Mostly Book Talk

For the National Year of Reading, we are sharing a series of short conversations with people who are involved in promoting reading with young people. This could be a programme, resources or a literary event, and we're giving them the opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved.

In this episode we are joined by Sian Hardy, founder of the Literacy Hive. Literacy Hive is a comprehensive library of literacy resources for primary and secondary teachers categorised so that they can find the support they are looking for quickly and easily.

We talk about how Sian realised that although there is a wealth of resources to support literacy available, educators face a real challenge in finding high-quality resources amidst a sea of scattered information. She has designed Literacy Hive to resolve this issue by categorising resources into specific areas of the literacy curriculum, ensuring that teachers can easily find the support they need to tackle various challenges, whether it’s engaging struggling readers or finding resources for English as an additional language. She stresses that is not just a directory of websites but includes filters for key stage, price, and resource type which make it easier to identify the right tools for their specific needs.

We also discuss the Reading for Pleasure hub she has included for The National Year of Reading to support that key aspect of reading. She also highlights the popularity of her calendar of reading awards and events.

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For the National Year of Reading, we are sharing a series of short conversations with people who are involved in promoting reading with young people. This could be a programme, resources or a literary event, and we're giving them the opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved.

In this episode we are joined by Julie Taylor Education Lead at the Children's Literacy Charity which focuses on catch-up literacy interventions for disadvantaged children. Working in primary and secondary schools in areas of deprivation, they use expert tutors to support children to catch up not just with reading but with all the important literacy skills: writing, comprehension, listening and speaking.

Julie takes us through the charity's various literacy programmes aimed at disadvantaged children and the impact they see. The charity recruits and trains its own tutors for literacy programs and as well as helping children catch up with their literacy skills, success is seen in improved engagement and behaviour in schools. She highlights the importance of reading for pleasure and the initiatives they have taken during the National Year of Reading, including featuring an author of the month. We also talk about the significance of parental involvement in children's literacy development and the charity's expansion into secondary schools and to regions outside of London.

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For the National Year of Reading, we are sharing a series of short conversations with people who are involved in promoting reading with young people. This could be a programme, resources or a literary event, and we're giving them the opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved.

In this episode we are joined by Andrew McCallum, Director of the
English and Media Centre. The EMC is a charity which supports English & Media teachers and students through publications and classroom resources, online and in-person CPD, student magazines and research. Established in 1990, they promote best practice in all aspects of English and Media teaching and work with teachers to further their subject knowledge and pleasure in the subject, in order that they can provide their students with the best possible experience in the classroom.

In our conversation we discuss the vital role of creative pedagogy in English education, the importance of collaboration between teachers and librarians, and the need for diverse reading materials. Andrew highlights the Centre's wide range of publications and resources aimed at enriching the teaching of English, the very collaborative nature of their work and CPD, as well as their support for initiatives such as Reading Teachers, Reading Pupils that encourage teachers to engage with children's literature. We also discuss the necessity for reform in English education to counter the decline in students choosing to carry on studying it and how to bring joy and engagement back into the curriculum - not evolution but a reading revolution.

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For the National Year of Reading, we are sharing a series of short conversations with people who are involved in promoting reading with young people. This could be a programme, resources or a literary event, and we're giving them the opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved.

In this episode we discuss the Pupil Library Assistant of the Year Award and are joined by Barbara Band, library consultant and Chair of Judges for the award and also by Olipher Grey who is a sixth form pupil who won the award last year.

The Pupil Library Assistant of the Year Award was first set up in 2014. Entries open in September each year with a closing date in November, shortlisting at the end of the autumn term and the ceremony in the spring term (this year's deadline is 6th November - so get your entries in!). First have a listen and find out all about how they work and what it is like to be nominated for the award and win it.

Barbara Band discusses the inception of the award, the criteria for nominations, and the vital role of student librarians in school libraries. She emphasises the importance of recognising student contributions and the challenges faced in the nomination process. We also cover the judging process and how they make sure that the celebratory award ceremony really acknowledges the efforts of young library assistants.

With Olipher we talk about he first got involved as a library assistant and what he has learnt and gained from doing it for the last five years. We cover how they recruit assistants in his school and the wider effect it has on the school community. We also talk about the how it felt winning the award and the experience of going to the ceremony.

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For the National Year of Reading, we are sharing a series of short conversations with people who are involved in promoting reading with young people. This could be a programme, resources or a literary event, and we're giving them the opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved.

In this episode we are joined by Rachel Boden who is the lead children's book promotion and content editor at BookTrust. BookTrust is the UK's largest children's reading charity and they aim to empower families to experience the magic of reading. Their programmes span from newborns to Key Stage 3 pupils and their partnerships with libraries and schools and grass roots organisations are central to their work. Bookstart provides the first book for many newborns and for older children (now including primary) Book Buzz provides an opportunity for children to choose and keep a book they want. They also support vulnerable and pupil premium children through their Letterbox club and host the Children's Laureate.

In our conversation, Rachel discusses the organisation's mission to inspire children and families to engage with reading. She outlines all of their current programmes aimed at different age groups, including initiatives for vulnerable children and the importance of community partnerships. The conversation also highlights the National Year of Reading, their work with the Children's Laureate and the concept of reading rights, emphasising the long-term impact of reading on children's well-being and development.

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We talk with Claire Linney about her Time Tub Travellers series, the third book of which is out at the start of October 2026. Inspired by reading Black Tudors: The Untold Story by Miranda Kaufmann, Claire started researching Black British history and the stories that are too often untold and hidden. She decided she wanted to bring these stories to life in a fun, adventurous way for children and the result is her Time Tub Travellers books.

Time Tub Travellers and the Silk Thief

Time Tub Travellers: Circus Mystery

Time Tub Travellers: Roman Rescue 

Claire is a champion of diversity in children's books - you may have seen her on TikTok and Instagram - and has also navigated the world of self publishing. 

We talk about all of these things and Claire also has some great book recommendations.

To find out more about Claire, her books and school visits take a look at her website . You can also buy signed copies of her books there.

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In this episode we talk with Abiola Bello - author, publisher and co-founder of the Diverse Book Awards. The third book in her Wild Magic series for younger readers is out and we talk about the success of the series - the first book just won the Sparks School Book Award prize and how kids love facts mixed in with their fiction.

Abiola is as ever very busy and we talk about her third book in the Marcus Rashford series and also a 'new adult' book coming out next year that she is on a deadline to finish.

The independent publisher Hashtag Press which Abiola co-founded with Helen Lewis is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. As one of the first independent publishers focussing on diverse authors and books they have been on quite a journey. They are currently Crowdfunding to safeguard their next ten years and you can find details of that here.

Abiola's books can be found here:

Younger Readers

Wild Magic - Legend of the Black Lion (illustrated by Emma McCann)

Wild Magic - Journey of the Lost Elephant (illustrated by Emma McCann)

Wild Magic - Escape of the Sea Turtles (illustrated by Emma McCann)

Middle Grade

Emily Knight - I am

Emily Knight - I am... Power

Emily Knight - I am... Becoming 

Emily Knight - I am... Awakened

Marcus Rashford The Breakfast Club Adventures - The Movie Monster

Marcus Rashford The Breakfast Club Adventures - The Sleepover Sabotage 

Marcus Rashford The Breakfast Club Adventures - The Haunted Disco (Oct 2026)

YA

Love in Winter Wonderland

Only for the Holidays

The Love Dare

New Adult

Pretty Little Pledges (Aug 2027)

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Welcome back to the new school year - we hope you had a great summer. September always feels the time for fresh starts and we are back after a bit of summer break. We have an interview with Dean Atta about his picture book, Auntie's Bangles  (illustrated by Alea Marley)- a joyous take on loss and remembering. We also talk about his YA books and the middle grade project he is working on. All very exciting! Congratulations to him too on the publication of his adult debut, Big Man, which is out and available now (and you will have worked hard to miss the buzz about it on social media!).

Dean's website can be found here.

And links to all his books are below.

Auntie's Bangles, illustrated by Alea Marley

Confetti, illustrated by Alea Marley

The Black Flamingo, illustrated by Anshika Khullar 

Only on the Weekends

I Can't Even Think Straight 

Big Man

Do subscribe, message us about who you would like us to get on the podcast, what you would like us to cover and any questions you have.

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Fidan Meikle is a multi-award-winning Azerbaijani-British writer, linguist and translator.

We talk with her about her debut middle-grade novel, My Name Is Samim, which is a powerful novel that follows Samim, a thirteen-year-old boy, as he flees war-torn Afghanistan for a new life in the UK.  It highlights the experiences of young refugees and asylum-seekers, and has been a word of mouth success, winning the 2026 Jhalak Children's & YA Prize, the Federation of Children's Book Groups Award, several regional awards and included in the 2026 Read for Empathy Collection.

My Name Is Samim and its companion novel, My Name Is Zayn, are inspired by the real-life stories of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the UK. 

We also celebrate Patrice Lawrence becoming the new Children's Laureate (Yay!) and the 10th anniversary of her YA book Orangeboy.

We talk about what we are reading over the summer and highlight both the Summer Reading Challenge and the Teacher's Reading Challenge.

And finally we invite you to share your recommendations - tag us in on social media or email us at [email protected].

Books we mentioned include:

Always Angel, by Kimberly Whittam

Soul Feeder, by Jennifer Killick, illustrated by Marina Vidal

Big Words by Luke Palmer

Gloam, by Jack McKay, illustrated by Ben Joel Price

Dangerous Influence, Sally Nichols (published Sept 2026)

The Sign of the Raven, by Pippa Dunn

The Shadows of Kensington Gore, by Ross Montgomery - adult (published Oct 2026)

All The Men We've Never Slept With, by Simon James Green and Sarah Counsell - adult (published July 2027)

Faith's First Case, by Jeffrey Boakye - adult (out Feb 2027)

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In this episode we have a feast of middle grade books! We talk first to Kristina Rahim author of the very popular The Doughnut Club, about her second book Max and Ella Stuck Together. 

Max has had a tough year starting secondary school. He has been bullied about having two mums and has lost his confidence. He is even finding it hard to enjoy the music that he used to love. He knows he risks letting his friends down if he has stage fright again at their planned performance and the idea that meeting his sperm donor dad might help him find himself again takes hold.

Ella's dad, Hari, was a sperm donor before she was born and she is fine with it. Or at least thought she was before a kid she has never met before turns up and gatecrashes a family weekend. Things haven't been easy for Ella to with friendship changes and her mum working away a lot.

With Max and Ella very much stuck together, will they find a way to be their true selves?

We also catch up with Cath Howe who we have interviewed before about her younger readers series Call the Puffins. She has another middle grade book out - Two is a Crowd. 

In this latest book, Hattie’s life is already complicated enough… She’s about to start secondary school, her best friend is going off with someone else and her dad seems to have completely forgotten his promise to give her his office for her own bedroom.

So when her mum’s goddaughter, Seren, arrives and gets special treatment, Hattie feels pushed out.

Could it be that Hattie’s family prefer Seren?

Both are great middle grade/early teen reads and grapple realistically with issues that many teenagers will face, through strong story lines and without being 'issue' books.

We also celebrate John Agard winning the CLiPPA Poetry Prize for an unprecedented third time for his collection The Poetry World of John Agard, illustrated by Shirley Hottier, and point listeners to the recording of the ceremony which is well worth watching.

With thanks to Miah Herford for editing the interviews. 

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