TSL Post-Conference Special 2026 Digital

TSL

The School Librarian

The Journal of the School Library Association

Post-Conference Special 2026

Jacqueline Wilson

“I want to show what it’s actually

like to be a child”

Patrice Lawrence

An audience with the new Children’s Laureate

Jamie Smart

On the salutary power of silliness

www.sla.org.uk

Proud to support

The National Year

of Reading 2026.

CONTENTS

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4

8

10

12

14

16

18

24

26

30

40

42

Welcome

Victoria Dilly

Voice of a generation:

Jacqueline Wilson

Jenny Mark-Bell

An audience with the new

Children’s Laureate

Jenny Mark-Bell

The world according to

Jamie Smart

Saira Aspinall

Northern Soul

with Iqbal Hussain

Meet the sponsor

Poetry for dinner

with Michael Rosen

Reflections from our delegates

Where the light gets in:

Matt Goodfellow

Jenny Mark-Bell

Buzzing about books: A look

inside our exhibition hall

Workshops

Exhibitor directory

My life in books:

Sophie Henderson

seenicksphotography

16

42

TSL

The School Librarian

The Journal of the School Library Association

Post-Conference Special 2026

4

12

26

The School Librarian is published by:

The School Library Association

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Website: www.sla.org.uk

Email: info@sla.org.uk

Edited by Jenny Mark-Bell

All conference imagery by Harriet Buckingham

of Harriet Buckingham Photography

www.buckinghamphotography.co.uk;

07717 740 072

Production/Design by Jo Lewis

Advertising: Bourne Media

Copyright © 2026 School Library

Association. All rights reserved.

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TSL POST-CONFERENCE SPECIAL 2026 1

Welcome

Just as the impact of a book stays with you

long after you’ve turned the final page, we

continue to feel the positive reverberations of

a successful Annual Conference.

The days passed by in such a whirl of activity and

excitement that it is only now, writing several

weeks after the event, that I feel able to fully

reflect on it all.

Over two days at the University of Winchester, we

heard inspiring ideas, challenged assumptions

and, most importantly, we saw what is possible

when passion, purpose and expertise come

together. This is what Changing Narratives looks

like in action – it’s something school librarians,

teachers and educators do in their school

communities every single day.

When we decided on the theme of Changing

Narratives, I don’t think any of us imagined just

how much narratives would change across the

education landscape. We are now halfway through

a Government-backed National Year of Reading;

there are significant impending curriculum

changes on the horizon; and funding was

announced in support of libraries in primary and

secondary schools.

As we look to the SLA’s 90th anniversary in 2027, we

are determined to build on the successes of 2026

and ensure that school libraries remain firmly on the

Government’s agenda. In a National Year of Reading,

never has this message been more important as

we look to build legacy and sustainable support for

reading. We believe school libraries are the answer.

This event would not have been possible without

our generous supporters, including our headline

sponsor, Accessit, and our publisher sponsor

Puffin – but most of all, I want to thank you, the

people empowering pupils to change their narrative

every day. During his onstage event, Iqbal Hussain

declared that he wouldn’t be a writer if he hadn’t

had a good school library. Who knows how many

storytellers are in your schools right now?

As we develop our story, we are excited to write the

next chapter with you, working towards a future when

every child and young person has access to a good

school library – what Jacqueline Wilson called in her

keynote address: “The warm heart of the school”.

Planning for the 2027 Annual Conference has

already begun, and we hope to see you all there.

Until then, do enjoy reading some of the highlights

from this year’s event.

Victoria Dilly has worked

in education for 20

years, initially as a school

librarian herself and

then leading national

education programmes

for organisations such as

National Literacy Trust,

Royal Horticultural Society

and Young Enterprise. She

is excited to be advocating

for school libraries, and to

expand the reach of the SLA

so that more schools around

the country can enjoy the

benefits of vibrant, wellresourced

and well-used

school libraries, helping

children and young people

to fulfil their potential.


Feature

Voice of a generation

Dame Jacqueline Wilson, who delivered the conference’s closing

keynote speech, is widely regarded as a legend of children’s

literature. She reveals how one of her most enduring characters

was born, and what she regards as her unique selling point

Words: Jenny Mark-Bell

A

t the age of 80, Dame Jacqueline

Wilson still writes every day.

“Sometimes, friends ask me: ‘Why

on earth are you carrying on?

You've made it, you've got a nice

house. Why don't you put your

feet up?’ But writing is so much part of my life, I’d do

it even if I wasn’t being published,” she says.

Since she started publishing books in the 1970s,

Jacqueline has brought to life a cast of brilliantly

sparky characters – mostly girls – who are so vividly

written and memorable that they seem to throng

around her as she speaks.

A generation of children followed Tracy Beaker’s

triumphs and travails – in the books, first published

in 1991, then the CBBC series – and that became

her breakthrough. Rapidly, Jacqueline built a

reputation for writing books that tackled serious

issues with wit and warmth. She was Children’s

Laureate in 2005 and became a Dame in 2008, has

written more than 100 books and sold more than

40m. Little wonder that the word most conference

delegates use to describe her is “legend.”

She started storytelling early, being an only child

who was often left to her own devices during the

school holidays, and wrote her first book aged

nine. “I played endless imaginary games or cut

out paper dolls and invented stories for them.

Writing books is just a grown-up way of doing

that,” she says.

“I always wanted to write from a child’s perspective

and show what it’s actually like to be a child.

“When I started reading books, way back in the

1950s, they nearly all featured middle-class families

living in a nice house with a mummy and a daddy

who never argued, and certainly never split up,”

she says. “I was brought up on a council estate by

parents who rowed all the time. And although I

loved reading and read very widely, I often thought

there were no books that reflected my experience of

being a child.

“Luckily for me, times were changing. In America

in particular, there was a trend for more realistic

novels, sometimes written in the first person, which

was the way I wanted to write.”

4 TSL POST-CONFERENCE SPECIAL 2026

Voice of a generation


It is so vital to have books in school and to have somebody who

can cleverly assess a child and suggest the right book for them

Growing up in Surrey, she attended one of the first

comprehensive schools, where she – a non-sporty

girl in a sports-oriented school – would take refuge in

the library at lunchtimes. One day, one of the English

teachers saw her browsing and recommended I

Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. “That introduced

me to the idea of writing a children’s novel in diary

form, and how to do it,” she says.

Tracy Beaker, who remains one of her most

enduring creations, was born from a newspaper

advert for prospective foster parents. “They actually

printed photographs of the children, which I found

fascinating,” says Jacqueline. “The accompanying

descriptions included information such as whether

a child found it hard to make friends or had learning

difficulties. That might have been fine for little kids

who wouldn't know what was going on, but if you

were a streetwise child of about ten, like Tracy, it must

have been agony to see yourself portrayed like that.”

Tracy struck such a chord with readers that even

now, 35 years after her first appearance, Primark

is stocking Tracy Beaker pyjamas. It’s of a piece

with the current wave of 1990s nostalgia, certainly,

but indicative too of the books’ incredible legacy –

shining a light on care-experienced children and

inspiring an uptick in foster carers.

For Jacqueline herself, the wider public renown

ushered in a very busy period. “I spent many years

visiting schools all over the UK and saw for myself

the role school librarians play,” she says. “They are not

just there for their primary purpose of encouraging

children to enjoy reading – librarians are so good at

being kind to the kids that seek refuge in libraries.

The library is a place of sanctuary and it’s as the warm

heart of a school that a library matters most.

“I probably wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for all

those school library visits,” she continues. “I think

it's great now that there is more recognition of the

importance of libraries in schools. I live in a village

surrounded by other little villages, and nearly all

the public libraries have been closed down. That’s

why it is so vital to have books in school and to

have somebody who can cleverly assess a child and

suggest the right book for them.”

Recently, she visited a school near where she lives

and found a little boy reading The Story of Tracy

Beaker. “I went up to him and said: ‘Oh, you're

reading Tracy.’ He said he was going to take it

home, so I asked if his mum would read it to him.

He said: ‘No, my mum can’t read so I will read it to

her.’ That’s what libraries are all about.”

While she only visits school libraries occasionally

these days, she remembers them as a source of

inspiration and joy. “I once met one girl who was

Although I loved reading and read

very widely, I often thought there

were no books that reflected my

experience of being a child


Voice of a Generation

Two little boys in the same

residential care home wrote to me

saying they both wanted to marry

Tracy Beaker. They wanted me to

choose between them

wearing glasses with all the colours of the rainbow,

and that tiny detail gave me the idea for Bad Girls,

where each chapter is named after a different

colour of the rainbow. Another time I was doing a

signing session and two little girls came up hand in

hand. They said in unison: “We are best friends.” I

asked them their names, and they were Alice and

Gemma, so I used those names in my book, Best

Friends. I often wonder if they ever read it.

“After Tracy was on the telly, two little boys in the

same residential care home wrote to me and said

they wanted to marry Tracy, and I had to choose

between them.”

Readers got to revisit Tracy’s world through the

eyes of her daughter, Jess, in the 2018 book My

Mum, Tracy Beaker – later to be followed by We

Are the Beaker Girls. Jacqueline has revisited

other characters too, for adult novels including

Picture Imperfect, which features Dolphin from

The Illustrated Mum – her own favourite character.

“Now I have a whole new adult audience who might

have liked my books a lot when they were young. I

think revisiting my characters is my unique selling

point among my fellow authors,” she says.

She is optimistic about the future of children’s

literature – “From what I am seeing, children are

still interested in reading” – and marvels at the

choice available to today’s young readers. “Katherine

Rundell's books tick every box – they're not too

difficult to read, they're exciting and they seem to

appeal to boys as well as girls. She is passionate about

reading and if you could knit the absolute perfect

person [to advocate for children’s books], she’s it.

“I also think Alice Oseman is doing a great, great job

in attracting young people who wouldn’t necessarily

look at books otherwise. Her characters are so lovely,

and I think, for anybody wondering if they’re gay or

not, the Heartstopper series is perfect.”

Endearingly, Jacqueline mentions meeting both the

younger writers, and her nerves on approaching

them. “I’m sure she didn’t know who I was,” she

says of Alice Oseman, self-deprecatingly. But the

crowds at her conference book signings speak for

themselves. She is, as many librarians tell her over

the course of the weekend, a legend.


Feature

An audience with the

new Children’s Laureate

Award-winning author Patrice Lawrence gave a keynote

address at the conference – and just weeks later, she was

named Children’s Laureate for 2026-2028. Her words

gave an insight into the themes that will define her tenure


© Billie Charity and Hay Festival

When Patrice Lawrence took the

stage at the 2026 conference,

no one in the audience knew

that, just weeks later, she

would be named Children’s

Laureate for 2026-2028.

But with hindsight, she was already setting out

her stall, revealing the themes that would later be

announced as the focus of her laureateship. Her

keynote address powerfully set out the need for

representation and inclusivity in children’s books,

highlighting the lack of stories available to her as a

young reader that reflected her own experiences.

“I have always loved questions, and my school

library had the books that could give me some of

the answers,” she said.

“But in spite of that, in spite of loving books and

loving reading, I never thought that somebody like

me could ever be an author.”

Patrice, who worked for 20 years in the not-forprofit

sector – for organisations championing social

justice – has stated her intention as Children’s

Laureate to promote reading as a way to “connect

us and make us feel like we belong.” In her

conference keynote address, she told the audience:

“None of the books that I read when I was growing

up had families even vaguely like mine.”

Patrice’s mother came from Trinidad to Brighton

to train as a nurse. She became pregnant during

a relationship with a student nurse. After he left,

baby Patrice was privately fostered by a white

working-class family until she was four years old,

while her mother completed her training. Later,

her mum married an Italian, and they became

a multi-ethnic, working-class family living in an

affluent Sussex town.

“What we all had in common,” said Patrice, “was

a love of books. Even now, my mum is always

surrounded by books. Go to her house, open a

cupboard to put your shoes in, and a book will

land on your head. My foster mum taught and

encouraged me to read, and my dad was a massive

reader – he always wanted me to read Steppenwolf

and even now, so many years later, it’s still sitting on

my shelf unread.”

But despite being surrounded by stories from an

early age: “I thought that given that I was neither

white nor dead, I probably couldn’t be a writer.”

Now, she is the award-winning author of titles

encompassing everything from picture books

to Young Adult. She is perhaps best known for

Orangeboy, winner of The Bookseller’s YA Book Prize.

She stated the need for the book-loving community

to acknowledge that stories can do damage.

“The books that I grew up with were steeped in

imperialism, colonialism and gender stereotypes.

One of the books that I had growing up was Enid


Children’s Laureate

We know how books give humanity

to people whose humanity is taken

away. Books broadcast untold

stories and allow us to see things

from other perspectives

Blyton’s The Little Black Doll. Basically, it’s about

an ugly black doll whose owner only grew to love it

when it got caught in the rain and became white. As

a child, that reinforced the idea for me that I did not

belong – and that I did not deserve to belong.

“When I think about representation, one of the

things I always think about is about how we as

humans are prone to tribalism and hierarchies. We

think about skin colour, we think about worship,

we think about presenting gender, we think about

how our brains are wired, we think about how we

communicate. We think about the way it should be

and how other people are.

“I have had to challenge myself because I have

a lot of that internal bigotry in myself as well,

so for me – writing books has been part of that

learning process.”

She urged librarians to ask children how books

make them feel, to acknowledge that books reflect

society’s values. They have the power to challenge

them or reinforce them – even simply by omission.

“I only realised I could write Black characters when

I read Pig-Heart Boy by Malorie Blackman in my

30s,” she said.

As a writer, Patrice tackles big subjects: racism;

homelessness; imprisonment. But she always does

it with hope, wisdom and compassion – all qualities

she will bring to the laureateship.

“We all know how important and how powerful

books can be,” she said. “We know how books give

humanity to people whose humanity is taken away.

Books broadcast untold stories and allow us to see

things from other perspectives.”


Feature

The world according to Smart

Jamie Smart, the superstar creator of Bunny vs Monkey, was one

of the weekend’s highlights. He told us about his formative reading

experiences – and which of his zany characters is most like him

Words: Saira Aspinall

If you’ve ever read one of Jamie

Smart’s books – featuring the madcap

adventures of Bunny and Monkey, or

the maniacal cat, Looshkin – you might

be forgiven for thinking that spending

a day in his company would consist of

non-stop mayhem and fart jokes. But after spending

time with Jamie, both during and in preparation for

his Extravaganza event at this year’s conference, I

can attest to the opposite being true.

He proved to be a reflective, self-effacing man who

confessed to the audience that he identified most

strongly with the quieter characters in his work,

such as Bunny and Bear – those who want only

peace, but find themselves surrounded by chaos.

Whilst Jamie cares very much about getting

children reading – and making sure they have

a good time doing it – he is not an author who

believes he has all the answers. In fact, he doesn’t

seem totally comfortable describing himself as an

author at all – identifying firmly as a comic creator,

with a deep and enduring love for the medium.

What came out of our onstage conversation was

a deep understanding of how those strongest and

most abiding feelings about books, magazines,

comics, and reading are formed at a young age.

Jamie talked of his early love for Garfield and Calvin

and Hobbes and spoke movingly, but matter-offactly,

about how his dad used to take him to the

newsagent every Saturday, where they would buy

a selection of comics. “I read them until they fell

apart. This is sacrilege in a room full of librarians,

but I like books best when they are battered,

because it means they have been well loved,” he

said. That voracious appetite for comics is what

gifted us the work of Jamie Smart today.

Such ready availability of comics has fallen by

the wayside since the 1980s, but there is a chink

of light in the form of The Phoenix, where Jamie

Smart’s comics for David Fickling Books originate,

and which has been publishing once a week for

over 14 years. This weekly drop allows children

the thrill of discovery and a sense of anticipation

– something which is missing from much of our

media consumption today.

Our conversation touched on comics as one of

the strongest potential antidotes to children’s

increasing reliance on screens and digital content

for entertainment. In some ways, comics and

graphic novels offer the same immediate dopamine

hit that adults experience when scrolling on our

phones – and which we know is shaping our

children, whether we like it or not. Comics and

graphic novels are accessible. They can be silly.

You can skip, move on, turn back, and access a new

story, character, or idea incredibly quickly, at the

turn of a page. This accessibility, coupled with their

usually light-hearted or tongue-in-cheek content,

makes comics a strong alternative both to longer

texts and books and to digital content.


The world according to Smart

Speaking about creating his comics, Jamie said:

“When I’m writing, it feels almost as if I’m watching

a cartoon show unfolding in front of me.” I

recognise this experience in my own children, who

have fallen more deeply in love with reading as a

social, joyful activity through their own discovery

of Bunny vs Monkey.

Jamie treated us to a draw-along, where the whole

auditorium learned to depict Bunny and Monkey –

a skill that I’m sure many of us have taken home or

back to school to impress the children and young

people in our lives. Whilst it was not quite as easy

as Jamie made it look, he shared his passion with

infectious enthusiasm.

And this was really the heart of our Extravaganza

with Jamie Smart. He would be the first to admit

that fart jokes are a mainstay of his work, but the

power of his comics to engage young readers is no

laughing matter.

Get involved

Our Extravaganza event with Jamie Smart

was made particularly special by the

questions from young readers. It was our

absolute pleasure to work alongside Verity

Robinson from Mangotsfield C of E

Primary School and Victoria Edwards

from Alleyns, to give their pupils an

opportunity to put questions to Jamie.

This is part of our wider intention to

embed pupil voice into all of the School

Library Association’s activity, and we

are particularly keen to include pupil

questions for authors – and hopefully a

pupil review section – in future issues

of TSL. Please get in touch at tsl@sla.org.uk

if your school would like to be notified

about these opportunities.


Feature

Northern soul

The Night I Borrowed Time, Iqbal

Hussain’s debut children’s novel,

is the first title published under

Puffin’s new Middle Grade

fiction imprint Puffin Press.

Inspired by his own Pakistani

heritage, Iqbal explores family dynamics and the

history of Partition within a magical, fast-paced

story following Zubair, a seventh son of a seventh

son who travels back in time using an amulet his

granny gives him when she arrives from Pakistan.

His quest? To save his parents’ marriage.

Iqbal joined SLA CEO Victoria Dilly in

conversation at the conference, giving an insight

into the book, as well as his thoughts on reading,

school libraries and representation. Here is an

edited excerpt of their conversation.

You have previously written for adults, as well

as being a composer and musician. How has

your journey as a children’s writer differed

from previous experiences?

Books have always been a huge part of my life.

As a child, I loved reading and I had a fantastic

school librarian. I come from a lower workingclass,

Pakistani background in Blackburn,

Lancashire, where books were seen as a luxury.

My parents can’t speak English and they were not

readers, so I can’t stress enough how important

it was to have a teacher at school reading to you

every day. That’s where my love of books came

from and without the school library there is no

way I could have become a writer.

The Night I Borrowed Time is the first title to be

published under the new Puffin Press imprint, and

I can’t tell you how it feels to see that little bird

icon on my book. That little ten-year-old Pakistani

boy, whose parents didn’t read and whose friends

didn’t read, could never have imagined sharing a

publisher with some of the books I treasured as a

child. It was a very moving moment.

Even as a child, I knew that words have power. I

wasn’t seeing stories of families set in a Pakistani

household, or working-class families. As a child,

the only working-class book available to us was The

Family from One End Street (Eve Garnett). There

were lots of books by authors of Indian heritage and

as brilliant as those books are, they didn’t reflect my

experience as a Pakistani child. I wanted my book

to reflect my life, and show that while childhood is

often fun and exciting, there’s also a sadness and

pathos that runs through it.

Zubair, the central character in The Night I

Borrowed Time has the unique ability to travel

back to the past to try to change the future.

How did the time-slip mechanism help you

explore the themes in the story?

I always knew that the book had to incorporate two

themes: family dynamics – specifically a troubled

marriage – and time travel. I have always loved the

idea of time travel – the mathematics and logic of

it, as well as how it affects the future. In Muslim

culture, you have this very strong concept of fate,

or Qadar. With time travel, there is this idea that

things are as they are meant to be, no matter how


Northern soul

much you want to change them. It enabled me to go

back to being a child and think about all these ‘what

if’ situations. Zubair’s dad is a shadow of his former

self after being in a car accident, and his mum is

always tired and angry, so Zubair decides to use

time travel to fix things between them.

Zubair’s first excursions in time travel are quite

small. He goes back a few hours, weeks, or

months. Eventually, he goes back to 1947, the

time of Partition.

In many South Asian households, Partition still

has ripples. In my house it wasn’t really spoken of

and even now if I talk to my mum about it she very

quickly deflects. Her mum’s generation would have

experienced it. A million people died and 15 million

were displaced. These are really big, scary topics, so

the question when you’re writing a Middle Grade

book is, how do you convey the horror without

horrifying the reader?

You have to be careful not to villainise either India

or Pakistan – because the real villain, I’m afraid, is

Britain. Given the number of South Asian pupils

there must be in schools, I was taken aback to

learn that Partition isn’t a compulsory part of

the curriculum. I’ve had some lovely emails from

children and teachers saying they were inspired

by reading about Partition and have gone on to do

projects at school.

You paint such a powerful picture of a loving

family, even with all the challenges they face.

What was your inspiration for Zubair’s family

and how did you bring the characters to life?

I am the youngest of six, so I’m not a sextuplet

like Zubair’s brothers but I did grow up in a noisy,

rambunctious family. When you are younger, you

don’t always appreciate that. I had a bedroom next

to my three sisters and they drove me mad. But

as they moved out one by one, I really missed the

noise. There was something really sad about the

house growing quieter and quieter, so I wanted to

reflect some of that sadness.

I only met my own gran once. When you are a

family with six children, and your dad works

in the cotton mills – which was still a thing

back then in Lancashire – plane tickets are

phenomenally expensive. As a family we only

went back once. I only had very vague memories,

so one of the reasons I wanted to have this

inter-generational relationship between 11-yearold

Zubair and his gran, was to reclaim the

relationship I didn’t get to have – which is, in

itself, a form of time travel, because it’s something

I couldn’t experience in reality.

She is very prickly and smart-alecky, yet she

also has such heart. At the beginning, she thinks

Zubair is entitled and rude. Throughout the

course of the narrative, he realises how much he

needs his gran and how much he loves her, while

she revises her opinion of him too. Their push

and pull is the crux of the book.

You’ve been visiting schools since The Night

I Borrowed Time. How have young readers

responded to you and the story?

No one prepares you for a school visit. As a writer,

you lead a generally solitary life and then suddenly

there you are with 200-300 kids all looking up

at you. It’s quite scary! They are so full of energy

and enthusiasm and they have no filter. One kid

suggested that I have ripped off Back to the Future!

It’s very energising being around children, and I

have never once left a school without a big smile on

my face. I feel very honoured and privileged to be

allowed to do it.

The Night I Borrowed

Time is published by

Puffin Press, RRP £8.99.

A sequel, The Day I

Stole the Future, will

be published in 2027.


Feature

Meet the sponsor

Thousands of schools worldwide use Accessit Library to create

a space where curiosity thrives and learning never stops, so we

were very proud to welcome them as headline sponsor of our

2026 Annual Conference. Here, we introduce the team

The change-maker

Duncan Wright, sales representative

and former School Library Association

Secondary School Librarian of the Year

My gran was a librarian and from a young age, my

brother and I would go and hang out in the library

with her after school. It was a very small branch

library, but it meant I got dibs on anything that was

coming in. My books were never marked overdue!

I’ve been to the conference as a delegate – I was

a school librarian for 20 years – and as part of

the organising committee when I was on the SLA

board. Now I’m attending as an exhibitor. There are

people I have known since some of my very first

SLA conferences who I’m still in touch with today.

I've always been very passionate about school

libraries – I spoke at the Scottish Parliament about

making school libraries statutory – and I feel I can

still contribute to advocacy for school libraries from

the position I’m in now.

The marketing man

AJ Johnston, marketing manager

My primary school library was just a Portakabin

and I had a notebook to track my reading. As

high school neared, Harry Potter and Alex Rider

drew me in and turned me into a reader. I actually

just finished the Alex Rider series last year, but in

audiobook form – which is how I tend to enjoy

books these days while cooking for the family.

I’m based in New Zealand, and it was so

awesome to meet the people I’ve spent many

hours with on video calls late at night. The vibe

at the conference was so positive, and all the

exhibitors were great to get around and talk to as

well, which made it very special.

When I was thinking about joining Accessit I

thought: “I wish I had this when I was at school” and

that sealed the deal for me. I love getting out and

talking to our customers and librarians in general.

Every time I do, I learn something new and get

fizzed up by how passionate they are.

The relationship-builder

Jen Hughes, customer success manager,

UK office

I started in public libraries a long time ago, working

my way up from being a day-to-day library assistant

to senior library assistant and then group manager,

looking after eight libraries. I then moved away

from public libraries to a lovely little school in a

deprived area just outside of Manchester.

I remember having my training with Accessit

and thinking: “I’d love to work for this company.”

Every interaction I’d had with staff was so nice,

so when the opportunity presented itself, I took

it with both hands.

We work on informed choice. We’ll tell you about

the system and if it sounds right for you, we’ll help

you move over. If it’s not, we’ll respect that. We don’t

want unhappy customers.

That ethos follows on quite naturally from what

I did in libraries, which was helping people

find things that worked for them. We’re all from

school library backgrounds, so everybody in the

team gets it.

From my perspective, and what I pick up from

customers, we’re not just a company that takes

money from people. We’re personally invested

in their libraries.

The training expert

Bridget Hayes, customer service manager for

the UK, Europe and Middle East

What I love about being at Accessit is working

with a group of librarians. You’re no longer the sole

librarian in the school. I love the camaraderie of the

team and the relationships we have with customers

– many of whom we know by name, and who are

friends rather than customers.

My mother was a librarian and I remember one

day – probably a wet Sunday afternoon – she

taught me to create my own Brown Issue System

for my Paddington books. I cut up a brown


Meet the sponsor

envelope and made some pockets and labels, and

obviously that kept me busy for a while. Clearly,

I’ve always loved reading and libraries.

For me, the conference is all about making

connections with customers and other providers

– someone like Renaissance or ePlatform or

OverDrive, who we work with remotely. It’s

lovely to meet those people in person and have a

conversation over a cup of coffee with them.

To be surrounded by other

people who love books so

much confirmed for me that

this is where I should be

The reading champion

Debs Alexander-Dawson, sales consultant

During my time in education, I set up many libraries,

which was a real passion. I redesigned curriculums

for schools, including much greater diversity. When

I left teaching, I wanted to work for a company that

embodied the passion and drive I have for literacy,

and Accessit has such a high profile with librarians

and literacy in general. I’m still championing the role

of reading, which for me is the gateway to education. It

takes you to other places and allows you to experience

something you haven’t seen with your own eyes.

Last year’s conference was for me that defining

moment when you realise you have found your

people. To be surrounded by other people who love

books so much that it is their job, confirmed for me

that this is where I should be.

Jen Hughes,

Duncan Wright,

AJ Johnston and

Bridget Hayes


Feature

Emma Needs, Romsey Academy

Dinner was served in the University of Winchester’s beautiful Shakespeare Room

Poetry for

dinner

Friday night’s conference dinner was

a much-anticipated highlight of

the weekend for many delegates,

generously sponsored by Renaissance

– a global leader in educational

technology, best known to many school

staff for the Accelerated Reader programme. The

Magic Faraway Tree-themed drinks reception, hosted

by Hachette, was an opportunity to network, sample

some spoils from the Land of Sweets, and strike a pose

among Enid Blyton’s beloved characters.

Rebecca Rouillard –

The Kingston Academy

Michael Rosen

Michael Rosen was the guest of honour and after

a delicious meal, he took to the podium for a

whistlestop tour of some of his best-loved poems.

His moving and thoughtful speech ended in

hilarity, as he described how it felt to become an

international meme.

Tamsin Moore of Renaissance Learning – which this year celebrates 40 years

of Accelerated Reader

SLA trustees Ed Ripley, Lyndsey Pollard and Sue Bastone with CEO Victoria Dilly


Poetry for dinner

Michael Rosen

Ellie Fowkes – Guernsey

School Library Service

Lucy Chambers, school librarian, SLA Advisory

Panel member

Victoria Dilly and Saira Aspinall of the SLA

Sharan Kaur – Cardinal Wiseman,

Birmingham

Charlie Taylor Smith –

Collegiate School, Bristol

The Accessit team: Jen Hughes, Bridget Hayes, Duncan Wright and AJ Johnston


Feature


Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, for this year we

were able to offer six delegates free conference tickets.

Here, some of them share their highlights of the weekend

Oksana Kramar, librarian and EAL

lead, St Peter’s School, Huntingdon

As a school librarian, the chance to spend a

weekend immersed in conversations about reading,

learning and wellbeing felt incredibly special.

I was eager to explore new ideas, hear about current

research and gather practical strategies to bring back

to my own school. Just as importantly, I was looking

forward to connecting with colleagues who share the

same passion for reading and young people.

When the weekend finally arrived, it more

than lived up to expectations. The conference

was ambitious, thought-provoking and full of

conversations that reminded me why school

libraries matter.

Jamie Smart, Gary Northfield and Wren James

brought such energy and humour to their

discussion on the rise of graphic novels that it was

impossible not to feel their enthusiasm. Hearing

them speak so openly about their creative journeys

– and seeing how passionately they champion the

format’s ability to hook even the most reluctant

readers – felt incredibly affirming. With Comics

Laureate Bobby Joseph guiding the conversation,

the hour was lively, insightful and full of ideas I’m

excited to bring back to my library.

Immediately afterwards, Puffin author Iqbal

Hussain joined Victoria Dilly for a moving

conversation about The Night I Borrowed Time. His

reflections on writing, identity and the emotional

heart of his story created one of those rare

moments where the whole room seemed to lean in.

Patrice Lawrence’s session was another highlight

– full of humour, even while she addressed serious

and deeply personal subjects. She talked candidly

about her own journey to becoming a reader,

and how, for a long time, becoming an author felt

unimaginable. Hearing her speak with such warmth

and wit was a powerful reminder of how far a love

of reading can take you – and how important it is

for our students to see their own journeys reflected

in the books they read.

Meeting Dame Jacqueline Wilson was a joy. She

spoke about libraries as safe spaces, where every

Oksana Kramar

child should feel loved and cared for, whatever

they are going through. Her gentleness and

conviction were a beautiful reminder of the quiet

but profound difference a welcoming library can

make in a child’s life.

One of the loveliest moments of the weekend

actually began before I had even set off for

Winchester. Just as I was leaving school, one of my

keenest readers pressed a book into my hands and

said: “Miss, you’re going to love this one.” I had no

idea then that, only days later, I would be hearing its

author speak at the conference.



Meeting Tasneem Abdur-Rashid in person felt

like a moment of perfect symmetry. Listening to

her speak about Odd Girl Out – its themes, its

characters and the experiences that shaped it –

was genuinely moving. Her warmth, authenticity

and powerful storytelling left a deep impression.

It was a reminder to all of us: keep listening to

your students’ recommendations. They lead us

to extraordinary books, important voices and

unforgettable reading experiences.

Both Tasneem Abdur-Rashid and Nicola Garrard

touched something profound in me. Their books

tackle essential themes – identity, belonging,

resilience and the courage it takes to navigate life’s

challenges. It means so much to see their stories

reflected in my students’ lives and conversations.

I returned home with a notebook full of ideas and a

reading list I cannot wait to share with my students.

Odd Girl Out is already at the top – insightful,

heartfelt and beautifully written. I’m hoping to bring

it to our Year 9 Reading Club next autumn, where I

know it will spark meaningful conversations.

Two days in Winchester left me with renewed

purpose and a deeper appreciation for the role

our library plays in our school community. From

empathy to accessibility, from graphic novels

to powerful Middle Grade fiction, the threads of

Changing Narratives ran through every session –

and I cannot wait to start weaving them into our

own library’s story.

My thanks again to Barney Jenkins and the Softlink

team for making this opportunity possible. If you

get the chance to attend next year’s conference, take

it – you will not regret it.

Jenna May Griffiths,

Inscape House School

Attending my first School Library Association

Conference was a transformative professional

experience that surpassed any previous CPD

event or librarian network I have attended. From

the moment I registered, I felt welcomed into a

supportive and enthusiastic community. Long

before the weekend began, fellow librarians were

reaching out to share their excitement, offer

practical advice and make genuine connections.

This warmth and sense of belonging became one

of the defining features of the conference and

perfectly reflected the collaborative spirit of the

school library profession.

Comics Laureate Bobby Joseph's energy was

infectious. His research into comics has prompted

me to explore further how graphic texts can be

embedded within the library provision. Rather than

viewing comics simply as scaffolding tools, his work

reinforced their value as a legitimate literary form

in their own right. Jamie Smart's draw-along session

The media literacy workshop gave me lots of great ideas on how to bring the

topics of tech and AI into the library and reinforced the need to work with

other departments. I loved the panel discussion on graphic novels, and the

infectious energy, humour and enthusiasm of Comics Laureate Bobby Joseph.

Janet Abraham, St Peter’s School

complemented this perfectly. His demonstration

of how quickly children can communicate stories

through comic strips highlighted their potential to

engage reluctant readers and inspire creativity.

Patrice Lawrence is one of my favourite authors,

and I frequently use her books during reading

sessions because of the care and honesty with

which she explores complex issues. Her keynote

speech reinforced the responsibility librarians have

in shaping inclusive collections and highlighted

the power books possess to challenge or reinforce

beliefs and assumptions.

The workshop on censorship was particularly

valuable to my professional practice. Having

previously developed a policy following SLA

training, I found the session offered further

practical guidance and prompted me to revisit and

strengthen aspects of the policy to better safeguard

all members of the school community.

The workshop on accessible reading was equally

enlightening. It introduced me to several platforms

and resources that were previously unfamiliar

to me and provided a valuable opportunity to

exchange ideas and best practice with colleagues

working in different settings.



Meeting Jacqueline Wilson was an experience

I shall never forget. I read The Illustrated Mum

with my girls when my husband and I were in the

process of assuming a Special Guardianship Order

for my niece. The book was not just a resource to

open difficult conversations; it was a vital comfort

and held a space for us all to share our grief for

what once was, our excitement for what might

be and, returning to the opening themes of the

conference, the reassurance that we were not alone.

Dame Jacqueline took the time to speak

thoughtfully with everyone she met, sharing

insights into her books and the impact they'd

had on readers. Her closing speech was a fitting

conclusion to a remarkable conference. I was

particularly moved by her reflections on her

own childhood reading experiences and by her

anecdotes from school visits.

I leave the conference not only inspired, but

equipped with practical ideas, new professional

relationships, and a renewed sense of purpose.

The learning from this weekend will directly

influence the development of library provision at

Inscape House School, helping to ensure that our

young people experience reading as a source of

connection, belonging and opportunity.

Thank you for providing me with this exceptional

opportunity. The conference has strengthened my

practice, expanded my professional network, and

reaffirmed the vital role school librarians play in

supporting young people and their families.

Many thanks to all our sponsored delegates for

sharing their experiences of the conference with

us, and of course to the generous sponsors who

enabled them to attend: Wheelers E-Platform,

Softlink and David Fickling Books.

Mehewish Pusey

Delegates enjoy one of the workshops

Thank you to you and my sponsor for giving me the opportunity to attend

such an amazing event! My favourites were Patrice Lawrence, Iqbal Hussain,

and Tasneem Abdur-Rashid, as their experiences and stories took me back to

my childhood when I craved to read authors from other backgrounds. It was

such a great atmosphere, with so many people to talk to and so many stalls

to visit. It was very friendly and inviting. I took away knowledge of authors

who I had heard for the first time, and whose books I will be buying for the

LRC. The research presented in the workshops was informative and provided

information around current issues, which I will share with colleagues.

Mehewish Pusey, Alderwood School


Feature

Where the light gets in

Poet Matt Goodfellow joined us at the conference for a workshop

exploring how to engage reluctant readers through diverse

narratives. Here, Matt tells us more about his new verse novel,

Six Weeks – featuring the bereaved 12-year-old protagonist Alfie


Itry not to sound too accusatory when I

tell Matt Goodfellow that I was up late

last night sobbing over his latest book.

“It does seem to have connected with

people,” he admits.

Six Weeks – a verse novel – tells the

story of Alfie, 12 years old and unmoored by the

death of his mum. Since then, his already fractious

relationship with his stepfather has broken down

to the extent that Alfie won’t see him or speak his

name – cutting him off from the life they shared

with his mum. Through the titular six weeks of the

long summer holiday, we move forward with Alfie

as his grief evolves and family relationships begin

to grow around it. For all the tragedy, there is light –

and the dawning realisation, which comes to all of

us, that life contains both beauty and pain.

Like much of Matt’s work, it is semi-autobiographical:

“My mum died when I was 20 and I found it so

difficult,” he says. “I had a very fractured family. My

mum was the person that I liked the most, and the

grief of that has changed and moved.”

Alfie lives with his dad Sam, his dad’s partner

Sophie, and baby Alice. Sam is a teacher and a

musician – always singing. At the heart of the novel

is a beautiful paean to “my sunshine girl” which he

wrote for Alfie’s mum, Sal, in happier times – and

which becomes an anthem for Alfie to remember

her by. “That was a long-forgotten poem that I had

written four or five years previously,” says Matt. “I

think maybe that poem was me talking to my mum

without really knowing about it. It just seemed to

come together – it felt like synchronicity.”

A former teacher who worked in Greater

Manchester schools, Matt saw young people

going through their own bereavements. “There

just didn't seem to be an awful lot out there about

grieving as a young person,” he says.

“It's a fascinating journey – life, grief and all that

sort of stuff. It’s an important thing to talk about,

and it's not something that a lot of people feel

comfortable with. Particularly in Western society,

we have this weirdness around death, so we end up

not really telling the truth to young people or even

admitting that life is difficult.

“Six Weeks is about moving forwards – you’ve just

got to keep walking.

‘Keep goin/head down through the hard bits.

Eyes to the horizon when it gets easier’”

Music runs through the story – in the lyrical

rhythm of the verse and in Alfie’s dad’s

freewheeling compositions. When I mention

that the book reminded me of Leonard Cohen’s

beautiful lyrics in Anthem (“There is a crack, a

crack in everything/That’s how the light gets in”),

Matt shows me the words tattooed on his arm.

In fact, music was his gateway to poetry: “I was

really interested when I was a kid in the lyrics

of Tim Burgess from the Charlatans and Ian

Brown's lyrics for the Stone Roses. I loved Bob

Dylan's use of language, Leonard Cohen and Kris

Kristofferson – people who were using words in an

interesting way. It just seemed to be something I

was good at – sometimes I could be talking about

me, sometimes I could pretend to be somebody

different. I would have been a songwriter, if I’d had

any musical talent. But when I was teaching, the

musicality came out again and I started writing.”

This summer, thousands of schoolchildren will

be reading The Final Year, Matt’s award-winning

debut verse novel about growing up and starting

secondary school, to support them through

transition. Six Weeks is another deeply human work

– an empathy machine that makes you feel better

for reading it, even as it makes you sad. It reminds

us too that where there is life, there is hope. The

book ends with these words, spoken through Alfie:

“…there are many songs still to sing/both of shadow

and of light. I know that much.”

Six Weeks, £8.99, is published by Starboard, Hachette

Children's Group


Matt Goodfellow


Feature

Natalie Doherty, Puffin

Samah Chowdry and Molly-May Shepherd, Hachette

Ros Harding, Sora

Buzzing

about books

Our exhibition hall was at the

heart of this year’s conference

– a space to chat with authors

and publishers, find out about

the latest book releases,

and share stories with other

delegates. There was such a buzz around all

the stalls this year, and we’d like to thank all the

exhibitors for making it so special.

Rob Wilding, Rock the Boat

Srionti Maitra and Deborah Ogunnoiki of Bloomsbury

Natasha Finn, DK Children's

Debbie Thomas, Spark! Books


James Richmond, Wheelers ePlatform

Emily Simms and Hannah Prutton, Nosy Crow

Buzzing about books

Duncan Wright, Jen Hughes, AJ Johnston, Bridget Hayes of Accessit

Kate Barton, Tamsin Moore and Katrina Piggott from

Renaissance Learning

Michaela O'Callaghan and Benedetta Giordani, Bounce Books

Iona Richards, Harper Collins

Hayley Stacey and Ted Burrows of Libresoft

Kate Manning, Flying Eye Books

Alana Jeffery and Meredith Adams, Penguin

Donna Merritt and Lorna Brown, Softlink


Kick off

your comic

club here!

Feature

Talking workshop

Alongside keynote speeches and panel discussions, the

conference featured workshops on a variety of themes

including empathy, diverse narratives and building reading

communities. They included contributions from authors such

as Catherine Johnson and Sophie Anderson, school librarians

and sector leaders. Here, SLA school library lead Hannah Clover

gives an overview of two of the workshops.

Supporting SEND and Wellbeing

Many librarians will work extensively with SEND

children within their schools, but there is no

formal recognition of SEND work in relation to

school librarianship. This workshop examined

these areas with experienced speakers – two

librarians, Alison Hallisey and Adele Woolridge,

and Abigail Balfe, an author who has written

fiction and narrative non-fiction drawn from her

own experiences of neurodiversity.

We began by asking our panel what role the school

library played in supporting SEND and wellbeing that

perhaps other spaces can’t. There was a consensus

that the school library was a more relaxed setting than

the rest of the school, which asked relatively little of its

users. Abigal shared insights into how children may

interpret the rules of space without consulting the

librarian, and how this can cause anxiety.

Alison and Adele spoke about how they had

supported SEND children and wellbeing. Among

the many initiatives they had both co-ordinated,

Alison spoke highly of Calibre Audio, who were

exhibiting at the conference. Alison provided

headphones and activities for children so they

could sit and listen whilst colouring or doing

wordsearches. Adele described how an informal

chess club allowed less confident students to form

new connections across different year groups.

Abigail shared some of her own experiences of the

library at school, and spoke about the importance

of authentic neurodiverse representation in

children’s literature. She emphasised how

important it was to have neurodivergent characters

that occupy a range of roles in stories – as parents,

best friends, and villains.

The session concluded with a stimulating discussion

among members sharing their own experiences

and best practices supporting SEND students. The

knowledge and experiences provided by Alison and

Adele, and Abigail’s own personal insights, made for

an interesting and engaging discussion.


Talking workshop

Censorship in the School Library

Censorship is an increasing area of concern for

school and public libraries. The aim of this session

was to share the findings of research into school

libraries’ experiences of censorship and the

experiences of authors whose works have been

censored. We were joined by Dr Alison Hicks and

MA student Zoey Cambley, as well as BAFTAwinning

author Dean Atta, to discuss these topics.

The first half of the session involved Alison and Zoey

sharing their findings of the Open Pages project so

far. In February, school librarians, charity leaders,

publishers and others gathered to participate in

the first meeting of the project. The researchers

used the Theatre of the Oppressed method to

explore different scenarios of book challenges and

bans in school libraries. This creative framework

meant a range of scenarios were explored, but

core themes across each could be identified. In

negative scenarios, librarians were viewed with

mistrust, lacked support from their school, children’s

own wishes were overlooked, and social media

was inflammatory. In more positive scenarios,

constructive communication took place between

librarians, parents, school leaders, and children.

Dean Atta shared his own insights as an author

whose books had been banned or removed from

school shelves. He spoke candidly about the sense of

responsibility to respond to incidents of censorship

and banning, whilst also being aware of managing

one’s own wellbeing, particularly on social media.

The discussion prompted many questions from

our members. The considerations shared were

fascinating and will continue to inform our

programming going forwards.


GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT FROM THE

SCHOOL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION —

TRUSTED EXPERTISE FOR EVERY

SCHOOL LIBRARY.




In the next issue of TSL…

As we look beyond the National Year of Reading,

we’ll be exploring the theme of continuity.

Your essential reading for the autumn term includes:

• Beating bias and analysing perspectives: how to make your

library the school’s centre of critical thinking

• Harnessing AI for the transition from school to higher education

• Interviews with some of your favourite authors and illustrators

• Approximately 180 book reviews for all age groups, including

graphic novels, non-fiction and professional texts

As well as all this, you’ll find opinion pieces, sector news, and

fellow professionals sharing best practice.

Every page is written by experts and includes ideas to design,

build and maintain a vibrant and effective school library.

You’ll find inspiration to help pupils explore their own opinions,

develop critical thinking skills and discover a love of reading

that will last a lifetime.




Exhibitor directory

Gold exhibitors

Accessit Library

A modern library management

system for schools, Accessit gives

students and staff secure, anytime

access to library and curriculum

resources through an intuitive and inclusive interface.

Puffin

Part of Penguin Random House

Children’s, Puffin is the biggest

children’s publisher globally and a

loud, proud voice for the power of

stories to spark imaginations.

Renaissance

We believe the right technology can

help every student reach their full

potential, while giving teachers more

time to do what they do best – teach.

Hachette Children's Book Group

One of the largest children’s

publishers in the UK, with an

outstanding track record in

creating bestselling and awardwinning

books for children and young people.

Gresswell

Supporting you with professional

resources and expert library

design and installation services.

Browns Books

A respected print book, eBook and

multimedia supplier, with over 40

years of experience covering all

educational institutions both in

the UK and internationally.

Bounce Books

Representing an array of children’s

publishers, many of them

independent, both in the UK

and overseas.

David Fickling Books

Publishing worldwide bestselling

books since 1999, with titles

including modern classics such as

Philip Pullman’s The Book of Dust.

FG Library

Fully designed, UK-manufactured

library and reading-space solutions

for schools, creating inspiring,

practical environments that

support learning and literacy.

Flying Eye Books

An award-winning children’s

publisher specialising in

illustrated books from board

books to graphic novels.

Libresoft

Library management systems

tailored for schools. We’re

committed to reinvigorating

school libraries, promoting

reading for pleasure and improving literacy.

Read for Good

A national charity working to help all

children discover a life-changing love

of reading through our Books We

Love newsletter, Brilliant Box of Books,

access to free author events and fabulous

free resources like Track My Read® and Readathon®.

Reading Cloud

A library management system

designed to support literacy,

encourage independent learning,

drive parental engagement and

promote reading for pleasure.

Softlink

Our Orbit system combines library

books and digital resources to

enhance the school library user

experience, support learning and collaboration,

and empower students on their reading adventure.

Silver exhibitors

Penguin Random House

Find out how school librarians can

get involved in a range of exciting

Penguin campaigns that support

children and young people's

reading for pleasure.


Exhibitor directory

DK Children's Books

DK is a global publisher of

internationally bestselling authors

and illustrators across fiction,

non-fiction, adult and children’s

publishing.

Bloomsbury Children's

Books

Shortlisted for Children’s Publisher

of the Year 2018 for both the

Independent Publishing Group

Award and the British Book Awards.

Farshore

Our mission is to make every

child a proud reader through a

broad and diverse portfolio of

books that offers multiple ways

into the joy of reading.

Nosy Crow

A multi-award-winning,

independent publishing company

producing child-focused, carerfriendly

children’s books.

ePlatform

A leading digital library trusted

by over 5,300 schools worldwide.

Students get instant access to eBooks,

audiobooks, phonics and wellbeing titles any time, anywhere.

Rock the Boat

Publishing bold, diverse and

thought-provoking books for

children and young adults.

Macmillan Children's Books

Our collection is designed to

captivate imaginations and

nurture a love of reading across

all genres and ages.

HarperCollins Children's Books

Our mission is to make every child

a proud reader through a diverse

portfolio of books that celebrate

the joy of reading.

Sora

A leading student reading

platform for schools, Sora

provides every student with

digital access to the right books.

Spark! School Book Awards

Our awards aim to inspire children

from EYFS to KS3+ to read and get

buzzed about books.

Badger Learning

A trusted supplier and publisher

of educational books for primary

and secondary schools, catering

to the changing needs of pupils

and teachers.

Bronze exhibitors

Barrington Stoke

Publishing super-readable, dyslexia-friendly fiction to help

every child become a reader.

b small publishing

Award-winning non-fiction and activity books to help all

children discover the joy of learning.

Facet Publishing

The publishing arm of CILIP, Facet publishes books for library,

information and heritage professionals worldwide.

Magic Cat Publishing

An award-winning independent children’s book publisher

owned by women and based in East London.

Mama Makes Books

Publishing board books and fact-filled information picture books,

offering something for every child from newborn to eight years old.

Narnia Libraries

Providing library services to schools and supplying them with

books that meet their curriculum and educational needs.

Peters

The UK’s leading specialist supplier of children’s books and

furniture to schools and libraries.

Usborne

Usborne books are read by children all over the world,

passed down through families and generations.

Quarto

A leading global illustrated book publisher with a mission

to inspire life experiences.

Walker Books

Award-winning publisher making magical new stories for children

of all ages. The home of stories that feel both classic and fresh.


Feature

My life in books

Sophie Anderson was born

in Swansea, and now lives

in the Lake District with her

family. Her writing is most

often inspired by folk and

fairy stories, especially the

Slavic tales her Prussian

grandmother told her when

she was young. Across her

bestselling novels, Sophie

has won the Independent

Bookshop Book of the Year

Award and the Wales Book

of the Year Award, and been

shortlisted for the CILIP

Carnegie Medal twice, the

Waterstones Children's Book

Prize, the Blue Peter Book

Award, the British Book

Awards' Children's Fiction

Book of the Year, the Andersen

Prize, and the Branford Boase

Award. Sophie's books have

been translated into over

twenty-five languages, and

The House with Chicken Legs

has been adapted for stage by

Les Enfants Terribles.


Sophie Anderson, bestselling and award-winning

author of The House With Chicken Legs, reveals

the texts that made the biggest impact on her

What's the first book you

remember reading?

Finn Family Moomintroll

by Tove Jansson is the first

book I remember reading

independently. I loved how dream-like it felt

(the Hobgoblin’s hat! Flying on clouds! The

Hattifatteners!) and I loved how each chapter

felt like its own glorious mini-adventure – full of

imagination, fantastic characters and storylines,

yet with emotions and interpersonal dynamics

that felt authentic and true. I went on to read

the whole Moomins series, and I still regularly

re-read these books. They are a source of endless

comfort and joy.

What book changed your life?

When I was around eight or nine years old, I read

The Color Purple by Alice Walker (I am still not

entirely sure where I got the book from. The local

library is my best guess; I have vague memories

of being drawn to a purple cover, wondering what

the book might be about – was it really about a

colour?). The book opened my eyes to a great many

things that no one in my life had ever spoken about

and even though I found parts of the book deeply

upsetting, I remember feeling grateful and better

prepared for life in knowing these truths.

What book made you a better person?

A Knock at Midnight: Great Sermons of Martin

Luther King is another book that I’m not sure how

it found its way to me at a young age, but I am

very glad it did. I read every sermon in the book

captivated, and I remember copying out sentences

and paragraphs that I felt contained important

information about how to live. Like The Color

Purple, this book contained things that no one had

ever spoken to me about, but which felt vital to

understanding and navigating the world.

I hope everyone finds a book that they

love, that brings them comfort and joy

that changes their life and they feel

makes them a better person

seenicksphotography

What book do you wish everyone would read?

This is the most difficult question, as reading is

such a personal thing. I hope everyone finds a book

that they love, that brings them comfort and joy,

that changes their life and they feel makes them

a better person, and I think that book could be so

many things, and different for every person!

If pushed for an answer here though, I might

suggest The Arrival by Shaun Tan, a wordless

picture book surely worthy of a little of everyone’s

time – perfect for stimulating thought and

discussion, and growing empathy.

Sophie Anderson is the author of recently

published The House with Chicken Legs Runs

Away and A Year of Fairy Tales, publishing in

hardback in September from Usborne.

TSL Post-Conference Special 2026 Digital

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