In this podcast episode, MC Grammar discusses, his passion for reading and, of course, for all things grammar related. He generously shares stories of his background as a teacher and how teaching is at the heart and centre of MC Grammar. He talks about the link between rap and poetry and how The Adventures of Rap Kid books support children's enjoyment of reading for leisure.

MC Grammar is the creation of award-winning teacher and rapper Jacob Mitchell, who went viral in 2019 after a video of him rapping popular children's book The Gruffalo received more than five million views. Having struggled in school himself, the father of four credits his discovery of books as his turning point with education. Jacob believes no child should be left behind, and that there needs to be excitement, challenge, inclusion and, most importantly, fun in the classroom! The Adventures of Rap Kid is his debut children's series.

KS1, KS2, KS3

Tapestry, our partners have kindly devised a FREE educational resource to support this Podcast. Please click on the link to download and share:

https://tapestry.info/laura-henry-allain-podcast-activities/

Tapestry is the original and leading childhood education platform, providing an online learning journal, progress monitoring and management system for Early Years settings and primary schools. It helps educators to celebrate children and engage families in mainstream and SEND provision. Tapestry keeps families in touch with how their child is doing, enables educators to build a picture of each child's development and interests, and provides the tools for the daily running of a setting.

Created by educators for educators, Tapestry was launched in 2012. We are now an award-winning platform used in more than 40 countries, supporting 14,000 schools and settings. Visit us at: https://tapestry.info

Mama G shares her love of libraries and the influence her childhood library had on her decision to become a writer. She talks about how libraries are a hub within the community and the positive impact they can have on children. Mama G also discusses the history of pantomimes and how these well-loved shows are a British institution. Her pantomime-related book, Oh Yes I Am!, is a message for every child to feel positive about themselves.

Mama G is a storytelling pantomime dame, who shares stories about being who you want and loving who you are. She has taken her stories all over the UK and North America, was a semi-finalist on Britain's Got Talent, and had her first picture book published in 2024!

EYFS, KS1, KS2, KS3

Tapestry, our partners have kindly devised a FREE educational resource to support this Podcast. Please click on the link to download and share:

https://tapestry.info/laura-henry-allain-podcast-activities/

Tapestry is the original and leading childhood education platform, providing an online learning journal, progress monitoring and management system for Early Years settings and primary schools. It helps educators to celebrate children and engage families in mainstream and SEND provision. Tapestry keeps families in touch with how their child is doing, enables educators to build a picture of each child's development and interests, and provides the tools for the daily running of a setting.

Created by educators for educators, Tapestry was launched in 2012. We are now an award-winning platform used in more than 40 countries, supporting 14,000 schools and settings. Visit us at: https://tapestry.info

Stacey reflects on her Caribbean heritage and how it influences her art and writing. She shares her creative journey and how her Grenadian culture should be embraced positively around the world. In Will and Krill, Stacey highlights the importance of children being able to share their feelings, and that it is okay for children to feel unique.

Stacey Byer is a Caribbean author-illustrator whose childhood was filled with folk tales and adventure. After graduating from college with an illustration degree, Stacey used her skills to promote art education and literacy on her island of Granada. Her experiences working with children have inspired her to create diverse stories everyone can enjoy.

EYFS, KS1, KS2

Tapestry, our partners have kindly devised a FREE educational resource to support this Podcast. Please click on the link to download and share:

https://tapestry.info/laura-henry-allain-podcast-activities/

Tapestry is the original and leading childhood education platform, providing an online learning journal, progress monitoring and management system for Early Years settings and primary schools. It helps educators to celebrate children and engage families in mainstream and SEND provision. Tapestry keeps families in touch with how their child is doing, enables educators to build a picture of each child's development and interests, and provides the tools for the daily running of a setting.

Created by educators for educators, Tapestry was launched in 2012. We are now an award-winning platform used in more than 40 countries, supporting 14,000 schools and settings. Visit us at: https://tapestry.info

Eric shares his career journey and provides a behind-the-scenes view of publishing thanks to the variety of job roles he has had. He encourages authors to ask questions about the publishing process. Eric discusses the use of AI in publishing and how it should be used ethically and legally. In Guardians of the New Moon, Eric reflects on how his own experience has influenced characters in the book.

Eric Huang wanted to be a palaeontologist. Fieldwork didn't live up to his Jurassic Park dreams, though, so he accepted a secretarial job at Disney Publishing – kickstarting a career spanning three continents. Today Eric is an author, podcaster, and a lecturer at City University of London's Masters in Publishing programme.

KS1, KS2, KS3

Tapestry, our partners have kindly devised a FREE educational resource to support this Podcast. Please click on the link to download and share:

https://tapestry.info/laura-henry-allain-podcast-activities/

Tapestry is the original and leading childhood education platform, providing an online learning journal, progress monitoring and management system for Early Years settings and primary schools. It helps educators to celebrate children and engage families in mainstream and SEND provision. Tapestry keeps families in touch with how their child is doing, enables educators to build a picture of each child's development and interests, and provides the tools for the daily running of a setting.

Created by educators for educators, Tapestry was launched in 2012. We are now an award-winning platform used in more than 40 countries, supporting 14,000 schools and settings. Visit us at: https://tapestry.info

Ramzee's writing career has been varied and includes creating comics and plays; he is keen to show refugee and asylum children in a positive light in his work. He explains how his ADHD impacts him as an author, and shares the process of being a writer and illustrator in The Cheat Book.

Ramzee is a London-based author-illustrator, who debuted with the middle-grade novel The Cheat Book (Hachette Children's, June 2024), winning the 2025 Leeds Book Award and James Reckitt Hull Children's Book Award. He has written comics for 2000AD and Marvel and runs comics workshops. Ramzee participated in the 2019 Vaults Festival New Writers Programme and BBC's London Voices Writer's Room.

KS1, KS2, KS3

Tapestry, our partners have kindly devised a FREE educational resource to support this Podcast. Please click on the link to download and share:

https://tapestry.info/laura-henry-allain-podcast-activities/

Tapestry is the original and leading childhood education platform, providing an online learning journal, progress monitoring and management system for Early Years settings and primary schools. It helps educators to celebrate children and engage families in mainstream and SEND provision. Tapestry keeps families in touch with how their child is doing, enables educators to build a picture of each child's development and interests, and provides the tools for the daily running of a setting.

Created by educators for educators, Tapestry was launched in 2012. We are now an award-winning platform used in more than 40 countries, supporting 14,000 schools and settings. Visit us at: https://tapestry.info

In this episode, Cressida shares her love of reading and why she is so passionate about libraries, especially libraries in schools. She also talks about how the globally loved How to Train your Dragon became a successful film franchise. Laura and Cressida discuss how their neurodiversity impacts them and how this translates in their writing. Cressida also shares an overview of the characters in her new book, Which Way to the Future. Cressida Cowell MBE is the author-illustrator of the How to Train Your Dragon, The Wizards of Once and Which Way to Anywhere book series, as well as several picture books. How to Train Your Dragon is also an Academy Award-nominated film and TV franchise. Cressida was the Waterstones Children's Laureate 2019-2022; her flagship project was Life-Changing Libraries.

KS1, KS2, KS3 Tapestry, our partners have kindly devised a FREE educational resource to support this Podcast. Please click on the link to download and share:

https://tapestry.info/laura-henry-allain-podcast-activities/

Tapestry is the original and leading childhood education platform, providing an online learning journal, progress monitoring and management system for Early Years settings and primary schools. It helps educators to celebrate children and engage families in mainstream and SEND provision. Tapestry keeps families in touch with how their child is doing, enables educators to build a picture of each child's development and interests, and provides the tools for the daily running of a setting. Created by educators for educators, Tapestry was launched in 2012. We are now an award-winning platform used in more than 40 countries, supporting 14,000 schools and settings. V

isit us at: https://tapestry.info

Rob shares his belief that everyone is able to draw: some may just need a little help to get started on their drawing journey. Rob talks about his career as an author and illustrator and explains the role of an agent and why they are important to creatives. Rob discusses his book Draw with Rob: Fantastic Food, and why food is a talking point for all. And, most importantly, we find out why Rob always wears his peaked cap!

Rob Biddulph is a bestselling and multi award-winning children's author and illustrator. In March 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, he started #DrawWithRob, which resulted in him breaking the Guiness World Record for the largest online art class! Rob has won many awards, including the recent Illustrator of the Year at the British Book Awards (the Nibbies). He lives in London with his wife and three daughters, and Ringo the dog.

KS1, KS2, KS3

Tapestry, our partners have kindly devised a FREE educational resource to support this Podcast. Please click on the link to download and share:

https://tapestry.info/laura-henry-allain-podcast-activities/

Tapestry is the original and leading childhood education platform, providing an online learning journal, progress monitoring and management system for Early Years settings and primary schools. It helps educators to celebrate children and engage families in mainstream and SEND provision. Tapestry keeps families in touch with how their child is doing, enables educators to build a picture of each child's development and interests, and provides the tools for the daily running of a setting.

Created by educators for educators, Tapestry was launched in 2012. We are now an award-winning platform used in more than 40 countries, supporting 14,000 schools and settings. Visit us at: https://tapestry.info

Onyinye talks about her debut book as an author/illustrator, The Best Jollof Rice Ever! and shares how although she has illustrated many books, this is her first published as an author. Onyinye also talks candidly about the racism she faced as a Nigerian child growing up in Italy and being ashamed of her culture and race. She explains why books like The Best Jollof Rice Ever! will help every child to develop a positive sense of self. And of course, there is the question of which rice is best: Nigerian or Ghanaian?

Onyinye Iwu is a Black British author, illustrator, and secondary school teacher based in London. She's worked with top publishers and illustrated books by acclaimed authors including Benjamin Zephaniah, Atinuke, and me, Laura! Her author-illustrator debut, The Best Jollof Rice Ever! celebrates friendship, fun and the joy of cooking.

EYFS, KS1, KS2

Tapestry, our partners have kindly devised a FREE educational resource to support this Podcast. Please click on the link to download and share:

https://tapestry.info/laura-henry-allain-podcast-activities/

Tapestry is the original and leading childhood education platform, providing an online learning journal, progress monitoring and management system for Early Years settings and primary schools. It helps educators to celebrate children and engage families in mainstream and SEND provision. Tapestry keeps families in touch with how their child is doing, enables educators to build a picture of each child's development and interests, and provides the tools for the daily running of a setting.

Created by educators for educators, Tapestry was launched in 2012. We are now an award-winning platform used in more than 40 countries, supporting 14,000 schools and settings. Visit us at: https://tapestry.info

In this episode, Chitra generously shares her journey from her homeland in India and Tamil culture, to writing children's books in the UK. Chitra also talks about her career as an author and the importance of positive representation in children's books. It is wonderful to hear how her Nikhil and Jay series became a children's TV show on CBeebies and the process of taking a story from book to television. Chitra Soundar is an internationally published, award-winning author of children's books, and writer for children's TV, audio and theatre. Her books have been nominated and shortlisted for multiple awards in the UK and US. She is the creator of the new CBeebies series Nikhil & Jay, illustrated by Soofiya.

EYFS, KS1 and KS2

Tapestry, our partners have kindly devised a FREE educational resource to support this Podcast. Please click on the link to download and share:

https://tapestry.info/laura-henry-allain-podcast-activities/

Tapestry is the original and leading childhood education platform, providing an online learning journal, progress monitoring and management system for Early Years settings and primary schools. It helps educators to celebrate children and engage families in mainstream and SEND provision. Tapestry keeps families in touch with how their child is doing, enables educators to build a picture of each child's development and interests, and provides the tools for the daily running of a setting. Created by educators for educators, Tapestry was launched in 2012. We are now an award-winning platform used in more than 40 countries, supporting 14,000 schools and settings.

Visit us at: https://tapestry.info

Cathy shares how her work as a journalist led her into writing children's books and reflects on how many authors do not come from a traditional creative writing background. She also talks about her friendship group, many of whom are neurodivergent, and how Disabled and Proud (or at least kinda sorta okay with it…) covers themes including starting secondary school and puberty. Cathy highlights the importance of amplifying the voices of disabled children and how indeed this is crucial for their sense of belonging.

Cathy Reay is a disabled writer and journalist, and mum of two (plus a very cheeky cat!). She also works in educational publishing. How To Be Disabled and Proud (or at least kinda sorta okay with it...) is her first children's book.

KS1, KS2 and KS2

Tapestry, our partners have kindly devised a FREE educational resource to support this Podcast. Please click on the link to download and share:

https://tapestry.info/laura-henry-allain-podcast-activities/

Tapestry is the original and leading childhood education platform, providing an online learning journal, progress monitoring and management system for Early Years settings and primary schools. It helps educators to celebrate children and engage families in mainstream and SEND provision. Tapestry keeps families in touch with how their child is doing, enables educators to build a picture of each child's development and interests, and provides the tools for the daily running of a setting.

Created by educators for educators, Tapestry was launched in 2012. We are now an award-winning platform used in more than 40 countries, supporting 14,000 schools and settings. Visit us at: https://tapestry.info