On the Bookshelf River Boy by Tim Bowler In perfect tune with our Author Focus we feature on the Bookshelf a stunning new edition of the Carnegie Medal winning novel by Tim Bowler. River Boy also has a heroine, Jess, seemingly more at home in the water. She is another powerful swimmer and there is a mystery inextricably linked […]
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Joy Court shines a spotlight on children’s author Cerrie Burnell. 2019 started off with a really exciting move up to Middle Grade by this popular actress and CBeebies presenter, turned author. Cerrie featured in The Guardian’s 2011 list of the 100 most inspirational women, where she received praise for tackling disability head-on. Having been born […]
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HOT TOPIC Healthy individuals and healthy school communities Joy Court looks at the role that reading can play in children’s mental health. How well a school supports pupils’ personal development is a key feature of the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework that was published in May. There is actually much in this framework that could be used to justify (should […]
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SHARED PRACTICE Don’t let lack of funds stop you! One librarian who knows all about building a society of readers is Nicki Cleveland, celebrated on the Honour List for the 2018 SLA School Librarian of the Year. Joy Court talks to Nicki below. Her citation tells us: ‘Despite having only 3.5 dedicated hours in the […]
Read moreStill looking for ideas for last-minute Christmas gifts? We asked some of our children’s authors to share the best – and worst – Christmas presents they’ve ever received… Ben Davis, Author of The Private Blog of Joe Cowley and Make Me Awesome I’m a big Christmas fan. Especially now I have a three year […]
Read more HOT TOPIC Reflecting Realities in the school library Joy Court discusses the results of CLPE’s first study into ethnic representation in UK children’s literature and how libraries can get involved with the movement for change. “An important report was published at the end of July, after many of you would have finished for the summer break, and […]
Read more SHARED PRACTICE Public and school library partnerships—Joy Court talks to Ailsa Gormley I have always felt that if school librarians wanted to create readers for life, they had to engage their students with public libraries so that the reading habit could be sustained outside of the educational environment. I am also a passionate advocate of the inspiration […]
Read moreJoy Court shines the spotlight on children’s author Tamsin Cooke ! “Ever since she burst onto the scene in 2015 with The Scarlet Files: Cat Burglar , her electrifying debut novel that was shortlisted for many awards and went on to win the Stockton Children’s book of the year 2017—Tamsin Cooke has been an author to watch! An ex-primary teacher who learnt to […]
Read moreOn the Bookshelf Night Raiders by Ali Sparkes Adventure is a big feature in all the books we are featuring on the Bookshelf. Ali Sparkes on the cover guarantees a page turner in my opinion and, having loved Night Speakers, I was so delighted to meet Elena, Matt and Tima again in Night Raiders. These unlikely […]
Read more SHARED PRACTICE Greenaway Shadowing with SEN students—Joy Court talks to Caroline Fielding I would like to think that Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Shadowing will always feature in a Great School Library, but do you realise how flexible the scheme can be? Here Caroline Fielding, Librarian at Charlton Park Academy—a Special Academy for students with complex, low incidence […]
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