Mostly Book Talk

Episodes

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  If the Invader Comes by Tom Palmer - the first in a new WW2 trilogy set in Cornwall 03.11.2026 37m

  We talk with Tom Palmer about his latest book, If the Invader Comes, the first in a trilogy of books set in Cornwall. Published by Barrington Stoke in a dyslexia friendly format, the Allies trilogy explores the experiences of children during World War II in Cornwall and focus on the dynamics of friendship and allyship among the characters. As with his earlier books about the two World Wars, Tom has meticulously researched the series and we talk about the records he has used of ordinary people...
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  National Year of Reading - Letterbox Library 19.10.2026 37m

  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 opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved. In this episode we are joined by Dr Fen Coles from the Letterbox Library. Letterbox Library offers the very best in diverse and inclusive books for children. Founded over 40 years ago, they have a...
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  Fred the Very Demanding Deer - with author and illustrator Pépé Smit 18.10.2026 30m

  In this episode we talk with Pépé Smit about her picture book Fred the Very Demanding Deer which is published by Scallywag Press and translated from Dutch. We were lucky enough to go to the launch at GOSH comics and met Pépé, loved the book and of course wanted to chat to her about the book and Fred. Pépé trained as a visual artist at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy and the Sandberg Institute. Her illustrations have appeared in several leading magazines and newspapers, but she has increasin...
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  National Year of Reading - Literacy Hive 16.10.2026 14m

  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 opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved. In this episode we are joined by Sian Hardy, founder of the Literacy Hive. Literacy Hive is a comprehensive library of literacy resources for primary and secondary teachers categorised so that the...
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  National Year of Reading - The Children's Literacy Charity 14.10.2026 16m

  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 opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved. In this episode we are joined by Julie Taylor Education Lead at the Children's Literacy Charity which focuses on catch-up literacy interventions for disadvantaged children. Working in primary and ...
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  National Year of Reading - English and Media Centre 12.10.2026 29m

  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 opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved. In this episode we are joined by Andrew McCallum, Director of the English and Media Centre. The EMC is a charity which supports English & Media teachers and students through publications and c...
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  National Year of Reading - Pupil Library Assistant of the Year Award 11.10.2026 17m

  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 opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved. In this episode we discuss the Pupil Library Assistant of the Year Award and are joined by Barbara Band, library consultant and Chair of Judges for the award and also by Olipher Grey who is a sixt...
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  National Year of Reading - BookTrust 10.10.2026 23m

  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 opportunity to share what they do and how people can get involved. In this episode we are joined by Rachel Boden who is the lead children's book promotion and content editor at BookTrust. BookTrust is the UK's largest children's reading charity and they aim to em...
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  Time Tub Travellers - with author Claire Linney 08.10.2026 48m

  We talk with Claire Linney about her Time Tub Travellers series, the third book of which is out at the start of October 2026. Inspired by reading Black Tudors: The Untold Story by Miranda Kaufmann, Claire started researching Black British history and the stories that are too often untold and hidden. She decided she wanted to bring these stories to life in a fun, adventurous way for children and the result is her Time Tub Travellers books. Time Tub Travellers and the Silk Thief Time Tub Travel...
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  Wild Magic with Abiola Bello 12.09.2026 43m

  In this episode we talk with Abiola Bello - author, publisher and co-founder of the Diverse Book Awards. The third book in her Wild Magic series for younger readers is out and we talk about the success of the series - the first book just won the Sparks School Book Award prize and how kids love facts mixed in with their fiction. Abiola is as ever very busy and we talk about her third book in the Marcus Rashford series and also a 'new adult' book coming out next year that she is on a deadline t...
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  Author and Poet Dean Atta talks about his picture book, Auntie's Bangles 08.09.2026 34m

  Welcome back to the new school year - we hope you had a great summer. September always feels the time for fresh starts and we are back after a bit of summer break. We have an interview with Dean Atta about his picture book, Auntie's Bangles (illustrated by Alea Marley)- a joyous take on loss and remembering. We also talk about his YA books and the middle grade project he is working on. All very exciting! Congratulations to him too on the publication of his adult debut, Big Man, which is...
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  Fidan Meikle talks about her award winning middle grade book, My Name is Samim 02.08.2026 44m

  Fidan Meikle is a multi-award-winning Azerbaijani-British writer, linguist and translator. We talk with her about her debut middle-grade novel, My Name Is Samim, which is a powerful novel that follows Samim, a thirteen-year-old boy, as he flees war-torn Afghanistan for a new life in the UK. It highlights the experiences of young refugees and asylum-seekers, and has been a word of mouth success, winning the 2026 Jhalak Children's & YA Prize, the Federation of Children's Book Groups A...
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  A feast of middle grade books! Interviews with Kristina Rahim and Cath Howe 26.07.2026 40m

  In this episode we have a feast of middle grade books! We talk first to Kristina Rahim author of the very popular The Doughnut Club, about her second book Max and Ella Stuck Together. Max has had a tough year starting secondary school. He has been bullied about having two mums and has lost his confidence. He is even finding it hard to enjoy the music that he used to love. He knows he risks letting his friends down if he has stage fright again at their planned performance and the idea th...
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  The Othernauts with Clare Pollard 21.07.2026 39m

  We talk with author Clare Pollard about her new middle grade book The Othernauts. Based on the story of Jason and the Argonauts, we follow Phoebe who is bored of life on the island where she lives and is desperate to escape. When a ship with Jason and the Argonauts comes into the harbour she acts quickly and joins their quest to find the Golden Fleece. Full of humour and with illustrations by Macha Yao this is a fun and entertaining take on a classic tale. You can find out more about Cl...
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  The Klaus Flugge Prize 2026 - the year's most exciting newcomers to children's book illustration 14.07.2026 26m

  We talk to the chair of judges and the 2025 winner of The Klaus Flugge Prize for Illustration, Emma Farrarons. Emma won the prize in 2025 which is for the year’s most exciting newcomers to children’s picture book illustration. This year she is back as the chair of judges alongside illustrator Rob Biddulph, illustrator and course director for the MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University, Shelley Jackson and co-owner of the The Book Nook in Hove, V...
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  National Year of Reading - Canterbury Children's Literature Festival 06.07.2026 15m

  We talk to Bex Hughes about the upcoming Canterbury Children's Literature Festival which is on the 9th - 12th of July and also about Book Shop Crawl UK which hosts book shop crawls in cities around the UK. You can find out more about all the exciting events on at the Canterbury Children's Literature Festival here. And check out up coming book shop crawls here. Send us a message
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  National Year of Reading - What on Earth! - Scientists Making a Difference 01.07.2026 17m

  In September 2026 all UK Secondary Schools will receive two copies of the book Scientists Making a Difference by Dr Shini Somara together with a pack of resources. This is a collaboration between publishers What on Earth!, the Gatsby Foundation and Imperial. We talk to teacher Jennifer Marchant who created the school resources to discuss the book, what schools will find in their pack and how they can be used within the science curriculum as well as in careers lessons. There are linked resourc...
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  Fairy Tales at the British Library - a Family Adventure through Enchanted Stories 26.06.2026 19m

  Join us as we talk to lead curators Alison Bailey and Laura Walker, of the British Library's Fairy Tales Exhibition. This interactive and child friendly exhibit is on until 23 August 2026 and covers many familiar tales as well as lesser known stories. They have brought together interactive displays, theatrical design, story sharing spaces, costumes and activities, as well as some great examples of early drafts and drawing ideas. There are beautiful books and artwork to see and plenty of...
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  Kid Rex to the Rescue with Mayo Agard-Olubo 16.06.2026 40m

  Join us talking to Mayo Agard-Olubo about his debut picture book, Kid Rex to the Rescue, illustrated by Diane Ewen. Max's imagination transforms him into the superhero Kid Rex, and he's ready to use his dinosaur powers to battle robots, dragons and even the evil king dust bunny. A fun bedtime story and definitely one for dinosaur fans. Mayo's website can be found here. His BBC Sounds appearance on Margins to the Mainstream can be found here. The books we reviewed were: Auntie's Bangles, by De...
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  The Carnegie Medal for Illustration Shortlist 12.06.2026 1h 2m

  Following on from episode 48 when we went through the Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlist together with expert Carnegie followers Alison Jewitt and Amy McKay, in this episode we go through the Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlist and make some more ill fated predictions for the winners. Alison Jewitt is an English teacher at the London Nautical City of London Academy has led a Carnegie shadowing group in her school for many years and this is her third year helping us review the list. Am...