Non-Fiction Day 2: Our second longlisted book in this category is 'The History of We' by @4nikkolas.bsky.social - a visually arresting, poetic and poignant celebration of the history of humanity. @rocktheboatnews.bsky.social 🎄🎁📚#Spark12BooksofChristmas

Day 1: Our first book in the Picture Fiction for Early Readers category is 'Basil Dreams Big' by Lu Fraser & Sarah Warburton, about a tiny bat with a huge dream and an even bigger heart! (Simon & Schuster) 🎄🎁📚 #Spark12BooksofChristmas

Day 1: Our first book in the Non-Fiction category is 'Choose Your Own Evolution' by @juleshoward.bsky.social & @gordywright.bsky.social - an innovative and highly engaging approach to the topic of evolution! @nosycrow.bsky.social 🎄🎁📚 #Spark12BooksofChristmas

Day 1: Our first book in the 7+ Fiction category is 'Solving Crimes Is Not My Superpower' by Nathanael Lessore & Simran Diamond Singh - in a town where everyone has superpowers, Sara proves that brains always beats brawn! @littletigeruk.bsky.social 🎄🎁📚 #Spark12BooksofChristmas

Day 1: Our first book in the 9+ Fiction category is 'The Game I Will Never Forget' by Onjali Q. Rauf. Meet a mischievous boy who loves pranking his nan, before discovering she was once a secret chess legend. (Hachette) 🎄🎁📚 #Spark12BooksofChristmas

Day 1: Our first book in the 11+ Fiction category is 'I Dare You' by Tamsin Winter - Willow and Alma will do anything to go viral, but as their TikTok likes soar, their dares become increasingly dangerous. (Usborne) 🎄🎁📚 #Spark12BooksofChristmas

Honoured to be part of this panel and I have loved reviewing all of the submissions. So many great ideas and exciting texts for the children!

Exciting news for schools! The Spark! Book Award is already great value for only £65 per category, BUT sign up by 28 November and you'll receive TWO sets of the shortlisted books instead of one! Don't miss out...sign up on our website now: www.sparkbookawards.co.uk/schools/school-sign-up

Two reads in two days and what a two I picked! I couldn’t put Glasgow Boys down-so powerful! And today another Katya Balen. I love that her more accessible books are still beautifully written and thought provoking. Two good recommendations for two very different age groups! @openuni-rfp.bsky.social

Two reads in two days and what a two I picked! I couldn’t put Glasgow Boys down-so powerful! And today another Katya Balen. I love that her more accessible books are still beautifully written and thought provoking. Two good recommendations for two very different age groups! @openuni-rfp.bsky.social

Y6 are SPIES this term- after successful application letters, they’ve completed mission 1-investigate a super soldier-friend or foe? All agents gave their best& loved selecting or inventing their hero. Purpose through immersion &role play can work! @writingrocks.bsky.social @piecorbett.bsky.social

Y6 are SPIES this term- after successful application letters, they’ve completed mission 1-investigate a super soldier-friend or foe? All agents gave their best& loved selecting or inventing their hero. Purpose through immersion &role play can work! @writingrocks.bsky.social @piecorbett.bsky.social

Escaped the chaos to hunker down in Costa &continue with this gem. I just love it so far. I’ve said it before and I’ve got to say it again- there is just something about the way Katya Balen writes that is magic for me. @openuni-rfp.bsky.social @readingrocks.bsky.social @schoolreadinglist.bsky.social

Just finished this lovely book this afternoon - The Boy in the Suit by James Fox. I really loved it. Reminded me of The Wrong Shoes and Katya Balen a little. A relatable, ‘real’ story that makes you think. What next?! @jonbiddle.bsky.social @openuni-rfp.bsky.social

Visited York Castle museum today - we loved it! I particularly liked the fact that at several points there were lots of fabulous books to relate to that section. Lovely idea! Great place to Visit @openuni-rfp.bsky.social #readingforpleasure @booksfortopics.bsky.social

One of my boys read your book in 24 hours - not a voracious reader but adored your book! He’s onto my signed copy of the First year now. He’s produced this scrapbook page in response. Hope you like it! @mattgoodfellow.bsky.social @openuni-rfp.bsky.social

One of my boys read your book in 24 hours - not a voracious reader but adored your book! He’s onto my signed copy of the First year now. He’s produced this scrapbook page in response. Hope you like it! @mattgoodfellow.bsky.social @openuni-rfp.bsky.social

One of my boys in y5 loved Looshkin and has spent many hours completing this book review for our reading scrapbook! I thought you Might like it @jamiesmart.bsky.social @openuni-rfp.bsky.social

When your 11yr old goes to their first opera and loves it - and is asked to make notes! Love these so much… 🤣 @garsingtonopera.bsky.social @writingrocks.bsky.social #WritingforPleasure for reference - our yr 6 play is Matilda.

A snapshot-2025, 2021 and 2018 from yr 5,4&6 respectively. Interesting to see which books appear in each &how their choices changed! can see how our Reading For Pleasure work has expanded range&genre. Always sparks a great session of book talk too! @jonbiddle.bsky.social @openuni-rfp.bsky.social

It’s all about HTTYD by @cressidacowell.bsky.social -Y5 applied to be dragon trainers today - will they be accepted?! Next up - training guide creation! Can’t wait for Cressida to visit later in June. What an author visit to finish the year! @writingrocks.bsky.social @piecorbett.bsky.social

It’s all about HTTYD by @cressidacowell.bsky.social -Y5 applied to be dragon trainers today - will they be accepted?! Next up - training guide creation! Can’t wait for Cressida to visit later in June. What an author visit to finish the year! @writingrocks.bsky.social @piecorbett.bsky.social

A snapshot-2025, 2021 and 2018 from yr 5,4&6 respectively. Interesting to see which books appear in each &how their choices changed! can see how our Reading For Pleasure work has expanded range&genre. Always sparks a great session of book talk too! @jonbiddle.bsky.social @openuni-rfp.bsky.social

Will loves the Dungeon Runners series &created a double page review of books 1&2 for our reading scrapbook! I promised I’d show @kieranlarwood.bsky.social .They are working their way round our class quickly. Highly recommended by William! @sparkbookaward.bsky.social @openuni-rfp.bsky.social

The success of Escape Room owes so much to teachers, school librarians, reviewers and readers sharing their love of the story, so if you know someone who enjoyed Escape Room, please let them know that Escape Room: Game Zero is coming soon! One month to go! linktr.ee/edgechristop...

A real treat today with @andygbooks.bsky.social visiting us. Almost all of the kids have read at least one of his books and he did not disappoint! They loved every moment. Funny, engaging and a real celebration of silly! Thank you so much for stopping by Andy! @openuni-rfp.bsky.social #UkKidsLit

Today we launched the Spark shortlists to the wider school-children who had pre read them gave reviews in assembly and the buzz is growing! Here are some of their thoughts so far: @sparkbookaward.bsky.social @coralrumble.bsky.social @tompalmerauthor.bsky.social @kieranlarwood.bsky.social

My last few months of listening is a myriad great children’s literature. I love the narration - imagining the voices and losing time - makes the km of running go faster that’s for sure! What your fave? What else must I add to my list?! @openuni-rfp.bsky.social #ReadingForPleasure #EduSky

The Wrong Shoes, written and illustrated by Tom Percival, was one of my favourite books of last year. It explored several important themes and was a great read. I created some free resources based on it for @teachprimarymag.bsky.social, which can be found here: www.teachwire.net/teaching-res...

My day just got better! Wandered into the bookshop and found this gem waiting - obviously had to get it there and then! Perfect for my train journey. Quarter of the way in and love it just as much as Final Year.Can’t wait to share with the kids! #EduSky #UKKidsLit #ReadingForPleasure

My last few months of listening is a myriad great children’s literature. I love the narration - imagining the voices and losing time - makes the km of running go faster that’s for sure! What your fave? What else must I add to my list?! @openuni-rfp.bsky.social #ReadingForPleasure #EduSky

My day just got better! Wandered into the bookshop and found this gem waiting - obviously had to get it there and then! Perfect for my train journey. Quarter of the way in and love it just as much as Final Year.Can’t wait to share with the kids! #EduSky #UKKidsLit #ReadingForPleasure

Today we launched the Spark shortlists to the wider school-children who had pre read them gave reviews in assembly and the buzz is growing! Here are some of their thoughts so far: @sparkbookaward.bsky.social @coralrumble.bsky.social @tompalmerauthor.bsky.social @kieranlarwood.bsky.social

Writing Journals - what a hit! They are desperate to continue with them and have loved personalising the front. I’m excited by all the writing going on - some graphic novels, information pages and fiction- a real variety of creativity! #readingforpleasure #writingforpleasure

Another amazing listen on my run recently. Took my mind off the miles that’s for sure. Loved the two starkly different narrators and their stories. I’m never disappointed with a Katya Balen novel! #UkKidlit #ReadingforPleasure

For World Book Day we had the honour of a visit from the marvellous @susiedent.com to talk about words, language &get us all excited! The children loved hearing about some of their chosen words& inventing their own - maybe some will make it into the dictionary one day!

Rave reviews from our year 6 team today for @lindsaylittleson.bsky.social - engaging, thought provoking and she held the kids attention completely! Highly recommended! The kids are loving The Titanic Detective Agency and your visit just took it up another notch. Thank you!

So lucky to welcome @kieranlarwood.bsky.social today. The kids loved your visit-some amazing creativity in character designs too.Nothing like a real author to promote Reading for Pleasure even more! They loved Podkin &the new Dungeon Runners series too! Thank you! @sparkbookaward.bsky.social

Links to all the picturebook list blogs i have done… aiming to add a few more and update soon. #PicturebookPage smithsmm.wordpress.com/2020/08/23/y...

Ooh that is tough! Here goes: 1-My Beautiful Voice-Joseph Coehlo 2-Meerkat Mail-Emily Gravett 3-Wild Robot @peterbrownstudio.com 4-Podkin One-Ear @kieranlarwood.bsky.social 5-Boy at the Back of the Class Onjali Rauf 6-Final Year-Matt Goodfellow But this doesn’t include Katya Balen - who I adore!

🤩 Myself and @neillcameron.bsky.social will be drawing on stage in Lincoln on Saturday 15th February as part of the incredible Waterstone’s Book Festival! We’ll be taking suggestions and getting the audience involved, so if you want to come along tickets are HERE www.waterstones.com/events/phoen...

@juliesargent.bsky.social @thinktalkleah.bsky.social @mrsb-g.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social

Finally got myself out running again after feeling run down over December - burnout! Feels good. Started this one and am intrigued to see where it takes me…! So far I love the unusual but relevant premise in this age of AI that has begun! #EduSky #ReadingForPleasure

Y3 have loved studying Wild Robot by @peterbrownstudio.com They've read the book, seen the film, created their own stories &robots & had a very special online visit from the star author himself. It's been a big hit with adults &children alike and yielded some fab results. #ReadingForPleasure

Few more scrapbook pages today. Always mention it to get a bit of enthusiasm going when I’m in class! Lovely way to build reading for pleasure culture and encourage pupil recommendations. Always voluntary and they spend spare time completing! @mglnrd.bsky.social #Edusky #ReadingForPleasure

Got everyone excited about helping me judge this category today - within ten mins of my assembly they were all out to be read! I eagerly await the reviews now!

Little excursion to rehearse for the carol service tonight - a bit of spare time to check out the long list for the 7-9 category of course though! 👍 for Dungeon Runners and Mission Microraptor! @kieranlarwood.bsky.social @sparkbookaward.bsky.social @debbiethomas.bsky.social #readingforpleasure

All finished this one a few days back - not been well enough to run for a week but hopefully back to it later this week with a new title. This one was fab - relatable but a gripping story of staying true to yourself and friendship. Recommend!

This one was popular with my daughters - who now want tiny dogs of course!