Day 12, Non-Fiction: 'Stones and Bones' by Rob Wilshaw, illustr. Sophie Williams (Cicada Books)
Delve into the past as you dig into the Earth and peel back the layers of time. An exceptionally well-presented introduction to rocks, fossils and all things prehistoric. #SparkLonglist
Day 12, 11+ Category: ‘King of Nothing’ by Nathanael Lessore (Hot Key Books)
Anton is the self-proclaimed King of Year 9 but when his bullying victim, Matthew, saves his life they form an unlikely alliance - a hilarious and heartwarming takedown of toxic masculinity. #SparkLonglist
Day 12, 9+ Category: 'Keedie' by @ellemcnicoll.bsky.social (Knights Of)
Autistic teenager, Keedie, is horrified by injustice. As she tackles bullying & ignorance, Keedie becomes a hero to some, but her own world is in turmoil. Fierce, authentic, norm-busting storytelling. #SparkLonglist
Day 12, 7+ Category: 'The Magician Next Door' by
Rachel Chivers Khoo, illustr. by Alice McKinley (Walker Books)
Callie gets the surprise of her life when a magician's house crash lands in her garden! This is another magical tale from Rachel Chivers Khoo. #SparkLonglist
Day 12, Early Readers: ‘Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf’ by @whycraigwhy.bsky.social & Francis Martin
@littletigeruk.bsky.social
Meet Gina, she is funny, brave and smart. One day, Gina reads Little Red Riding Hood but realises there are mistakes - Gina must enter the story and fix it! #SparkLonglist
We've got to the 12th day, at last - here are our final five books in the #Spark12BooksOfChristmas #SparkLonglist 🎄🎁📚
That's it for today! Don't forget that you still have till 9am Friday to sign up for the Spark! School Book Awards to be included in our prize draw to win all 12 books in the longlist category of your choice:
sparkbookawards.co.uk/schools/scho...
#SparkLonglist #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚
Day 11, Non-Fiction: 'This Book Will Make You an Artist' by
@ruthmillington.bsky.social illustr. by Ellen Surrey
@nosycrow.bsky.social
Starting with the world’s great artists, this book shows how techniques & ideas can be applied to your own art - an inclusive and appealing book. #SparkLonglist
Day 11, 11+ Category: ‘Here to Slay’ by Radhika Sanghani (Knights Of)
When Kali turns 16 she discovers that, like her namesake the Hindu goddess of death, she is destined to be a demon slayer - a wise-cracking, action-packed and empowering adventure. #SparkLonglist
Day 11, 9+ Category: 'Shadow Creatures' by
@chrisvickwrites.bsky.social (Zephyr)
Occupied Norway, WW2: young villagers face the challenges of war, exacerbated by a prison camp on their doorstep. A moving story of bravery and resistance based on the author’s own family. #SparkLonglist
Day 11, 7+ Category: 'Flora Stormer' by Isabella Harcourt, illustr. by Hannah McCaffery (Orchard)
Flora sets off on a quest to find a magical flower but discovers far more. Full of heart & adventure, Flora teaches us to accept who we are & celebrate our differences. #SparkLonglist
Day 11, Early Readers: ‘I Love Books’ by Mariajo Ilustrajo
(Frances Lincoln)
A magical tale of becoming a reader - a story adventurer. When the little girl finds 'her' story, it changes everything. Don't like reading? Let's just say, you don't like reading...yet! #SparkLonglist
Just two days left in our #Spark12BooksOfChristmas - without further ado, here is Day 11...
#SparkLonglist
That's it for today! We hope you have a wonderful weekend and we'll be back next week with the final two instalments of our #Spark12BooksOfChristmas #SparkLonglist 🎄🎁📚
Day 10, Non-Fiction: 'Wildlife Crossings' by
@catherinebarrbooks.bsky.social illustr. by Christiane Engel (Otter-Barry)
An introduction to animal migrations - the problems and the solutions. A worldwide perspective that, closer to home, also includes the needs of the humble hedgehog. #SparkLonglist
Day 10, 11+ Category: ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ by Barry Jonsberg (Allen & Unwin)
When Grace’s gran gets ill she offers to care for her, but even though she's brilliant at magic, she can't make cancer disappear. A surprising & captivating read that ends on a hopeful note. #SparkLonglist
Day 10, 9+ Category: ‘The Secret of Golden Island' by
Natasha Farrant @faberchildrens.bsky.social
A boy forced by war to leave his home, and a grieving girl, are united by a mission to win an island. More than just a thrilling adventure - touching, wise and full of hope! #SparkLonglist
Day 10, 7+ Category: 'Ember Spark' by Abi Elphinstone, illustr. by Kristina Kister (Simon & Schuster)
Ember Spark lives in a quiet village and craves adventure, just like her comic book heroine. But then she becomes an apprentice to Rusty Fizzbang, vet to magical beasts!
#SparkLonglist
Day 10, Early Readers: ‘Snail in Space’ by
@nadiashireen.bsky.social & Rachel Bright (Simon & Schuster)
Discover this fun and inspiring story of perseverance with Gail the determined snail, who will show you that dreams can come true...if you put work into it! #SparkLonglist
On Friday the 13th we're ten days in and here are five more fantastic books for your to-read lists... 🎄🎁📚
#Spark12BooksOfChristmas #SparkLonglist
That's all for today - we'll be back tomorrow with five more inspiring books!
#Spark12BooksOfChristmas #SparkLonglist 🎄🎁📚
Day 9, Non-Fiction: 'Me and My Hair' by Kimberley Kinloch
@jessiedrawz.bsky.social & Sandra Becker Borree (Usborne)
An introduction to the science of hair types and colour. It’s an inclusive approach and all children will be able to find themselves inside this bright, appealing book. #SparkLonglist
Day 9, 11+ Category: ‘The Mercury in Me’ by Rachael Fernandes @uclanpublishing.bsky.social
17-year-old Maya finds inspiration in the music of Freddie Mercury but can she find the mercury in her to stand up to her parents & her bully and follow her heart - an engaging teen romance. #SparkLonglist
Day 9, 9+ Category: 'Maisie vs Antarctica' by
@jackjackman.bsky.social @nosycrow.bsky.social
When a last minute trip to Antarctica turns disastrous, quick-witted Maisie starts to realise many things about her seemingly boring dad don't make sense. A thrilling & surprising adventure. #SparkLonglist
Day 9, 7+ Category: ‘Taking Shelter’ by Guy Bass, illustr. by
Lee Cosgrove (Andersen Press)
When Hugh Dunnit discovers his homework has been ripped up, he tries to prove it wasn’t his beloved rescue dog, Shelter. Like a dog with a bone - he won’t give up! #SparkLonglist
Day 9, Early Readers: ‘If I were Prime Minister’ by
@trygv.bsky.social, illustr. by Ella Okstad, transl. by Rosie Hedger (Lantana)
Teach the grown ups how to play… eliminate the mitten gap... From the funny to the profound, what would you do, if you were Prime Minister? #SparkLonglist
On the ninth day of Christmas we've got five more fantastic books for your Christmas stockings...
#Spark12BooksOfChristmas #SparkLonglist 🎄🎁📚
Day 8, Non-Fiction: 'Sky Dancers' by
@isabelthomas.co.uk
& illustr. by Chiara Fedele @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social
The fascinating story of how starlings were introduced to the USA is a starting point for learning about invasive species - a poetic and beautifully illustrated text.
#SparkLonglist
That's all for today but don't forget to sign up for the Spark! School Book Awards by 9am, Fri 20 Dec to be entered in a prize draw to win a complete set of longlisted books in the category of your choice: #Spark12BooksOfChristmas #SparkLonglist 🎄📷
sparkbookawards.co.uk/schools/school-sign-up
Day 8, Non-Fiction: 'Sky Dancers' by
@isabelthomas.co.uk & illustr. by Chiara Fedele
@oxfordchildrens.bsky.social
The fascinating story of how starlings were introduced to the USA is a starting point for learning about invasive species - a poetic and beautifully illustrated text. #SparkLonglist
