As part of our series focusing on the Cheshire Schools' Book Award 2023 shortlist, Rosie discovers the beauty and the fury of Melinda Salisbury's Her Dark Wings. Melinda Salisbury’s Her Dark Wings, nominated in the Older Age category for the Cheshire Schools’ Book Award 2023, is an enchanting tale that reimagines the power of Greek … Continue reading Cheshire Schools’ Book Award 2023: Her Dark Wings by Melinda Salisbury
KS3 fiction
Cheshire Schools’ Book Award 2023: Gay Club! by Simon James Green
Will you be voting for Barney Gay Club! as your winner in the older age category of the Cheshire Schools' Book Award 2023? In our latest post spotlighting books on the CSBA23 shortlist, Rosie delves into the murky world of fake dating, political bribery, and dead (?) guinea pigs with Simon James Green's election-winning comedy. … Continue reading Cheshire Schools’ Book Award 2023: Gay Club! by Simon James Green
Cheshire Schools’ Book Award 2023: Resist by Tom Palmer
Continuing our look at the Cheshire Schools' Book Award 2023 shortlist, Rosie goes back in time with Tom Palmer's Resist. Printed in dyslexia-friendly text for children aged around 10 and over, this Cheshire Schools Book Award 2023 nominee for the Younger Age Category is a fantastically moving and informative historical adventure based on the real … Continue reading Cheshire Schools’ Book Award 2023: Resist by Tom Palmer
Cheshire Schools’ Book Award 2023: Dread Wood by Jennifer Killick
As part of our Cheshire Schools' Book Award 2023 celebrations, Rosie reviews shortlisted book Dread Wood by Jennifer Killick. Better watch out for those spiders… Jennifer Killick’s Dread Wood, nominated in the Younger Age category for the Cheshire Schools’ Book Award 2023, is a terrifying middle-grade novel about a group of high school students unexpectedly … Continue reading Cheshire Schools’ Book Award 2023: Dread Wood by Jennifer Killick
Reading for the weekend: 3rd March 2023
As we're now safely in March, we're springing into our new feature, sharing bite-size reviews of some of the books that have been keeping us entertained in the Cheshire ELS headquarters. This week we're being baaaad with Jory John and Pete Oswald's The Bad Seed, climbing trees with Natasha Farrant's The Rescue of Ravenwood, summoning … Continue reading Reading for the weekend: 3rd March 2023
The power of poetry and dogs!
There are few things we love more in life than dogs. Add in poetry and you have some very happy librarians. Luckily for us, Cheshire author Ros Roberts has combined the two in her wonderful children's book, Digger and Me. In her guest post, Ros discusses faithful dogs, inspiring poetry, and her special connection to … Continue reading The power of poetry and dogs!
Cheshire Schools’ Book Award 2023
The students have voted. The shortlists have been confirmed. The books have arrived. So. Many. Books. This can mean only one thing… it’s time for the Cheshire Schools’ Book Award 2023! We would like to thank all the secondary students across Cheshire, Warrington and Halton who nominated books for the shortlist. From spooky shenanigans in … Continue reading Cheshire Schools’ Book Award 2023
Book review: Boy Queen by George Lester
With the winners of the Cheshire Schools' Book Award 2022 due to be revealed on Wednesday 29th June, ELS library assistant Rosie revels in the colour and joy of George Lester's shortlisted novel Boy Queen. George Lester’s Boy Queen captures the attention right from the first look. Rachel Vale’s eye-catching cover sets the tone for … Continue reading Book review: Boy Queen by George Lester
Book review: Show Us Who You Are by Elle McNicoll
To celebrate World Autism Acceptance Week 2022, ELS library assistant Rosie reviews Elle McNicoll's ground-breaking science fiction novel, Show Us Who You Are. Show Us Who You Are by Elle McNicoll is a sci-fi book set in the near future, suitable for children from about 9 to 14 years. It is a story of friendship … Continue reading Book review: Show Us Who You Are by Elle McNicoll
Reading all over the world…
Books can take us anywhere. They can sweep us away on grand adventures, or take us somewhere to quiet to think. In this post, we will be taking a closer look at children's books that have a strong sense of place. As well as deepening understanding of curriculum topics, such as habitats and conservation, these … Continue reading Reading all over the world…
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