Reading Matters – children’s book news

Welcome to my final round up of children’s book news for this academic year. What a lot of awards news there has been! I’ve tried to include as many of the winners and shortlists as possible to help you choose your summer reading or new books for the next school year. There are some book related activities for the summer highlighted and yet more research findings. I do hope that what I have included is helpful to you.

Not only is this the final Reading Matters of the school year but also the final regular round up that I will feature on this blog. Five and half years ago when I first started compiling useful links to children’s news items I had little idea what I was taking on but it has been a rewarding way to be part of the children’s book community. Over that period others have started to produce some brilliant newsletters providing a range of resources for all so, for a variety of reasons, I have decided to retire Reading Matters. If you want to keep up to date I would wholeheartedly recommend signing up to the excellent weekly newsletters provided by Sian Hardy of the Literacy Hive. The website is a treasure trove of resources, sorted and presented in a style easy to navigate successfully, so is well worth exploring if you have not done so already. Also The Open University Reading for Pleasure monthly newsletter provides a wonderful selection of ideas, suggestions and book recommendations. As a long standing member of the School Library Association I find their regular news bulletins helpful and they are equally informative for anyone in education not only school librarians. If you use all of these I promise you won’t even notice Reading Matters is no more!

What I’m reading…

My reading since the last Reading Matters has been varied and ranged from board books shared with my grandson, to brand new fiction, and an informative guide for disabled children and teens. How to be Disabled and Proud (or at least sorta ok with it …) is written by journalist Cathy Reay and illustrated by artist Jaleel Hudson, both of whom are disabled. This is a book that really makes you think about attitudes and stereotypes and is recommended for secondary school libraries in particular as it would be invaluable for that transition phase of children’s lives.

The first in a brand new series for newly confident readers, the welcome return of an old favourite, a ghostly train ride back in time and how to overcome the difficulties of being a young carer all featured in my look at some newly published fiction for primary age readers earlier this month. You can read my reviews here. Several new titles from Barrington Stoke hit the bookshelves too and include the second in a steampunk/fantasy series from Vashti Hardy. A thrilling mix of history, sorcery and invention can be found in Lindsay Galvin’s first novella for this publisher. And finally there is friendship and forgiveness lots of snappy dialogue, witty banter and moments of hilarity in the latest jolly caper from Simon James Green. Here is a link to my reviews if you would like to find out more.

My little assistant reviewer is a big fan of Priddy Books, his current absolute favourite which I have to read again and again is Ten Little Dinosaur Eggs. However I have a suspicion that some of their new titles may push this off the top spot soon! I can recommend the latest batch of interactive and appealing board books which I have reviewed here On a side note the little chap has now discovered Oh No George! by Chris Haughton, another that he loves and insists that I read accurately, I am not allowed to ad lib even a little! A new book in the Zeki series is welcomed by grandson, his parents and by me. Zeki Goes to the Market is a delight and no doubt will be cherished just as much as its predecessors.

A newly published book that will most definitely feature on my favourite books of the year list is The Dawn of Adonis by Phil Earle. This companion novel to the award winning When the Sky Falls is superb and will, I think, be enjoyed by both children and adults. Last but not least Higher Ground is is a coming of age story of resilience and hope, told in a blend of graphic novel, picture book, and diary entries. This was published in March and is well worth seeking out.

News, articles and resources…

Building a Classroom Reading Culture with Jon Biddle – I hope that it is not too late for you to book this training session on Sunday 6th July at 7pm. You will have to be quick though! Jon will share lots of practical, and sustainable, ideas about how to help create a love of reading in schools. Having attended the most recent of Jon’s webinars I can vouch for the fact that these are helpful, interesting and informative. If you can’t make this one fingers crossed there will be some more during the next school year.

Summer Reading Challenge – the theme for the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge is Story Garden – Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors and it is hoped that this will inspire children to tap into a world of imagination through reading, exploring the magical connection between storytelling and nature. This challenge launched on Saturday 21 June 2025 in Scotland and online, and today, 5th July, in England and Wales. The website includes suggested titles, activities, news, games and quizzes so there is lots available to motivate children to read over the summer.

Books for Topics Summer Reading Bingo – this well thought out challenge is designed to keep children motivated to read over the summer holidays.  Summer Reading Bingo is an activity that keeps the focus on reading for pleasure experiences rather than specific texts, with activities like make a den and read inside, read in the dark using a torch and read to a pet or a soft toy. Children can choose what they read for the challenges, although the Books for Topics team have included some Summer 2025 recommended children’s books for those looking for new ideas.

The Story Museum Launching The Story Arcade – just in time for the school holidays this award winning museum is launching a new exhibition opening to the public on Saturday 19th July. The Story Arcade is a new permanent interactive gallery, celebrating the evolution of storytelling through video games. Visitors will discover — and play — landmark games representing milestones in the evolution of one of the world’s most participated-in story forms from early plot-driven classics like Space Invaders to the vast, open-world adventures of modern games such as Never Alone. There will be custom built arcade machines accessible to all. 

Love My Books Website – Parents and carers do you want to make sure your children continue to develop as readers during the summer? Have a look at the Love My Books free, book based resources for children 0-11. There are lots of creative ideas for story fun, advice & videos.

Books for Topics: 2025-2026 Year Group Recommended Reads – yes, I know that everyone is probably counting down the days to the end of term but just in case you want to do some planning for next year Books for Topics is here to help you. Each of their recommended reads book lists has just been updated and they cater for children from Early Years up to Year 8. Divided into genres or interest areas these lists are a terrific mix of new releases and old favourites. There are posters and lists to download too.

Books for Topics: Transition Lists – also from Books for Topics (Thank you, Alison Leach!) are these helpful lists of books to use in primary schools to ease the transition to new classes/year groups.

Just Imagine: The Reading Journey – another valuable link for those planning for the next academic year. Just Imagine have created a new approach to reading records designed to help children develop their reading identities and teachers to maintain an overview of volitional reading in their classes. You can find out more about this initiative and sign up via the link above and watch the introductory webinar here.

The Week Junior Book Awards Shortlists Announced – the shortlists for these awards were announced on 3rd June and there are 13 different categories including audiobook, graphic novel, poetry and wellbeing across an age range and are well worth exploring. The winners will be announced in September.

Jhalak Prize Winners Announced – this award has three categories and the winner of the Children’s & YA Prize Winner is Nathanael Lessore for his brilliant book, King of Nothing published by Hot Key Books. You read more about Nathanael, his winning story and the other books on the shortlist on the official website. I can add my own personal recommendation too as this has been one of my favourite reads of the year so far.

Centre for Literacy in Primary Education to become a part of The National Literacy Trust – On Sunday 1 June 2025, the National Literacy Trust and the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) announced that CLPE is to become a subsidiary charity of the National Literacy Trust, effective immediately. The charities said in a statement: “By joining forces and combining resources, expertise and networks, the new structure aims to turbo-charge the charities’ combined impact on literacy education in the UK and internationally.“

Ross Montgomery Wins the 2025 Children’s Book Award – Now in its 45th year, the Children’s Book Award is the only national award voted for entirely by children. This year’s winners in each of the three categories were announced in June and the overall winner is Ross Montgomery for his novel, I Am Rebel. The wiinner of the Younger Children’s category is Grotti by Leonie Lord and Malcolm Duffy won the Older Readers’ category with Seven Million Sunflowers. The Books for Keeps article above gives more information and you can watch a recording of the award ceremony here.

National Literacy Trust Research Findings 2025 – This report is based on 114,970 responses to The National Literacy Trust’s Annual Literacy Survey from children and young people aged 5 to 18 in early 2025. It includes findings on reading enjoyment, frequency and motivation and explores responses by age, gender, socio-economic background and geographical region. The findings show that the reading crisis persists, however this is a glimmer of hope in that it also shows that children are motivated to read by books that cover their hobbies and social interests and when they are given freedom of choice. This is an aspect that anecdotally school librarians have been aware of and commented on in the past and is something that needs to be built upon.

YA Book Prize Shortlist Announced – The YA Book Prize launched in 2014 to celebrate great fiction for teenagers and young adults and aims to get more teens reading and buying books. The shortlist is selected by a team at The Bookseller and the winner is selected by a panel of expert and teenage judges, who are asked to pick the book they believe is the best written and that they would be most likely to share with young adults. You can view the shortlist of ten books via the link above.

The School Library Association Information Book Award Shortlists Announced – From the original 34 longlisted titles , the judges have selected a shortlist of just 12 books across three age categories: 0–7 years, 8–12 years, and 13–16 years. The winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony in November, where four Children’s Choice selections – one in each age category and an overall winner – will also be awarded, based on votes from schools participating in the IBA Book Club.

Winners of Carnegie Children’s Book Awards Announced – the winners of the UK’s longest running awards for children’s books were announced on 19th June at a ceremony at the Cambridge Theatre, home of the award wining musical Matilda. In a year where new talent triumphed, 27-year-old Scottish debut author Margaret McDonald, has won the Carnegie Medal for Writing for her “life changing and emotional” novel Glasgow Boys. She is the youngest winner for this award in its almost ninety-year history. The winner of the Carnegie Medal for Illustration is Olivia Lomenech Gill for Clever Crow an “innovative” non-fiction picture book. The winner of the Carnegie Shadowers’ Choice Medal for Writing is King of Nothing by Nathanael Lessore. The second debut to triumph this year is Homebody by author-illustrator Theo Parish which has won the Carnegie Shadowers’ Choice Medal for Illustration.

CLiPPA (CLPE Poetry Award) Winner Announced – The winner of the UK’s only award for published poetry for children, the CLiPPA (CLPE Children’s Poetry Award) was announced on 20th June, in a ceremony at the National Theatre. Colossal Words for Kids by Colette Hiller, illustrated by Tor Freeman and published by Frances Lincoln is this year’s winner and is described by Roger McGough as “indisputably original and ambitious, with rhymes that demand to be spoken aloud… and proof that learning big words needn’t be even faintly soporific!” The show featured performances from all the shortlisted poets, children from schools across the UK, and live illustration by former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell.

Winners of the UKLA Awards Announced – Margaret McDonald’s debut novel, Glasgow Boys,  after winning the Carnegie Medal for Writing see above, has also won the 11-14+ category winner at a ceremony held at the UKLA International Conference in Liverpool on 27^th June.  The 7-10+ category winner was Hiba Noor Khan’s Safiyyah’s War. Full details of the winners, the shortlists and the awards themselves can be found on the link above.

Lit in Colour Teacher Conference at the British Library, London – a date for your diary for September. Hosted by Penguin Books, in collaboration with the British Library, this free, one-day event is designed for teachers and librarians across Key Stages 2-5 and will offer practical strategies, deep subject knowledge, and fresh inspiration for embedding texts by authors of colour across these key stages. Places are free but booking is essential. The conference takes place on Saturday 6th September from 9.30am – 5pm. More information can be found on the website above.

Well that’s it for this month, this academic year and from my regular round ups. However, I will still be here! I will be continuing in the world of children’s books and am looking forward to new challenges, after a bit of a summer break. From September on this blog I will concentrate on features linked to children’s book events, awards etc. and on book recommendations for librarians, teachers and families. There may be one or two over the summer period too. If you are a member of the School Library Association you will also be able to explore the book lists I am working on with them, the first of which were published this week.

Thank you for reading, sharing, commenting and supporting Reading Matters for the last five years. Wishing you a happy and relaxing summer.