Katy Donnelly and Alison Palmer

Mostly Book Talk

About the show

A podcast for teachers, librarians, and parents who are passionate about supporting children's and teenagers' reading for pleasure. We dive into the vibrant world of children’s and YA literature, offering expert book recommendations, engaging author interviews, and practical advice on how to nurture a lifelong love of reading. Whether you’re looking to expand your classroom or library collection, discover fresh titles for your students or children, or explore proven strategies for creating reading-rich environments, you will find it here. From picture books to young adult novels, we highlight new releases, hidden gems, and must-read favourites that are sure to grow your 'To Be Read' pile. Tune in for thoughtful conversations and inspiring ideas that make reading irresistible for every young reader. - Perfect for educators, school librarians, and book-loving families - New episodes regularly featuring authors, reading experts, and literacy advocates - Build reading cultures, spark book buzz, and celebrate the joy of stories Subscribe now and join a community committed to making reading a pleasure.

Newest episodes

If the Invader Comes by Tom Palmer - the first in a new WW2 trilogy set in Cornwall

Nov 3, 2026 37 min

We talk with Tom Palmer about his latest book, If the Invader Comes, the first in a trilogy of books set in Cornwall. Published by Barrington Stoke in a dyslexia friendly format, the Allies trilogy explores the experiences of children during World War II in Cornwall and focus on the dynamics of friendship and allyship among the characters. As with his earlier books about the two World Wars, Tom has meticulously researched the series and we talk about the records he has used of ordinary people's lives in Cornwall during the war and the way in which he worked with a local primary school and has drawn on the knowledge of their extended families to ensure the stories are authentic. Having recently moved to Cornwall he has been exploring the county and as the National Year of Reading Ambassador for Cornwall Libraries, he has visited every public library in Cornwall to promote reading. Tom is a familiar figure at the Imperial War Museum where he does a lot of his research. We talk about their current exhibition, Childhood in War, which explores how children have experienced conflict from 1914 to the present day and features Tom's book Armistice Runner. Tom also introduces his new sports series, Underdogs, which has a sports focus. The first one, The Fear, is about football; the second, Front Foot, about cricket; and cross country running is to feature in the next book. We conclude with Tom's own recommendation for a children's book that shouldn't be missed - Anthony McGowan's Birdlands. If you want to find out more about Tom's school visits and the other events that he holds his website can be found here. If you are interested in using Tom's books in your school or library, free book club resources including questions and activiites are available at Book Clubs in Schools for both If the Invader Comes and Armistice Runner. Send us a message

National Year of Reading - Letterbox Library

Oct 19, 2026 37 min

Fred the Very Demanding Deer - with author and illustrator Pépé Smit

Oct 18, 2026 30 min

In this episode we talk with Pépé Smit about her picture book Fred the Very Demanding Deer which is published by Scallywag Press and translated from Dutch. We were lucky enough to go to the launch at GOSH comics and met Pépé, loved the book and of course wanted to chat to her about the book and Fred. Pépé trained as a visual artist at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy and the Sandberg Institute. Her illustrations have appeared in several leading magazines and newspapers, but she has increasingly focused on creating picture books that make young children both laugh and think. Fred the Very Demanding Deer is a story about a deer who wants to leave the forest to visit the city - his adventure breaks the fourth wall and is a chat between the illustrator and the deer as they navigate the trip and the book together. We talk to Pépé about how the idea for the book was developed and how it grew into a series (there are many more books in the series) and the translation process from Dutch to English. Win a copy of the book and a felt Fred! We also have a very special giveaway of a copy of the book and a felt Fred which would be a lovely addition to a Christmas tree – (UK only) This giveaway is running on Instagram, entrants will need to like the post announcing the competition, comment on the post and follow Mostly Book Talk. Instagram: @mostlybooktalk Full Terms and Conditions can be found here. Send us a message

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All episodes

If the Invader Comes by Tom Palmer - the first in a new WW2 trilogy set in Cornwall

Nov 3, 2026 37 min

National Year of Reading - Letterbox Library

Oct 19, 2026 37 min

Fred the Very Demanding Deer - with author and illustrator Pépé Smit

Oct 18, 2026 30 min

National Year of Reading - Literacy Hive

Oct 16, 2026 14 min

For the National Year of Reading, we are sharing a series of short conversations with people who are involved in promoting reading with young people. This could be a programme, resources or a literary event, and we're giving them the opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved. In this episode we are joined by Sian Hardy, founder of the Literacy Hive. Literacy Hive is a comprehensive library of literacy resources for primary and secondary teachers categorised so that they can find the support they are looking for quickly and easily. We talk about how Sian realised that although there is a wealth of resources to support literacy available, educators face a real challenge in finding high-quality resources amidst a sea of scattered information. She has designed Literacy Hive to resolve this issue by categorising resources into specific areas of the literacy curriculum, ensuring that teachers can easily find the support they need to tackle various challenges, whether it’s engaging struggling readers or finding resources for English as an additional language. She stresses that is not just a directory of websites but includes filters for key stage, price, and resource type which make it easier to identify the right tools for their specific needs. We also discuss the Reading for Pleasure hub she has included for The National Year of Reading to support that key aspect of reading. She also highlights the popularity of her calendar of reading awards and events. Send us a message

National Year of Reading - The Children's Literacy Charity

Oct 14, 2026 16 min

For the National Year of Reading, we are sharing a series of short conversations with people who are involved in promoting reading with young people. This could be a programme, resources or a literary event, and we're giving them the opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved. In this episode we are joined by Julie Taylor Education Lead at the Children's Literacy Charity which focuses on catch-up literacy interventions for disadvantaged children. Working in primary and secondary schools in areas of deprivation, they use expert tutors to support children to catch up not just with reading but with all the important literacy skills: writing, comprehension, listening and speaking. Julie takes us through the charity's various literacy programmes aimed at disadvantaged children and the impact they see. The charity recruits and trains its own tutors for literacy programs and as well as helping children catch up with their literacy skills, success is seen in improved engagement and behaviour in schools. She highlights the importance of reading for pleasure and the initiatives they have taken during the National Year of Reading, including featuring an author of the month. We also talk about the significance of parental involvement in children's literacy development and the charity's expansion into secondary schools and to regions outside of London. Send us a message

National Year of Reading - English and Media Centre

Oct 12, 2026 29 min

For the National Year of Reading, we are sharing a series of short conversations with people who are involved in promoting reading with young people. This could be a programme, resources or a literary event, and we're giving them the opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved. In this episode we are joined by Andrew McCallum, Director of the English and Media Centre. The EMC is a charity which supports English & Media teachers and students through publications and classroom resources, online and in-person CPD, student magazines and research. Established in 1990, they promote best practice in all aspects of English and Media teaching and work with teachers to further their subject knowledge and pleasure in the subject, in order that they can provide their students with the best possible experience in the classroom. In our conversation we discuss the vital role of creative pedagogy in English education, the importance of collaboration between teachers and librarians, and the need for diverse reading materials. Andrew highlights the Centre's wide range of publications and resources aimed at enriching the teaching of English, the very collaborative nature of their work and CPD, as well as their support for initiatives such as Reading Teachers, Reading Pupils that encourage teachers to engage with children's literature. We also discuss the necessity for reform in English education to counter the decline in students choosing to carry on studying it and how to bring joy and engagement back into the curriculum - not evolution but a reading revolution. Send us a message

National Year of Reading - Pupil Library Assistant of the Year Award

Oct 11, 2026 17 min

For the National Year of Reading, we are sharing a series of short conversations with people who are involved in promoting reading with young people. This could be a programme, resources or a literary event, and we're giving them the opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved. In this episode we discuss the Pupil Library Assistant of the Year Award and are joined by Barbara Band, library consultant and Chair of Judges for the award and also by Olipher Grey who is a sixth form pupil who won the award last year. The Pupil Library Assistant of the Year Award was first set up in 2014. Entries open in September each year with a closing date in November, shortlisting at the end of the autumn term and the ceremony in the spring term (this year's deadline is 6th November - so get your entries in!). First have a listen and find out all about how they work and what it is like to be nominated for the award and win it. Barbara Band discusses the inception of the award, the criteria for nominations, and the vital role of student librarians in school libraries. She emphasises the importance of recognising student contributions and the challenges faced in the nomination process. We also cover the judging process and how they make sure that the celebratory award ceremony really acknowledges the efforts of young library assistants. With Olipher we talk about he first got involved as a library assistant and what he has learnt and gained from doing it for the last five years. We cover how they recruit assistants in his school and the wider effect it has on the school community. We also talk about the how it felt winning the award and the experience of going to the ceremony. Send us a message

National Year of Reading - BookTrust

Oct 10, 2026 23 min

For the National Year of Reading, we are sharing a series of short conversations with people who are involved in promoting reading with young people. This could be a programme, resources or a literary event, and we're giving them the opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved. In this episode we are joined by Rachel Boden who is the lead children's book promotion and content editor at BookTrust. BookTrust is the UK's largest children's reading charity and they aim to empower families to experience the magic of reading. Their programmes span from newborns to Key Stage 3 pupils and their partnerships with libraries and schools and grass roots organisations are central to their work. Bookstart provides the first book for many newborns and for older children (now including primary) Book Buzz provides an opportunity for children to choose and keep a book they want. They also support vulnerable and pupil premium children through their Letterbox club and host the Children's Laureate. In our conversation, Rachel discusses the organisation's mission to inspire children and families to engage with reading. She outlines all of their current programmes aimed at different age groups, including initiatives for vulnerable children and the importance of community partnerships. The conversation also highlights the National Year of Reading, their work with the Children's Laureate and the concept of reading rights, emphasising the long-term impact of reading on children's well-being and development. Send us a message

Time Tub Travellers - with author Claire Linney

Oct 8, 2026 48 min

We talk with Claire Linney about her Time Tub Travellers series, the third book of which is out at the start of October 2026. Inspired by reading Black Tudors: The Untold Story by Miranda Kaufmann, Claire started researching Black British history and the stories that are too often untold and hidden. She decided she wanted to bring these stories to life in a fun, adventurous way for children and the result is her Time Tub Travellers books. Time Tub Travellers and the Silk Thief Time Tub Travellers: Circus Mystery Time Tub Travellers: Roman Rescue Claire is a champion of diversity in children's books - you may have seen her on TikTok and Instagram - and has also navigated the world of self publishing. We talk about all of these things and Claire also has some great book recommendations. To find out more about Claire, her books and school visits take a look at her website . You can also buy signed copies of her books there. Send us a message

Wild Magic with Abiola Bello

Sep 12, 2026 43 min

In this episode we talk with Abiola Bello - author, publisher and co-founder of the Diverse Book Awards. The third book in her Wild Magic series for younger readers is out and we talk about the success of the series - the first book just won the Sparks School Book Award prize and how kids love facts mixed in with their fiction. Abiola is as ever very busy and we talk about her third book in the Marcus Rashford series and also a 'new adult' book coming out next year that she is on a deadline to finish. The independent publisher Hashtag Press which Abiola co-founded with Helen Lewis is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. As one of the first independent publishers focussing on diverse authors and books they have been on quite a journey. They are currently Crowdfunding to safeguard their next ten years and you can find details of that here. Abiola's books can be found here: Younger Readers Wild Magic - Legend of the Black Lion (illustrated by Emma McCann) Wild Magic - Journey of the Lost Elephant (illustrated by Emma McCann) Wild Magic - Escape of the Sea Turtles (illustrated by Emma McCann) Middle Grade Emily Knight - I am Emily Knight - I am... Power Emily Knight - I am... Becoming Emily Knight - I am... Awakened Marcus Rashford The Breakfast Club Adventures - The Movie Monster Marcus Rashford The Breakfast Club Adventures - The Sleepover Sabotage Marcus Rashford The Breakfast Club Adventures - The Haunted Disco (Oct 2026) YA Love in Winter Wonderland Only for the Holidays The Love Dare New Adult Pretty Little Pledges (Aug 2027) Send us a message

Author and Poet Dean Atta talks about his picture book, Auntie's Bangles

Sep 8, 2026 34 min

Welcome back to the new school year - we hope you had a great summer. September always feels the time for fresh starts and we are back after a bit of summer break. We have an interview with Dean Atta about his picture book, Auntie's Bangles (illustrated by Alea Marley)- a joyous take on loss and remembering. We also talk about his YA books and the middle grade project he is working on. All very exciting! Congratulations to him too on the publication of his adult debut, Big Man, which is out and available now (and you will have worked hard to miss the buzz about it on social media!). Dean's website can be found here. And links to all his books are below. Auntie's Bangles, illustrated by Alea Marley Confetti, illustrated by Alea Marley The Black Flamingo, illustrated by Anshika Khullar Only on the Weekends I Can't Even Think Straight Big Man Do subscribe, message us about who you would like us to get on the podcast, what you would like us to cover and any questions you have. Send us a message

Fidan Meikle talks about her award winning middle grade book, My Name is Samim

Aug 2, 2026 44 min

Fidan Meikle is a multi-award-winning Azerbaijani-British writer, linguist and translator. We talk with her about her debut middle-grade novel, My Name Is Samim, which is a powerful novel that follows Samim, a thirteen-year-old boy, as he flees war-torn Afghanistan for a new life in the UK. It highlights the experiences of young refugees and asylum-seekers, and has been a word of mouth success, winning the 2026 Jhalak Children's & YA Prize, the Federation of Children's Book Groups Award, several regional awards and included in the 2026 Read for Empathy Collection. My Name Is Samim and its companion novel, My Name Is Zayn, are inspired by the real-life stories of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the UK. We also celebrate Patrice Lawrence becoming the new Children's Laureate (Yay!) and the 10th anniversary of her YA book Orangeboy. We talk about what we are reading over the summer and highlight both the Summer Reading Challenge and the Teacher's Reading Challenge. And finally we invite you to share your recommendations - tag us in on social media or email us at info@mostlybooktalk.com. Books we mentioned include: Always Angel, by Kimberly Whittam Soul Feeder, by Jennifer Killick, illustrated by Marina Vidal Big Words by Luke Palmer Gloam, by Jack McKay, illustrated by Ben Joel Price Dangerous Influence, Sally Nichols (published Sept 2026) The Sign of the Raven, by Pippa Dunn The Shadows of Kensington Gore, by Ross Montgomery - adult (published Oct 2026) All The Men We've Never Slept With, by Simon James Green and Sarah Counsell - adult (published July 2027) Faith's First Case, by Jeffrey Boakye - adult (out Feb 2027) Send us a message

A feast of middle grade books! Interviews with Kristina Rahim and Cath Howe

Jul 26, 2026 40 min

In this episode we have a feast of middle grade books! We talk first to Kristina Rahim author of the very popular The Doughnut Club, about her second book Max and Ella Stuck Together. Max has had a tough year starting secondary school. He has been bullied about having two mums and has lost his confidence. He is even finding it hard to enjoy the music that he used to love. He knows he risks letting his friends down if he has stage fright again at their planned performance and the idea that meeting his sperm donor dad might help him find himself again takes hold. Ella's dad, Hari, was a sperm donor before she was born and she is fine with it. Or at least thought she was before a kid she has never met before turns up and gatecrashes a family weekend. Things haven't been easy for Ella to with friendship changes and her mum working away a lot. With Max and Ella very much stuck together, will they find a way to be their true selves? We also catch up with Cath Howe who we have interviewed before about her younger readers series Call the Puffins. She has another middle grade book out - Two is a Crowd. In this latest book, Hattie’s life is already complicated enough… She’s about to start secondary school, her best friend is going off with someone else and her dad seems to have completely forgotten his promise to give her his office for her own bedroom. So when her mum’s goddaughter, Seren, arrives and gets special treatment, Hattie feels pushed out. Could it be that Hattie’s family prefer Seren? Both are great middle grade/early teen reads and grapple realistically with issues that many teenagers will face, through strong story lines and without being 'issue' books. We also celebrate John Agard winning the CLiPPA Poetry Prize for an unprecedented third time for his collection The Poetry World of John Agard, illustrated by Shirley Hottier, and point listeners to the recording of the ceremony which is well worth watching. With thanks to Miah Herford for editing the interview...

The Othernauts with Clare Pollard

Jul 21, 2026 39 min

We talk with author Clare Pollard about her new middle grade book The Othernauts. Based on the story of Jason and the Argonauts, we follow Phoebe who is bored of life on the island where she lives and is desperate to escape. When a ship with Jason and the Argonauts comes into the harbour she acts quickly and joins their quest to find the Golden Fleece. Full of humour and with illustrations by Macha Yao this is a fun and entertaining take on a classic tale. You can find out more about Clare here. And find her children's books below: The Othernauts, illustrated Macha Yao The Untameables, illustrated by Reena Makwana And her book about picture books can be found here: Fierce Bad Rabbits - The Tales Behind Children's Picture Books Send us a message

The Klaus Flugge Prize 2026 - the year's most exciting newcomers to children's book illustration

Jul 14, 2026 26 min

We talk to the chair of judges and the 2025 winner of The Klaus Flugge Prize for Illustration, Emma Farrarons. Emma won the prize in 2025 which is for the year’s most exciting newcomers to children’s picture book illustration. This year she is back as the chair of judges alongside illustrator Rob Biddulph, illustrator and course director for the MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University, Shelley Jackson and co-owner of the The Book Nook in Hove, Vanessa Lewis. Emma won the prize in 2025 with her illustration of My Hair is as Long as a River by Charlie Castle. This year's shortlisted illustrators are: Becky Colvin who studied illustration at The University of West England in Bristol and went on to win the prestigious Macmillan Prize for illustration in 2023. Becky loves telling stories, capturing both the quiet and the exceptional moments in life. The Great Green Island her debut picture book was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Books Prize. Her next book, Princes Don't Practise, written by Kathryn Simmonds, is out in August 2026. Becky lives in Bristol. London-based author-illustrator Laila Ekboir who worked as a freelance illustrator for many years in Buenos Aires, Argentina, before completing an MA in children's book illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. Drawing inspiration from everyday moments and childhood memories of living in California, Mexico City, and Buenos Aires, Laila’s art is colourful, warm and rich in texture. She works by hand, exploring a variety of materials and using digital tools to make her work pop, but her favourite medium is printmaking. Laila enjoys telling whimsical stories with quirky characters, as well as exploring the themes of home, memory, identity and belonging delicately and thoughtfully. Her debut picture book, We Are Like Birds, is published by Kumusha Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books. Born in Weimar in 1990, Thekla Priebst studied visual communic...

National Year of Reading - Canterbury Children's Literature Festival

Jul 6, 2026 15 min

We talk to Bex Hughes about the upcoming Canterbury Children's Literature Festival which is on the 9th - 12th of July and also about Book Shop Crawl UK which hosts book shop crawls in cities around the UK. You can find out more about all the exciting events on at the Canterbury Children's Literature Festival here. And check out up coming book shop crawls here. Send us a message

National Year of Reading - What on Earth! - Scientists Making a Difference

Jul 1, 2026 17 min

In September 2026 all UK Secondary Schools will receive two copies of the book Scientists Making a Difference by Dr Shini Somara together with a pack of resources. This is a collaboration between publishers What on Earth!, the Gatsby Foundation and Imperial. We talk to teacher Jennifer Marchant who created the school resources to discuss the book, what schools will find in their pack and how they can be used within the science curriculum as well as in careers lessons. There are linked resources online supporting the resources in the box and also CPD for teachers (starting in September and available to book now) to support them in using the materials. For more information check out the dedicated website here. Send us a message

Fairy Tales at the British Library - a Family Adventure through Enchanted Stories

Jun 26, 2026 19 min

Join us as we talk to lead curators Alison Bailey and Laura Walker, of the British Library's Fairy Tales Exhibition. This interactive and child friendly exhibit is on until 23 August 2026 and covers many familiar tales as well as lesser known stories. They have brought together interactive displays, theatrical design, story sharing spaces, costumes and activities, as well as some great examples of early drafts and drawing ideas. There are beautiful books and artwork to see and plenty of hands on activities to keep children engaged. Sensory packs can be picked up from reception and large print and Braille resources are available. We discuss how they put the exhibition together, why they chose to focus on fairy tales, and how the items in the exhibit were selected. Ali and Katy have been to see and we all talk about our favourite items. More information about the exhibit and how to buy tickets can be found here. Cover art includes dragon illustration © Chris Riddell and British Library 2026 Send us a message

Kid Rex to the Rescue with Mayo Agard-Olubo

Jun 16, 2026 40 min

Join us talking to Mayo Agard-Olubo about his debut picture book, Kid Rex to the Rescue, illustrated by Diane Ewen. Max's imagination transforms him into the superhero Kid Rex, and he's ready to use his dinosaur powers to battle robots, dragons and even the evil king dust bunny. A fun bedtime story and definitely one for dinosaur fans. Mayo's website can be found here. His BBC Sounds appearance on Margins to the Mainstream can be found here. The books we reviewed were: Auntie's Bangles, by Dean Atta, illustrated by Alea Marley Fred the Very Demanding Deer by Pepé Smit Send us a message

The Carnegie Medal for Illustration Shortlist

Jun 12, 2026 1 hr 2 min

Following on from episode 48 when we went through the Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlist together with expert Carnegie followers Alison Jewitt and Amy McKay, in this episode we go through the Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlist and make some more ill fated predictions for the winners. Alison Jewitt is an English teacher at the London Nautical City of London Academy has led a Carnegie shadowing group in her school for many years and this is her third year helping us review the list. Amy McKay is the librarian at Ullswater Community College, Penrith. She leads Carnegie shadowing at her school and has a long history with the Carnegies, having been the awards co-ordinator for the Carnegies which included overseeing the National shadowing scheme. The full Carnegie Medal for Illustration Shortlist is: The Playdate illustrated by Clara Dackenberg, written by Uje Brandelius, translated by Nichola Smalley (Lantana) The Endless Sea illustrated by Linh Dao, written by Chi Thai (Walker) Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel illustrated & adapted by Aimée de Jongh, written by William Golding (Faber & Faber) The Sleeper Train illustrated by Baljinder Kaur, written by Mick Jackson (Walker) Wildful illustrated and written by Kengo Kurimoto (Pushkin Children’s Books) Freedom Braids illustrated by Oboh Moses, written by Monique Duncan (Lantana) The Paper Bridge illustrated by Seng Soun Ratanavanh, written by Joelle Veyrenc, translated by Katy Lockwood-Holmes (Floris Books) Wiggling Words illustrated and written by Kate Rolfe (Two Hoots) All the information about the Carnegies and the Shadowing Resources can be found on their website here. Send us a message

Dead Straight Line with Malcolm Duffy

Jun 6, 2026 42 min

Join us as we talk with author Malcolm Duffy about his YA book Dead Straight Line. This is his fifth book and is inspired by a teenage game of traveling in a straight line through, over or under obstacles. Rory pressures Yell into the game, with life changing consequences. The book explores risk taking, blame, guilt and shame as well as empathy and forgiveness. Written in a sparse and pacey style, it is an accessible read and will have wide appeal, including for Y8 and up boys that everyone struggles to find recommendations for. As well as discussing the book, we talk about Malcolm's path to becoming a writer, how he researches the issues he portrays and what he is working on now. More information about Malcolm and also school visit information can be found on his website here. Malcolm's books can be found here: Dead Straight Line Seven Million Sunflowers Read Between the Lines Sofa Surfer Me Mam. Me Dad. Me. Ali also recommended The Boy I Hardly Know by Lisa Heathfield. Send us a message

The Carnegie Medal for Writing Shortlist

May 31, 2026 51 min

Together with expert Carnegie followers Alison Jewitt and Amy McKay we go through the Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlist and make our ill fated predictions for the winners. Alison Jewitt is an English teacher at the London Nautical City of London Academy has led a Carnegie shadowing group in her school for many years and this is her third year helping us review the list. Amy McKay is the librarian at Ullswater Community College, Penrith. She leads Carnegie shadowing at her school and has a long history with the Carnegies, having been the awards co-ordinator for the Carnegies which included overseeing the National shadowing scheme. The full Carnegie Medal for Writing Shortlist is: Ghostlines by Katya Balen (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) Not Going to Plan by Tia Fisher (Hot Key Books) Popcorn by Rob Harrell (Piccadilly Press) The Boy I Love by William Hussey (Andersen Press) Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Tim Miller (Walker) Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien (HarperCollins Children’s Books) Twenty-Four Seconds from Now by Jason Reynolds (Faber & Faber) Birdie by J. P. Rose (Andersen Press) Lots more information about the awards and all the resources that are mentioned can be found here. We have a second episode coming up looking at the illustration shortlist. Send us a message

Home is a Hug with Cindy Hume

May 29, 2026 43 min

Join us as we chat with Cindy Wume, Taiwanese author and illustrator, about her new picture book, Home is a Hug. The book imagines all the different ways in which we can think about home. It has interactive elements with cutouts and flaps and lots of great details to seek out when reading it. Find out about her journey from Taiwan to Cambridge, her creative process and discover how her travels and personal stories shape her vibrant illustrations and stories. We talk about: Cindy's background and path to becoming an illustratorInspiration behind "Home is a Hug" and its themes of belonging and emotional connectionThe creative process, including use of materials, digital tools, and interactive design elements like flaps and cutoutsHow travel and cultural experiences influence her artworkFavourite picture books growing up, including Where the Wild Things Are and the Japanese series 14 Forest MiceFuture projects, including her new book about noodles and explorations of feelings and abstract conceptsMeet her pet cat Bao Links to books by or mentioned by Cindy: Home is a Hug by Cindy WumeThe Bookshop Cat by Cindy WumeThe Gardening Dog by Cindy WumeThe Bed Book, by Sylvia Plath, illustrated by Cindy HumeWhere the Wild Things Are by Maurice SendakMiki's First Errand by Yoriko TsutsuiA Lion in Paris by Beatrice AlemagnaThree Happy Lions by Louise Fatio, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 14 Forest Mice by Kazuo IwamuraBooks reviewed: Puggle Snuggles by Mo O'Hara, illustrated by Loretta Schauer Seahorse is Furious by Morag Hood Other Links: Cambridge School of ArtNatural History Museum London - Giant Squid Exhibit Connect with Cindy Wume: InstagramOfficial WebsiteSend us a message

National Year of Reading - Royal National Institute of Blind People

May 27, 2026 19 min

For the National Year of Reading, we are sharing a series of short conversations with people who are involved in promoting reading with young people. This could be a programme, resources or a literary event, and we're giving them the opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved. In this episode we talk to Lara Marshall, Libraries and Engagement Manager and Tom Norton, Information and Resources Officer at the RNIB. RNIB, the Royal National Institute of Blind People, is the UK's leading sight loss charity. They offer practical and emotional support to blind and partially sighted people, their families and carers. They raise awareness of the experiences of blind and partially sighted people and campaign for change to make our society more accessible for all. They offer a wider range of services to support children and young people's reading. Mentioned in the discussion are the following resources (click through for links). RNIB Library RNIB Bookshare Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI) Children's Reading Resources Volunteering for The Big Help Out and Hi Vis Fortnight In addition you can contact their helpline on 0303 123 9999 open Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm. Email the helpline at helpline@rnib.org.uk or say: "Alexa, call RNIB Helpline". Send us a message

Musical - and other - Truth(s) with Jeffrey Boakye

May 22, 2026 44 min

We talked to Jeffrey Boakye and tried very hard to stay on the topic of children's books (and mostly succeeded). We talked about his middle grade series which starts with Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer, his books on music - Musical Truth and Musical World and what he is currently working on. We detoured into what everyone got up to in the 80s and 90s when there were only four TV channels and no mobile phones and then came back to children's books and why the diversity of both authors and main characters is on the decline again. You can find more information about Jeffrey here and the books we discussed are as follows: Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer Kofi and the Secret Radio Station Kofi and the Brand New Vibe Musical Truth, illustrated by Ngadi Smart Musical World, illustrated by Ngadi Smart I Heard What You Said Faith's First Case (out Feb 2027) And the book Jeffery recommended to us was Wild East by Ashley Hickson-Lovence Send us a message

The Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award with poet Nicola Davies

May 19, 2026 47 min

In this episode we talk with poet Nicola Davies about the Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award (CLiPPA). The CLiPPA is the UK’s leading prize for poetry for children and each year highlights outstanding new collections for the young and very young. She takes us the through the 2026 Shortlist and we also talk about her her role as the Children's Laureate for Wales and quite a bit about birds too. The CLiPPA Shortlist is as follows: Five Little Friends: A Collection of Finger Rhymes, by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Fiona Woodcock, Walker BooksA First Book of Bugs, by Simon Mole, illustrated by Adam Ming, Walker BooksThe Poetry World of John Agard, by John Agard, illustrated by Shirley Hottier, Otter-Barry BooksPress Start to Play, by Sam Gayton, illustrated by Jack Noel, Andersen PressThis Is Not A Small Voice: Poems by Black Poets, selected by Traci N. Todd, illustrated by Jade Orlando, Nosy CrowNicola also mentioned this book about birds: The Seabird's Cry The Lives and Loves of Puffins, Gannets and Other Ocean Voyagers, by Adam Nicolson, illustrated by Kate Boxer Send us a message

National Year of Reading - Learning with Parents

May 18, 2026 26 min

For the National Year of Reading, we are sharing a series of short conversations with people who are involved in promoting reading with young people. This could be a programme, resources or a literary event, and we're giving them the opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved. In this episode we are joined by Tom Harbour the CEO of Learning with Parents. Learning with Parents is a charity whose vision is that every child is supported at home to fulfil their potential. Working with schools, they support families to have positive learning interactions together. Using a digital platform they motivate and empower families to enjoy learning together at home using child-led videos and hands-on family activities which replace traditional homework. For reading, they offer a digital reading log that replaces traditional paper version and allows families to upload audio clips as well as easily record their child's reading. They are also focused on learning what works in supporting parental engagement and are working with researchers at UCL to test what works in supporting reading for pleasure at home. They also lead the Fair Education Alliance’s work on parental engagement and their forum which brings together organisations to network and share best practice around parental engagement. Send us a message

National Year of Reading - Inclusive Books for Children

May 17, 2026 16 min

For the National Year of Reading, we are sharing a series of short conversations with people who are involved in promoting reading with young people. This could be a programme, resources or a literary event, and we're giving them the opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved. In this episode we are joined by Sarah Satha the Chair of Inclusive Books for Children. Inclusive Books for Children is a charity whose vision is for every child in the UK to grow up reading inclusive books. They want to nurture the next generation of open-minded and inspired young readers and have created a free website to make it easy for parents, caregivers, librarians and teachers to find and buy diverse titles, confident they have made excellent choices. Updated each month, all the books on their website are rigorously appraised by experts in children’s literature with backgrounds in education, libraries, academia and publishing. Each year, they donate 1000s of high-quality, engaging inclusive books to nurseries, schools and libraries with the greatest need via our IBC Book Box gifting scheme. They also run the IBC Book Awards which celebrate outstanding new inclusive children’s books and their talented creators. Their Children’s Choice Awards shadowing scheme runs in tandem with the main IBC Awards. The scheme gives children the opportunity to engage in the awards process as mini-judges, reading the shortlist and voting on their favourites. Send us a message

Recharging our batteries with Molly Harris' new book Whirby

May 16, 2026 37 min

We talk to author Molly Harris about her new picture book Whirby, illustrated by Jacob Souva. Whirby is a robot and his favourite activity at school is bot battles, but in his excitement about getting ready he forgets to get any rest and recharge his batteries and when it comes to his turn in the competition he has no energy left. Can he recover and do what he really enjoys? A great book for bedtimes with lots to look at in the pictures. You can find out more about Molly Harris here and read Jacob's substack here. Molly's other books are: The Big Squeeze, illustrated by Alison Hawkins I Need Space, illustrated by Jon Corby (out Dec 2026) And the book Molly recommended was Benita and the Night Creatures, by Mariana Llanos, illustrated by Cocoretto Send us a message

National Year of Reading - The Federation of Children's Book Groups

May 2, 2026 20 min

For the National Year of Reading, we are sharing a series of short conversations with people who are involved in promoting reading with young people. This could be a programme, resources or a literary event, and we're giving them the opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved. In this episode we are joined by Louisa Farrow from The Federation of Children's Book Groups. The Federation is a national voluntary self-funded organisation whose aim is to promote enjoyment and interest in children’s books and reading and to encourage the availability of books for children of all ages, from first picture books to young adult. They have groups around the country, whose members include parents and carers, teachers, and librarians, along with individual and professional members, who all want to nurture a love of reading through the sharing of books with children. They have strong national links with children’s publishers, authors, illustrators, and all organisations who support their aim of encouraging children to enjoy, read and share books and stories. The FCBG's National Share a Story Month is running throughout May and is an annual event designed to celebrate the fabulous world of children’s fiction and to inspire a love of reading by sharing stories. This year it has been chosen as a featured event for the National Year of Reading In 2026, the theme of National Share a Story Month is Once Upon a Storytime and will shine a spotlight on the joy of reading aloud and the power of stories to bring people together. This nationwide celebration invites children, families, schools, and communities to connect through books, storytelling, and the spoken word. More information and resources can be found here and there recommended read aloud books can be found here. Send us a message

Ultimate Superstar: Rashmi Sirdeshpande on her new books Hari Kumar and Super Uma

May 2, 2026 32 min

In this episode we are joined by author Rashmi Sirdeshpande about her new books - Hari Kumar Ultimate Superstar (illustrated by Mamta Singh) which is a diary style middle grade and Super Uma (illustrated by Nakul P.) which is picture book with lots of sparkle and the all important unicorn. Rashmi is as ever super busy with a number of new books coming up (details of the books mentioned below). She is also out and about doing festivals and events. The event she mentioned at the London Schools Literature Festival can be found here. She is also at the Brighton Festival on 17 May. There is a free online Super Uma event on 8th May with Puffin Schools and she is doing a free online event for the British Library about guidebooks, and discovering fascinating and delightful ways to explore place. Books mentioned Hari Kumar Ultimate Superstar (illustrated by Mamta Singh) Hari Kumar Ultimate Superstar: Going for Gold (illustrated by Mamta Singh) out 13 August Super Uma (illustrated by Nakul P.) Amazing Asia (illustrated by Jason Lyon) This is who I am (illustrated by Ruchi Mhasane) out in paperback 7 May Never Show a T-Rex a Book (illustrated by Diane Ewen) Send us a message

National Year of Reading - EmpathyLab

Apr 26, 2026 18 min

National Year of Reading - Chapter One

Apr 25, 2026 13 min

National Year of Reading - Coram Beanstalk

Apr 24, 2026 15 min

Part 6 - The Reading Crisis - Why children aren't reading and what we can do about it

Apr 6, 2026 30 min

For Part 6 we asked all our interviewees for one thing they would do to address the reading crisis. Properly funded libraries and librarians were unsurprisingly a strong theme, but also a rethink about how we position children's reading - how do we find the space for children to read and support children to experience the power and enjoyment of reading so they find their own routes into reading, and choose to do it. For this series we interviewed the following people (not all feature in every episode): Dapo Adeola - Author and the illustrator of many books including Look Up!, Clean Up!and My Dad is a Grizzly Bear. Sita Brahmachari - Author of many books including Artichoke Hearts, When Shadows Fall and Phoenix Brothers Dr Darren Chetty - Lecturer at UCL Institute of Education and author, with Professor Karen Sands O'Connor, of Beyond the Secret Garden Professor Teresa Cremin - Professor of Education and Co-Director of the Literacy and Social Justice Centre at The Open University Charlotte Hacking - Teacher Engagement Lead at the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy and Research and Curriculum Lead at Herne Hill School Jenny Hawke - Children's Librarian and Chair of the Youth Library Group Tom Palmer - Author of many books including Angel of Grasmere, Resist and War Dog Glynn Palmer–Bell - Assistant Director of English at Castle View Enterprise Academy, Sunderland Louie Stowell - Author of many books including the Loki series, Otherland and the Dragon in the Library Sabrina Sulliman - English teacher at Southfields Academy, South West London At the end of the series we will invite comments and ideas from listeners so look out for how you can contribute to the discussion. Many thanks to everyone we interviewed and to our Co Producer Belinda Naylor. Send us a message

National Year of Reading - Books for Keeps

Mar 26, 2026 16 min

Rock the Vote! with Nadia Shireen

Mar 23, 2026 32 min

In this episode we talk with Nadia Shireen about the mad and upredictable world of Grimwood and book five in the series, Rock the Vote! which has recently come out in paperback. Listen in to find out where Nadia gets her ideas from, how she writes, why illustrations are so important and what Titus's best cake would be. Nadia can be found on Instagram here Her Grimwood books can be found here: Grimwood Grimwood: Let the fur fly! Grimwood: Attack of the Stink Monster! Grimwood: Party Animals Grimwood: Rock the Vote! Send us a message

I Want Everything! with author and illustrator Sophy Henn

Mar 4, 2026 35 min

In this episode we talk to author Sophy Henn about her new picture book I Want Everything! - which is about how sometimes it might feel like you want everything, but when you really think about it you probably don't... We also discuss the latest installment in her action packed and madcap Happy Hills graphic novel series, Cheesy Bob Strikes! Sophy can be found on Instagram here And the books we mentioned can be found through these links I Want Everything! Cheesy Bob Strikes! Pizazz Bad Nana - Older not Wiser Lifesize Dinosaurs The Best Worst Day Ever Pom Pom Gets the Grumps Send us a message

Part 5 - The Reading Crisis - Why children aren't reading and what we can do about it.

Mar 2, 2026 26 min

In part 5 we continue looking at what works to support reading for pleasure, focusing more this time on opportunities for authors to engage with readers and the importance of wider family and community involvement and spaces to discover and talk about books. For this series we interviewed the following people (not all feature in every episode): Dapo Adeola - Author and the illustrator of many books including Look Up!, Clean Up!and My Dad is a Grizzly Bear. Sita Brahmachari - Author of many books including Artichoke Hearts, When Shadows Falland Phoenix Brothers Dr Darren Chetty - Lecturer at UCL Institute of Education and author, with Professor Karen Sands O'Connor, of Beyond the Secret Garden Professor Teresa Cremin - Professor of Education and Co-Director of the Literacy and Social Justice Centre at The Open University Charlotte Hacking - Teacher Engagement Lead at the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy and Research and Curriculum Lead at Herne Hill School Jenny Hawke - Children's Librarian and Chair of the Youth Library Group Tom Palmer - Author of many books including Angel of Grasmere, Resist and War Dog Glynn Palmer–Bell - Assistant Director of English at Castle View Enterprise Academy, Sunderland Louie Stowell - Author of many books including the Loki series, Otherland and the Dragon in the Library Sabrina Sulliman - English teacher at Southfields Academy, South West London At the end of the series we will invite comments and ideas from listeners so look out for how you can contribute to the discussion. Many thanks to everyone we interviewed and to our Co Producer Belinda Naylor. Send us a message

Author Sarah Crossan talks about her new thriller, Gone for Good

Feb 25, 2026 45 min

We are joined by author Sarah Crossan to talk about her new verse novel, Gone for Good. It is a read in one go thriller about the troubled teen industry. Sixteen-year-old Connie is kidnapped in the middle of the night and taken to a 'behaviour modification programme' at Silver Lake and quickly gets drawn into the mystery of where missing resident Belle has gone to. We also talk about Sarah's thoughtful posts on social media about putting away our screens and reading for pleasure. Sarah can be found on Instagram here. And here are some of the books we discuss: Gone for Good Toffee The Weight of Water One Where the Heart Should Be Send us a message

Part 4 - The Reading Crisis - Why children aren't reading and what we can do about it

Feb 20, 2026 20 min

In part 4 we hear more about what we should be doing to address the decline in children’s reading for pleasure. In this episode we focus on approaches in schools and how to involve staff and pupils in creating a reading for pleasure culture. For this series we interviewed the following people (not all feature in every episode): Dapo Adeola - Author and the illustrator of many books including Look Up!, Clean Up!and My Dad is a Grizzly Bear. Sita Brahmachari - Author of many books including Artichoke Hearts, When Shadows Falland Phoenix Brothers Dr Darren Chetty - Lecturer at UCL Institute of Education and author, with Professor Karen Sands O'Connor, of Beyond the Secret Garden Professor Teresa Cremin - Professor of Education and Co-Director of the Literacy and Social Justice Centre at The Open University Charlotte Hacking - Teacher Engagement Lead at the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy and Research and Curriculum Lead at Herne Hill School Jenny Hawke - Children's Librarian and Chair of the Youth Library Group Tom Palmer - Author of many books including Angel of Grasmere, Resist and War Dog Glynn Palmer–Bell - Assistant Director of English at Castle View Enterprise Academy, Sunderland Louie Stowell - Author of many books including the Loki series, Otherland and the Dragon in the Library Sabrina Sulliman - English teacher at Southfields Academy, South West London At the end of the series we will invite comments and ideas from listeners so look out for how you can contribute to the discussion. Many thanks to everyone we interviewed and to our Co Producer Belinda Naylor. Send us a message

National Year of Reading - Youth Libraries Group

Feb 17, 2026 15 min

Badgers are Go! with Susannah Lloyd - Revenge of the Claw

Feb 6, 2026 28 min

In this episode we talk to Susannah Lloyd about the latest instalment in her Badgers are Go! series, Revenge of the Claw. Illustrated by Nici Gregory. We cover lots of ingenious disguises, pudding references and doing all the voices! Also the importance of having children who can help you name your characters. You can find out more about Susannah Lloyd's books here. The books we discussed can be found here: Badgers are Go! Badgers are Go! Revenge of the Claw Who Ate Steve? Send us a message

Part 3: The Reading Crisis - Why children aren't reading and what we can do about it

Feb 3, 2026 37 min

In part 3 of our mini series about 'The Reading Crisis', we hear more about access, but also about who decides which books get published, how they're marketed, and how they get into children's hands, as well as the lack of coverage in the media of children's literature. For this series we interviewed the following people (not all feature in every episode): Dapo Adeola - Author and the illustrator of many books including Look Up!, Clean Up!and My Dad is a Grizzly Bear. Sita Brahmachari - Author of many books including Artichoke Hearts, When Shadows Falland Phoenix Brothers Dr Darren Chetty - Lecturer at UCL Institute of Education and author, with Professor Karen Sands O'Connor, of Beyond the Secret Garden Professor Teresa Cremin - Professor of Education and Co-Director of the Literacy and Social Justice Centre at The Open University Charlotte Hacking - Teacher Engagement Lead at the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy and Research and Curriculum Lead at Herne Hill School Jenny Hawke - Children's Librarian and Chair of the Youth Library Group Tom Palmer - Author of many books including Angel of Grasmere, Resist and War Dog Glynn Palmer–Bell - Assistant Director of English at Castle View Enterprise Academy, Sunderland Louie Stowell - Author of many books including the Loki series, Otherland and the Dragon in the Library Sabrina Sulliman - English teacher at Southfields Academy, South West London At the end of the series we will invite comments and ideas from listeners so look out for how you can contribute to the discussion. Many thanks to everyone we interviewed and to our Co Producer Belinda Naylor. Send us a message

National Year of Reading - Stepping into Stories Kids' Lit Fest

Jan 29, 2026 17 min

The Reading Crisis - Why children aren't reading and what we can do about it - Part 2

Jan 23, 2026 32 min

In part two of our mini series about The Reading Crisis, we look at how testing, technology and access to books are affecting reading for pleasure. For this series we interviewed the following people (not all feature in every episode): Dapo Adeola - Author and the illustrator of many books including Look Up!, Clean Up!and My Dad is a Grizzly Bear. Sita Brahmachari - Author of many books including Artichoke Hearts, When Shadows Falland Phoenix Brothers Dr Darren Chetty - Lecturer at UCL Institute of Education and author, with Professor Karen Sands O'Connor, of Beyond the Secret Garden Professor Teresa Cremin - Professor of Education and Co-Director of the Literacy and Social Justice Centre at The Open University Charlotte Hacking - Teacher Engagement Lead at the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy and Research and Curriculum Lead at Herne Hill School Jenny Hawke - Children's Librarian and Chair of the Youth Library Group Tom Palmer - Author of many books including Angel of Grasmere, Resist and War Dog Glynn Palmer–Bell - Assistant Director of English at Castle View Enterprise Academy, Sunderland Louie Stowell - Author of many books including the Loki series, Otherland and the Dragon in the Library Sabrina Sulliman - English teacher at Southfields Academy, South West London At the end of the series we will invite comments and ideas from listeners so look out for how you can contribute to the discussion. Many thanks to everyone we interviewed and to our Co Producer Belinda Naylor. Send us a message

The Reading Crisis - Why children aren't reading and what we can do about it - Part 1

Jan 16, 2026 20 min

The first in our mini series about The Reading Crisis - why children aren't reading and what we can do about it. In this episode we look at what the data tells us about children's reading and start to discuss what some of the barriers are to children reading for pleasure. For this series we interviewed the following people (not all feature in every episode): Dapo Adeola - Author and the illustrator of many books including Look Up!, Clean Up! and My Dad is a Grizzly Bear. Sita Brahmachari - Author of many books including Artichoke Hearts, When Shadows Fall and Phoenix Brothers Dr Darren Chetty - Lecturer at UCL Institute of Education and author with Professor Karen Sands O'Connor of Beyond the Secret Garden Professor Teresa Cremin - Professor of Education and Co-Director of the Literacy and Social Justice Centre at The Open University Charlotte Hacking - Teacher Engagement Lead at the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy and Research and Curriculum Lead at Herne Hill School Jenny Hawke - Children's Librarian and Chair of the Youth Library Group Tom Palmer - Author of many books including Angel of Grasmere, Resist and War Dog Glynn Palmer–Bell - Assistant Director of English at Castle View Enterprise Academy, Sunderland Louie Stowell - Author of many books including the Loki series, Otherland and the Dragon in the Library Sabrina Sulliman - English teacher at Southfields Academy, South West London At the end of the series we will invite comments and ideas from listeners so look out for how you can contribute to the discussion. Many thanks to everyone we interviewed and to our Co Producer Belinda Naylor. Send us a message

Wild Journey: an interview with AM Dassu about her latest book

Jan 9, 2026 37 min

In in this episode we talk to AM Dassu about her latest book, Wild Journey. This is a collection of five interlinked stories about children around the world all connected by the sight of a murmuration of starlings. Fully illustrated by Joe Lillington. AM Dassu's website can be found here and links to the books we discussed are below: Wild Journey Boy, Everywhere Fight Back Can You Find my Eid Presents? Show Racism the Red Card (out Sept 2026) Send us a message

The Reading Crisis - Why Children aren't reading and what we can do about it

Jan 8, 2026 1 min

A quick trailer for our new mini series which will be out soon on the 'reading crisis' where we explore why children aren't reading and what we can do about it. Look out for the first episode. Send us a message

Libraries are a very good thing!

Dec 15, 2025 57 min

We are back and have an episode all about libraries. First up is an interview with Rebecca Gediking who is the Head of Libraries at GLL and also the Chair of the GLL Literary Foundation - which does lots of great work supporting children's authors in the areas in which GLL have libraries. Events there for schools to look out for and ideas for how other libraries might work with authors. After that we talk to Barbara Band about her new book Championing Your School Library - a practical guide to advocacy, marketing and promotion which is of interest to both school librarians - in making sure everyone knows what the library offers and values it - and teachers who may not yet be using their school library to its full potential. Send us a message

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Podcast details

Created by: Katy Donnelly and Alison Palmer
Status: Active
Latest episode: Nov 3, 2026
Episodes: 86
Release period: Several times a week
Avg. episode length: 36 min
Explicit: No
Language: English

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