School Reading List

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 36

For transcripts, resources & show notes, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-36/

Part 1
Book post

Letters from the Upside by Katya Balen
All About Antarctica by Marc Martin
To Activate Space Portal Lift Here by Antoinette Portis
The Bear Who Wanted to Dance by Stephanie Stansbie
Squirrel and Bird by Laura Baker and Stacey Thomas
Pizza Pete and the Peculiar Professor by Carrie Sellon
The Diary of Whiska Wildflower by Harriet Muncaster
Time Travel Is NOT My Superpower by Nathanael Lessore
Coach by Jason Reynolds
Scarlet Morning by N. D. Stevenson
Space Tour by Collins Kids
Kofi and the Brand New Vibe by Jeffrey Boakye
The Lion Cub’s Secret by Lauren St John
Owl King by Bex Hogan
Be Right Back by Bill Wood
We Three Witches by Rosie Talbot
The Transition by Logan-Ashley Kisner

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in November 2025

Silent Night by Emma Read
Ask Me Anything by Bethany Rutter
Rune: The Tale of the Obsidian Maze by Carlos Sanchez
Coach by Jason Reynolds & Selom Sunu
Wild Journey by A. M. Dassu & Joe Lillington
Spin a Story by Catherine Brereton & Susie Brooks
Ghost by Finbar Hawkins
The Gland Factory by Rachel Poliquin & Clayton Hanmer
A Field Guide to Winter by Gabby Dawnay & Dorien Brouwers
Hot Food: Nice! by Michael Rosen & Neal Layton
The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer
The Snow Girl by Sophie Anderson & Melissa Castrillon
Dinosaur Friends by Miles Kelly
Anya's Quest by Jasbinder Bilan & Jane Ray
Snow by Meera Trehan
Bluey: The Sign by Bluey
Hilda and Twig: Wake the Ice Man by Luke Pearson
My Small World: Frozen by Caryl Hart & Harry Woodgate
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
Mullets by Nick Sharratt
X-Mas Marks the Spot by Paul Westmoreland
My Big Fat Christmas Poo Diary by Jim Smith
We Fell Apart by E. Lockhart
Dog Man 14: Big Jim Believes by Dav Pilkey
What If… Every Volcano Erupted at Once? by Emma Young & Super Freak
Planet Earth by Shoshana Weider
Girls Like Me by Rebel Girls
Things Scientists Don't Know Yet by Peter Gallivan & Daniela Gamba
Robotics by Kate Peridot
The Secret History of Christmas by Catherine Saunders

November 2025 books of the month

Fiction: Wild Journey by A. M. Dassu
Nonfiction: Flush It Down by Rob Flowers
Picture book: Mullets by Nick Sharratt

Part 2
Careers books for children and teens

New book pitches: The Collaborator by TG Trouper, Sally the Spider’s new shoes by Clodagh Ryan, Anna Denton & The Water of Life by Vaughan Hawthorne-Nelson

Part 3Using AI to help students with difficult GCSE set books

Credits & licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 35

For transcripts, resources & show notes, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-35/

Part 1
Book post

Everything Amplified by Sarah Lippett and Ziggy Hanaor
The Incredible Pop-up Frog by Ben Hoare
Oh Dear, Look What I Got! by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
The Cave Downwind of the Café by Mikey Please
I See a Star by Saskia Gwinn
Hank Meets Frank by Maudie Powell-Tuck and Duncan Beedie
Brown Girl in the Snow by Yolanda T. Marshall
This Book is Too Quiet! by Cristina Cubells
Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature by Caroline Brewer
More Tales from Shakespeare by Michael Morpurgo
Tales of Ghosts and Hauntings by Susan Martineau
Bigg School: Selfie Queen by Lisa Williamson
The Fate of Podkin One-Ear by Kieran Larwood
Keep Your Friends Close by Cynthia Murphy
Sad Girl Hours by Anna Zoe Quirke
A Match Made in Hell by Charlotte Ingham

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in October 2025

Wyrdwood by Curtis Jobling
Squirrel and Bird by Laura Baker & Stacey Thomas
The Street Where Santa Lives by Harriet Howe
Roar by Manjeet Mann
Avalanche by Simon Fox
The Notted Island by Katherine Child
The Forever Bear by Lu Fraser
Classic Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen
The Bear Who Wanted to Dance by Stephanie Stansbie
The Boy Who Grew Dragons: A Christmas Delivery by Andy Shepherd & Sarah Warburton
The Ocean at Night by Isabelle Simler
My Friend, Billy Whiskers by David Litchfield
The Butterfly House by Harry Woodgate
The Story of Gold by Meel Tamphanon
The Fantastical Safari by Kristjana S Williams
Atlas of Mythical Journeys by Iryna Dobrovetska
Be Right Back by Bill Wood
You've Found Oliver by Dustin Thao
Ice Dancer by Alex Cotter
Soup Time Around the World by Denyse Waissbluth
The House with the Little Red Door by Grace Easton
The Hidden Wisdom of Animals by Kate Siber
Forest of Hearts by M.A. Kuzniar
Step Inside a Fairy Tale by Helen Mortimer
Exploring the Universe by Isabel Thomas
Coach by Jason Reynolds
Time for a Bath, Animals by Ben Lerwill
Vote Wolf by Davide Cali & Magali Clavelet
Witchlore by Emma Hinds
Moth Dark by Kika Hatzopoulou
The Last Day of October by Phil Hickes

October 2025 books of the month

Fiction: Letters from the Upside by Katya Balen
Nonfiction: All About Antarctica by Marc Martin
Picture book: To Activate Space Portal Lift Here by Antoinette Portis

Part 2
Myths for children

New book pitches: The Collaborator by TG Trouper, Sally the Spider’s new shoes by Clodagh Ryan, Anna Denton & The Water of Life by Vaughan Hawthorne-Nelson

Part 3A library in every primary: what £10m means

Credits & licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 34

For transcripts & show notes see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-34/

Part 1
Book post

Gloam by Jack Mackay
There Are Amphibians Everywhere by Britta Teckentrup
The Museum of Shapes by Sven Volker
How to Catch an Idea by Forest Xiao
The Coming of the Iron Man by Ted Hughes
My Brother Is a Tiger by Joaquin Camp
Luna Grace: Girl from Outer Space by Julie Sykes
Map to Starlight Hollow by Rebecca Lewis-Oakes
The Notwitches: Prison Break by Gary Panton
How to Get Magically Popular by Radhika Sanghani
Moonboy by Anna Ciddor
Wintour's Fate by Brían Dungan
iNSiDE by Sally Gales
Girls of Dark Divine by E. V. Woods

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in September 2025

Old Oak and Little Acorn by Elena Mannion & Erin Brown
The Guardians of Dreamdark: Windwitch by Laini Taylor
Britannica All New Children’s Encyclopedia by Christopher Lloyd
History's Most Epic Fails by Athena Kugblenu
Hank Meets Frank by Maudie Powell-Tuck
What Feelings Do at Night by Tina Oziewicz
Everybody Has a Fear by Koleka Putuma & Amanda Mijangos
The Cave Downwind of the Café by Mikey Please
The Search for Our Cosmic Neighbours by Chloe Savage
Whoosh!: Adventures with Grandad by Sam Usher
Dance of Resistance by Catherine Johnson
The Rebel and the Rose by Catherine Doyle
Thirst by Darren Simpson
The Wizard's Guide to Magical Experiments by Amanda Wood
Role Model by Elle McNicoll
Dead Yard: Seeds of Doom by P. J. Killburn
Fold-Out + Play: Doll's House by Ingela P Arrhenius
Where the Dead Live by Sam Fern and Romolo D’Hipolito
The Fear by Tom Palmer
Talk Like an Aztec by Tegen Evans & Nina Chakrabarti
A Tree is a Time Machine by Rob Sears & Tom Sears
No Escape by M.A. Bennett
By sea and sky by Lela Nargi & Xuan Le
The Incredible Pop-up Frog by Ben Hoare
Fright Club: Let's Boo This! by Sibeal Pounder
Letters from the Upside by Katya Balen
BUST OR TRUST by Small Wardour & Sam Peet
Mythical Tales by Laura Sampson & Lilla Bolecz
Champions of the Galaxy by Tola Okogwu
Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron

September 2025 books of the month

Fiction: Everything Amplified by Sarah Lippett & Ziggy Hanaor
Nonfiction: The Incredible Pop-up Frog by Ben Hoare & Jasmine Floyd
Picture book: Oh Dear, Look What I Got! by Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury

Part 2
Our rundown of new children's and YA books for Autumn 2025.

New book pitches: The Collaborator by TG Trouper, Sally the Spider’s new shoes by Clodagh Ryan, Anna Denton & The Water of Life by Vaughan Hawthorne-Nelson

Part 3Books that rival screens and social media

Credits & licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 33

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-33/

Part 1
Book post

Super Goat Girl by Tracey Baptiste, illustrated by Dapo Adeola
Domain by Rohan Gavin
Dinosaur Desert: A Prehistoric Journey of Discovery by Dr Nick Crumpton
Go Go Dodo! by Huw Lewis Jones, illustrated by Fred Blunt
Every Botty Burps by Becky Wilson, illustrated by Alex Patrick
George and Lenny Are Always Together by Jon Agee
Farah's Nose by Humera Malik
My Big Fat Smelly Poo Diary 3 by Jim Smith
The Poetry World of John Agard by John Agard
Cruise Ship Kid by Emma Swan
Mission: Monster Mind by Philip Kavvadias
Rayleigh Mann and the Quest of Misfits by Ciannon Smart
Things I Learned While I Was Dead by Kathryn Clark
Poison Tides by Jay McGuiness
Den of Liars by Jessica S. Olson

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in August 2025

The Moonlighters by Lee Newbery
Maisie vs the Himalayas by Jack Jackman
Shoes!: A footwear fashion frolic by Anna Davies and Daisy Wynter
The Museum of Shapes by Sven Volker
Bear by Kiri Lightfoot
Let's Be Earthlings by Mary Murphy
All Together Now: Collected Poems by Michaela Morgan
Gloam by Jack Mackay
The Coming of the Iron Man by Ted Hughes and Mini Grey
Love on Sight by Asli Jensen
The Notwitches: Prison Break by Gary Panton
A First Book of Bugs by Simon Mole and Adam Ming
There Are Amphibians Everywhere by Britta Teckentrup
How to Catch an Idea by Forest Xiao
Enter the Endgame by Triona Campbell
Pooems by Kes Gray
The Forest of Dreams by Merve Atilgan
Sometimes You Find a Dragon by Viviane Schwarz
Dungeon Runners: Ocean Chase by Kieran Larwood and Joe Todd Stanton
iNSiDE by S.A. Gales
You and Me and the Peanut-Butter Beast by Andy Griffiths
Girls of Dark Divine by E.V. Woods
Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb and Erin Kraan
Oxford Blood by Rachael Davis-Featherstone
A Totally Big Umbrella by Sarah Crossan and Rebecca Cobb
Colin’s Grandma by Holly Swain
The Game I Will Never Forget by Onjali Q. Rauf
Not Going To Plan by Tia Fisher
Little Snail Goes House-Hunting by Bia Melo
Fox and the Mystery Letter by Alex G Griffiths
Geomancer: The Ship of Strays by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

August 2025 books of the month

Fiction: Gloam by Jack Mackay
Nonfiction: There Are Amphibians Everywhere by Britta Teckentrup
Picture book: The Museum of Shapes by Sven Volker

Part 2
Audiobooks for Teens

New book pitches: A Book of Baby Birds by I. S. Thomas, Sally the Spider’s new shoes by Clodagh Ryan, Anna Denton & The Water of Life by Vaughan Hawthorne-Nelson

Part 3The National Year of Reading 2026

Credits & licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 32

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-32/

Part 1
Book post

Skipshock by Caroline O’Donoghue
The Great Pollination Investigation by Deborah Hocking
Snarky Sharky by Bethan Clarke, illustrated by Nikolas Ilic
I Hear the Trees by Zaro Weil
Carnival Queen by Donette Williams-Harry, illustrated by Amelie-Anne Calmo
My Friend May by Julie Flett
Noah’s New Home by Zeshan Akhter, illustrated by Nabila Adani
You Decide Your Adventure by Bear Grylls
Words Can Fly by Donna Ashworth and Eirinn McGuiness
Naeli and the Secret Song by Jasbinder Bilan
Greenwild: The Forest in the Sky by Pari Thomson
Alyssa and the Enchanted Forest by Alexandra Sheppard
Run Away with Me by J. L. Simmonds
Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian
Kill Creatures by Rory Power

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in July 2025

Go Go Dodo! by Huw Lewis Jones & Fred Blunt
Every Botty Burps by Becky Wilson and Alex Patrick
Domain by Rohan Gavin
Mission: Monster Mind by Philip Kavvadias
Rayleigh Mann and the Quest of Misfits by Ciannon Smart
Poison Tides by Jay McGuiness
George and Lenny Are Always Together by Jon Agee
Blue, Barry & Pancakes 3: Mount Choco Meltdown by Jason Patterson & Dan Abdo
When The Storm Comes by Polly Ho-Yen
Duck Delivers by Tom Tinn-Disbury
Cosmo Park by Madeleine Finlay & Tom Dearie
The Poetry World of John Agard by John Agard
Running My Own Race by Abena Eyeson
Runaways by E.L. Norry
Insectarium Activity Book by Dave Goulson
My Big Fat Smelly Poo Diary 3 by Jim Smith
Super Goat Girl by Tracey Baptiste & Dapo Adeola
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
The Starlight Rebel by Lisette Auton
The Last Pebble by Alex Horne
The Goldens by Lauren Wilson
Pablo and Splash: Roman Holiday by Sheena Dempsey
How To Save Your Granny From a Runaway Train by Swapna Haddow & Jess Bradley
My Soul, A Shining Tree by Jamila Gavin
Home Has No Borders by Sona Charaipotra & Samira Ahmed
The Magic in You by Mat Ricardo
The Museum of Lost Umbrellas by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
The Secret Life of Clouds by Moira Butterfield & Vivian Mineker
Dinosaur Desert by Dr Nick Crumpton
Farah's Nose by Humera Malik
Grimwood: Rock the Vote! by Nadia Shireen

July 2025 books of the month

Fiction: Domain by Rohan Gavin
Nonfiction: Dinosaur Desert by Dr Nick Crumpton and Ola Plocinska
Picture book: Super Goat Girl by Tracey Baptiste, illustrated by Dapo Adeola

Part 2
Our Children’s books for school prize giving awards

New book pitches: • The Fighting Spirit by Rob Keeley, Sally the Spider’s new shoes by Clodagh Ryan, Anna Denton & The Water of Life by Vaughan Hawthorne-Nelson

Part 3What are picture books, and why are they useful?

Credits & licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 31

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-31/

Part 1
Book post

A Flash of Neon by Sophie Cameron
Volcano by Claire Saxby & Jess Racklyeft
I’m going to make a friend by Darren Chetty & Sandhya Prabhat
The Man Who Loved Libraries by Andrew Larsen & Katty Maurey
The Glass Heart by Sally Gardner
Mummy Mayhem by Cat Weldon & Nene Lonergan
The Squid Squad by Aoife Doole
River Crest Rescue by Paul Ian Cross
Tales of Scary Beasts by Susan Martineau
Vivi Conway and the Lost Hero by Lizzie Huxley-Jones
The Blockbusters! by Frank Cottrell-Boyce
The Battle of Farrowfell by Ravena Guron
I Dare You by Tamsin Winter
All the Lost Souls by Amie Jordan

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in June 2025

Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian
Carnival Queen by Donette Williams-Harry & Amelie-Anne Calmo
Snarky Sharky by Bethan Clarke & Nikolas Ilic
Choose Your Own Evolution by Jules Howard & Gordy Wright
Words Can Fly by Donna Ashworth
Greenwild: The Forest in the Sky by Pari Thomson
The Shell Keepers by Truly Johnston
Naeli and the Secret Song by Jasbinder Bilan
Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel
Don't Let Me Go by Kevin Christopher Snipes
Rock Band: Music and Misfits by Leah Osakwe
Inside Your Brain by Lucy Ann Unwin
Nautical by Matt Ralphs & Dieter Braun
A Field Guide to Summer by Gabby Dawnay & Dorien Brouwers
The Lost Book of Undersea Adventure by Teddy Keen
Augmented by Kenechi Udogu
Space by Gaby Morgan
Alyssa and the Enchanted Forest by Alexandra Sheppard
I Hear The Trees by Zaro Weil
Escape Room: Game Zero by Christopher Edge
Nate Yu's Blast from the Past by Maisie Chan
Kerfuffle Bird by Helen Docherty & Gwen Millward
The Dawn of Adonis by Phil Earle
Letters from Wonderland by Josie George
Yelp! Yeti! Chaos in Kathmandu by Sneha Prahan
My Enemy, My Friend by Elizabeth Laird
Run Away With Me by J. L. Simmonds
Wish You Were Her by Elle McNicoll
A Box Full of Murders by Janice Hallett
Netta Becker and the Timeline Crime by Jennifer Claessen

June 2025 books of the month

Fiction: Skipshock by Caroline O'Donoghue
Nonfiction: The Great Pollination Investigation by Deborah Hocking
Picture book: Snarky Sharky by Bethan Clarke, illustrated by Nikolas Ilic

Part 2
Our football-themed books for children

New book pitches: The Fighting Spirit by Rob Keeley, Zee Zee The Humble Bee by Michael Obiora. Molly the Moo by Paul Simpson

Part 3How reading between the ages of 11 and 16 can help teens get better jobs

Credits & licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 30

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-30/

Part 1
Book post

Under a Fire-Red Sky by Geraldine McCaughrean
Our Tree by Jessica Meserve
We are All Animals by Ben Hoare and Christopher Lloyd, illustrated by Mark Ruffle
Real-life Mysteries: Tales of Scary Beasts by Susan Martineau, illustrated by Vicky Barker
How Not to Share a Pizza by Tracy Curren, illustrated by Lauren Beard
I Am Strong Just Being Me by Laura Dockrill and Kip Alizadeh
Hank Goes Honk by Maudie Powell-Tuck and Duncan Beedie
Blue, Barry and Pancakes 2 by Dan Abdo & Jason Patterson
Jack-Jack and the Return of the Chickens by Ben Garrod
The Boy with Big Decisions by Helen Rutter
The First Year by Matt Goodfellow
Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed by Eve Wersocki Morris
Dreamslinger by Graci Kim
Not That Kind Of Hero by Alexia Casale
Solo by Grainne O'Brien
Where Shadows Meet by Patrice Caldwell

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in May 2025

Land of the Last Wildcat by Lui Sit
A Flash of Neon by Sophie Cameron
I'm Going to Make a Friend by Darren Chetty & Sandhya Prabhat
So Devin Wore a Skirt by Shireen Lalji & Lucy Fleming
Traumaland by Josh Silver
Valley of the Vikings by Liz Kessler
Evie and Maryam's Family Tree by Janeen Hayat
Shrapnel Boys by Jenny Pearson
Piet Cools Off by Peter & Carina Wohlleben
The Boy in the Tree by Lisa Thompson
The Thrashers by Julie Soto
Breakthrough by Omar Sharif
Epic Cities by Sam Sedgman & Daniel Long
The Other Girl by Emily Barr
Get Dressed! By Katy Canales
Epic FACTopia! By Rose Davidson
The Glass Heart by Sally Gardner
Letters to a Dog by Piers Torday
SuperQuesters Mission: River Crest Rescue by Paul Ian Cross
Out There in the Wild by James Carter, Dom Conlon & Nicola Davies
A Killing at the Box Office by Paul Westmoreland
The World of Maxime by Lucile de Pesloan
Stitch Head: The Pirate's Eye by Guy Bass & Pete Williamson
The Squid Squad by Aoife Dooley
Little Lim and the Golden Treasure by Frann Preston-Gannon
The Blockbusters! By Frank Cottrell-Boyce
The Battle of Farrowfell by Ravena Guron
The Man Who Loved Libraries by Andrew Larsen & Katty Maure
I Dare You by Tamsin Winter
Aliya and the Shop of Second Chances by Laila Rifaat
All the Lost Souls by Amie Jordan

May 2025 books of the month

Fiction: A Flash of Neon by Sophie Cameron
Nonfiction: Volcano by Claire Saxby & Jess Racklyeft
Picture book: I'm going to make a friend by Darren Chetty & Sandhya Prabhat

Part 2
Our recommended books for preschool

New book pitches: The Fighting Spirit by Rob Keeley, Zee Zee The Humble Bee by Michael Obiora. Molly the Moo by Paul Simpson

Part 3Investing in Your School Library Can Boost Your School Inspection Grade!

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 29

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-29/

Part 1
Book post

Mr Norton's New Hat by Huw Lewis Jones and Corey Egbert
Into the Ice: Reflections on Antarctica by Alison Lester & Coral Tulloch
Please Don't Read the Footnotes Please by Rob Walton, illustrated by Reena Makwana
Meet Amber Class by Enomwoyi Damali, illustrated by Ruthine Burton
Bad Panda: For Sale by Swapna Haddow
Grumpfort by Jamie Hammond
Solving Crimes Is NOT My Superpower by Nathanael Lessore, illustrated by Simran Diamond Singh
The Magnificent Book of Trees by Tony Russell, illustrated by Val Walerczuk & Simon Treadwell
Rebel Heart by Ally Sherrick
School of Doom by Sarah Harrison
Beastlands: Legend of the Crystal Caves by Jess French
Fury, Fire and Frost by Robert Muchamore
Missing Link by Anthony Kessel
Normal Women Making History for 900 Years by Philippa Gregory
Nightweaver by R. M. Gray

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in April 2025

Run Away With Me by Brian Selznick
The Line They Drew Through Us by Hiba Noor Khan
Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed by Eve Wersocki Morris
Peregrine Quinn and the Mask of Chaos by Ash Bond
The Boy with Big Decisions by Helen Rutter
Under a Fire-Red Sky by Geraldine McCaughrean
Not That Kind Of Hero by Alexia Casale
The First Year by Matt Goodfellow
The Last House in the Row by Lesley Parr
Odd Girl Out by Tasneem Abdur-Rashid
Fishfolk by Steven Quincey-Jones
I Am Raven by Alastair Chisholm
Snails of the Unexpected by Terrie Chilvers
Light by Jess Wade & Ana Sanfelippo
Michael Rosen's Pocket Shakespeare by Michael Rosen & Chris Riddell
Life (As We Know It) by Ziggy Hanaor & Cristobal Schmal
Weird Philosophy by Brandon Robshaw
Becoming Grace by Hilary McKay
The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood by Farhana Islam
Hercules: Hero to Zero? By Tom Vaughan
Matched Up by Jenny Ireland
The Girl with the Red Boots by Alex Wheatle
What Happens Online by Nathanael Lessore
Botticelli's Apprentice by Ursula Murray Husted
The Mirror World by Femi Fadugba
Rainforest by DK
Starminster: The Month of Birthdays by Megan Hopkins
Food for All by Mary Hoffman & Ros Asquith
Quiet Riot by Nadia Finer
Our Tree by Jessica Meserve

April 2025 books of the month

Fiction: Under a Fire-Red Sky by Geraldine McCaughrean
Nonfiction: We are All Animals by Ben Hoare and Christopher Lloyd, illustrated by Mark Ruffle
Picture book: Our Tree by Jessica Meserve

Part 2
Our recommended books for reception classrooms

New book pitches: Oakley the Superhero by Roxanne Constantine; The Tilly and Harry Adventures by Ashton Moon; Danny the Ducky and Gilly the Goose by Dushka Petkovich

Part 3Do Children Read More Than We Think?

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 28

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-28/

Part 1
Book post

Diary Of A Future Billionaire by Pamela Butchart, illustrated by Wotto
Surviving Vesuvius by Christopher Harrisson, illustrated by Beth Waters
Paloma Flies Away by María J. Guarda
I Really Really Love My Noisy Bum by Karl Newson and Duncan Beedie
Let’s Play Rugby by Gordon D’Arcy and Paul Howard
Detective Stanley and the Mystery at the Museum by Hannah Tunnicliffe and Erica Harrison
The Notwitches by Gary Panton, illustrated by Dotty Sutton
Be the Change by Robin Greenfield and Antonia Banyard
Speedwheels 3000: The Race Against Crime by Jenny Pearson, illustrated by Katie Kear and Nick East
School for Fireflies by Erica Gomez
Shiver Point: Beneath the Ghostly Graves by Gabriel Dylan
Red Flags by Sophie Jo
Mondays are Murder by Ravena Guron

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in March 2025

The Magnificent Book of Trees by Tony Russell
Mr Norton's New Hat by Huw Lewis Jones & Corey Egbert
The Bookshop Dog by Harriet Evans
Mary Fowler: Football Legends by Kit Cross
Noura's Crescent Moon by Zainab Khan
Wolf in the City by Rachel Tilda Wolf
Nightweaver by R.M. Gray
Songs for Ghosts by Clara Kumagai
The Deadly Fates by Dhonielle Clayton
Meet the Mubbles by Liz Pichon
Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna
Wild Magic: Legend of the Black Lion by Abiola Bello
Dadbot by Jack Noel
Stealing Happy by Brian Conaghan
When the Bones Sing by Ginny Myers Sain
A Home Is A Nest by Emma Carlisle
While We’re Young by K.L Walther
The Greatest Stuff on Earth by Steve Tomecek
The Appletree Animal Agency by Katya Balen
Please Don't Read The Footnotes Please by Rob Walton
After by Padraig Kenny
Puloma and the Bear by Jasbinder Bilan
See Inside AI by Alex Frith & Victoria Williams
Encyclopedia of Birds by Jules Howard
Away by Megan E. Freeman
Keep Smashing It by Jodie Ounsley
Bronte Tempestra and the Weather Witch by Bex Hogan
Hidden Treasure by Jessie Burton
The Beck by Anthony McGowan
Bigg School: Scaredy Cat by Lisa Williamson
Serial Chillers: The Witch in the Woods by Jennifer Killick

March 2025 books of the month

Fiction: Please Don't Read the Footnotes Please by Rob Walton, illustrated by Reena Makwana
Nonfiction: Into the Ice: Reflections on Antarctica by Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch
Picture book: Mr Norton's New Hat by Huw Lewis Jones and Corey Egbert

Part 2
Our recommended books for year 1 classrooms

New book pitches:• Oakley the Superhero by Roxanne Constantine; The Tilly and Harry Adventures by Ashton Moon; Danny the Ducky and Gilly the Goose by Dushka Petkovich

Part 3Is it time to rethink dressing up for World Book Day?

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 27

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-27/

Part 1
Book post

Loverboy by Ben Tomlinson
One Day: A True Story of Courage and Survival in the Holocaust by Michael Rosen and Benjamin Phillip
The Really Beautiful Thing by Frances Tosdevin
Guardians of the New Moon: The Year of the Rat by Eric Huang, illustrated by Phung Nguyen Quang
Sammy and the Stolen Paintings by Charlie P. Brooks
Mission: Manta Ray by Philip Kavvadis
Alex Neptune, Dragon Champion by David Owen, illustrated by George Ermos
People Like Stars by Patrice Lawrence
Murder for Two (A Tariq Twins Mystery) by Niyla Farook
The Zombie Project by Alice Nuttall
After Life by Gayle Forman
Bingsu For Two by Sujin Witherspoon
The Wilderness of Girls by Madeline Claire Franklin

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in February 2025

Paloma Flies Away by Maria J. Guarda
All Better Now by Neal Shusterman
Diary of a Future Billionaire by Pamela Butchart
Let's Play Rugby! By Gordon D'Arcy and Paul Howard
Red Flags by Sophie Jo
I Really, Really Love My Noisy Bum by Karl Newson & Duncan Beedie
Shiver Point: Beneath the Ghostly Graves by Gabriel Dylan
Black Star by Kwame Alexander
Mondays Are Murder by Ravena Guron
Island of Influencers by Monique Turner
Alan, King of the Universe by Tom McLaughlin
Dragon Riders of Roar by Jenny McLachlan & Alla Khatkevich
The Notwitches by Gary Panton & Dotty Sutton
Speedwheels 3000: The Race Against Crime by Jenny Pearson & Katie Kear
Boobies by Nancy Vo
My Big Fat Smelly Poo Diary 2 by Jim Smith
The Full Stop That Got Away by Laura Baker & Nathan Reed
The Boy at the Window by Lucy Strange & Rohan Eason
Wink, Murder: a Bletchley Park Mystery by Rhian Tracey
Surviving Vesuvius by Christopher Harrisson & Beth Waters
Destiny Ink: Birthday Secret by Adeola Sokunbi
Cloud Nine by Sue H. Cunningham
Wiggling Words by Kate Rolfe
The Found Things by Petr Horacek
Normal Women: Making History for 900 Years by Philippa Gregory
Pieces of Us by Stewart Foster
How To Roller-Skate with One Leg by Ella Dove
My Mum and Other Poems by Laura Dockrill

February 2025 books of the month

Fiction: Diary of a Future Billionaire by Pamela Butchart
Nonfiction: Surviving Vesuvius by Christopher Harrisson & Beth Waters
Picture book: Paloma Flies Away by Maria J. Guarda

Part 2
Our recommended books for year 2 classrooms

New book pitches:•Oakley the Superhero by Roxanne Constantine; Efua's Magic Stew by Angela Ackah-McIntyre; Danny the Ducky and Gilly the Goose by Dushka Petkovich

Part 3Why teaching discrete subjects and avoiding topic teaching encourages reading for pleasure.

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 26

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-26/

Part 1
Book post

A Symphony of Stories by James Mayhew
2025 Children's Almanac by Collins Kids
Traitors in Space: A Pick-Your-Own-Path Adventure by Tim Collins
My Name is a Gift by Zeshan Akhter
My First Ocean Atlas by Catherine Ard and Paul Daviz
Where to Hide a Star by Oliver Jeffers
A Beginners Guide to Choosing the Perfect Pet by Ali Rutstein
Jakub's Otter by Coral Rumble
Phantom Hearts by Rosie Talbot
How to Know a Crow by Candace Savage
Hi From Outer Space by Fiona Katauskas
So Over This by David Fenne

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in January 2025

Alex Neptune, Dragon Champion by David Owen
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer by Jeff Kinney
The Restaurant at the Edge of the World by Oliver Gerlach
Myths, Mummies and Magic in Ancient Egypt by Stephen Davies
Manifest for Kids: FOUR STEPS TO BEING THE BEST YOU by Roxie Nafousi
The Boy Who Didn't Want to Die: A Graphic Memoir by Peter Lantos
Mismatched by Anne Camlin
The End of the Story by Melissa de la Cruz
Guardians of the New Moon: Year of the Rat by Eric Huang
The Party by Natasha Preston
After Life by Gayle Forman
Squeak! Squawk! Roar!: Amazing Animal Poems by Kate Williams
The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold
Bingsu for Two by Sujin Witherspoon
The Vulpine by Polly Crosby
The Legendary Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud
Dear Black Boy by Martellus Bennett
One Day by Michael Rosen & Benjamin Phillips
Let the Light In by Jenny Downham by Louis Hill
The Zombie Project by Alice Nuttall
Murder for Two by Niyla Farook
Sahara by Christina Webb
The Boy I Love by William Hussey
Girl, Ultra-Processed by Amara Sage
Honeysuckle and Bone by Trisha Tobias
Til Death by Busayo Matuluko
People Like Stars by Patrice Lawrence
Buzz Club by Xena Knox
Hunt for the Golden Scarab by M. G. Leonard
Pinch Perkins and the Nightmare Tree by Cathy FitzGerald
Ice Apprentices by Jacob North

January 2025 books of the month

Fiction: Loverboy by Ben Tomlinson
Nonfiction: One Day by Michael Rosen and Benjamin Phillips
Picture book: The Really Beautiful Thing by Frances Tosdevin

Part 2
Our recommended books for year 3 classrooms

New book pitches: Smart Fiona by Mike Hollin; Efua's Magic Stew by Angela Ackah-McIntyre; Are We There Yet? by Melissa Abraham

Part 3Why Discount Book Packs are a Bad Deal for Schools

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 25

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-25/

Part 1
Book post

The Snowman Code by Simon Stephenson
Can We Live on Mars? by Giles Sparrow
Family by Patricia Hegarty, illustrated by Britta Teckentrup
Milo's Hat Trick by Jon Agee
We Can! by Alexandra Strick
You Only Spy Twice by Ben Sanders
Super Ocean Weekend by Gaëlle Alméras
Cobweb by Michael Morpurgo, illustrated by Michael Foreman
Presto! Magical Recovery Co. by Rutendo Dione
We Do Not Welcome Our Ten-Year-Old Overlord by Garth Nix
Damien Ike and the Fallen House of Draven by Dee Benson and David Arlo
Handle With Care by Louisa Reid
I Shall Never Fall in Love by Hari Conner

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in November 2024

Beanie the Bansheenie by Eoin Colfer & Steve McCarthy
The Circular Square by Simon Philip & Neil Clark
Shyla's Wood Wide Web by Ewa Jozefkowicz & Gillian Flint
Amazing Jellyfish by Michael Stavaric
The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier & Brian Churilla
For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
When It's Your Turn For Midnight by Blessing Musariri
The Muttcracker by Anna Kemp & Sara Ogilvie
How to Be a Revolutionary by Lucy Ann Unwin
The 39-Storey Treehouse: Colour Edition! by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton
The Search for Carmella by Chloe Savage
Yetis Don't Exist! by Kate Thompson & Loretta Schauer
The Murder Hypothesis by Sarah Wishart
Blue, Barry & Pancakes by Dan Abdo & Jason Patterson
Mission to Mars: Can You Survive in Space? by DK
Silver by Olivia Levez
Girls by Annet Schaap
Yes, Boys Can! by Jonathan Juravich & Richard V. Reeves
Choosing the Perfect Pet by Ali Rutstein & Tommy Doyle
When the Stammer Came to Stay by Maggie O'Farrell & Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini
The ADHD Teen Survival Guide by Soli Lazarus
In Praise of Mystery by Ada Limon & Peter Sis
So Over This by David Fenne
Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis.
Rani Choudhury Must Die by Adiba Jaigirdar
Drawn Onward by Daniel Nayeri & Matt Rockefeller
How to Sing a Song by Kwame Alexander & Randy Preston
Shakespeare's Othello by Steve Barlow & Steve Skidmore
Rise and Fall by Peter Allen
Wisdom of the Woods by Rachel Piercey & Freya Hartas

November 2024 books of the month

Fiction: When It's Your Turn For Midnight by Blessing Musariri
Nonfiction: Rise and Fall by Peter Allen
Picture book: The Search for Carmella by Chloe Savage

Part 2
Our recommended books for year 4 classrooms

New book pitches: Smart Fiona by Mike Hollin; There Was an Old Woman Who Followed a Spy! by Tommy Furmato; Are We There Yet? by Melissa Abraham

Part 3What Are We Reading For? A spectrum of reading cultures in schools.

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 24

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-24/

Part 1
Book post

The Boy in the Suit by James Fox
First Big Book of How by Sally Symes
Serena and Laloolee Fly Away by Rosemary Clunie
Clive Penguin by Huw Lewis Jones and Ben Sanders
Ivy Newt and the Vampixies by Derek Keilty and Magda Brol
Life in the Wild by Lizzie Daly
Nina Peanut: Mega Mystery Solver by Sarah Bowie
The Skeleton in the Cupboard by Lilija Berzinska
Popcorn by Rob Harrell
Circus Maximus: Return of the Champion by Annelise Gray
Desert Echoes by Abdi Nazemian
Within the Heart of Wicked Creatures by Rima Orie
The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in October 2024

Ditching Saskia by John Moore and Neetols
Family by Patricia Hegarty and Britta Teckentrup
Bunny's Most Fabulous Holiday Ever! By Brian Fitzgerald
One Wise Sheep: An Untraditional Christmas Story by Ulrich Hub
Milo's Hat Trick by Jon Agee
Bear's Lost Glasses by Leo Timmers
Feather by Manon Steffan Ros
That Day by Pierre-Emmanuel Lyet
The Flickering Fires by Grahame Baker-Smith
Damien Ike and the Fallen House of Draven by Dee Benson
Circus of Shadows by Lidia Brankovic
Nettle by Bex Hogan
Twenty-Four Seconds From Now: A Regular Love Story by Jason Reynolds
Some Like it Cold by Elle McNicoll
Museum in a Book by Herve Tullet
The Little Prince: Pop Up Book by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Shadow Creatures by Chris Vick
Birdie by J.P Rose
The Arctic Fox by Holly Webb
We Can!: Make a Difference by Alexandra Strick and Steve Antony
Skandar and the Skeleton Curse by A.F. Steadman
The Colour of Revenge by Cornelia Funke
The Snowman Code by Simon Stephenson
The River Thief by Hannah Peck
Our Galaxy: A First Adventure in Space by Sue Lowell Gallion
Gold Rush by Flora Delargy
Flow with the Snow by Robert Tregoning
The Lost Dogs by Patrica Forde
Handle With Care by Louisa Reid
A Lot of Silly: A Book of Rhymes and Nonsense by Joy Cowley
Chris Mould's War of the Worlds: A Graphic Novel by H.G Wells

October 2024 books of the month

Fiction: The Snowman Code by Simon Stephenson
Nonfiction: Can We Live on Mars? by Giles Sparrow
Picture book: Family by Patricia Hegarty, illustrated by Britta Teckentrup

Part 2
Our recommended books for year 5 classrooms

New book pitches: There Was an Old Woman Who Followed a Spy! by Tommy Furmato; Luna and Helio The Eclipse by Gina Keulemans; Insects, Bugs and Rock and Roll by Alex Brooks; Are We There Yet? by Melissa Abraham

Part 3Why DuckDuckGo is better than Google for book searches

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 23

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-23/

Part 1
Book post

Sisters of the Moon by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
A Celebration of Evolution by William Spring
Gina Kaminski Rescues the Giant by Craig Barr-Green, illustrated by Francis Martin
Countdown to Bedtime Sleepy Dragon by Candy Bee
One Up by Ben Sanders
Peng and Spanners: When Pigs Go Bad! by Steve Webb
Secret FACTopia! by Paige Towler, illustrated by Andy Smith
Mia and the Secrets of Lunis by Janelle McCurdy, illustrated by Ana Latese
The Reluctant Vampire Queen Finds Her Fangs by Jo Simmons
The Dark Within Us by Jess Popplewell
I Will Never Leave You by Kara A. Kennedy
Death At Morning House by Maureen Johnson

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in September 2024

Ghostlines by Katya Balen
The Great Phoenix of London by Lindsay Galvin
Popcorn by Rob Harrell
The Tantrum by Louie Stowell
Life in the Wild by Lizzie Daly
The Land of Lost Things by Andy Griffiths
Here To Slay by Radhika Sanghani
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
The Incredible Pop-up Bug by Ben Hoare
The Boy in the Suit by James Fox
The Salt Thief by Neal Bascomb
Cobweb by Michael Morpurgo
Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel by William Golding
Escape Castle Dracula by Sam Fern
The Skeleton in the Cupboard by Lilija Berzinska
Oh What a Knight! by Maz Evans
Unholy Terrors by Lyndall Clipstone
Blue Heart by Nicola Davies
The Forest of a Thousand Eyes by Frances Hardinge
The Dinosaur Next Door by David Litchfield
Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Making Enemies by Louie Stowell
The Seamaiden's Odyssey by Berlie Doherty
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness
Death on the Tracks by Paul Westmoreland
Turtle Moon by Hannah Gold
The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle
A Little Sailing Lesson by Sara Stefanini
Who Ate the Little Bug? By Hector Dexet
The Remarkables by Clotilde Perrin
The Golden Linnet by Alexander Armstrong

September 2024 books of the month

Fiction: The Boy in the Suit by James Fox
Nonfiction: First Big Book of How by Sally Symes
Picture book: Serena and Laloolee Fly Away by Rosemary Clunie

Part 2
Our recommended books for year 6 classrooms

Part 3Should mobile phones be banned in schools?

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl .

Support the Show.

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 22

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-22/

Part 1
Book post

The Virtue Season by L.M. Nathan
Move, Mr Mountain! by Francesca Sanna
Lifesize Ocean Animals by Sophy Henn
Doggy Dance Off by Steve Smallman
Becoming Brave by Jennie Cashman Wilson
Watts & Whiskerton by Meg McLaren
Grimwood Party Animals by Nadia Shireen
Sherlock Bones and the Mischief in Manhattan by Tim Collins
100 Things to Know About Sport by Jerome Martin, Alice James, Tom Mumbray and Micaela Tapsell
Delta and the Lost City by Anna Fargher
Terra Electrica: The Guardians of the North by Antonia Maxwell
The Last Thing You'll Hear by Jan Dunning

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in August 2024

Griselda Snook’s Spectacular Books by Barry Timms
Gina Kaminski Rescues the Giant by Craig Barr-Green
Sisters of the Moon by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
The Dark Within Us by Jess Popplewell
Such Charming Liars by Karen M. McManus
Let Sleeping Gods Lie by Thiago de Moraes
Peng and Spanners: When Pigs Go Bad! by Steve Webb
Rosa By Starlight by Hilary McKay
Autumn Feast: Nature's Harvest by Sean Taylor & Alex Morss
One Up by Ben Sanders
Beautiful: A Celebration of Evolution by William Spring
Star of the Show by Jacqueline Wilson
Mia and the Secrets of Lunis by Janelle McCurdy
Almost Nothing Happened by Meg Rosoff
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson
Herd by Stephen Hogtun
What the Crow Saw Below by Robert Tregoning
Auntie Medusa and Me by Marie Basting
The Boy Who Cried Ghost by Ian Eagleton
Bronte Tempestra and the Ice Warriors by Bex Hogan
The Life Changing Magic of Drumming by Nandi Bushell
Snakehead: The Graphic Novel by Anthony Horowitz
The Beanstalk Murder by P.G. Bell
The Girl with Wings by Jaco Jacobs
Colin’s Castle by Holly Swain
We Are Hunted by Tomi Oyemakinde
Geomancer: The Storm and the Sea Hawk by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Out Of This World: Poems to Make You Laugh, Smile and Think by Michael Rosen
Spooky Celebrations Around the World by Matt Ralphs
Our World in Numbers Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Life by DK
Last Seen Online by Lauren James

August 2024 books of the month

Fiction: Sisters of the Moon by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
Nonfiction: Beautiful: A Celebration of Evolution by William Spring
Picture book: Gina Kaminski Rescues the Giant by Craig Barr-Green, illustrated by Francis Martin

Part 2
Teens reads for the summer holiday - our rundown

Part 3Non-Traditional Reading Forms to Engage Children Over the Summer

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl .

Support the Show.

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 21

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-21/

Part 1
Book post

Dungeon Runners: Hero Trial by Kieran Larwood
Galápagos Islands by Karen Romano Young, illustrated by Amy Grimes
You Got This! by Rachael Davis
Natterjack Toad Can't Believe It! by Sean Taylor
The Big Day by Rachel Plummer and Forrest Burdett
Bertha and Blink: Rumble in the Jungle by Nicola Colton
How to be a Genius Kid by Jim Smith
The Last Dragon by Polly Ho-Yen
Nora and the Map of Mayhem by Joseph Elliott
Sar Wylda and the Legendary Goldbreaker by Jake R. Wilson
Kofi and the Secret Radio Station by Jeffrey Boakye
We Have Everything We Need to Start Again by Koleka Putuma

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in July 2024

The Dog Who Danced on the Moon by John Boyne
Delta and the Lost City by Anna Fargher
The Whisperling Twins by Hayley Hoskins
The Love Dare by Abiola Bello
The Seal on the Beach by Mara Bergman
Back of the Net by Eve Ainsworth
Lifesize Ocean Animals by Sophy Henn
Three Cheers for the River School by Sabine Adeyinka
The Boy and the Octopus by Caryl Lewis
Wigglesbottom Primary: The Pirate Cat by Pamela Butchart
Secret FACTopia! by Paige Towler
Myths of China by Xiaobing Wang
The Others by Sarah Merrett
The Virtue Season by L.M. Nathan
The Boy Who Painted The World by Tom McLaughlin
The Darkness Within Us by Tricia Levenseller
Break to You by Neal Shusterman
Hike It by Iron Tazz
Fallout by Lesley Parr
The Wild Life of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals by Mike Barfield
Warriors Graphic Novel by Erin Hunter
The Dinosaur that Pooped a Superhero by Tom Fletcher
Bea's Bad Day by Tom Percival
Roman Boy by Tony Bradman
The Fun We Had by Charissa Coulthard
A Wild Walk to School by Rebecca Cobb
Chemistry for Beginners by Kristie Pickersgill
Taylor Blake Is a Legend by Laura Jane Williams
Little Guides to Nature: Hello Fossils and Shells by Nina Chakrabarti
It Came from the Trees by Ally Russell
In Time by Marina Ruiz

July 2024 books of the month

Fiction: The Virtue Season by L.M. Nathan
Nonfiction: Lifesize Ocean Animals by Sophy Henn
Picture book: Move, Mr Mountain! by Francesca Sanna

Part 2
Politics and election books for children and teens - our rundown

New book pitches: There Was an Old Woman Who Followed a Spy! by Tommy Furmato; Luna and Helio The Eclipse by Gina Keulemans; Insects, Bugs and Rock and Roll by Alex Brooks; I Can Be An Astronaut by Dr Katy Chisenga-Phillipps

Part 32024 election and literacy: what are the main parties promising?

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl .

Support the Show.

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 20

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-20/

Part 1
Book post

Beti and the Little Round House by Atinuke
The Teenage Guide to Digital Wellbeing by Tanya Goodin
Old Oak and the Wild Flowers by Elena Mannion and Erin Brown
Where’s Mog? by Judith Kerr
Supersaurus: Total Tricera-Flop! by Angela Woolfe and Mark Chambers
Holey Moley by Bethan Clarke
Bad United: Just for Kicks by Louise Forshaw
Max Magic 3 by Stephen Mulhern and Tom Easton
The Beast of Farrowfell by Ravena Guron
Knowing the Score by Ros Roberts
Your Time Is Up by Sarah Naughton
Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in June 2024

The Last Dragon by Polly Ho-Yen
Bobby Bains Plays a Blinder by Bali Rai
The Big Day by Rachel Plummer
The River Spirit by Lucy Strange
The Mercury In Me by Rachael Fernandes
Kofi and the Secret Radio Station by Jeffrey Boakye
Apocalypse Cow by O.R. Sorrel
The Big Ask by Simon James Green
Everybody Travels by Kristin Roskifte
Time Runs Like A River by Emma Carlisle
The Boy, the Troll and the Chalk by Anne Booth
Nora and the Map of Mayhem by Joseph Elliott
Ajay and the Treasure of Thar by Varsha Shah
A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner
A Ship in the Dark by Yarrow Townsend
Welcome to AI by Matthieu Dugal
Flower Block by Lanisha Butterfield
Cosima Unfortunate Foils a Fraud by Laura Noakes
The Double Life of Ted Amos by Simon James Green
We Have Everything We Need To Start Again by Koleka Putuma
Four Eids and a Funeral by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Transcendent by Patrick Gallagher
Mayowa and the Sea of Words by Chibundu Onuzo
Sleep Like Death by Kalynn Bayron
Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi
A Case of High Stakes by Sophie Cleverly
Human Body by Isabel Thomas
The Nine Night Mystery by Sharna Jackson
The Tall Man by Mary Cathleen Brown
Make Art or Die Trying by Stuart Semple

June 2024 books of the month

Fiction: Dungeon Runners: Hero Trial by Kieran Larwood
Nonfiction: Galápagos Islands by Karen Romano Young, illustrated by Amy Grimes
Picture book: You Got This! by Rachael Davis

Part 2
Crime fiction for teens - our rundown

Part 3Drop Everything And Read (DEAR). Ideas and strategies for schools.

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl .

Support the Show.

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 19

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-19/

Part 1
Book post

Serena and the Little Blue Dog by Rosemary Clunie
Moving Up: How to Ace Secondary School by Christian Foley
Champ by Payam Ebrahimi and Reza Dalvand
Pink Trucks by Sam Clarke
Heavy Metal Badger by Duncan Beedie
It Takes Guts: How Your Body Turns Food Into Fuel (and Poop) by Jennifer Gardy
Podkin and the Singing Spear by Kieran Larwood
Nature's Fascinating Friendships by Kerry Hyndman and Mike Hills
Bigg School: Double Drama by Lisa Williamson
When the Wild Calls by Nicola Penfold
Robin Hood: Ballots, Blasts & Betrayal by Robert Muchamore
The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in May 2024

Ferris by Kate DiCamillo
Dead Happy by Josh Silver
The Beast of Farrowfell by Ravena Guron
Bird Boy by Catherine Bruton
Knowing the Score by Ros Roberts
Desi Girl Speaking by A. S. Hussain
Tom Gates: Book of Everything by Liz Pichon
Angel of Grasmere by Tom Palmer
Fly by David Lindo and Sara Boccaccini Meadows
Adnan by Mark Arrigo, Steven Chatterton and Diala Brisly
The Truth About Shaming by Beth Ashley
Good Night, Good Beach by Joy Cowley and Hilary Jean Tapper
Colossal Words for Kids by Colette Hiller and Tor Freeman
Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond and Lwillys Tafur. So good, so good, so good
Old Oak and the Wild Flowers by Elena Mannion and Erin Brown
Nature Is an Artist by Jennifer Lavallee
We Are Family by Oliver Sykes
He, She, They, Us: Queer Poems by Charlie Castelletti
All the Hidden Monsters by Amie Jordan
Glasgow Boys by Margaret McDonald
Grey by Laura Dockrill and Lauren Child
The Wrong Shoes by Tom Percival
On Poetry Street by Brian Moses and Mark Elvins
The Grimmelings by Rachael King
Finding Alfie by Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman
Ember Spark and the Thunder of Dragons by Abi Elphinstone
If My Words Had Wings by Danielle Jawando
365 things to make and do by Fiona Watt
Big Gorilla: A Book of Opposites by Anthony Browne
North and the Only One by Vashti Hardy
Wild East by Ashley Hickson-Lovence

May 2024 books of the month

Fiction: Beti and the Little Round House by Atinuke
Nonfiction: The Teenage Guide to Digital Wellbeing by Tanya Goodin
Picture book: Old Oak and the Wild Flowers by Elena Mannion and Erin Brown

Part 2
KS2 SATs revision books - our rundown

New book pitches: There was an Old Woman who Followed a Spy! by Tommy Furmato; Luna and Helio The Eclipse by Gina Keulemans; Insects, Bugs and Rock and Roll by Alex Brooks; I Can Be An Astronaut by Dr Katy Chisenga-Phillipps

Part 3Advice for adults looking for great children's books

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl .

Support the Show.

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 18

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-18/

Part 1
Book post

Gigantosaurus – I Love Giganto by Cyber Group Studios
I Really, Really Need a Poo by Karl Newson and Duncan Beedie
Sammy and the Extra-Hot Chilli Powder by Charlie P. Brooks
Bronte Tempestra and the Lightning Steeds by Bex Hogan
Frank the Unicorn Alpaca by Gavin Puckett, illustrated by India Joseph
Blue’s Planet: Australia by Lucy McRobert
The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert
ASAP by Axie Oh
A Cure Ever After by Angharad Walker
Measuring Me by Nicola Kent
The Crayons Love Our Planet by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
Credo by Luke Staton

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in March 2024

The Girl Who Dreamed in Magic by Maria Kuzniar
The Magician Next Door by Rachel Chivers Khoo
Bad Panda: Mites, Camera, Action! By Swapna Haddow
A Drop of Golden Sun by Kate Saunders
Future Hopes by Lauren James
The Secret Life of Bugs by Moira Butterfield
The Magnificent Book of Butterflies and Moths by Barbara Taylor
The Prisoner of Bhopal by Tim Walker
Wilding: How to Bring Wildlife Back by Isabella Tree
The Girl Who Wasn't There by Jacqueline Wilson
The Secret of the Moonshard by Struan Murray
Uprising by Jennifer Nielsen
Big Ideas from Literature by The School of Life
East Asian Folktales, Myths and Legends by Eva Wong Nava
I Do Not Eat Children by Marcus Cutler
Ancient Myths Collection Jean Menzies and Matt Ralphs
Thank You by Jarvis
Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Abike-Iyimide
Ancient Greeks by Clive Gifford
Aya and the Star Chaser by Radiya Hafiza
The Untameables by Clare Pollard
A Poetic A-Z of Awesome Animals! By Emilie Lauren Jones
How to Teach Grown-Ups About Climate Change by Patricia Daniels
Extreme Weather for Kids by Matthew Cappucci
Poetry Comics by Grant Snider
The Whisperwicks by Jordan Lees
Smile by Lauren Child
We Are the Wibbly! By Sarah Tagholm
The Vanquishers: Secret of the Reaping by Kalynn Bayron
A Mind Full of Murder by Derek Landy
Fireborn: Starling and the Cavern of Light by Aisling Fowler

March 2024 books of the month

Fiction: Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Abike-Iyimide
Nonfiction: How to Teach Grown-Ups About Climate Change by Patricia Daniels
Picture book: Elki is Not My Dog by Elena Arevalo Melville

Part 2
STEM and science fiction books for children.

Part 3BookTok - a blessing or a curse?

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl .

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 17

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-17/

Part 1
Book post

Meet the Wildlings by Gwen Millward
The Best You by Nima Patel
I Love You to the Moon and Back: All Year Long by Amelia Hepworth
Nikhil and Jay by Chitra Soundar
The Shape of Rainbows by Neal Zetter
Diamond Jack: Your Magic Or Your Life by Anna Rainbow
The Floating Witch Mystery by Nicki Thornton
Winner Takes Gold by Eloise Smith
Beastlands: Race to Frostfall Mountain by Jess French
How Do Meerkats Order Pizza by Brooke Barker
Love is in the Little Things by Stella J Jones and Jane Massey
Signed Sealed Dead by Cynthia Murphy

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in February 2024

Bronte Tempestra and the Lightning Steeds by Bex Hogan
Habitats by Hannah Pang and Isobel Lundie
Peng and Spanners by Steve Webb
Red Sky at Night; Poet's Delight by Alex Wharton
The Time Travellers: Adventure Calling by Sufiya Ahmed
Feather by M. G. Leonard
The Glorious Race of Magical Beasts by Alex Bell
Mo's Best Friend: A Stone-Age Story by Bridget Marzo
On Silver Tides by Sylvia Bishop
It's Time to Hush and Say Good Night by Chitra Soundar
Paper Dragons by Siobhan McDermott
Yomi and the Power of the Yumboes by Davina Tijani
A Cure Ever After by Angharad Walker
Queerbook by Malcolm MacKenzie
Blue's Planet: Australia by Lucy McRobert
Most Haunted Theatres by Yvette Fielding
Goddess Crown by Shade Lapite
Soren's Seventh Song by Dave Eggers
Measuring Me by Nicola Kent
Dim Sum Palace by X Fang
The Crayons Love our Planet by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert
Little Chick by Petr Horacek
Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery by Laura Ellen Anderson
National Trust: Blossom Origami by Nick Robinson
Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek
Miss Cat by Jean-Luc Fromental and Joelle Jolivet
Supertato: Eviltato vs Superpea by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet
Finding Hope by Nicola Baker

February 2024 books of the month

Fiction: A Cure Ever After by Angharad Walker
Nonfiction: Measuring Me by Nicola Kent
Picture book: The Crayons Love Our Planet by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers

Part 2
LGBT books for children (https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/books-for-topics/lgbtqia-themed-books-for-primary-school-aged-children/)and LGBT books for teens (https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/books-for-topics/lgbtqia-fiction-for-secondary-aged-children-and-teens-aged-11/)

New book pitches: There was an Old Woman who Followed a Spy! by Tommy Furmato; Cable Goes Camping by Lorna Chantelle Scott

Part 3Why school libraries are so important to children's learning.

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl .

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 16

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://bit.ly/3vfteDn .

Part 1
Book post

Glassborn by Peter Bunzl
Amazing Octopus by Michael Stavaric and Michele Ganser
Do You Remember? by Sydney Smith
Fate of the Argosi by Sebastien de Castell
Rise Up and Sing! by Andrea Warner and Louise Reimer
The Undying of Obedience Wellrest by Nicholas Bowling
The Girl Who Became a Fish by Polly Ho-Yen
Growing Up Powerful Journal by Nona Willis Aronowitz
My Nature Trail! by Rachel Lawston and Paul Lawston
Evolution by Sarah Darwin & Eva Maria Sadowski
Not So Little Red Riding Hood by Michael Rosen
Sala, Mountain Warrior by Wakanyi Hoffman and Onyinye Iwu

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in January 2024

Winner Takes Gold by Eloise Smith
Signed Sealed Dead by Cynthia Murphy
Meet the Wildlings by Gwen Millward
Rainbowsaurus by Steve Antony
Stitch by Padraig Kenny
My Brother Plato by George Myerson
That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams
Find Peace in a Poem by Little Tiger
Roman Soldiers by Tegen Evans
Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang & LeUyen Pham
The Shape of Rainbows by Neal Zetter and Will Hughes
Time Travelling with a Tortoise by Ross Welford
Northern Soul by Phil Earle
Little Bang by Kelly McCaughrain
The Code of Life by Flying Eye Books
A Cruel Twist of Fate by H. F. Askwith
The War of the Heavenly Horses by Roland Chambers
The Troublemakers by Tamzin Merchant
The Girl Who Sang by Estelle Nadel and Sammy Savos
The Floating Witch Mystery by Nicki Thornton
Diamond Jack: Your Magic or Your Life by Anna Rainbow
Dictionary of Dinosaurs by Dieter Braun
Destroy the Day by Brigid Kemmerer
How Do Meerkats Order Pizza? By Brooke Barker
The Minute Minders by Mary Murphy
The Best You by Nima Patel & Cally Johnson-Isaacs
The O.D.D. Squad by Stuart Heritage & Vincent Batignole
A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft
Beastlands: Race to Frostfall Mountain by Jess French
The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland
Love Is by Sarah Maycock

January 2024 books of the month

Fiction: Beastlands: Race to Frostfall Mountain by Jess French
Nonfiction: How Do Meerkats Order Pizza by Brooke Barker
Picture book: Love is in the Little Things by Stella J Jones and Jane Massey

Part 2
Children's books and books for children - a growing disconnect.

Part 3Great gift books - https://bit.ly/4aCoc46 .

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://bit.ly/3TFkwsl .

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 15

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-15

Part 1
Book post

Britannica's Encyclopedia Infographica
I Loved You In Another Life by David Arnold
The Star Whale by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Petr Horáček
Ancient Love Stories by Emily Hauser, illustrated by Sander Berg
Storm Dragon by Dianne Hofmeyr and Carol Thompson
Scarygirl: The Origin Story by Nathan Jurevicius
Bigg School: Best Friends Forever by Lisa Williamson, illustrated by Jess Bradley
The Memory Thieves by Dhonielle Clayton
The Taming of the Cat by Helen Cooper
Imagine a Garden: Stories of Courage Changing the World by Rina Singh and Hoda Hadadi
The Wolf Twins by Ewa Jozefkowicz
The Most Famous Rhinoceros by Dianne Hofmeyr and Simona Mulazzani

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in October 2023

The Observologist by Giselle Clarkson
Treacle Town by Brian Conaghan.
Legendary Creatures by Adam Auerbach
Welcome to the Mysteryverse by Clive Gifford
How to Chat Chicken by Dr Nick Crumpton
The Wild by Yuval Zommer
The Dress in the Window by Robert Tregoning
A Happy Place by Britta Teckentrup
Green by Alex Gino
I Loved You In Another Life by David Arnold
Where Magic Grows by Onjali Q. Rauf
The Earthshot Prize by Colin Butfield and Jonnie Hughes
SCRAP by Guy Bass
Man-Man and the Tree of Memories by Yaba Badoe
The Ogre Who Wasn't by Michael Morpurgo
Begin Again by Oliver Jeffers
The Nutcracker: And the Mouse King's Christmas Shenanigans by Alex T. Smith
Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld
The Great Storm Whale by Benji Davies
Red is Home by Emma Bettridge
Bigg School: Best Friends Forever by Lisa Williamson
Super Space Weekend by Gaelle Almeras
The Big Dreaming by Michael Rosen
Bad Hair Day by John Phillips
Up and Down by Tracey Turner and Jane Burnard
If You'll Have Me by Eunnie
Juniper's Christmas by Eoin Colfer
Brave Little Bear by Steve Small
Oscar's Lion by Adam Baron
Rise Up and Sing! by Andrea Warner
The Panda's Child Jackie Morris and Cathy Fisher

October 2023 books of the month

Fiction: | I Loved You In Another Life by David Arnold
Nonfiction: | Britannica’s Encyclopedia Infographica
Picture book: | The Star Whale by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Petr Horáček

Part 2
How to use Lego to encourage reading skills

New book pitches: Phone Me When You're Home! by Wendy Garvey; Luna and Helio The Eclipse by Gina Keulemans; Insects, Bugs and Rock and Roll by Alex Brooks, illustrated by Hannah Worsley; I Can Be An Astronaut by Dr Katy Chisenga-Phillipps

Part 3Christmas-themed books - our Christmas topic book list

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/category/podcasts/#podcast-credits

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 14

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-14

Part 1
Book post

The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow and Joe Todd-Stanton
All Bodies Are Wonderful by Beth Cox, illustrated by Samantha Meredith
Butterfly Wings: A Hopeful Story About Climate Anxiety by Samuel Larochelle and Eve Patenaude
A Bird Day by Eva Lindstroem
Bing: Sparkle Magic
The Odd One Out by Britta Teckentrup
Mrs Owl's Forest School by Seb Braun
Fodo Dodo Goes Fishing by Edouard Manceau
River Rescue: A Peanut, Butter & Crackers Story by Paige Braddock
Monster Stink by Anna Brooke, illustrated by Owen Lindsay
Her Majesty's League of Remarkable Young Ladies by Alison D. Stegert
Prey Zone: The Serpent's Lair by Wilbur Smith and Keith Chapman

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in September 2023

More Peas Please! By Tom McLaughlin
All Bodies Are Wonderful by Beth Cox
Finding Wonder by Lauren St John
The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow
By the Sea: Life Along the Coast by Judith Homoki
The Shade Tree by Suzy Lee
Nikhil and Jay: Off to India by Chitra Soundar
Ivy Newt and the Time Thief by Derek Keilty and Magda Brol
I Want a Dog by Jon Agee
Where Can We Go?: A Tale of Four Bears by Dai Yun
Channel Fear by Lisa Richardson
The 169-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton
Prey Zone: The Serpent's Lair by Wilbur Smith
Five Little Ghosts by Lily Murray
Ben Rothery's Weird and Wonderful Animals by Ben Rothery
Who Let the Words Out? by Joshua Seigal
The Changing Man by Tomi Oyemakinde
Nightshade Revenge by Anthony Horowitz
Evolution by Sarah Darwin
An Atlas of Afterlives by Emily Hawkins
Bompa's Insect Expedition by David Suzuki
You Could Be So Pretty by Holly Bourne
Butterfly Wings by Samuel Larochelle
Michael Morpurgo's Tales from Shakespeare by Michael Morpurgo
Oh Maya Gods! By Maz Evans
Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis
Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans by Isi Hendrix
Imagine a Garden by Rina Singh
Foxlight by Katya Balen
Skrimsli by Nicola Davies

September 2023 books of the month

Fiction: | The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow and Joe Todd-Stanton
Nonfiction: | All Bodies Are Wonderful by Beth Cox, illustrated by Samantha Meredith
Picture book: | Butterfly Wings: A Hopeful Story About Climate Anxiety by Samuel Larochelle and Eve Patenaude

Part 2
How to organise an effective quiet reading time

New book pitches: Phone Me When You're Home! by Wendy Garvey, On My Back Paws by Anna Skoyles, Luna and Helio The Eclipse by Gina Keulemans, Why, Oh Why, Am I a Crocodile? by Alex Brooks

Part 3Halloween - our Halloween book list for children and teens

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/category/podcasts/#podcast-credits

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 12

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-13

Part 1
Book post

The Last Tiger by Petr Horáček
Against the Odds: The Incredible Struggles of 20 Great Adventurers by Alastair Humphreys, illustrated by Pola Mai
Nowhere Island by Tania Unsworth
Superquesters: The Case of the Great Energy Robbery by Lisa Moss and Dr Thomas Bernard
Bob vs the Trousers of Doom by Andy Jones
Undercover Alien by N.S. Blackman
Mia and the Traitor of Nubis by Janelle McCurdy
The Reluctant Vampire Queen Bites Back by Jo Simmons
The Stolen Songbird by Judith Eagle
Carnival of the Spider by Kieran Larwood
There are Reptiles Everywhere by Camilla De la Bedoyere and Britta Teckentrup
Secret Sister by Sophie McKenzie

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in August 2023

British Museum: The Plot Against the Emperor by Andy Seed
Shine by Sarah Asuquo
Finding Phoebe by Gavin Extence
The Escape by Ximo Abadia
The Parade: A Counting Story from 1 to 100! By Joanna McInerney
Nowhere Island by Tania Unsworth
The Stolen Songbird by Judith Eagle
The After School Crime Club by Hayley Webster
Worrybot by Simon Packham
A Dinosaur's Day by Elizabeth Gilbert Bedia
Ghost Orchid by Fiona Lumbers
Monster Stink by Anna Brooke
Koku Akanbi and the Heart of Midnight by Maria Motunrayo Adebisi
Calvin and the Sugar-Apples by Ines F. Oliveira
Ten-Word Tiny Tales by Joseph Coelho
The Spectacular Science of Space by Rob Colson
Rock-a-Bye Rumpus by Julia Donaldson
How To Say No by Michelle Elman
Mysteries at Sea: Peril on the Atlantic by A.M. Howell
The Magic of Forests by Vicky Woodgate
Why Don't Things Fall Up? by Alom Shaha
Curious Words for Clever Kids by Sarah Craiggs
Leif the Unlucky Viking: Saga of the Shooting Star by Gary Northfield
Mia and the Traitor of Nubis by Janelle McCurdy
The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron
Norah's Ark by Victoria Williamson
The Book of Time by Clive Gifford
Geomancer by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Be You! By Karl Newson
Read, Scream, Repeat by Jennifer Killick
What's the Big Idea? By Tracey Turner

August 2023 books of the month

Fiction: | Nowhere Island by Tania Unsworth
Nonfiction: | Against the Odds by Alastair Humphreys, illustrated by Pola Mai
Picture book: | The Last Tiger by Petr Horáček

Part 2
Our thoughts on the DfE's reading framework updates

New book pitches: Katy on Broadway by Ella English, Phone Me When You're Home! by Wendy Garvey, On My Back Paws by Anna Skoyles

Part 3Transitioning to KS2 - our year 3 book choices.

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/category/podcasts/#podcast-credits

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 12

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-12

Part 1
Book post

Our Rights edited by Jake Hope
Afterward, Everything was Different by Jairo Buitrago, illustrated by Rafael Yockteng
What Are You Feeling? by The School of Life
Stuckie Duckie Balloon by HarperCollins Children's Books
What's That, Jack? by Cédric Ramadier, illustrated by Vincent Bourgeau
How the Weather Works by Christiane Dorion and Beverley Young
Dave Pigeon (Kittens!) by Swapna Haddow, illustrated by Sheena Dempsey
A Head Full of Magic by Sarah Morrell
Sing If You Can't Dance by Alexia Casale
Overemotional by David Fenne
The Girl Who Grew Wings by Anna Waterworth
What Will I Discover? By Tanya Lloyd Ky, illustrated by Rachel Qiuqi

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in July 2023

The Teen Witches' Guide to Tarot
Calling the Whales by Jasbinder Bilan
I Am Wriggly by Michael Rosen
Busy Little Fingers: Art by Eva Wong Nava
The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Crow by Nicola Skinner
Dave Pigeon (Kittens!) by Swapna Haddow
Murder on a School Night by Kate Weston
One Chance Dance by Efua Traore
Henri and the Machine by Isabelle Marinov
Sweet Skies by Robin Scott-Elliot
Animal Homes: Rainforest by Natasha Durley
Robin Hood 7: Prisons, Parties & Powerboats by Robert Muchamore
The Housetrap by Emma Read
Against the Odds by Alastair Humphreys
The Wonder Brothers by Frank Cottrell Boyce
The Exiled by Sarah Daniels
Animal Homes: Ocean by Natasha Durley
The Bedtime Boat by Sital Gorasia Chapman
Lil' Muffin Drops the Mic by Romesh Ranganathan
Up in the Canopy by James Aldred
All That's Left to Say by Emery Lord
Balam and Lluvia's House by Julio Serrano Echeverria
The Bomb by Didier Alcante
Bath Time! By Sandra Boynton
The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale by Jon Klassen
One of Us is Back by Karen M. McManus
League of Thieves by Sarah Crofton
Alex Neptune, Monster Avenger: Book 3
A Little Book of the Orchestra by Mary Auld
Bum or Face by Kari Lavelle

July 2023 books of the month

Fiction: | Our Rights! edited by Jake Hope
Nonfiction: | What Are You Feeling? by The School of Life
Picture book: | Afterward, Everything was Different by Jairo Buitrago & Rafael Yockteng

Part 2
How children's book series can kickstart reading for pleasure.
See our review of How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell.

New book pitches: Katy on Broadway by Ella English, Movie Night with the Wizziwigs by Saxon North-Cornell, On My Back Paws by Anna Skoyles

Part 3A dive into our list of book series for children and teens

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/category/podcasts/#podcast-credits

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 11

For transcripts, resources, show notes and contact details, see https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-11

Part 1
Book post

The Wall Between Us by Dan Smith
Rivers by Simon Chapman
I Just Ate My Friend by Heidi McKinnon
The Bear who had Nothing to Wear by Jeanne Willis and Brian Fitzgerald
Sharks! Sharks! Sharks! by Susan Martineau
The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde, illustrated by Ritva Voutila
Max Magic by Stephen Mulhern & Tom Easton
Indiana Bones and the Invisible City by Harry Heape
Last Girl In by Cheryl Diane Parkinson
Call of the Titanic by Lindsay Galvin
Chews Your Own Tasty Adventure by Sai Pathmanathan
Veggies! by Ayako Watanabe

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in June 2023

The Teen Witches' Guide to Tarot
Luna and the Treasure of Tlaloc by Joe Todd-Stanton
Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Ruling the World by Louie Stowell
Nightjar by Katya Balen
Star Cat: A Turnip in Time! By James Turner
Until the Road Ends by Phil Earle
Bad Influence by Tamsin Winter
Just Like Everyone Else by Sarah Hagger-Holt
Art Makes People Powerful by Bob and Roberta Smith
Rosie Raja: Mission to Cairo by Sufiya Ahmed
Grounded by Aisha Saeed
How to Survive The Future by Larry Hayes
Bridget Vanderpuff and the Baked Escape by Martin Stewart
Julia Donaldson's Book of Names by Julia Donaldson
Bite Risk by S.J. Wills
Stone Age Beasts by Ben Lerwill
Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer by Jeffrey Boakye
Call of the Titanic by Lindsay Galvin
Everybody's Equal by Patricia Hegarty
You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
SH!T BAG by Xena Knox
The Day the Hiccups Took Over by Jo Simmons
Pizza Pete and the Perilous Potions by Carrie Sellon
The Greatest Treasure Hunt by James Patterson
My Family and Other Romans by Marie Basting
Timelines of Nature by DK
Indiana Bones and the Invisible City by Harry Heape
The Dream Book by Bia Melo
Gender Identity for Kids by Andy Passchier

June 2023 books of the month

Fiction: The Wall Between Us by Dan Smith
Nonfiction: Rivers by Simon Chapman
Picture book: I Just Ate My Friend by Heidi McKinnon

Part 2
The transition from picture books to short chapter books in Year 2. https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/reading-lists-for-ks1-school-pupils/suggested-reading-list-year-2-pupils-ks1-age-6-7/

New book pitches: Katy on Broadway by Ella English, Movie Night with the Wizziwigs by Saxon North-Cornell, The 4th Dimension by Dr. Joseph J. Pamelia

Part 3A look at our new list of adventure books for children and teens.

Credits and licensing3rd party sounds are licensed. Audit: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/category/podcasts/#podcast-credits

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 10

For transcripts, links to all the books featured, resources, show notes and contact details, click here: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-10

Part 1
Book post

Away With Words by Sophie Cameron
Are We There Yet? by Sven Völker
Glow by Noelia González
Rubbish? by Linda Newbery & Katie Rewse
Postman Pig and His Busy Neighbours by Richard Scarry
Let's Go! Hospital by Catherine Ard and Ben Whitehouse
Forwards Always by Matthew Hodson
Growing Up Powerful by Nona Willis Aronowitz and Caribay Marquina
Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher
How Far We've Come by Joyce Efia Harmer
Broken Hearts & Zombie Parts by William Hussey
Chews Your Own Tasty Adventure by Sai Pathmanathan

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in May 2023

Nooo! Not the Dentist! By Stephanie Blake
Aaron Slater and the Sneaky Snake by Andrea Beaty
Straight Expectations by Calum McSwiggan
How to Build a Racing Car by Fran Scott
You Are a Story by Laura Dockrill
Wild by Ele Fountain
Jodie by Hilary McKay
Away With Words by Sophie Cameron
An Anthology Of Aesop's Animal Fables by Helen Ward
Glow by Noelia Gonzalez
Philosophy for Everyone by Clive Gifford
No Place for Monsters: School of Phantoms by Kory Merritt
Holey Moley by Bethan Clarke
Weird Sea by Sophie Burrows
Surprisingly Sarah by Terri Libenson
Where the Light Goes by Sara Barnard
Willodeen by Katherine Applegate
The Invitation by Stacey May Fowles
The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman
The Lesbiana's Guide To Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
Time to Shine at the River School by Sabine Adeyinka
The Thief of Farrowfell by Ravena Guron
More Peas Please! By Tom McLaughlin
Cosima Unfortunate Steals A Star by Laura Noakes
Manolo & the Unicorn by Jackie Azua Kramer & Jonah Kramer
In Your Orbit by Lise Villadsen
Rivers by Simon Chapman
Rory's Room of Rectangles by Ian Eagleton
Broken Hearts & Zombie Parts by William Hussey
Marvellous Maps by Simon Kuestenmacher
There's a Hippo in my Toilet! By Sam Taplin

May 2023 books of the month

Fiction: Away With Words by Sophie Cameron
Nonfiction: Glow by Noelia González
Picture book: Are We There Yet? by Sven Völker

Part 2
How to halt the summer slide by encouraging students to read. See summer reading can energise your students

New book pitches: Katy on Broadway by Ella English, Movie Night with the Wizziwigs by Saxon North-Cornell, The 4th Dimension by Dr. Joseph J. Pamelia

Part 3Picks for Pride Month including titles from our books for year 11 and books for year 10 lists

Credits and licensing

All 3rd party sounds are licensed. See our audit: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/category/podcasts/#podcast-credits

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 9

For transcripts, links to all the books featured, resources, show notes and contact details, click here: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-9

Part 1
Book post

Ivy Newt and the Storm Witch by Derek Keilty and Magda Broll
I Heard a Bird by Rob Ramsden
Small Stanley's Big List of Scary Stuff by Angie Morgan
A Child Like You by Na'ima B. Robert
Ajay and the Jaipur Moon by Varsha Shah
Day and Night by Lela Nargi
Be Happy! by Emma Dodd & Maddy Bard
Squishy McFluff's Camping Adventure! by Pip Jones
The Not-So Uniform Life of Holly-Mei by Christina Matula
Circus Maximus: Rider of the Storm by Annelise Gray
Finding Floss by Cara Matheson
Noodle the Doodle Wins the Day by Jonathan Meres

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in April 2023

Hilda: Night of the Trolls by Luke Pearson
This Is Not My Home by Eugenia Yoh & Vivienne Chang
Nic Blake and the Remarkables by Angie Thomas
Twenty Questions by Mac Barnett
Love, the Earth by Frances Stickley
The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker
Yellowstone by Catherine Ard
Na Willa and the House in the Alley by Reda Gaudiamo
The Dark and Dangerous Gifts of Delores Mackenzie by Yvonne Banham
The Crown by Emily Kapff
Day and Night by Lela Nargi
The Treasure Hunters by Lisa Thompson
The Smidgens United by David O'Connell
Let's Play Murder by Kesia Lupo
Skandar and the Phantom Rider by A.F. Steadman
What is War? By Sheddad Kaid-Salah Ferron
Big Tree by Brian Selznick
Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu
Animal FACTopia! by Julie Beer
The Children of Croke Park by Michael Foley
School Trip by Jerry Craft
Automotive by Matt Ralphs
Louise Bourgeois Made Giant Spiders and Wasn't Sorry by Fausto Gilberti
The Big Book of Nature Art by Yuval Zommer
How Far We've Come by Joyce Efia Harmer
The Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly-Mei by Christina Matula
Dear Mothman by Robin Gow
Bridges by Marc Majewski
How to Write a Poem by Kwame Alexander
Global by Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin

April 2023 books of the month

Fiction: Dear Mothman by Robin Gow
Nonfiction: The Big Book of Nature Art by Yuval Zommer
Picture book: The Crown by Emily Kapff

Part 2
Chat GPT and AI: a blessing or a curse for teachers and schools? We examine whether Chat GPT will be useful for the teaching of English and reading in schools.

New book pitches: My Magical Bearded Friend by Chris Husband; Dumb Orphans by Allan Low

Part 3Summer 2023 new children's books.

Credits and licensing

All 3rd party sounds are licensed. See our audit: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/category/podcasts/#podcast-credits

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 8

For transcripts, links to all the books featured, resources, show notes and contact details, click here: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-8

Part 1
Book post

Art and Joy Best Friends Forever by Danielle Krysa
The Way of Dog by Zana Fraillon
Engineers Making a Difference
Kind Crocodile by Leo Timmers by Dr. Shini Somara
I say Oh, You say No by John Kane
The Fixer of Broken Things by Julia Patton
The Bear and the Wildcat by Kazumi Yumoto and Komako Sakai
Prehistoric Beasts by Dean Lomax and Mike Love
Tourmaline and the Island of Elsewhere by Ruth Lauren
Dandy the Highway Lion by Stephanie Sorrell
Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher
Ellie Pillai is (Almost) in Love by Christine Pillainayagam

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in March 2023

Boy Like Me by Simon James Green
Ravencave by Marcus Sedgwick
What the World Doesn't See by Mel Darbon
Circus Maximus: Rider of the Storm by Annelise Gray
Tourmaline and the Island of Elsewhere by Ruth Lauren
Big Nate: Nailed It! by Lincoln Peirce
Prehistoric Beasts by Dean Lomax
Sheets by Brenna Thummler
The Way of Dog by Zana Fraillon
Catfish Rolling by Clara Kumagai
Dragonracers by Peter Bunzl
Maggie Blue and the White Crow by Anna Goodall
Being you: Poems of Positivity by Daniel Thompson
The Truth Detective by Tim Harford
The Other Edie Trimmer by Jacqueline Wilson
The Handbook of Forgotten Skills by Natalie Crowley & Elaine Baptiste
Stanley's Secret by John Sullivan
The Nowhere Thief by Alice M. Ross
The Knowing by Ani DiFranco
Dick the Delightful Duck by Kaye Umansky
The Autistic Guide to Adventure by Allie Mason
Habitats of the World by DK
Wild Song by Candy Gourlay
Faruq and the Wiri Wiri by Sophia Payne
Engineers Making a Difference by Dr. Shini Somara
Ellie Pillai is (Almost) in Love by Christine Pillainayagam
Dog Man 11 by Dav Pilkey
Courage Out Loud: 25 Poems of Power by Joseph Coelho
Hell Breaks Loose by Derek Landy
Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher
Football Rules the World by Simon Mugford

March 2023 books of the month

Fiction: The Way of Dog by Zana Fraillon
Nonfiction: Engineers Making a Difference: by Dr. Shini Somara
Picture book: Kind Crocodile by Leo Timmers

Part 2
How the cost of living crisis is impacting children's reading and book sales

New book pitches: The Bumper Book of Double Learning by Helen J Bailey; My Magical Bearded Friend by Chris Husband; Dumb Orphans by Allan Low; & a monologue by Rebecca Smith for the Cheltenham Festivals

Part 3Poetry for 7-11-year-olds

Credits and licensing

All 3rd party

Literary Guise Podcast: A Book Club for Modern Men
A cocktail-infused book podcast, examining positive and toxic portrayals of masculinity.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 7

For transcripts, links to all the books featured, resources, show notes and contact details, click here: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-7

Part 1
Book post

Our Planet by Matt Whyman and Richard Jones
Faruq and the Wiri Wiri by Sophie Payne
Vita and the Gladiator by Ally Sherrick
Tell Me About series by Emily Dodd
Blanksy the Street Cat by Gavin Puckett
BOB vs The Selfie Zombies by Andy Jones
You Think You Know Me by Ayaan Mohamud
Don't be Silly by Padmacandra
Corey's Rock by Sita Brahmachari
The Emerald Forest by Catherine Ward
Paper World: Human Body by Gail Armstrong
Two Terrible Vikings: Feast with the King by Francesca Simon

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in January 2023

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks
Unspoken by Kwame Alexander & Dare Coulter
Out of the Blue by Robert Tregoning & Stef Murphy
Teddy's Midnight Adventure by Yoko Mori
Don't Be Silly by Padmacandra
Two Terrible Vikings Feast with the King by Francesca Simon
Xanthe & the Ruby Crown by Jasbinder Bilan
Lizzy and the Cloud by Eric Fan & Terry Fan
Lost by Mariajo Ilustrajo
Glitter Boy by Ian Eagleton
You Think You Know Me by Ayaan Mohamud
Cherry Moon by Zaro Weil
Vita & the Gladiator by Ally Sherrick
The Monkey Who Fell From The Future by Ross Welford
The Emerald Forest by Catherine Ward & Karin Littlewood
Corey's Rock by Sita Brahmachari
Fighting in a World on Fire by Andreas Malm
The Song Walker by Zillah Bethell
Tell Me About: The Human Body by Emily Dodd
Blanksy the Street Cat by Gavin Puckett
Paper World: Human Body by Gail Armstrong
A Passing On of Shells: 50 Fifty-Word Poems by Simon Lamb & Chris Riddell
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers
The Versatile Reptile by Nicola Davies & Abbie Cameron
Rugby Rookie by Gerard Siggins
Now Let Me Fly by Ronald Wimberly & Brahm Revel
SuperQuesters: The Case of the Missing Memory

February 2023 books of the month

Fiction: You Think You Know Me by Ayaan Mohamud
Nonfiction: Paper World: Human Body by Gail Armstrong
Picture book: The Emerald Forest by Catherine Ward

Part 2
Why it's not a good idea to use reading records

New book pitches: The Bumper Book of Double Learning by Helen J Bailey; My Magical Bearded Friend by Chris Husband; Dumb Orphans by Allan Low; The PhilosoCats by Judith Millecker.

Part 36th form books - our rundown of great titles for this age group.

Credits and licensing

All 3rd party sounds are licensed. See our audit: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/category

Queens On A Roll
This podcast was created to educate & inspire people about the ably different...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 6

For transcripts, links to all the books featured, resources, show notes and contact details, click here: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-6

Part 1
Book post

Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson
Fighting in a World on Fire by Andreas Malm
Floof by Heidi McKinnon
Questions and Answers About Money by Lara Bryan
Game Over Girl by Naomi Gibson
Influential by Amara Sage
Monster Bogey by Anna Brooke
Xanthe & the Ruby Crown by Jasbinder Bilan
Little Explorers: Maths & Science by Ruth Symons
The Rescue of Ravenwood by Natasha Farrant
This Book Kills by Ravena Guron
Wild Oak by C.C. Harrington

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in January 2023

Different Kinds of Freedom: A Romani Story by Richard O'Neill
Look Inside Volcanoes and Earthquakes by Emily Bone
Around the World Vegan Cookbook by Niki Webster
Granny and Bean by Karen Hesse
Lifesize Deadly Animals by Sophy Henn
Barry Loser: Action Hero! By Jim Smith
Shine Like the Stars by Anna Wilson
Frankenstein: A Retelling by Tanya Landman
Blackbeard's Treasure by Iszi Lawrence
The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton
All The World's A Stage by Sarah Walden
There's a Beast in the Basement! by Pamela Butchart
Game Over Girl by Naomi Gibson
Wildoak by C. C. Harrington
The Magic of Endings by Tom Avery
The Storm Swimmer by Clare Weze
A Ticket to Kalamazoo!: Zippy Poems To Read Out Loud by James Carter
My Strange Shrinking Parents by Zeno Sworder
Selfies With Komodos: Poems by Brian Moses & Ed Boxall
I Am Not Going to Read Any Words Today by Dr Seuss
Failosophy for Teens Elizabeth Day
I Am Happy by Michael Rosen
Monster Bogey by Anna Brooke
Word Trouble by Vyara Boyadjieva
Blue by Sarah Christou
MONSTER! THIRSTY! DRINK! by Sean Taylor
Swirls and Squiggles
The Boy Who Didn't Want to Die by Peter Lantos
Little Explorers: Science
Wished by Lissa Evans
100 Things to Know About Architecture by Louise O'Brien

January 2023 books of the month

Fiction: The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton
Nonfiction: All The World’s A Stage by Sarah Walden
Picture book: Lifesize Deadly Animals by Sophy Henn

Part 2
Year 1 books - our rundown of great titles for this age group.

New book pitches: Lao and Chen: Master your Art by Bráulio Pitra; The Silly Adventures of Twighead Larson by John Dredge; The Bumper Book of Double Learning by Helen J Bailey; My Magical Bearded Friend by Chris Husband; The PhilosoCats by Judith Millecker; Cable the Crow by Lorna Chantelle Scott

Part 3Why we shouldn't ban books.

Credits and licensing

Queens On A Roll
This podcast was created to educate & inspire people about the ably different...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 5

For transcripts, links to all the books featured, resources, show notes and contact details, click here: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-5

Part 1
Book post

The Burpee Bears: A Christmas Adventure by Joe Wicks
Scattered Showers by Rainbow Rowell
Snail Trail by Ziggy Hanaor
A Cat Called Waverley by Debi Gliori
Duck's Backyard by Ulrich Hub
Dear Grandpa by Kate Simpson
I Hear you, Ocean by Kallie George
Eco Girl by Ken Wilson-Max
Epic Animal Journeys by Ed J Brown
The Girl Who Became a Tree by Joseph Coelho
Kind by Jess McGeachin
When Poems Fall From The Sky by Zaro Weil

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in November 2022

Journeys in Creative Telling Tales by Rudi Haig
Luminous by Julia Kuo
The Red Red Dragon by Lynne Reid Banks
Paradise Sands by Levi Pinfold
Explorers at Stardust City by Alex Bell
The Girl of Ink & Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Where Björn Belongs by Samuel Langley-Swain
Terry's Crew by Terry Crew & Cory Thomas
Once Upon a Hillside by Angela McAllister
Captain Underpants Double Crunchy Book o'Fun by Dav Pilkey
I'm (Almost) Never Bored (I'm Not Very) by Anna Milbourne
Supertato: Presents Jack and the Beanstalk by Sue Hendra
Snail Trail by Ziggy Hanaor
One and Everything by Sam Winston
Balloon to the Moon by Becky Davies
Tasting Light by A. R. Capetta
Murder at Snowfall by Fleur Hitchcock
The Moon by Dr. Sanlyn Buxner
Night Train to the Stars by Kenji Miyazawa
Secrets of a Christmas Elf by Ben Miller
Fury of The Vikings by Dominic Sandbrook
Epic Animal Journeys by Ed J Brown
Roar! I’m a Dinosaur by Merrilll Rainey
If You Were a City by Kyo Maclear
Official Minecraft Redstone Handbook
The Real Dada Mother Goose by Jon Scieszka
Wearing My Mother's Heart by Sophia Thakur
You Are a Champion Action Planner by Marcus Rashford
Self-Portrait with Nothing by Aimee Pokwatka
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

November 2022 books of the month

Fiction: Once Upon a Hillside by Angela McAllister
Nonfiction: Nomads: Life on the Move by Kinchoi Lam
Picture book: GOTCHA! by Clotilde Perrin

Part 2
Great Christmas book presents - our rundown

New book pitches: The Art Family by Sue Truslet; Lao and Chen: Master your Art by Bráulio Pitra; The Silly Adventures of Twighead Larson by John Dredge

Part 3How to make GCSE set texts accessible. (See: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/reading-lists-for-ks4-school-pupils/graphic-novel-versions-of-gcse-english-texts/)

Credits and licensing

All 3rd party sounds are licensed. See our audit: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/category/podcasts/#podcast-credits

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 4

For transcripts, links to all the books featured, resources, show notes and contact details, click here: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-4

Part one
Book post

No Home for a Ghost by Jess Rose
The Perfect Present by Petr Horáček
The Best Bear Tracker by John Condon
Together We Can by Ned Hartley
The Faber Book of Bedtime Stories by Sarah McIntyre
Meanwhile Back On Earth by Oliver Jeffers
Big Ideas from History by The School Of Life
The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish by Chloe Savage
The Museum of Odd Body Leftovers by Rachel Poliquin
We Disagree About This Tree by Ross Collins
The Terracotta Horse by Scott Lauder and David Ross
The Ultimate Guide to Growing Dragons by Andy Shepherd and Sara Ogilvie

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in October 2022

The Lucky Bottle by Chris Wormell
The Haunted Hills by Berlie Doherty
Tyger by SF Said
Aliens by Joalda Morancy
My Rhinoceros by Jon Agee
The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish by Chloe Savage
Wild Animals of the World by Dieter Braun
The Boy Who Lost His Spark by Maggie O'Farrell
The Boy Lost in the Maze by Joseph Coelho
Freestyle by Gale Galligan
Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel
Children of the Stone City by Beverley Naidoo
The Midnight Panther by Poonam Mistry
The Other Ones by Fran Har
Activist by Louisa Reid
Africana by Kim Chakanetsa
The Three Hares: The Terracotta Horse by Scott Lauder and David Ross
Creature by Shaun Tan
Nomads: Life on the Move by Kinchoi Lam
Big Ideas from History by The School of Life
Together We Can by Ned Hartley
Meanwhile Back on Earth Oliver Jeffers
We Disagree About This Tree by Ross Collins
India, Incredible India by Jasbinder Bilan
History's BIGGEST Show-offs by Andy Seed
Basher Games: Chess by Simon Basher
The Ever-changing Earth by Grahame Baker-Smith
The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera
S.T.E.A.L.T.H.: Ice Breaker by Jason Rohan
Escape from Chernobyl by Andy Marino
Sherlock Bones and the Curse of the Pharaoh’s Mask by Tim Collins

October 2022 books of the month

Fiction: The Boy Lost in the Maze by Joseph Coelho
Nonfiction: 2023 Nature Month-By-Month by Anna Wilson
Picture book: Goldilocks and the Three Crocodiles by Michael Rosen

Part two
Promoting your new children's and YA book to schools. Our tips.

Part threeChildren's favourite books, and how these differ from the teacher-recommended books for KS1 and books for KS2.

Credits and licensing

All sound effects and background music clips are correctly licensed for use on this podcast. See our licensing audit: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/category/podcasts/#podcast-credits

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 3

For transcripts, links to all the books featured, resources, show notes and contact details, click here: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-3

Part one.
Book post:

Human Kindness: True Stories of Compassion and Generosity that Changed the World by John Francis
Iceberg by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft
Everything Sustainable Energy by National Geographic Kids
Whisper on the Wind by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft
Bad Panda: The Cake Escape by Swapna Haddow
Gross Factopia by Paige Towler
Found by Sam Usher
Secrets of the Dead: Mummies and Other Human Remains From Around the World by Matt Ralphs
Big Questions about the Universe by Alice James and Alex Frith
Lionel Poops by Éric Veillé
Old Oak and Little Acorn by Elena Mannion
The Last Storyteller by Donna Barba Higuera
The Cats Who Wanted More by Katie Sahota and Naomi Tipping
The Spell Tailors by James Nicol
Granny Pip grows fruit by Deborah Chancellor and Julia Groves

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in September 2022:

Alex Neptune, Dragon Thief by David Owen
How To Survive Anywhere by Ben Lerwill
Big Questions about the Universe by Alice James & Alex Frith
Iceberg by Claire Saxby
The Last Storyteller by Donna Barba Higuera
Stories of Peace and Kindness For a Better World by Elizabeth Laird
Granny Pip Grows Fruit by Deborah Chancellor and Julia Groves
Gross FACTopia! By Paige Towler
Eco Girl by Ken Wilson-Max
Human Kindness by John Francis
The Curse of the Tomb Robbers by Andy Seed
Stone by Finbar Hawkins
Everything Sustainable Energy by National Geographic Kids
The Spell Tailors by James Nicol
Found by Sam Usher
Unraveller by Frances Hardinge
The Treekeepers by Kieran Larwood
No Place for Monsters by Kory Merritt
Tom Gates 19 Random Acts of Fun by Liz Pichon
And Everything Will Be Glad to See You by Ella Risbridger
Everything Human Body by National Geographic Kids
The Cats Who Wanted More by Katie Sahota
Secrets of the Dead by Matt Ralphs
Which Way to Anywhere by Cressida Cowell
The Elemental Detectives by Patrice Lawrence
The Baddies by Julia Donaldson
Joyful, Joyful by Dapo Adeola
Old Oak and Little Acorn by Elena Mannion.
Dogs of the Deadlands by Anthony McGowan
The Collectors by Philip Pullman

September 2022 books of the month:

Fiction: Stone by Finbar Hawkins
Nonfiction: Gross Factopia by Paige Towler
Picture book: Found by Sam Usher

Part two.
Time travelling to a world of second-hand books. In this episode, we feature children's historical fiction writer, Rosemary Sutcliff.

Part three.
Do you think children's reading declines in KS3 and KS4? With a social media poll.

Credits and licensing.

All sound effects and background music clips are correctly licensed for use on this podcast. See our licensing audit: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/category/podcasts/#podcast-credits

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 2For transcripts, links to all the books featured, resources, show notes and contact details, click here: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-2

Part one.
Book post:

Stone by Finbar Hawkins
Who's Hiding by Satoru Onishi
The Curse of the Tomb Robbers by Andy Seed
Stories of Peace and Kindness For a Better World by Elizabeth Laird
The Worlds We Leave Behind by A.F. Harrold illustrated by Levi Pinfold
The Little Match Girl Strikes Back by Emma Carroll
My Rhinoceros by Jon Agee
The Tale of Truthwater Lake by Emma Carroll
No Place For Monsters by Kory Merritt
Unraveller by Frances Hardinge
The TreeKeepers by Kieran Larwood
Shu Lin's Grandpa by Matt Goodfellow and Yu Rong
The Island by Armin Greder

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA books to buy in August 2022:

It's Tough to be Tiny by Kim Woolcock
Rapunzella, Or, Don't Touch My Hair by Ella McLeod
Egyptian Myths by Jean Menzies
Ella and the Waves by Britta Teckentrup
All the Pieces of Me by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott
World of Weird: A Creepy Compendium of True Stories by Tom Adams
Paper Boat, Paper Bird by David Almond
The Dangerous Life of Ophelia Bottom by Susie Bower
Ergo by Alexis Deacon
The Last Whale by Chris Vick
The Accidental Stowaway by Judith Eagle
The Girl Who Rowed the Ocean by Alastair Humphreys
Giant Island by Jane Yolen
The Worlds We Leave Behind by A.F. Harrold.
Our Tower by Joseph Coelho
Which Bum's Mum's? by Jonny Leighton.
Medicine: A Magnificently Illustrated History by Briony Hudson
The Blue-Footed Booby by Rob Biddulph
The Cartoons That Saved The World by Tom Ellen
Vi Spy: The Girl with the Golden Gran by Maz Evans
Resist!: One Girl's Fight Back Against the Nazis by Tom Palmer
To Catch A Cloud by Elena de Roo
Passionate about Penguins by Owen Davey
Bad Panda: The Cake Escape by Swapna Haddow
How Many Ways Can You Cook An Egg? By Lizzie Mabbott Berlin
Britannica's Word of the Day by Patrick and Rennee Kelly
Waking the Witch by Rachel Burge.
Lift-the-flap Strongest, Cleverest, Deadliest… by Darran Stobbart and Lan Cook
Rosie Raja: Churchill's Spy by Sufiya Ahmed
Powered by Plants by Clive Gifford
The Beastly Bunch by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe

August 2022 books of the month:

Fiction: Resist by Tom Palmer
Nonfiction: Britannica's Word of the Day by Patrick and Rennee Kelly & Sue Macy
Picture book: Ella and the Waves by Britta Teckentrup

Part two.
Time travelling to a world of second-hand books. In this episode, we feature children's science fiction writer, Nicholas Fisk.

Part three.
Should school classrooms feature wall displays? (And how this impacts reading for pleasure). With a social media poll.

Credits and licensing.

All sound effects and background music clips are correctly licensed for use on this podcast. See our licensing audit: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/category/podcasts/#podcast-credits

Support the show

View Details

School Reading List podcast hosted by Tom Tolkien

Season 1: Episode 1For transcripts, links to all the books featured, resources, show notes and contact details, click here: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/podcasts/series-1-episode-1

Part one.
Book post:

Noodle the Doodle Wins the Day by Jonathan Meres
The Whale Watchers by Dougie Poynter
A Darkness at the Door by Intisar Khanani
The Silver Chain by Jion Sheibani
Queen of the Classroom by Derrick Barnes and Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Orla and the Wild Hunt by Anna Hoghton
Carnival of the Hunted by Kieran Larwood
Birdsong by Katya Balen
Sunflower Sisters by Monika Singh Gangotra and Michaela Dias-Hayes
Hetty and the Battle of the Books by Anna James
Picture Perfect by Serena Patel
Oxygen Mask by Jason Reynolds

Rundown - top 30 children's and YA book to buy in July 2022:

Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow
Wild Summer: Life in the Heat by Sean Taylor
The Friendly Mammoth by Anna Terreros-Martin
Once Upon a Fever by Angharad Walker
Rewilding: Bringing Wildlife Back Where It Belongs by David A. Steen
Carnival of the Hunted by Kieran Larwood
Birdsong by Katya Balen
Never Forget You by Jamila Gavin
The Misunderstandings of Charity Brown by Elizabeth Laird
The Roar by Eoin McLaughlin
Orla and the Wild Hunt by Anna Hoghton
Queen of the Classroom by Derrick Barnes
Tag, You're Dead by Kathryn Foxfield
21% Monster by P.J. Canning
The Mermaid Call by Alex Cotter
Small! By Hannah Moffatt
The World's Wildest Places: And the People Protecting Them by Lily Dyu
Small Town Pride by Phil Stamper
The Fire Cats of London by Anna Fargher
The Day No One Woke Up by Polly Ho-Yen
Billy and the Pirates by Nadia Shireen
Lifesize Baby Animals by Sophy Henn
British Museum: So You Think You've Got It Bad? by Chae Strathie
A Gangster Stole My Trunks by Tom Vaughan
Ali Cross: The Secret Detective by James Patterson
Can You Feel the Noise? By Stewart Foster
Artists: Inspiring Stories of the World's Most Creative Minds by DK
Happy Times! By Michael Foreman
Hetty and the Battle of the Books by Anna James
Lands of Belonging: A History of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Britain by Donna and Vikesh Amey Bhatt.
Outside Chance by Anthony Kessel
It's Tough to be Tiny by Kim Woolcock

July 2022 books of the month:

Fiction: Oxygen Mask by Jason Reynolds
Nonfiction: A Seed Grows by Antoinette Portis
Picture book: Five Bears by Catherine Rayner

Part two.
Time traveling to a world of second hand books. In this episode we feature children's adventure author Willard Price.

Part three.
When is a quote not a quote? A journey through the strange corridors of social media.

Credits and licensing.

All sound effects and background music clips are correctly licensed for use on this podcast. See our licensing audit: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/category/podcasts/#podcast-credits

Support the show

View Details

A trailer for the School Reading List podcast, presented by Tom Tolkien.

Podcast notes and credits.

For more details, and book recommendations for 3-18-year-olds, see our website: School Reading List

Support the show

School Reading List: Recent Episodes

Tom Tolkien