The Brand New @mazevansauthor.bsky.social masterpiece! When Will finds out he’s a direct descendant of Shakespeare, characters of old come out to play to help turn Will’s life around. Full of heart and hilarity! My Review 👇 @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/09/20/t...

The Wood Where Magic Grows by @andyshepherdwriter.bsky.social is a wonderfully nostalgic and whimsical magical story perfect for Lower KS2. @piccadilly-press.bsky.social Here’s my review 👇 tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/09/18/t...

The realities of teaching Year 1. Half way through a storming maths lesson on the carpet. The children do talk partners I ask for someone to feedback Their feedback: “I love you Mr Slattery.” You can’t actually be mad!

#SundayMorningBookChat this week is celebrating PictureBooks! Tok percivals new book ‘This Way Up’ shows how people can see things from others views and learn to compromise. What other picturebooks are your go-tos for teaching children important concepts tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/09/12/p...

Hilarity &chaos ensues in this new book by @stubbleagent.bsky.social @puffinbooksuk.bsky.social Alex vs Axel- The Thief of Time. such a funny series with so many quips &witty retorts. Absolutely chuckling through every page. Review here 👇 tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/09/13/a...

Kate Winter - the most exciting talent in NF? Adored The Fossil Hunter and her style perfectly suits the discovery of prehistoric paintings in Lascaux a century ago in The Cave Explorer. Engrossing art (+gatefolds), enticing questions and key knowledge - Kate has produced a serious work of art!

#PictyreBookFriday this week is the BRAND NEW @tompercivalbooks.bsky.social a brilliant picturebook about compromise and finding common ground. A great intro into seeing things from a different point of view! @kidsbloomsbury.bsky.social tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/09/12/p...

The ECTs learned what it’s like to teach during a thunderstorm today:

Who needs colour coordination when you can go to the gym dressed like a pack of chewits!

Generally stay away from ‘celebrity’ books but Marvellous Messages: The Amazing Story of Communication by #roseaylingellis #andreamills #lenaaddink is not only an important book but brilliant fun to read time-travelling around the globe to see communication develop and meet key deaf people. Superb!

#SundaymorningBookChat this week is about difficult subject matter. Yesterday I blogged about the new book by #onjaliqRauf who tackles dementia in a grandparent with authenticity and warmth. What would you recommend? tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/09/06/t...

The awesome brand new title by #OnjaliQRauf is simply sublime, heartfelt and tackles theme of dementia from a child’s point of view watching her Nani slip away. Sad but also uplifting. You will need some tissues for sure @hachettechildrens.bsky.social tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/09/06/t...

Highlight of the week - a child came to me today: - “you’re my third favourite teacher” Gee thanks!

Nate Yu’s Blast from the past is a brilliant book about heritage and identity by @maisiechanwrites.bsky.social and is a wonderful book to build empathy and understanding in our young people as well as some forgotten history @bonnierbooks.bsky.social tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/09/01/n...

Don’t let anyone tell you starting a project the Saturday before you’re back at work is unrealistic… I give you the summer house (just in time for Autumn!)

Has anyone seen my lanyard?

#SundayMorningBookChat this week is a back to school theme. What are your favourite books to teach at school and why and if you’re not a teacher, what were your favourite books to study or the most memorable. Here’s three of mine.

So with just two days before the start of term I thought it was the best time to start a project… I’m tackling the summer house… started today… the master plan is that I’ll finish it tomoro… obvs with no rain and a 36 hour day tomoro. 👍👍

Parkrun this morning. Was going for a steady run and it ended up being much faster than I thought… going to try and get a PB by Xmas. That’s the target!

#PictureBookFriday this week is the brilliantly musical Marching Band by @kaeltudor.bsky.social &KateHindley. books like this that make me wish I taught EYFS but I will absolutely be reading it to Year 1s this year! Brilliant Fun! @nosycrow.bsky.social tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/08/29/p...

Just realised that this summer I’ve been on Safari and then on to Mauritius. All I need now is to get on a rowing boat to an island in a lake in the UK countryside and I will have completed SATS Reading paper 2016! There was however, no milling about in bewilderment at any point

A brand new title from Tamzin Merchant- The Mythmakers is not so much an origin story for Arthur,Merlin, Guinevere etc but rather an origin story for myth itself! Super magical& brilliant adventure adds a new layer to the legend @puffinbooksuk.bsky.social tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/08/27/t...

Kirsty Applebaum is back! A brilliantly spooky mystery & genuine page turner… when Fran goes to visit her Aunt, her cousin Imogen is nowhere to be seen. When she asks her aunt about her, her reply: “who’s Imogen?” Absolutely gripping @nosycrow.bsky.social tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/08/26/t...

Cracking chiller from #JackMackay (illustrated by #benjoelprice) with frightening monsters, a terrifying house and a courageous heroine, Gwen. Relationships push the emotional buttons. #jenniferkillick fans will love it. (Note:deals with loss of parent from illness) year6 #kidlituk #ukkidlit #edusky

I’m at that stage in the holiday when I’m in complete and utter denial of only having a week left… currently planning three DIY projects and today I sorted and cleaned the fridge… it looks so pretty now.

Lovely Monday walk with the girls 🐕 🐕 around Cannock Chase and Shugborough Hall in the ☀️

#sundaymorningbookchat this week is celebrating great series w/great endings that perhaps aren’t on many people’s radar. recently finished& blogged about this superb trilogy by Jamie Littler &I know lots of people haven’t read. Lets celebrate unsung heros tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/08/20/a...

#PictureBookFriday is Millie Fleur saves the night by @christymandin.bsky.social everyone is afraid of the dark &puts lights everywhere,Millie sets out to save &celebrate all things nocturnal. Awesome book for overcoming fears @scholasticuk.bsky.social tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/08/22/p...

Have just seen that Clue is back in cinemas for the 40 year anniversary! One of my all time favourite movies.

When we booked our holiday the other half plastered it all Over the booking that we were celebrating my 40th… EVERYWHERE we went, they wished me happy birthday and had a total of 4 separate birthday cakes over 2 weeks!

First parkrun back after two weeks away and it was tough!! Glad I got up and did it though. Forget to take a pic so here’s one from another week 🏃‍♂️ 🏃‍♂️

#PictureBookFriday is Millie Fleur saves the night by @christymandin.bsky.social everyone is afraid of the dark &puts lights everywhere,Millie sets out to save &celebrate all things nocturnal. Awesome book for overcoming fears @scholasticuk.bsky.social tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/08/22/p...

Here it is! The end of the a wonderfully joyous series Crookhaven by @joelarcanjo.bsky.social The perfect ending and so much heart! If you’ve never read it, this is spoiler free &gives a little round up of the whole series! @hachettechildrens.bsky.social tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/08/21/c...

On my GCSE day I was given my results from my biology teacher who expressed his shock and surprise that managed to get a B in biology. Love the lack of faith 😂. Upon reflection, I relied too much on natural ability rather than hard work for my GCSEs and A Levels. Not that it matters now 🤷‍♂️

With the new academic year approaching, this picturebook assembly overview might be useful to people. The suggested books cover themes around empathy, inclusion and diversity, and are all texts I've used in the classroom. Any shares appreciated. Link here: padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...

ARKSPIRE 3 by Jamie Littler. End of a simply sublime trilogy! Shocks, twists turns &whole lot of laughs and heart too. I can’t rate this trilogy enough. This is spoiler free &also rounds the whole trilogy up if u want more info. @puffinbooksuk.bsky.social tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/08/20/a...

ARKSPIRE 3 by Jamie Littler. End of a simply sublime trilogy! Shocks, twists turns &whole lot of laughs and heart too. I can’t rate this trilogy enough. This is spoiler free &also rounds the whole trilogy up if u want more info. @puffinbooksuk.bsky.social tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/08/20/a...

First holiday read. The BRILLIANT second Arkspire-The order of Misfits by Jamie Littler. Magical, mystery adventure -so cleverly done and unbelievably witty and funny! Everyone should read this series! Tomoro I will post book 3! @puffinbooksuk.bsky.social tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/08/19/a...

First holiday read. The BRILLIANT second Arkspire-The order of Misfits by Jamie Littler. Magical, mystery adventure -so cleverly done and unbelievably witty and funny! Everyone should read this series! Tomoro I will post book 3! @puffinbooksuk.bsky.social tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/08/19/a...

#sundaymorningbookchat comes all the way from Mauritius this morning. Had a wonderful safari in SA and was completely inspired by the animals. Let’s celebrate animal books! What is the appeal of a great animal book or authors who write them? Here are some of my favourites @whatsfsaid.bsky.social

Last night in Mauritius 🇲🇺. Such a beautifully vibrant island. The green is so green, the blue is so blue and all the colours in between. And the trees! The most incredible trees I’ve ever seen! 😍

Have changed my Fantasy Premier League team approximately 152 times so far just today. Need to make a decision and stick to it!

Landed in Mauritius 🇲🇺 and took a seaplane to check out the underwater waterfall! This island is so beautiful and lush and green. #paradise

Last day of Safari (last of the the safari spam) and decided to actually try and take a nice photo as I always just point and shoot - so I give you my best efforts: - Baby Elephant! - Water Buffalo staring down - Pensive Lion - Giraffe just looking bloomin awesome!

Second day of Safari and we saw a whole lake of hippos! A leopard cub playing with his mother, more lions, impalas, kudus and more elephants. Absolutely incredible!

Second day of Safari and we saw a whole lake of hippos! A leopard cub playing with his mother, more lions, impalas, kudus and more elephants. Absolutely incredible!

First day of safari and my gosh! Actually my favourite thing I have ever done - ever! Saw elephants, a Rhino with her baby, zebras, giraffes, Lions sleeping off a big meal of buffalo they just killed and an incredibly rare Pangolin - one of the worlds most trafficked animals.

Loved Cape Town 🇿🇦 saw it via the top of Table Mountain and helicopter! This city is so friggin awesome! Visited district 6 museum to learn about the sobering history but a city a full of vibrance… AMAZING food scene and AMAZING views! Safari awaits! 🦁 🐘 🦏 🦬 🐆

Visited Boulders Beach south of Cape Town 🇿🇦- home to the African Penguins… if this isn’t the cutest:

So it seems every single thing/ place we have booked on holiday is well aware it is my 40th celebration: I’ve had cakes, desserts, bottles of champagne in the hotel room and at breakfast - a singing chorus with a birthday cake! It’s day 3 so far. 😂😂