‘Official Dick, Kerr Ladies: Football’s Forgotten Legends,’ by Gail J. Newsham, illustrated by Thy Bui.

Author Gail Newsham is an ex-footballer with a career spanning twenty years and including two women’s FA Cup semi-finals. She grew up near the factory in Preston where the team was originally formed and was amazed to discover the existence of the team. Gail has made it her mission to bring the Dick, Kerr Ladies … Continue reading ‘Official Dick, Kerr Ladies: Football’s Forgotten Legends,’ by Gail J. Newsham, illustrated by Thy Bui.

Conflict-themed Stories from Barrington Stoke

Stories about war are as relevant and important as ever. They allow us to educate readers about conflicts past and present, encouraging them to empathise and reflect. Barrington Stoke have an excellent range of conflict-themed tales written by some of our most talented children’s authors, for readers of all levels of confidence. ‘Daisy and the … Continue reading Conflict-themed Stories from Barrington Stoke

Blog tour: ‘Voyage of the Sparrowhawk,’ by Natasha Farrant, cover by David Dean.

This summer, I got totally swept away on an adventure with the crew of the plucky Sparrowhawk. Life in the small village of Barton is slowly getting back to normal after the Great War. But not for Ben, who’s living with a woman in the village after his adoptive father was killed in France and … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Voyage of the Sparrowhawk,’ by Natasha Farrant, cover by David Dean.

Blog tour: ‘Trailblazer: Lily Parr the Unstoppable Star of Women’s Football,’ by Elizabeth Dale, illustrated by Carolina Coroa.

Nowadays, women’s football is shown on the television and some of its star players are household names.  It seems difficult to believe that in 1921, the Football Association decided to ban women’s football. But who was playing? And why had some women been allowed to play in the first place? ‘Trailblazer’ may just give you … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Trailblazer: Lily Parr the Unstoppable Star of Women’s Football,’ by Elizabeth Dale, illustrated by Carolina Coroa.

‘Lily and the Rockets,’ by Rebecca Stevens, cover by Harriet Taylor Seed.

With the FIFA Women’s World Cup firmly in the limelight this year, ‘Lily and the Rockets’ would be an excellent choice of book to introduce readers to the time when the first women’s league was formed and pulled in crowds of over 50,000 at its peak! Lily is tall, broad and has hands the size … Continue reading ‘Lily and the Rockets,’ by Rebecca Stevens, cover by Harriet Taylor Seed.

‘Armistice Runner,’ by Tom Palmer, cover illustration by Tom Clohosy Cole.

Today I am bringing you another brilliant collaboration between author-extraordinaire, Tom Palmer and dyslexia-friendly publisher Barrington Stoke. Ahead of the First World War armistice centenary, ‘Armistace Runner’ pays tribute to some of the war’s forgotten heroes. This beautiful story focusses on the lives of two runners whose lives are connected across time through memories. Lily … Continue reading ‘Armistice Runner,’ by Tom Palmer, cover illustration by Tom Clohosy Cole.