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Starting school can feel exciting — and a little scary too! In this episode of  Picture Book Podcast, I’m sharing five picture books that are perfect for easing first-day jitters. From stories that spark giggles to tales of quiet courage, these books are ideal for helping children (and parents) step into school with confidence.

Books mentioned in this episode:

• The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright & Jim Field
• School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex & Christian Robinson
• Once Upon an Ordinary School Day by Colin McNaughton & Satoshi Kitamura
• First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg & Judy Love
• The Pigeon Has to Go to School! by Mo Willems

If your little one is starting school this year, these picture books can help turn butterflies into excitement — and make that first day a little brighter.

👉 Listen now, and let me know your favourite “first-day” picture book on Instagram @picturebookpodcast1 and @marlandreadingcorner or by email at [email protected]

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In this episode, Chris sits down with former teacher turned award-winning author and storyteller, Jude Lennon. From her early days in the classroom to the creation of her beloved storytelling mascot Lamby, Jude shares her inspiring journey into the world of children’s literature and beyond.

Chris and Jude dive into the stories behind her popular picture books, explore the themes of kindness, mindfulness, and adventure that run through her work, and offer an exclusive peek at what’s coming next — including her upcoming titles and a return to fiction for older readers.

Whether you're a fellow writer, an aspiring storyteller, or just love a good origin story, Jude's passion, warmth, and creativity will leave you feeling inspired.

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Chris chats with speech and language therapist Marie Robert to discuss bilingualism, dyslexia, phonic awareness and dyslexia. 

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Happy New Year! Chris starts the year off by revealing his top 10 picture books of 2024.

These books are:

1. The Dictionary Story by Oliver Jeffers & Sam Winston
2. The Search for Carmella by Chloe Savage
3. The Bridges by Tom Percival
4. The Big Bad Wolf Investigates Fairy Tales by Catherine Cawthorne
5. Grey by Laura Dockrill
6. Flower Block by Lanisha Butterfield
7. How to Hide. star by Oliver Jeffers
8. Let’s All Say Yes! By Nia Roberts 
9. I Follow the Fox by Rob Biddulph
10. The Girl at the Front of the Class by Onjali Q Rauf

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In this episode, Chris reflects on a year filled with reading. From exploring picture books on the podcast to helping older children develop their reading skills in the classroom, and sharing the joy of stories with his daughter, Chris dives into the lessons learned and moments that made this year special. Join him as he celebrates the power of reading in teaching, learning, and family life.

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After being absent fo over a month, Chris is thrilled to be back with a brand new episode.

In this week’s episode, Chris chats with author Mindy Burks who talks about her debut book ‘Santa’s Baby’, a story with a concept that is sure to intrigue many readers. As the title suggests, the book is about Santa’s baby daughter who learns how to live amongst the many elves in the North Pole environment and how to stay off the naughty list. Throughout the story, Santa’s baby learns how Christmas is a time where we give joy to those around us and not just expect to be given it.

Mindy talks about how she came up with this unique concept and how her collaboration with illustrator Kay Dawson helped present the North Pole like you have never seen it before.

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Chris chats with author Paula Banks about her new book, ‘Dream Big: Peyton’s Hip-Hop Adventure’. The story follows Peyton, an energetic young girl with a love for hip-hop music, who discovers the courage and bravery to overcome fear and self-doubt. 

Paula shares her inspiration for the book and what she hopes readers will gain from Peyton’s journey.

You can purchase your own copy of ‘Dream Big: Peyton’s Hip-Hop Adventure’ https://amzn.eu/d/58lUcEY

Find Paula on Instagram @authorpaulabanks (https://www.instagram.com/authorpaulabanks?igsh=bnhweTEyNzh2MmF4)

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After a being absent for a few weeks, Chris is back with a brand new episode of Picture Book Podcast. In this episode Chris talks about fairy tales and how they have evolved over time but still stay appealing to young readers. Chris particularly focuses on how fairy tales are an important part of a child’s reading progress and how both original and modern versions of these tales have morals that readers can learn from.

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Chris chats with author Sara H Fowler to discuss her debut book ‘Castle of Knots’. When a beautiful young princess is trapped within a castle of knots---a mighty fortress covered in brambles, tangled weeds, and underbrush---a brave knight, also known as Mom, must cross the Valley of Dollies and Laundry Lake to take on the impossible task of freeing the princess...just in time for school.

Sara talks about how this idea came about and how she embedded themes of a fairy tale and adapted it to fit with the story of a mother helping brush her daughter’s tangled hair. She Lao talks about what inspired her to become an author and how her years of teaching helped develop her writing skills,

You can purchase your copy of ‘Castle of Knots’ via Amazon: https://a.co/d/dkg4pfa

You can find Sara on Instagram via this link: https://www.instagram.com/sara.h.fowler_author?igsh=dXdqZXEwZjRyczF1

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This week, Chris chats with author Jennifer Nestor to talk about her debut picture book ‘Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality’.  During the chat they discuss the importance of celebrating individuality and how we all must embrace and love who we are.

Chris also recommends other picture books that celebrate individuality.

You can purchase a copy of ‘Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality’ via Amazon.  https://a.co/d/3WCa89i

You can learn more bout Jennifer by going to her website: https://www.jennestorauthor.com/