David Fickling have produced these great graphic novels which have huge appeal to Year 5/6/7. David Fickling is a clever publisher and the titles cover a range of genre; Baggage is wacky fun with visual puns; Good dog, bad dog is a Scooby Doo style humorous detective story; Mo-Bot high is an up-to-the minute sci-fi story and The Boss is a classic crime mystery with a difference, involving a whole class of students. Unsurprisingly boys pounce on these but I see a lot of girls who are excited by them too. They are pricey at £9.99 because they are only available in hbk but i think they are well worth the money, particularly if you have reluctant readers you want to engage.

Personally I find graphic novels quite hard to read but in these the text layout is not too complicated and the narrative in each of them is strong enough to keep the reader engaged. They make a great introduction to graphic novels.  Other titles available are Spider moon, Super animal adventure squad, Verm and lettuce and Monkey nuts.

The National Literacy Trust and Oxford University Press are kicking off 2012 by launching the Reading Miles Global Challenge, a new competition for all UK schools that will run from 9 January to 16 March 2012.  The Reading Miles Global Challenge provides a platform for teachers to engage both pupils and parents, using the concept of collecting points for reading together at home…and having fun along the way!

Check out how your pupils can enter at http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/schools_network/competitions/reading_miles_global_challenge

Popular author/illustrator Lauren Child has written a great new thriller Look into my eyes. This is the first in what I hope will be a series of books about the sassy character Ruby Redfort who first appeared in Lauren Child’s short novels about Clarice Bean.  Thirteen year old Ruby is endlessly curious and brilliant at cracking codes, so much so that she finds herself enlisted by a secret agency called Spectrum. Unfortunately one of their operatives has been killed and they are desperate to crack the code that she was working on in order to stop some class A criminals in their tracks. Ruby is a feisty, determined heroine who is not easily phased by anything and has a great line in back-chat! Thoroughly enjoyable, fast-paced read for Year 5/6 with lots of gadgets and gizmos which will give Anthony Horowitz’s Alex Rider a run for his money

http://www.wordsforlife.org.uk/  This is a really helpful website for parents by the fabulous folk at the National Literacy Trust. It has been divided into sections for 3-5, 5-7 and 7-11. It has lots of practical advice for parents and grandparents and also some great book-related activities to download.  It is in the process of being developed, so keep your eye on it for more new content.  Recommend it to parents and put a link to it on your school website.

Francesca Simon is well known for her books about Horrid Henry which have universal appeal amongst children. Now she has written a new  booked called The sleeping army. The story is set in modern day Britain but instead of Christianity the national religion is worship of the viking gods. Freya’s parents are divourced and whilst she is visiting her father she has to spend an evening hanging around the British museum where her father is a security guard. Bored, she picks up and blows a Viking horn. Suddenly she finds herself trying to save the ancient viking gods with the help of brother and sister Reskva and Alfi who were once servants of the god Thor. Oh yes, and she also has the help of Snot, a beserk and Sleipnir, an eight legged horse! Basically the story is a quest. It has much of Simon’s trademark humour, especially in evidence when the two siblings start trading insults! The story is aimed at an older audience than her Horrid Henry books and the relationships between the viking gods make it quite complex at times.  Although the main protagonist is female it think it will still have significant appeal to boys. N.B. there is one use of “bloody” as a swear word.

The Greenaway medal is awarded each year for an outstanding book in terms of its illustration for children or young people. The shortlist will be announced on March 27th 2012 and the winners will be announced on 14th June 2012.

Although only 6 or 7 titles will be chosen for the shortlist, the books on this list represent some of the best picture books and illustrated fiction published in the last 12 months; a good starting point if you are looking to buy new books for your library or classroom collections.

Baker, Jeannie Mirror
Publisher: Walker ISBN: 9781406309140

Birkett, Georgie (illustrator) Simmons, Anthea (author) Share!
Publisher: Andersen Press ISBN:9781849390095

Byrne, Richard Millicent and Meer
Publisher: Simon & Schuster ISBN: 9781847385796

Byrne, Richard This Book Belongs to Aye Aye
Publisher: Oxford Children’s Books ISBN:9780192756190

Carlin, Laura (illustrator) Hughes, Ted (author) The Iron Man
Publisher: Walker ISBN: 9781406324679

Cleminson, Katie Otto the Book Bear
Publisher: Jonathan Cape ISBN: 9781780080031

Cobb, Rebecca (illustrator) Dunmore, Helen (author) The Islanders
Publisher: Mabecron Books ISBN: 9780956435026

Cobb, Rebecca Missing Mummy
Publisher: Macmillan ISBN: 9780230749504

Collins, Ross (illustrator) MacRae, Tom (author) When I Woke up I was a Hippopotamus
Publisher: Andersen ISBN: 9781849390736

Collins, Ross Doodleday
Publisher: Gullane ISBN: 9781862338166

Diemberger, Jana (illustrator) McCaughrean, Geraldine (author) Monacello: The Little Monk
Publisher: Phoenix Yard Books ISBN: 9781907912030

Elliott, Rebecca Zoo Girl
Publisher: Lion Hudson ISBN: 9780745962702

Field, Jim (illustrator) Bently, Peter (author) Cat’s Ahoy!
Publisher: Macmillan ISBN: 9780230714021

Foreman, Michael( illustrator) Jones, Terry (author) Animal Tales
Publisher: Pavillion ISBN: 9781843651635

Gibbs, Edward I Spy with my little eye
Publisher: Templar ISBN: 9781848771970

Gravett, Emily Wolf Won’t Bite
Publisher: Macmillan ISBN:9780230704251

Grey, Mini Three By The Sea
Publisher: Jonathan Cape ISBN: 9780224083621

Grey, Mini Traction Man and the Beach Odyssey
Publisher: Jonathan Cape ISBN: 9780224083645

Haughton, Chris A Bit Lost
Publisher: Walker ISBN: 9781406327465

Hodgkinson, Leigh Limelight Larry
Publisher: Orchard ISBN: 9781408301838

Hopgood, Tim Thank you for looking after our pets
Publisher: Simon & Schuster ISBN:9780857071149

Horacek, Petr Puffin Peter
Publisher: Walker ISBN: 9781406324600

Hughes, Shirley The Christmas Eve Ghost
Publisher: Walker ISBN: 9781406320633

Hughes, Shirley By Sun and Candlelight. Poetry and prose for all your days
Publisher:HodderISBN:9780340989647

Hyde, Catherine (illustrator) Pirotta, Saviour (author) Firebird
Publisher: Templar ISBN: 9781848771246

Jeffers, Oliver Up and Down
Publisher: HarperCollins ISBN: 9780007263844

Judge, Chris Lonely Beast
Publisher: Andersen ISBN: 9781849392556

Kay, Jim (illustrator) Ness, Patrick (author) A Monster Calls
Publisher: Walker ISBN: 9781406311525

Layton, Neal (illustrator) Hegley, John (author) Stanley’s Stick
Publisher: Hodder ISBN: 9780340988183

Lucas, David Lost in the Toy Museum
Publisher: Walker ISBN: 9781406326574

Mackintosh, David Marshall Armstrong is new to our school
Publisher: HarperCollins ISBN: 9780007361410

Matsuoka, Mei (illustrator) Bently, Peter (author) The Great Sheep Shenanigans
Publisher: Andersen Press ISBN:9781849392075

McIntyre, Sarah (illustrator) Cottringer, Anne (author) When Titus Took The Train
Publisher: Oxford Children’s Books ISBN: 9780192729873

McKean, David (illustrator) Almond, David (author) Slog’s Dad
Publisher: Walker ISBN: 9781406322903

Monks, Lydia (illustrator) Donaldson, Julia (author) The Rhyming Rabbit
Publisher: Macmillan ISBN: 9780230741034

Monks, Lydia Babbit
Publisher: Egmont ISBN: 9781405254229

Oxenbury, Helen (illustrator) Burningham, John (author) There’s going to be a baby
Publisher: Walker ISBN: 9780744549966

Raschka, Chris A Ball for Daisy
Publisher: Random House ISBN:9780375858611

Rayner, Catherine Iris and Isaac
Publisher: Little Tiger Press ISBN:9781848950924

Rayner, Catherine Solomon Crocodile
Publisher: Macmillan ISBN: 9780230529229

Riddell, Chris Alienography
Publisher: Macmillan ISBN: 9781405050609

Riddell, Chris Ottoline at Sea
Publisher: Macmillan ISBN: 9781405050593

Roberts, David (illustrator) Donaldson, Julia (author) Jack and the Flumflum tree
Publisher: Macmillan ISBN: 9780230710238

Ryan, Rob (illustrator) Duffy, Carol Anne (author) The Gift
Publisher: Barefoot Books ISBN: 9781846863547

Scheffler, Axel (illustrator) Donaldson, Julia (author) Zog
Publisher: Alison Green Books. ISBN: 9781407115566

Schwarz, Viviane (illustrator) Deacon, Alexis (author) A Place to Call Home
Publisher: Walker ISBN: 9781406323023

Schwarz, Viviane There are no cats in this book
Publisher: Walker ISBN: 9781406316896

Shireen, Nadia Good Little Wolf
Publisher: Jonathan Cape ISBN: 9781780080017

Stower, Adam Silly Doggy
Publisher: Templar ISBN: 9781848775565

Usher, Sam Can you see Sassoon?
Publisher: Little Tiger Press ISBN: 9781848950870

Vere, Ed Bedtime for Monsters
Publisher: Puffin ISBN: 9780141502397

Waldron, Kevin (illustrator) Rosen, Michael (author) Tiny Little Fly
Publisher: Walker ISBN: 9781406314557

White, Vicky (illustrator) Jenkins, Martin (author) Can we save the Tiger?
Publisher: Walker ISBN: 9781406319095

Wormell, Chris Scruffy Bear and the Six White Mice
Publisher: Jonathan Cape ISBN: 9780224083942

Yates, Louise Frank and Teddy Make Friends
Publisher: Jonathan Cape ISBN:9780224083690

The brilliant, part graphic novel,  Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick has been made into a 3D film which is due out at the end of the year. I have seen numerous children intrigued by this book so I just hope the film lives up to their expectations.

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo has been enjoyed by children for many years but it reached an international audience after the National Theatre production based on the book received critical acclaim. The film is due for release in the UK in January 2012.

The correct answer to this question is David Walliams book Mr Stink

This is a wonderfully humorous story about 12 year old Chloe, who is lonely and isolated because of her domineering snob of a mother, superior younger sister and bullying classmates. Chloe’s life takes an unexpected turn when she stops to chat to a local tramp, Mr Stink. The old tramp may well be particularly odiferous but he is also wise in the ways of the world and by the end of the story Chloe and her family’s lives have been changed for the better. The book becomes more amusing as it goes along, with some laugh out loud moments when Mr Stink appears on Question time! Fans of Roald Dahl won’t be disappointed if they give this a try and not just because it is illustrated by the legendary Quentin Blake.

 http://www.authorhotline.com/ This site was launched on World Book Day and is designed to put authors in touch with their audience. It has a good range of author profiles which can be searched alphabetically and all the examples I read were in a very pupil-friendly format, not too long or overwhelming and occasionally quirky!

Barrow, Randi    Saving Zasha

Unusually in children’s fiction, this story is set in Russia at the close of World War II. Mikhail and his two siblings live with their mother on a small farm. Sadly with their father missing for two years due to the war it has become run down. One day Mikhail discovers a sick man in one of their fields and with him a beautiful German shepherd dog. Despite their attemps to save him, the man dies and the family are left with the dilemma of how they keep Zasha safe. Any German breed of dog is at risk of being shot on sight. The family have lost their own dogs in the war, along with nearly all the dogs in Russia and they are determined to save Zasha, whatever the risks to themselves.

This is an aspect of the impact of war which I for one had certainly never considered. I’m sure Y5/6 readers of both genders will engage with this poignant story, especially with such an appealing cover!

 Gill Harris   Sky hawk

This story tracks the life of Iris an Osprey, her summer on a Scottish farm and her migration to The Gambia via the Straits of Gibraltar and the Sahara desert. It is also the story of Callum and Iona who find the osprey nest and Janeba and Mama Binta who help find and care for Iris when she is injured in the Gambia. This is a lovely story about wildlife, friendship and hope which will appeal to Y5/6  boys and girls but, beware, tissues may be needed!

Both of these titles would be good options to promote to fans of Michael Morpurgo while they await his next new book!

Helen Moss   The mystery of the midnight ghost

Emily, a keen amateur sleuth, and her dog Drift have befriended brothers Scott and Jack who are staying with their great aunt for the summer holidays on the island of Castle Key, off the coast of Cornwall. Emily discovers that the island is being used to shoot their favourite action film with heroine Maya Diamond. They can’t believe their luck when the stuntman who is staying at Emily’s family B &B, invites them on set. The excitement really begins when the star of the show, Savannah Shaw, goes missing from the spooky Pendragon Manor and Emily is determined to solve the mystery.  This is one of several titles in the Adventure island series and will appeal to fans of Blyton’s Famous Five/Secret seven.  A great title to recommend to girls across KS2

Julia Jarman   Pillwiggins and the tree witch

Natasha discovers a statue of a fairy under a menacing fir tree in her new garden. The tree is really a witch who is furious because the fairies stole her baby. As revenge she has turned one of them to stone. Now she has threatened to turn Natasha’s brother into a beetle unless Natasha can make the dangerous journey to Fairyland and bring back the witch’s baby. 

This is the perfect antidote to all those glittery fairy books which lots of girls love so much. The detailed black and white line drawings dotted thoughout the book break up the text and make it look more accessible. Julia Jarman has created an atmosphere of tension which builds as Natasha is drawn deeper into the world of Fairyland. Quite scary in its own way and well worth promoting with girls across KS2.

Lucinda Hare   The dragon whisperer

Eleven year-old Quenelda has always had a magical bond with dragons, and her greatest wish is to fly one and fight alongside her father in the war against the hobgoblins. Orphaned Root on the other hand is terrified of dragons, so when he is unexpectedly appointed to the role of Quenelda’s esquire it is the last thing he wants. Quenelda won’t be allowed to fly without him and so she must learn some hard lessons herself if she is to teach Root all the skills he needs to fly olongside her, not least patience! Over time an unexpected friendship is forged, and when their land is threatened by a deadly plot, this unlikely duo must find a way to defeat the dark forces. 

This is a debut novel and looks set for at least a sequel. The author has done a masterly job of creating a rich new fantasy world but also has well drawn characters that really lift off the page.  Quenelda is a brilliant heroine, not least because whilst loyal and courageous she is also still getting to know the extent of her powers as The dragon whipserer. At 400 pages this book requires stamina but for girls (and boys) who enjoy fantasy this is a really satisfying read.