Reading #katyabalen first book for adults: Our Numbered Bones was a no brainer after loving so many of her children’s books over the years. A powerful and emotional read. And what a cover. @canongate.co.uk

Inspired by Catherine Doyle’s The Storm Keeper’s Island children have been experimenting with paint and brush techniques to create storm paintings. Very proud of our young artists. #primaryart #stormpaintings #art #lighthousepaintings #creativity #catherinedoyle #stormkeeper

Looked forward to this one for a while. #holiday #relaxing #backtothefuture #lego

One of the great joys in life is teaching art. With inspiration from The Lost Words and a touch of Ben Rothery it’s very easy. So proud of our Y5/6 children. #primaryart #artteaching #thelostwords #jackiemorris #benrothery

I think when I’m hobbling around without my own teeth and original knees I’ll still be buying #joetoddstanton books. His latest is a wonderful story told in his own incredible illustrative style. My favourite? Quite possibly. #picturebooks #thelostrobot #teaching

After a brilliant #worldbookday second-hand book sale last week we used the money collected to buy a fantastic collection of comic books from The Rabbit Hole. The children love them! #comicbooks #wbd2026

A wonderful sight at the rubbish tip today. In the stink for Mr Stink’s books. #walliams

Holy crowly, #FURTHERMOOR is four-years-old today! Seriously proud of this book. People have gone out of their way to tell me it's helped with bullying and grief. And it felt so good to write. Just poured out of me, almost fully formed. Happy birthday to Bren, Evie, Featherly and co. 🎉

Pleasure to host creative Ben Rothery on his Lincolnshire tour. He may have found his illustrations plastered all over the house! He delivered a brilliant science/art workshop to our Y5/6 class too! 🦋🐟🐞🦊🦍🐘

Clare Balding is the greatest sports presenter we’ve ever had. Just saying. Incredible Knowledge + Enthusiasm for every sport + Guest support. She makes it look so easy. No wonder she gets the most important jobs. #bbcsport #winterolympics

After just watching the women’s halfpipe and how the athletes pick themselves up from horrendous falls, footballers (absolute wimps) need to take a long hard look at themselves. The commentary is exceptional by the way. #winterolympics #halfpipe

Almost 50 books donated to school by one of our families this week. With budgets as they are this kindness is essential. #schoolbudgets #thankful #reading #schoollibrary

A brilliant morning @lincolnbishopuni.bsky.social working with the #PGCE students focusing on the use of picture books in the primary classroom. A fantastically enthusiastic group. I provided the quality books and they provided superb ideas for their use across the curriculum #teaching #inspire

Watching an old-fashioned gem with a glass of Old-Fashioned. Guess I’ve started to relax after a busy old term. #whitechristmas #oldfashioned #holiday

Thoughts with those affected by DW - appalling - but I am so pleased that he has finally been found out. Such courageous people. To all of the amazing authors out there - there may be well deserved space on those shelves for you. I’ve had no DW books in school for years. And never will.

A very special personal film (it’s forever on my arm) and seeing it on the stage in the West End was an absolute joy. Beautiful. Clever. Funny. Magical. Jawdropping. Puppet masters! #myneighbortotoro #totoro #studioghibli

Children started their #benrothery inspired swallows today. I’m going to need to create a gallery. They’re gaining confidence using new techniques which is a joy. #primaryart #loveteaching #natureart #wildlifeart @dalmain-art.bsky.social

Inspired by #jackiemorris and #benrothery the children are producing some incredible art this term in Y5/6. #wildlife #wildlifeart #thelostspells #thelostwords #primaryart #sketchbooks Reading inspires Art!

I adore the artwork of #angelaharding and spending a couple of hours reading A Year Unfolding has been bliss. Just a beautiful collection of her printmaking celebrating our gorgeous countryside. #art #natureart #wildlife #conservation #bbcwildlife @nationaltrust.org.uk @chrisgpackham.bsky.social

Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall is the inspiration for this free KS2 art medium-term plan from headteacher @karlduke8.bsky.social. Children will paint skies and seascapes, draw lighthouse cross-sections and experiment with collage…

The children (and adults) absolutely loved #adambaron today. He was gripping to listen to and his new book The Very Last Christmas Present has been borrowed by so many children already. Thanks again to the brilliant Rabbit Hole for organising the visit. #authorvisits #reading

We loved this! Here's the online version: www.teachwire.net/teaching-res...

I’m loving contributing to @teachprimarymag.bsky.social by sharing some of the successful reading-inspired learning and outcomes in our curriculum #primary

I think the painting of the branch this kingfisher is sitting on is one of the best examples of watercolour I’ve seen a child do. It’s beautiful - look at the range of colours #primaryart #watercolour #thelostwords

Brilliant to see the vocabulary generation Detail Detectives strategy ‘Jig-saw’ used in Willow Class today. A fantastic way to collect more words than you normally would to help build narrative. Creating grids to organise ideas. #detaildetectives Get in touch if you want more info #primarywriting

Hey @smithsmm.bsky.social @karlduke8.bsky.social @checkemoutbooks.bsky.social - fancy doing the survey and spreading the word for my lovely publisher, please?

On a graphic novel marathon this weekend and #macsmith #Scurry is the latest. The artwork is astonishing and after reading the #graphicnovel of #WatershipDown I could see some similarities - it’s a brilliant piece of work.

A re-read of one of my favourite #graphicnovels @jasonreynolds83.bsky.social incredibly powerful #LongWayDown. The artwork by Danica Novgorodoff grips you, breaks your heart and visually helps delivers the emotional punch of Jason’s words. A breathtaking adaptation.

The #graphicnovel adaptation of Richard Adam’s #watershipdown is a visual treat. It’s extremely faithful to the original and is structured superbly. A morning of absolute bliss with the expected emotional rollercoaster of a journey. Masterpiece. @puffinbooksuk.bsky.social

As a lover of both #graphicnovels and #art Botticelli’s Apprentice by @umurrayhusted.bsky.social was a brilliant afternoon’s read. Particularly liked the explanations of art techniques from the period. Recommend for all but teachers of art in #primary or #secondary will love it.

So delighted for the brilliant well-deserving creators on the #AstridLindgren Memorial Award List. Amazing to see friends and visitors to our school on there. 🥳🤩😄Must be a gremlin somewhere though as that Walliams has somehow got on it. He’ll never have a book in our school. 😤😩

When the worlds of @philearle and #fredfordham collide wonderful things should happen and the #graphicnovel adaptation of When the Sky Falls does not disappoint. The strength of the story is delivered brilliantly through Fordham’s (check out A Wizard of Earthsea) stunning artwork. #whentheskyfalls

Having met the brilliant #lizhyder at #nolimits festival I thought I’d better start reading her books! Bearmouth grabbed me and didn’t let go creating scene after scene of courage against such a cruel regime. In Newt we have one of my fave ever characters. Astonishing #bearmouth @pushkinpress.com

Love my #musicals #westend but I think I’ve heard the best collaborative vocals ever tonight in an absolutely brilliant performance of #Justforoneday #LiveAid Wow!

#Competition Time. Win a signed copy of my new Picture book ‘My Friend Billy Whiskers’. All you have to do is Like, Repost and Follow me to be in with a chance. I’ll pick at random a winner on Monday 6th October. Good Luck all 🤞🦁👦🏻 #giveaway #picturebook

Rob & Tom Sears created one of the best/ quirkiest NF ever in The Biggest Footprint and their new book A Tree is a Time Machine is equally exceptional. A tree contemplates the passing of time and it made me smile and go Wow! Genius. @smithsmm.bsky.social @checkemoutbooks.bsky.social

I’ve waited for the second book by brothers Rob & Tom Sears for years after the brilliantly imaginative The Biggest Footprint. And it’s been worth it. I’ll share more in a post later. @hachettechildrens.bsky.social

Thank you @charlienutbrown.bsky.social for a signed copy of The Feathered Book - really kind of you and I’ll add to my borrowing library! #headteacherheadreader

Thank you @charlienutbrown.bsky.social for a signed copy of The Feathered Book - really kind of you and I’ll add to my borrowing library! #headteacherheadreader

As a Barnsley lad and cricket mad this is a sad one. He wor a reight character r’Dickie. #RIPDickie #DickieBird

Luckiest job in the world teaching #art throughout #KS2. Helps to structure the planning to ensure every child is making progress with their skills. A short thread through the key stage for this term so far. Year 3/4 inspired by their book focus on the #Everest expedition of Norgay and Hillary…1/3

Huge thanks to Ben Rothery, Susannah Lloyd, Jenny Mclachlan, Ramzee, Liz Hyder, Kes Gray, Richard O’Neill, Saviour Pirotta, Nicholas Jubber, Darren Simpson, Mama G, Steve Webb @mattgoodfellow.bsky.social for just being brilliant people, superb company over a beer and creatives who blow your mind!

Spent the most fantastic weekend #nolimitsfestival created by the wonderful @rabbits21.bsky.social Saw so many families from our school engaging with authors and illustrators including our very own #BethWalker. Thousands attended and had a blast.

@mariannedoherty.bsky.social @checkemoutbooks.bsky.social

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!

Thank you #cicadabooks #annadavies #daisywynter for Shoes: A Footwear Fashion Frolic. It’s a fantastic journey through the history of footwear taking us around the globe, focusing on designers too and will interest all children due to the later focus on #nike #vans #airjordans #adidas designs.

Love this term! We use The Lost Words by #robertmacfarlane & #jackiemorris to inspire artwork based on the beauty of nature. A term for patience, care and resilience. We look in detail and then super detail and it’s when children take a giant leap. #primaryart This is just the start! #thelostwords

No need for words…The Invisible Parade by #LeighBardugo & #JohnPicacio *thank you @smithsmm.bsky.social #grief #loss #memories #rememberinglovedones

If it's helpful to schools, below is the link to a year's worth of picturebook assembly suggestions that have a focus on empathy and inclusion. They're all books I've used and loved as a teacher. padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...