Starting My Rebel Badge Club Journey

I'm starting something new... and it feels like the kind of thing I should have done years ago.

I've officially joined the Rebel Badge Club - I don't think I've been this excited about a hobby in a really long time. It's like the feeling I used to have when bullet journalling. I stopped bullet journalling because I had a planner for work and found I was just creating the same thing as my planner so I fell out of love with it a little bit and it felt like more of a chore than a joy. However, the Rebel Badge Club has really captured my attention!

Book Review: It's Not My Cookie by Kael Tudor

Some picture books are enjoyable once, but others quickly become that book — the one children reach for again and again, the one they quote, giggle over, and insist on rereading. It’s Not My Cookie by Kael Tudor is very much the latter. If you're a fan of Jon Klassen's books - especially I Want My Hat Back - then you need to read this.

Book Review: A Very Happy Ramadan by A.M. Dassu

There are some picture books that do such a beautiful job of opening up conversations about the world around us and A Very Happy Ramadan by A.M. Dassu is one of those books. It is thoughtful, informative and wonderfully accessible - making it an excellent introduction to Ramadan and fasting for young children of any belief.

Book Review: The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

 

Today marks the publication day of the new picture book edition of The Velveteen Rabbit, beautifully illustrated by David Litchfield, and it is something truly special. 

This is a story many will already hold close to their hearts and this new edition feels like a beautiful reintroduction to the classic, ready to be discovered by a new generation of readers.

Book Review: War Dog by Tom Palmer

 

It feels strange to be writing this after such a long gap, but here we are. I’ve been a little quiet on the blog since August 2025, simply because life has been busy in the way it so often is. Between teaching, everyday commitments and everything else that fills the weeks, writing took a bit of a back seat. That said, I’m finally catching up on some posts I’ve been meaning to share, and I wanted to start by saying that I’m still very much here and still just as passionate about sharing great children’s books - starting with this one.

Book Review: How to Train Your Teacher by Bethany Walker

 
This is the perfect book to share with you the week before most pupils in the UK start the new school year. As a teacher, I love seeing the new picture books that come out over the summer, ready for September. I especially like seeing the new books that focus on children having their first-ever day at school. This book - How to Train Your Teacher by Bethany Walker - is exactly that.

My Recipe Box: Chickpea, Olive and Orzo Pesto Salad

 

Hi everyone! I'm back with another recipe that I've been wanting to share with you all. I've been loving this pasta salad as a lunch and dinner for the last couple of months, especially as the weather has been getting warmer. It just feels so refreshing to sit down with a bowl of this on a hot summer evening. Plus, it's ready in less than 30 minutes - I love it!

So, here is the recipe for my chickpea, olive and orzo pesto salad...

My Recipe Box: Granola Breakfast Muffins

Today, I am excited to share my recipe for granola breakfast muffins. This is a post I originally shared back in 2016 but when I had a clear-out of posts, I archived this one. Now it's back! Mainly because I baked these this weekend.

Check out the recipe and instructions below...

Book Review: Shevolution by Lou Treleaven

I am very proud - and very privileged - to be bringing you this blog post today as part of the Shevolution blog tour!

It has been a while (almost eight months, in fact) since I last shared a blog post or book review here. As a Year 6 teacher, I don't have as much free time to read and blog as I would like. I wrote and scheduled a few back in September, when the new school year started, but I have struggled to sit down and write things like this. I am trying to be better but I also need to be kind to myself. 

Anyway, today I am here to talk about this incredible new non-fiction book - Shevolution - and, as part of the blog tour, I am going to focus on one incredible woman from this book who deserves to be part of women's history.

Book Review: The Secret Ocean by Amy Grimes

I love a bright, colourful picture book, so when this landed through my letterbox - courtesy of Scholastic - I was incredibly excited. I knew from the moment that I opened it and saw the cover, this book was going to be a popular one with children of all ages - even my Year 6 class.

Ever since I took this book into my classroom, it has not been back on the shelf. It has just been passed from child to child. Every time someone goes to put it back, another pupil goes "Ooh, can I have that one now?" It's such a joy to see. 

Book Review: Cat on the Run (Episode 2: Cucumber Madness!) by Aaron Blabey

 

I have fallen in love with graphic novels and the first Cat on the Run book was part of that, so I am very excited to be bringing you the review of the second book in the series: Cat on the Run, Episode 2: Cucumber Madness!

Below, I've popped the trailer for the first book to give you a little insight into this great graphic novel.

 

Book Review: A Little Bit of Positivity: Potatoes, Peppers and Pineapples to Make Your Day

I am so excited to be bringing you this book review today. From the moment I saw this book, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. Luckily, it was kindly sent to me by Scholastic to review (for which I am incredibly grateful).

My Recipe Box: Healthy Banana Protein Pancakes

A few weeks ago, I posted a photo of my breakfast on Instagram - my healthy banana protein pancakes - and I asked if anyone wanted the recipe. The vote was unanimous, so here it is...

Book Review: Worry Boots by Lisa Thompson & Aysha Awwad

With the start of the new school year creeping up for us here in the UK, I thought this was the perfect time to review this picture book which focuses on that first-day-at-school feeling.

This book - Worry Boots - is described as a "first-day-at-school picture book like no other" and "a gentle, encouraging book for parents to help their children" with school anxiety.

My YA Summer Reads

 I thought I would do a follow-up to My Middle Grade Summer Reads post almost a fortnight ago, sharing some of the YA books that I've been reading/want to read this summer.

Now, I'm very aware that the summer is coming to an end as we approach September, but 10 middle-grade books and 10 YA books over one summer was always a bit of a stretch for me. In the past, that would have been easier for me but with other responsibilities and events, I was never going to read them all in my six-week summer.

Either way, here are the ten books I have started reading or will be reading soon...

I'm Loving: WRD Magazines

It's obviously no secret that I love books, especially when it comes to books for younger readers - from picture books to YA. So imagine my excitement when I discovered there is an amazing magazine dedicated to sharing children's books!

WRD magazines are for children aged 8-13+ (these are spread across two separate magazines, which I will talk about in more detail later in the post). The company rebranded as WRD in 2013, after previously being known as tBkmag. They really are the best source of up-to-date releases and what is happening in the world of children's books. The magazines include interviews, special feature pieces and - my personal favourite - extracts from new releases so you can have a sneak peek at some new books.

Book Review: The Little Gardener's Handbook by Michael Holland & Maria Dek

I think it's clear to see by now that I love a children's picture book. Not even because I'm a teacher and love to share them in school with the children - I just think picture books are one of the greatest things on this planet.

Usually, I will reach for a fictional picture book, often with some kind of moral or message, but today I am going to be reviewing a lovely non-fiction picture book all about gardening.

So, let's look at The Little Gardener's Handbook: A Beginner's Guide to Gardening...

Summer holiday 2024: Alcúdia, Mallorca

Cameron and I recently got back from a week away in Alcúdia on the island of Mallorca (Majorca to some). This blog is very much a book blog, especially after my post clearout, but I also want to scrapbook/document special occasions like this.

So, if you're interested, read on to see what our holiday was like and browse our photos.

Book Review: Magic Pickle and the Roots of Doom by Scott Morse

Now, this is a slightly different book for me to be reading and reviewing but I am very aware of the ever-growing popularity of graphic novels for younger readers. Over the past two years, I have really noticed a love of graphic novels growing in school. This has been especially noticeable in Years 5 and 6.  In fact, in the class I just finished the year with there were at least five children who spent the year working through my personal and school collection of graphic novels, swapping them amongst themselves when they'd read a good one and having a chat about them during our "book blather" sessions. Some of them even took them outside at lunchtime because they wanted to keep reading. I love that!

This new graphic novel, which was released two weeks ago, was kindly gifted to me by Scholastic.

This book was written and illustrated by the incredible Scott Morse. He has created other amazing books but I was amazed to find out he works as a story supervisor at Pixar. Scott Morse has worked on films including Ratatouille, Cars and - a personal favourite - Wall-E. He has also worked for Cartoon Network, Disney and Nickelodeon. What a resume!

So, let's take a look at this graphic novel: Magic Pickle and the Roots of Doom...

Book Review: My Body, My Rules by Nicki Esler Gill & Dasha Riley

I love an empowering, informative message portrayed through picture books for young children. It doesn't need to be heavy or too deep but it's great to see good values and behaviours demonstrated through the joy of reading.

Today, I am reviewing My Body, My Rules - a picture book that aims to introduce younger readers to body boundaries and consent in a lighter manner.