Anne Thompson

Hello children's book lovers. The final Reading Matters - children's book news round up. Lots of awards news, summer reading ideas and books to tempt the young readers in your life. Happy reading! alibrarylady.blog/2025/07/05/rea…

I have just uploaded my interview with @rapclassroom and Karen Sands O'Connor about the issues underpinning their brilliant collection of essays, Beyond the Secret Garden. It is every bit as illuminating as you would expect. A must-view/read for teachers, librarians, publishers…

SuperQuesters Mission: River Crest Rescue by Paul Ian Cross has been picked as one of @BelTel's best summer books for kids: @aineltoner says: ‘If your little readers love a STEM-based adventure, this is for them.' Find out for yourself 👇 tinyurl.com/BookshopSQRM

Fabulous picturebook about how a piece of furniture can be the heart of a home. #Reading #Books thegreatbritishbookworm.wordpress.com/2025/02/16/thi…

Schools across the country have now broken up for the summer holidays and if you are looking for ways to encourage children to enjoy books and stories I hope that some of the books and links I am sharing here will be helpful to you. #Summerreading alibrarylady.blog/2025/07/23/sum…

I loved the first two books in the Stolen Dreams Adventures trilogy by @DavidFarrUK and can't wait to read the last story. The Final Battle is out in the autumn. Put it on your wish list now! Thank you @usborne_books and @frithal for my new copies of the first two books.

One of 2025’s best graphic novels, Pets Tell Tales: Ancient Egypt @RikWorthWriter is great: brimming with information & illustrating, it’s so funny too & perfect for budding historians. Out now for 8+. Thanks @HachetteKids 📖 checkemoutbooks.wordpress.com/2025/07/22/pet…

Add something special to your summer reading pile with this brilliant #giveaway - the first two books in The Book of Stolen Dreams series! 📚FW @DavidFarrUK, @Usborne & @KateHeap1 📚RT 📚Tag a friend Closes 8pm 25.7.25 (UK only) Check out the cover reveal for book 3 below!

The epic finale to The Book of Stolen Dreams series by @DavidFarrUK is coming this September! Can Rachel and Robert put an end to the evil Charles Malstain once and for all? Prepare for the stunning conclusion by catching up on the series now. @Usborne @FrithaL

Me and Finn unboxing our first picture book. Not a great video, but, what I think is a great book, thanks largely to @CarolinaRabei and her wonderful illustrations. Signed copies pre-orderable from my local indie, @thoughtfulspots. thethoughtfulspotbooks.com/product-page/w…

Thank you to @pikkubooks for this lovely book post. The paperback edition of Old Oak and Little Acorn by Elena Mannion beautifully illustrated by @erinbrownillo will be published on 1st September. This life cycle of an oak tree in story form is lovely for home or school.

Here is our first round-up of reviews for the summer holidays for you. Happy reading everyone! Thank you @Alibrarylady Lisa Hagan, @kashleyenglish Eve Bearne, @rebeccakennedy @sam_creighton @ilovetoread28 @BarbaraEvaV for your reviews: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-book…

Lovely book with a great message about books. #Books thegreatbritishbookworm.wordpress.com/2025/05/18/cla…

The excellent @BooksForKeeps is always worth a read. I'm struck by the common sense in the editorial in this summer issue linked to recent research & the #NationalYearOfReading "Should we not start too by asking young people why they don’t enjoy reading? That might be a help."

Out now! #BfK273, our #summer special! Authorgraph interview Kenneth Oppel, Windows into Illustration Jarvis, new Beyond the Secret Garden, new Picture This, Nikesh Shukla on reading for pleasure + interviews, new #childrensbook reviews & more #KidLit 😎booksforkeeps.co.uk/issue/bfk-273-…

Loved seeing Ethiopia as a setting for Wild Magic: Legend of the Black Lion. Book 1 has adventure, family, peril & culture in abundance. Can’t wait to start this with my 6yr old tonight! Out now for 6+. @ABelloWrites @cooliobeanz @simonkids_UK 🇪🇹 checkemoutbooks.wordpress.com/2025/07/13/wil…

Margaret McDonald Wins 2025 Branford Boase Award A joyful celebration earlier this week celebrating the best of new fiction for young people. And another prize for #GlasgowBoys! Thank you @BranfordBoase for a special evening. alibrarylady.blog/2025/07/12/mar…

Reading is for everyone — parents, teachers, librarians, employers, carers, book lovers. Together, we can transform the UK’s reading culture for good. Join the mission: nationalyearofreading.org.uk @readingagency @Booktrust @WorldBookDayUK

Thank you to @BranfordBoase Such an important award and wonderful to see the quality of new fiction being created. Congratulations to the worthy winners.

Congratulations to the winners of the #BranfordBoaseAward 25 for author and editor of the outstanding debut novel for young people, editors Ama Badu and Alice Swan and author Margaret McDonald for GLASGOW BOYS branfordboaseaward.org.uk/2025-bba-winne…

I'm excited to be working with @QuestFriendz to reveal the cover of the second book in their chapter books series. SuperQuesters Mission: Rainforest Magic by Paul Ian cross is out on 6 November 2025 📚 You can pre-order your copy now: tinyurl.com/AmazonSQRM @bouncemarketing