Gecko Press continue to publish brilliantly quirky and original picturebooks. Red Snake Blue Snake by Olivier Tallec (translated by Antony Shugaar) is a delight. Two snakes, best friends one minute, but falling out over the smallest of things the next. @geckopress.bsky.social

The latest Children's Poetry Summit blog from @charliehacking.bsky.social, Finding Every Child's Voice, is one not to miss. 'Once children discover that their voice matters, there is no telling where it might take them.' childrenspoetrysummit.com/2026/07/23/c...

If any Norfolk teachers, librarians or school support staff are interested, I'm restarting the East Norfolk Teachers' Reading Group in September. Please get in touch for further details and do share with colleagues.

Misogynistic attitudes and gender-based aggression are on the rise in schools and in society. Books alone obviously can't be the solution, but they can certainly help. Here are just a few that I've read or used in the classroom over the past few years. Please feel free to add more.

The Bookbuzz Primary programme from BookTrust is definitely worth looking into, with Key Stage 2 children being given the opportunity to select and keep a book from 16 handpicked titles. Registration is open until 18 September. More information here: www.booktrust.org.uk/resources/fi...

With the Primary and Secondary Verse Novel Award shortlists now published, schools can register to take part in the pupil-led judging process next term. If you'd like your pupils to help select this year's winners, simply complete the form below. docs.google.com/forms/d/1Dmc...

I love the direction that Chanté Timothy's Supa Nova graphic novel series is taking. Lots of fun to read, accessible, a relatable main character, and a subtle message about girls and STEM. Book two, Robot Takeover, is out in a couple of weeks. Ideal for Year 3/4. @nosycrow.bsky.social

Very excited to reveal the shortlist for the 2026 Secondary Verse Novel Award. Huge congratulations to all the authors and illustrators featured. We now hand it over to our school judging teams, who will decide the winner to be announced later this year.

Have read lots of picturebooks to my Y5/6 class over the past few months, but none have had the emotional impact of today's book, Dog Stayed. Loneliness, grief, inter-generational empathy, love. It's beautiful. Do get hold of a copy.

I'm absolutely thrilled to have been awarded this year's NATE Primary Award. I wasn't able to attend the conference because I'm currently away on a Year 6 residential, but it's amazing to have my work recognised by such a prestigious organisation. @natecommunity.bsky.social

Aardvark Day, written by Victoria Gatehouse and illustrated by Kate Lucy Foster, is a joyful poetry collection that celebrates the natural world. Whales, butterflies, sloths and mushrooms all make an appearance in this enjoyable book. Definitely one for KS2 bookshelves. @theemmapress.bsky.social

Have just photocopied one for each class so he can take a victory lap tomorrow. Writing for pleasure in its purest form. It absolutely made my day.

This comic has taken two months of hard work from the pupil behind it. He's spent every spare minute on it and given up countless lunchtimes. Today, he finally finished it. Thirty-two pages, a wide range of characters, and an exciting story. He's even created an advert for the next issue.

My latest article for Educate magazine. In schools, we're always looking at where we need to go next. Sometimes, we just need to celebrate where we are. @neunion.bsky.social

Race to the South Pole: A Two-Sided Story, by Alexandra Stewart and Sarah Wilkins, was recommended to me by a friend a few months ago. It's a book I keep coming back to. I love how you can read the story from one point of view, and then turn the book round and read it from the other point of view.

Very excited to reveal the shortlist for the 2026 Primary Verse Novel Award. Huge congratulations to all the authors and illustrators featured. We now hand it over to our school judging teams, who will decide the winner to be announced later this year.

Being part of the editorial team for English 4-11 is a real pleasure. The magazine is free to all members of the @uklitassociation.bsky.social, @natecommunity.bsky.social and @englishassociation.bsky.social. The latest issue is out now, and is packed with articles, ideas and reviews.

It was too hot outside at lunchtime today, so several groups stayed in the classroom, filling in football sticker albums, reading match reports, and studying World Cup wallcharts. One group decided it was time to update the recommendations shelf and give it a football theme for the next few weeks.

With the World Cup in full swing, it seems like the right time to mention how much my class love The Fearsome FC series by Peter McCauley (illustrated by Kate H). Full of action, dyslexia-friendly, and with colour illustrations. They're great fun to read. Perfect for KS2. @badgerlearning.bsky.social

Wild About Whales by Owen Davey is another strong addition to his About Animals series, published by @flyingeyebooks.bsky.social. As with all his books, it has the perfect balance of illustrations and content. These are the kind of non-fiction texts that primary classrooms need.

Feel free to download, adapt and use. The link is on my Padlet. padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...

With the end of the school year approaching, it's always lovely to look back with Year 6 on their time at primary school. I've put together a PowerPoint inspired by graphic novels, with opportunities for discussion before children create their own comic to tell the story of their primary journey.

There's still one week left to apply if you'd like your school to help judge the first Verse Novel Awards. The deadline for applications is Friday 26 June. Apply using the form below and we'll be in touch over the coming weeks. docs.google.com/forms/d/1Dmc...

My class really enjoyed creating their own 'Books Are...' posters, inspired by Grant Snider's original. The conversations around the role books and reading play in their lives were fascinating.

This morning, our whole school watched @empathylabuk.bsky.social's Empathy Day Festival assembly, featuring SF Said and Mark Ruffalo. Exploring how stories can help us understand the lives and experiences of others was a wonderful way to launch our empathy work. empathylab.uk/empathy-day-...

Very pleased to be delivering an online session for @wensumenglishhub.bsky.social on Wednesday afternoon. Lots of practical ideas and book recommendations. It's free to attend so do come along.

With @empathylabuk.bsky.social's Empathy Day Festival only a couple of weeks away, do make sure you sign your school up for these fantastic free author events. empathylab.uk/empathy-day

Fantastic afternoon watching @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social at the Norwich Playhouse. It doesn't matter many times I hear No Breathing in Class, it still makes me laugh.

Had a fantastic morning putting together the shortlists for the @scholasticuk.bsky.social Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2026. It was a pleasure to judge alongside @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social, Alex Falase-Koya and Katie Abey. I think we were all very happy with the books that made it through.