Jon Biddle

Thoroughly enjoyed Picture Day by Sarah Sax. A graphic novel about friendship, school life, the perils of social media and the inevitable dramas that happen on school photo day. Lots of fun, with a huge amount to talk about.

The author @jamescarterpoet.bsky.social consistently produces outstanding non-fiction poetry for young readers. Off They Go!, Watch Them Grow! and Who Are We?, all illustrated by James Munro, focus on the natural world and are absolutely wonderful. Ideal for KS1 and LKS2. @graffegbooks.bsky.social

Poetry Pizza by Simon Mole (illustrated by Tom McLaughlin) is a glorious collection of poems for children. Funny, heartwarming, thoughtful and cleverly written. This will be a major player in our Poem of the Day slot over the next few months. Would work well across KS2. @otterbarrybooks.bsky.social

Thank you. padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...

Ghost Town by Eric Colossal is a lot of fun. A high-energy graphic novel, perfect for Y5/6. It's basically a cross between Scooby-Doo (when it was good) and Stranger Things (when it was good). Looking forward to adding it to the classrooom shelves next week.

Between them, the Lightfall and Amulet series of graphic novels have had an incredible impact on children's reading over the past few years. With @timprobert.bsky.social's fourth Lightfall book on the way pretty soon, it's the perfect time to reread the first three.

With Ramadan starting yesterday, it's the perfect time to spotlight Almost Sunset by Wahab Algarmi. It's a really engaging and enjoyable graphic novel that gives readers an insight into the religious and cultural tradition. I loved the main character. Highly recommended for Y5/6.

Absolutely!

Unfortunately it's the reality, at least in the UK.

Sadly, not enough schools have a librarian.

How can schools support teachers with keeping up to date with children's literature? Is time prioritised for it and, if so, how? Or is it left for people to do in their own time? I understand the challenges around fitting it in, but it's valuable CPD and needs to be recognised as such.

Half-term this week so the ideal time to visit your local independent children's bookshop. Personalised recommendations and great service. There are over 200 on my map so do take a look, and let me know of any I've missed.

padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...

Our Reading Champions spent some time this week finding out about which children's books are being published in 2026 and then helping create a display. It was fantastic to see other pupils getting excited about a new book in a favourite series or from a favourite author.

London Schools Literature Festival We're proud to provide 20,000+ places on our FREE Programme to state primary schools all over London, from May 21 - 26 June 2026.

If you work at a primary school in London, do sign up for the London Schools Literature Festival in May and June. Bookings opened today, with over 20,000 free places for London pupils. The list of children's authors and poets attending is absolutely huge.
More info here: www.londonschoolslitfest.org

Just finished The Waters and the Wild by Eilish Fisher, and can't even begin to express how much I loved it. A beautifully layered verse novel that explores grief, loss, family and so much more. David Rooney's illustrations are stunning. It's very special indeed.

Just finished The Waters and the Wild by Eilish Fisher, and can't even begin to express how much I loved it. A beautifully layered verse novel that explores grief, loss, family and so much more. David Rooney's illustrations are stunning. It's very special indeed.

Delighted to take part in @empathylabuk.bsky.social's #ReadForEmpathy Discovery tour. I enjoyed all the books in the 2026 collection but one of my favourites is People Like Stars by @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social. A beautifully layered intertwining narrative, with a range of richly drawn characters.

The new @empathylabuk.bsky.social #ReadForEmpathy collection is released today. Both the primary and secondary lists consist of a wonderful range of children's books, including graphic novels, poetry, picturebooks and non-fiction. Find out more about the lists here: empathylab.uk

If you teach in KS2, make sure you watch rapper & storyteller Alim Kamara's National Storytelling Week video (made with @literacy-trust.bsky.social). My class loved it & ended up writing some pretty special raps of their own. www.youtube.com/live/cAoZPrJ...

(EYFS, KS1 & KS3 resources available too)

Proud to support @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social and #ReadItForward 2026! Buy any children's book during February and @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social will donate 10% to @booktrust.org.uk and @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social . You'll also be supporting indie bookshops: uk.bookshop.org/lists/verse-...

Colourful cover for the comic Pets Tell Tales: Ancient Rome featuring various cartoon animals smashing through a line of Roman soldiers. A wolf and a dog growl at each other in the foreground.

Cartoon illustration of a rooster riding on the back of a white goat who is knocking off the head of a large marble statue.

Only TEN more days until "Pets Tell Tales: Ancient Rome" will be on shelves in bookstores! You can also order it now: tinyurl.com/PetsRome

A kids' comic by @rikworth.bsky.social & me that tackles some of the big topics of the ancient world of humans, from the perspective of animals.

Proud to support @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social and #ReadItForward 2026! Buy any children's book during February and @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social will donate 10% to @booktrust.org.uk and @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social . You'll also be supporting indie bookshops: uk.bookshop.org/lists/verse-...

I'm a huge fan of @jencarney.bsky.social's Famous series, and book three, The Day My Brother Got Famous, is the best so far. After his dog and school, it's Ferris's new foster brother's turn to hit the headlines. Funny, emotional and very enjoyable. Ideal for Y3/4 and a great class story.

Poet @nealzetterpoet.bsky.social has built a wonderful back catalogue of children's poetry books over recent years. His latest, Small Poems for Big Imaginations, is another great collection - ideal for performing in the classroom, either individually or in groups. Perfect for KS2.

The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood: School Inspectors! by Farhana Islam (illustrated by Simran Diamond Singh) is a huge amount of fun. The post-SATs party is cancelled when a phone call to the headteacher causes total panic. Very entertaining with lovable characters. Ideal for Y3/4.

I love the effort our pupils put into their class Reading Scrapbooks. The reading-related conversations they lead to are fantastic, with lots of intertextual links, peer recommendations and debate about favourite characters.

If anyone would like to host a Q&A on their blog about my new middlegrade book THE DAD TRAP, do let me know!

@slatterymr.bsky.social @jonnybid.bsky.social @letterboxlibrary.bsky.social @sla.org.uk

#KidLit #BookSky #PrimaryEduSky

This is a huge opportunity for aspiring children's authors!
@dfbstoryhouse.bsky.social and @arvonfoundation.bsky.social are inviting unpublished writers to submit their work for the chance to win a publishing contract with DFB, plus access to an Arvon writing course. Info: davidficklingbooks.com

Some great recommendations, Tom.

Each week, when my pupils update their recommendations shelf, it reminds me of the popularity of graphic novels. They're an essential part of the classroom reading diet. Amulet, Swim Team, Bunny vs Monkey, InvestiGATORS, Smile, Mr Wolf's Class... they need to be on the shelves!