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
36 episodes
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:<...
•
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...
•
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 ...
•
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 ...
•
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...
•
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...
•
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...
•
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...
•
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...
•
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...
•
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 - ...
•
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 ...
•
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...
•
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...
•
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
•
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...
•
41:26
Episode 20 - Author Susan Brownrigg and Publisher, Hazel Holmes from UCLan
We have an interview with Susan Brownrigg about her new book, Wrong Tracks, and with Publisher, Hazel Holmes from UCLan about the importance of regional voices and regional publishing.Here are Susan's books:
•
46:24
Episode 19 - Interview with Lucy Ann Unwin, New Year’s reading resolutions and book reviews
Join us for Episode 19 where we have an interview with Lucy Ann Unwin and talk about her new book How to be a Revolutionary. We also discuss our New Year’s reading resolutions and do some book re...
•
49:08
Episode 18 - A feast of middle grade books - interviews with Dev Kothari and Louie Stowell
A bumper middle grade episode. We talk to Dev Kothari about her debut Bringing Back Kay-Kay and to Louie Stowell about Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Making Enemies the fourth book in the bestselling Loki series. Bringing Back Kay-Kay i...
•
1:05:00
Episode 17 - An interview with Rashmi Sirdeshpande about her new book Amazing Asia: An Encyclopedia of an Epic Continent
We talk to Rashmi Sirdeshpande about her latest book which is a beautifully illustrated by Jason Lyon.
•
36:49
Episode 16 - An interview with David Litchfield about his new book The Dinosaur Next Door
An interview with David Litchfield about his new book The Dinosaur Next Door and about the upcoming 10th Anniversary Edition of The ...
•
44:02
Episode 15 - Diverse Book Awards Picture Book Winners
Interviews with Naomi Jones and Rebecca Ashdown who won the Diverse Book Award Readers' Choice Award for Thunder Boots<...
•
49:47
Episode 14 - Diverse Book Awards YA Winners Interviews
Interviews with the winners of the Diverse Book Awards YA categories - Simon James Green, winner of the YA Readers' Choice Award for Boy Like Me; Sophie Cameron, runner up for the YA Category for Away with Wor...
•
Episode 14
•
1:12:48
Episode 13 - Interviews with J P Rose and Anthony McGowan
In this episode we talk with J P Rose about her new book, Birdie. And Ali interviews Anthony McGowan with Jason Rosam (originally broadcast on Riverside Radio) about his book Dogs of the Deadlands.
•
50:46
Episode 12 - 'Help Create a Reader' Coram Beanstalk and the role of volunteers in supporting reading for pleasure
An interview with Amy Lewis, Head of Coram Beanstalk and Sara Browne, one of their volunteers. Plus chat about 100 Tales from the Tokyo Ghost Café by Julian Sedgwick and Chie KutsuwadaCoram Beanstalk Link to the Media...
•
48:32