turner, Megan - The King of Attolia 65
Twiddy, Robin & Li, Amy - Forces 41
W
Wakeling, Kate - A Dinosaur at the Bus Stop: Poems to
Have Fun With! 45
Walden, Sarah - All the World’s a Stage 66
Walmsley, Naomi and Dan Westall - Forest School Handbook 60
Webster, George and Taylor, Claire - This Is Me! 45
Webster, Scott - Caring Confrontations for Education and
Democracy 69
Westmoreland, Paul - Rudy and the Secret Sleepskater 54
Whaley, Ashley - I Am, You Are: Let’s Talk About Disability,
Individuality and Empowerment 61
Y
Young, Gifted and Black Too: Meet 52 More Black Icons from
Past and Present 61
W
White, Stephen K. & Scudder, Mary F. - The Two Faces of
Democracy 69
Whittam, Kimberly - Quiet Storm 65
Willis, Jeanne - Jacko 54
Wills, S.J. - Bite Risk 65
Wilson, Anna - Grandpa and the Kingfisher 45
Winter, Kate - The Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning
Unearthed the Truth About the Dinosaurs 61
Winter, Tamsin - Bad Influence 65
Woltz, Anna - My Especially Weird Week with Tess 54
Wood, Laura and Louisa May Alcott - Little Women:
A Retelling 54
Woodson, Jacqueline - Brown Girl Dreaming 65
Woolf, Alex - Super Poopers: All About Poo and What It
Can Do! 45

Stories to send imaginations soaring from
ANDERSEN PRESS
Elmer and the Gift
9781839133985 | £6.99
Dadaji’s Paintbrush
9781839131400 | £7.99
Home is Where My Heart Is
9781839131943 | £12.99
Grandad’s Pride
9781839132667 | £12.99
The Kindest Red
9781839133046 | £7.99
Who Makes an Ocean?
9781839131301 | £12.99
The Duck Never Blinks
9781839132469 | £12.99
Ghost Orchid
9781839131387 | £7.99
Time Travel Twins:
The Viking Attack
9781839133336 | £7.99
Jacko
9781839133220 | £7.99
Safiyyah’s War
9781839133138 | £7.99
Until the Road Ends
9781839133169 | £7.99
The Witches of Pendle
9781839133183 | £7.99
Finding Phoebe
9781839133312 | £8.99
Darkhearts
9781839133374 | £8.99
Bitterthorn
9781839132957 | £8.99
@AndersenPress
Artwork from Home is Where My Heart Is by Smriti Halls & Alice Courtley

journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
A library system that
Watch......
gets your message across
Introducing ‘Focus Feed’
In the new Heritage Cirqa online catalogue you can
run a communications feed, front and centre on the
landing page, to engage your users with the messages
you wish to get across.
Use the Focus Feed to post links to resources such as
video tutorials, posters for events, information literacy
programmes, pdfs, podcasts, health and wellbeing
sites and anything else you can think of, to engage
your users with the library and other things going on
around them.
The feed can be prioritised to keep certain messages
near the top and a time window allows them to expire
from the list, when their usefulness has passed.
All this and a stunning new search interface, make
Heritage Cirqa a great choice for you and your school
library in 2023.
cirqa.co.uk