It's Publication Day for Pets Tell Tales: Ancient Rome, baby!

As grown-ups we can often fall into the trap of leaning towards serious or ‘issue heavy’ kid’s books, forgetting that kids also need and deserve books that just bring joy. So for #KidsBooksFriday this week, what are your top fun / silly / joyful book recommendations? #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit

Only TEN more days until "Pets Tell Tales: Ancient Rome" will be on shelves in bookstores! You can also order it now: tinyurl.com/PetsRome A kids' comic by @rikworth.bsky.social & me that tackles some of the big topics of the ancient world of humans, from the perspective of animals.

Well worth the wait, but now I have an agonising wait for the final book. Top class storytelling and a series that deserves so much more praise and attention. A great option for year 6.

Starting the day with this stunner and can see straight away why it came so highly recommended.

Just finished reading the farm trilogy by @lucyknisley.bsky.social which is always a series I recommend in class. Not only was it a beautifully constructed ending, but there was some wonderful advice for aspiring creators at the back, which you just know is going to help so many future creators.

Dream On by Shannon Hale and Marcela Cespedes is one of the best children's graphic novels I've read in a long time. It's warm and funny. It's about friendship and the perils of growing up. It's full of empathy and heart. It's just great.

The novel was a masterpiece, so fascinated to see how this version compares.

Updated both my padlet and my bookshop list for the New Year. Have a look if you want some new reading inspiration. padlet.com/rruddick9zra... uk.bookshop.org/shop/gnlist (both primary and secondary)

Samurai robots are the finest way to start any day.

Dream On by @shannonhale.bsky.social is a real must have book for schools. Such a relatable story in so many ways and full of examples that any reader will be able to empathise with. I can’t recommend it enough. @mariannedoherty.bsky.social

I mean this looks like an absolute must have for schools. Kids are desperate to create their own work but often need a little nudge or guidance in the right direction to prevent it being too overwhelming. This is clearly only going to help with that problem!

Why not make your wish list even bigger for the start of the year.

Time to try and squeeze as many of these new reads in as possible before Monday. Battle Beast has to be first choice.

With the National Year of Reading approaching, a few people have asked if I'll be running the online 'Building a Classroom Reading Culture' session again. Will be doing it twice, on Sun 11th Jan at 11:30am and on Mon 12th Jan at 3:45pm. Link below: www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/jon-biddle...

🚀NEW EVENT! I’ll be on stage London 28th March celebrating the release of my new book Megalomaniacs! Come join in, draw along, shout out suggestions, and together we’ll make the most ridiculous comics: www.waterstones.com/events/megal... (And this is the exclusive gig poster available when ordering)

It should be: why has it taken so long for comics to be so popular? It’s taken a while but finally they’re getting their dues.

This series has been an absolute rollercoaster of emotions and may have one of the best endings I’ve ever read. Absolute triumph from the very start to the very end. Furious that it took me so long to read, but well worth the wait. I’m now off to get this dust out of my eyes …

Think there’s quite a few people who could do with hearing this piece of advice. Kick flip by @ldlapinski.bsky.social is a great read and bouquet of wankers might be my new favourite insult. This is definitely a must have text for secondary schools.

Figured I best break up my binging of Locke and Key, so diving into this after lots of people have recommended it.

Couldn’t agree more. It’s so key that readers have someone guiding them towards the right stuff as there’s so much out there for them to enjoy.

Some top recommendations too. Obviously, you also need to add Mega Robo Bros and Donut Squad to the list because they are top reads and readers just can’t get enough of them.

Still time to head over to the shop @scholasticuk.bsky.social and pick up some pretty top notch new releases and get a hefty discount at the same time including these absolute gems pictured. Nina Peanut is fast becoming a must have book in KS2

Balanced book diet. Two new reads for the classroom and two new reads for me. Year 4 have been begging for Case Files after our visit from John Patrick Green in the summer, so can’t see it being in the shelf till 2026

My class have been going absolutely mad for these and are doing a brilliant job of demanding even more graphic novels!! There’s currently a great offer on from @scholasticuk.bsky.social that means you get £10 off if you spend £50 and all of these gems are part of it plus loads of other top titles.

Received this delightful package from @macmillankidsuk.bsky.social for the upcoming Tiny Hercules. I’m only half way through but can already see that this is going to be a massive hit with LKS2, especially fans of Bunny v Monkey and the Investigators. Fast paced and packed with laughs.

If you're looking to build a school collection of graphic novels, @scholasticuk.bsky.social have just launched a great new deal. Their Graphic Novel Book Box is updated every term with ten new graphic novels and loads of bonus posters and bookmarks. Link here: shop.scholastic.co.uk/products/160...

A really powerful read about fasting and how it can affect people during Ramadan. I had three children in my class last year attempting to and this book would have been so helpful for them and more importantly others in the class who were trying to understand.

Important piece from @booktrust.org.uk and @openuni-rfp.bsky.social about the value of book choice for pupils and how to help promote it in the classroom. Do have a read! files.booktrust.org.uk/docs/documen... @teresacremin.bsky.social @richardruddick.bsky.social

First one was a cracker and can’t wait for this follow up. Just in time to coincide with our Roman topic too.

My class lost their mind when I pulled my copy out today and told them it arrived a day early. Pandemonium when I showed them it was signed too. The most popular series in our school by far.

So many amazing books in this thread that will really help to enhance reading options for schools.

Not mad about this pre order arriving early at the weekend at all! An excellent follow up to the superb original and one that will have readers on the edge of their seats while laughing hysterically!

Here's a UK report of the Graphic Novel market: they hit an all-time high of £20.2m in 2024; on course to obliterate that in 2025. Manga has 56.9% of total GN sales. Would be interesting to know what % of all kids & YA book sales is taken up by GNs & manga. www.thebookseller.com/bestsellers/...

This week at work we were chatting about cosy, comforting reads. At the current time, books that help kids find comfort are more important than ever, but might take different forms for different kids. What comforting reads would you recommend for #KidsBooksFriday? #UKKidLit #KidLitUK #KidLit

Very excited to get my hands on a copy of this latest release from @scholasticuk.bsky.social . Been a big Lisa Thompson fan since Goldfish Boy, so very keen to get started on this one.

This series doesn’t get the praise it deserves. Fast paced action at its finest.

Worked my way through the third entry in this series. Lots more world building than the second and really felt fully immersed in the world again. Fans of the first two will be very happy with this new addition.

I have a book out in two weeks. So....one repost of this and I'll drop one fact/spoiler/detail about the book. @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social www.walker.co.uk/978152951581...

Probably a little too much going on for primary but a great text for KS3 that will help settle some transitional fears and most importantly encourage children to be true to themselves

Finally got round to reading the second in this series. Another great entry for UKS2/ KS3 that will help many readers feel seen whether they’re fans of D & D or not.

I just finished the marvellous Beastopia, the first in a new series by @chrissiesains.bsky.social. I think it’s the first book I’ve read with type 1 diabetes rep. Can anyone recommend any other books with good disability /chronic illness representation? #KidsBooksFriday #UKKidLit #KidLit #KidLitUK

Kicking off the day by finally reading this classic.

Schools are back this week in Scotland. So at @samcreighton.bsky.social’s suggestion, this week’s #KidsBooksFriday is about great books to share with a new class of kids. I’m not a teacher but I think these are all great books to read to kids as a first port of call. #UKKidLit #KidLit #KidLitUK

It's summer!! (not so much in the UK) and City of Dragons 3 is almost out worldwide EEK! I hope everyone is able to get their hands on it and enjoy the kids' next adventure in Japan!

Dracula’s reign is over, there’s a new count in town!

Starting the morning off in the right way.

Sums up the start to the summer holidays pretty well.

In honour of the great Allan Ahlberg, who died yesterday, I wanted to use this #KidsBooksFriday to celebrate all the great children’s writers who formed us as readers. For me, along with Ahlberg, it was Pat Hutchins, Judith Kerr and Diana Wynne Jones. Who would you celebrate? #KidLitUK #KidLit