Mostly Book Talk
A podcast for teachers, librarians, and parents who are passionate about supporting children's and teenagers' reading for pleasure. We dive into the vibrant world of children’s and YA literature, offering expert book recommendations, engaging author interviews, and practical advice on how to nurture a lifelong love of reading.
Whether you’re looking to expand your classroom or library collection, discover fresh titles for your students or children, or explore proven strategies for creating reading-rich environments, you will find it here. From picture books to young adult novels, we highlight new releases, hidden gems, and must-read favourites that are sure to grow your 'To Be Read' pile.
Tune in for thoughtful conversations and inspiring ideas that make reading irresistible for every young reader.
- Perfect for educators, school librarians, and book-loving families
- New episodes regularly featuring authors, reading experts, and literacy advocates
- Build reading cultures, spark book buzz, and celebrate the joy of stories
Subscribe now and join a community committed to making reading a pleasure.
Episodes
44 episodes
Episode 39 - Badgers are Go! with Susannah Lloyd - Revenge of the Claw
In this episode we talk to Susannah Lloyd about the latest instalment in her Badgers are Go! series, Revenge of the Claw. Illustrated by Nici Gregory.We cover lots of ingeniou...
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28:42
Part 3: The Reading Crisis - Why children aren't reading and what we can do about it
In part 3 of our mini series about 'The Reading Crisis', we hear more about access, but also about who decides which books get published, how they're marketed, and how they get into children's hands, as well as the lack of coverage in the media...
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37:57
National Year of Reading - Stepping into Stories Kids' Lit Fest
For the National Year of Reading, we are sharing a series of short conversations with people who are involved in promoting reading with young people. This could be a programme, resources or a literary event, and we're giving them the opp...
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17:01
The Reading Crisis - Why children aren't reading and what we can do about it - Part 2
In part two of our mini series about The Reading Crisis, we look at how testing, technology and access to books are affecting reading for pleasure.For this series we interviewed the following people (not all feature in every episode):
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32:02
The Reading Crisis - Why children aren't reading and what we can do about it - Part 1
The first in our mini series about The Reading Crisis - why children aren't reading and what we can do about it. In this episode we look at what the data tells us about children's reading and start to discuss what some of the barriers are to ch...
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20:58
Episode 38 - Wild Journey: an interview with AM Dassu about her latest book
In in this episode we talk to AM Dassu about her latest book, Wild Journey. This is a collection of five interlinked stories about children around the world all connected by the sight of...
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37:53
The Reading Crisis - Why Children aren't reading and what we can do about it
A quick trailer for our new mini series which will be out soon on the 'reading crisis' where we explore why children aren't reading and what we can do about it. Look out for the first episode.
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0:47
Episode 37 - Libraries are a very good thing!
We are back and have an episode all about libraries. First up is an interview with Rebecca Gediking who is the Head of Libraries at GLL and also the Chair of the GLL Literary Foundation - which does lots of great work supporting children's auth...
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57:30
Episode 36 - Nathanael Lessore, author of Steady for This and King of Nothing
We talk to Nathanael Lessore about his very successful debut and follow up books, about what's important when writing for teens and the role of humour.You can find Nate's books here:<...
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40:01
Episode 35 - Poetry by Heart, an interview with Dr Julie Blake
Just in time for National Poetry Day, we have an interview with Dr Julie Blake the founder and co-director of Poetry by Heart. Working with schools across the whole of England, over 128,000 pupils take...
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47:31
Episode 34 - Author Ashley Thorpe on his new middle grade book, Spirit Warriors, and his debut success, The Boy to Beat the Gods
Author Ashley Thorpe joins us to talk about his middle grade books The Boy to Beat the Gods and Spirit Warriors. Find out about ...
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36:28
Episode 33 - Maisie Chan talking about her latest book, Nate Yu's Blast from the Past
We are joined by Maisie Chan to talk about her latest book, Nate Yu's Blast from the Past. It's a draws on the untold history of the Chinese Labour Corps in WW1 in a story that combines ...
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44:58
Episode 32 - Pirate adventures with Justin Somper and his latest book, Pirate Academy - Sword Echoes
In this episode we talk with Justin Somper about the latest book in his Pirate Academy series, Sword Echoes. It came out in the UK in May and the series sets sail in Australia n...
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53:51
Episode 31 - Tom McLaughlin and his graphic novel, Alan, King of the Universe
We talk with Tom McLaughlin about his graphic novel Alan, King of the Universe. Alan is an orange cat convinced he is...
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31:09
Episode 30 - Jasbinder Bilan talking about her new book, Naeli and the Secret Song
Join us to hear all about Jasbinder Bilan's new book, Naeli and the Secret Song. Find out where the idea came from and the research she did. Here are links to all of Jasbinde...
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44:00
Episode 29 - Carnegie Medal Chat and Predictions
We are joined by Alison Jewitt a teacher from South London who leads a Carnegie Shadowing Group at her school and Sophia Bower a school librarian from Durham who is a Carnegie judge this year. We talk about shadowing groups and then...
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57:21
Episode 28 - Cath Howe on Early Readers and the Call of the Puffins
Join us talking with Cath Howe about the latest book in her Call the Puffins series, Tiny and the Cave Ghost (illustrated by Ella Okstad). We talk about the importance of early reading b...
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38:45
Episode 27 - Teresa Cremin - what the research says about children's reading for pleasure
In this episode we talk with Professor Teresa Cremin, the co-director of the Open University's Literacy and Social Justice Centre, discuss what the research says about children's reading for pleasure and the work the OU is doing to support teac...
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50:34
Episode 26 - Lisa Thompson talking about her new book The Boy in the Tree
Listen to Lisa Thompson talk about her new book, The Boy in the Tree (illustrated by Katie Kear), and also her many other books including the forthcoming follow up to The Goldfish Boy - ...
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42:35
Episode 25 - An interview with Tom Percival, author of The Wrong Shoes
In this episode we talk with Tom Percival about his book The Wrong Shoes and also about some of his picture books. Tom has a website here, but probably the best way to stay up to date with what ...
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45:20
Episode 24 - Interview with Brogen Murphy about their debut book Wildlands
An interview with debut author Brogen Murphy about their book, Wildlands. It’s 2050 and most of northern England and southern Scotland has been turned into a vast rewilding project. An i...
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45:47
Episode 23 - Interview with Darrell Wakelam about his book Art Shaped
Join us talking with Darrell Wakelam about his book Art Shaped - Sustainable 3D Art Projects to Kickstart Children's Creativity. There are lots of curriculum links and all the projects a...
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30:28
Episode 22 - Beyond the Secret Garden - interview with Darren Chetty and Karen Sands O'Connor
In this episode we have an interview with Darren Chetty and Karen Sands O'Connor about their book Beyond the Secret Garden - Racialised Minorities in British Children's Books.It's published by the
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36:55
Episode 21 - Interviews with Rachel Fuller about her picture book Bee and with Tanya Goodin about The Teenage Guide to Digital Wellbeing
In children's mental health week we talk to Rachel Fuller about her picture book Bee which explores how it feels to be misunderstood and celebrates difference. We also talk to Tanya Goodin about The Teenage Guide to Digital Wellbeing which offe...
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41:26