Jon Biddle

If you're after a Christmas picturebook that will be adored from Reception to Year 6, you can't go wrong with How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen. Funny, surreal and extremely entertaining.

Young Poet Laureate | National Literacy Trust The Young Poet Laureate Programme programme aims to inspire a new generation of young poets, championing young poetic voices and developing children and young people’s literacy, creativity and confide...

Do consider getting involved with the Young Poet Laureate programme, organised by @literacy-trust.bsky.social . It's an exciting way to champion young poetic voices and really raise the profile of poetry in schools. More information here: literacytrust.org.uk/programmes/y...

Definitely! Crept under my radar.

Joint No. 17 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is “Nightmare Jones” by #SharonBramer & #CindyDerby.
A deliciously dark compendium of verse, witches, ghosts, and grotesque art that feels like a lost classic. Poetry + haunting illustrations = pure spooky magic. #PicturebookPage @jonnybid.bsky.social one for U

Each week, our Year 5/6 Reading Buddies go and read empathy-rich picturebooks and talk about empathy with pupils in EYFS and KS1. Between them, they've created a bank of 20 questions to use as a starting point. Please feel free to download from my Padlet.

padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...

At the @empathylabuk.bsky.social conference today, with a great lineup of speakers.

@lawrencepatrice.bsky.social @amdassu.bsky.social @jonnybid.bsky.social

#EmpathyEducation #ReadingForPleasure

Young Poet Laureate | National Literacy Trust The Young Poet Laureate Programme programme aims to inspire a new generation of young poets, championing young poetic voices and developing children and young people’s literacy, creativity and confide...

Do sign up for the @literacy-trust.bsky.social Young Poet's Week online masterclasses, featuring Zohab Zee Zhan and Laura Mucha for KS2 (24th November), and Karl Nova and Nikita Gill for KS3 (25th November). A great way to raise the profile of poetry in schools. literacytrust.org.uk/programmes/y...

Thank you! I've reserved a place, looks great. Can't make it live but hope it's recorded.

Write to Read: Motivating and Engaging Literacy Learners Centre for Literacy and Social Justice Seminar

Do join us on Tuesday for this free seminar www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/write-to-r... it’ll be useful! @kashleyenglish.bsky.social @debrakidd.bsky.social @jonnybid.bsky.social @jonny-walker.bsky.social @raesnape.bsky.social @primarychamp.bsky.social @benniekara.bsky.social please share! All welcome!

YouTube video by National Literacy Trust Official Early Years Settings Offer - National Year of Reading 2026

The schools and early years offer for the National Year of Reading has been released. The links to the @literacy-trust.bsky.social videos are below.
EYFS: www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8YH...
Primary: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw8X...
Secondary: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpLQ...
Please share widely.

Do join us at this free research and practice seminar www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/write-to-r... @jonnybid.bsky.social @edfinch.bsky.social @firststory.bsky.social @minilebowski.bsky.social

This one, yes. The other one, no. Thank you!

BooksForTopics: Recommended children's books and booklists sorted by age or topic BooksForTopics help millions of users each year find recommended children’s books, including booklists for primary curriculum subjects, the best new children’s books, and recommendations of the best b...

Thank you. For this age group, I'd head to @booksfortopics.bsky.social and look at their EYFS lists. www.booksfortopics.com

A few here, Jon.

At least.

I've got lots of amazing picturebooks about the oceans but now looking for a couple more. Any recommendations gratefully received!

Not to be missed/not long to book: *Reconstructing Reading: translating research into powerful
practice*

Hear from Timothy Shanahan, Jan Hasbrouck, Young-Suk Grace Kim, Kate Cain, Kate Nation & more.

See video below for full lineup.
Full info/bookings: literacytrust.org.uk/events/recon...

I have read it and it's great.

This morning, I had a conversation with my Y6 class about mobile phones which lasted far longer than intended. Many admitted they were on them almost constantly when not in school and talked about feeling addicted. We all know this anyway but it was a frightening confirmation.

I've enjoyed all of Kirsty Applebaum's previous novels but this is my favourite so far. Atmospheric and perfectly constructed with cleverly overlapping storylines. As well as having a wonderful plot, it explores bullying and peer pressure. Ideal for Y5/6. @nosycrow.bsky.social

Just made a few tweaks to my overview for a weekly picturebook assembly which focuses on empathy, inclusion and diversity. Please feel free to use and adapt. The link is on my Padlet, along with lots of other resources: padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...

Reading Floodland by Marcus Sedgwick with my Y5/6 class is always an absolute pleasure. Not a single word is wasted! Six lines in and we're already straight into the action. Such a talented writer and such a sad loss.

If you're looking to build a school collection of graphic novels, @scholasticuk.bsky.social have just launched a great new deal. Their Graphic Novel Book Box is updated every term with ten new graphic novels and loads of bonus posters and bookmarks.
Link here: shop.scholastic.co.uk/products/160...

If you're looking to build a school collection of graphic novels, @scholasticuk.bsky.social have just launched a great new deal. Their Graphic Novel Book Box is updated every term with ten new graphic novels and loads of bonus posters and bookmarks.
Link here: shop.scholastic.co.uk/products/160...

The @empathylabuk.bsky.social conference on Thu 27th Nov is going to be superb. The links between reading and empathy are very powerful. Fantastic speakers, including @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social, @teresacremin.bsky.social and @amdassu.bsky.social. More info here: empathylab.uk/raising-gene...

I love a children's author who knows their Greek mythology and Annelise Gray clearly does. The Odyssey of Phoebe Quilliam is a fantastic adventure story, full of action and drama, but with plenty of quieter and more reflective moments too. It's a great read for Year 5/6.

Young Poet Laureate | National Literacy Trust The Young Poet Laureate Programme programme aims to inspire a new generation of young poets, championing young poetic voices and developing children and young people’s literacy, creativity and confide...

A great way to celebrate poetry in schools! The Young Poet Laureate Programme kicks off with the first Young Poets Week during the week of 24th Nov. Free online sessions for KS2/KS3 pupils plus free resources. Thank you @literacy-trust.bsky.social. Info here: literacytrust.org.uk/programmes/y...

Independent children's publisher Knights Of set to close Award-winning inclusive children’s publisher Knights Of is set to close, The Bookseller understands, with accountancy firm Hart Shaw instructed to place the company in liquidation, pending a vote of t...

This is really sad news. Knights Of are exactly the kind of publisher that the children's book world needs.
www.thebookseller.com/news/indepen...

The #ReconstructingReading online festival takes place during the week of 17th November. @literacy-trust.bsky.social have put together a line-up of outstanding speakers. Tickets are available for individual sessions or the entire week. More info here: literacytrust.org.uk/training-and...

Have spent the day reading some of the books shortlisted for the @empathylabuk.bsky.social Read for Empathy collection. It always inspires me. So many wonderful things can happen in a classroom when you use the right story or poem.