Welcome
Hello everyone, Miss Harris here! Welcome to February’s edition of The Coleham Reading Newsletter. This month we are busy preparing for our annual World Book Week where there will be a full timetable of events that aim to inspire all pupils in reading for pleasure. As always I will be sharing with you a variety of book recommendations, as well as telling you a little bit about what’s coming up in school.
Recommended Reads
EYFS
Meet Wilbur, a little boy making a big move in this illustrated storybook that teaches young children about embracing change.
With beautiful illustrations and an engaging storyline, this book teaches young readers aged 3-5 about exploring new environments and building strong friendships.
A perfect bedtime story and addition to every child’s bookshelf, The Night the Garden Glowed teaches children that change doesn’t always need to be scary. This storybook is about finding friendships in new places and teaches them that letting go of fear can lead to exciting new things.
This heart warming picture book for children offers:
An uplifting message that encourages children to overcome difficult situations through an engaging storyline.
Bright and warming illustrations that blend elements of the fantastical with the ordinary world around us.
A beautiful book by Brendan Kearney, author of the much-loved Finn and Skip series.
KS1
The Terrible Trio is a fun illustrated series, best described as The Bad Guys meets Madagascar!
In a world where all animals have superpowers, Zeb the zebra, Margarine the penguin, and Barry the lemur have the WORST powers of all.
Zeb, Margarine, and Barry end up at the back of the line to have the Superpower Supermarket Manager grant them their superpowers and end up getting the short end of the stick. Margarine is granted the special ability to make macaroni and cheese. Barry the Lemur is gifted with the power to write neatly. And Zeb the Zebra can now blend in with a crosswalk…
Working at a café and watching everybody else save the world day in and day out, Zeb, Margarine, and Barry wonder if they will ever get to be superheroes for a day themselves.
“A funny story, with lots of melodrama from Zeb and silliness around the various superpowers … The black and white illustrations are full of expression and bring the characters to life brilliantly.” – Booktrust
LKS2
An orange cat blessed with opposable thumbs, Alan is convinced he was born to rule and spends his days scheming up brilliant plans to fulfil his destiny – from creating a brand-new country, Alanland, to cloning himself in an attempt to raise an entire army of Alans. And his hapless dog sidekick Fido is just happy to be along for the ride!
Join these two loveable characters on their hilarious adventures as they try to take over the universe – as long as they’re home in time for tea, of course.
This two-colour graphic novel series for 7+ readers will have kids and their grown-ups rolling around on the floor with laughter.
UKS2
Bonkers dilemmas that can be solved with science and a bunch of brilliant physics experiments.
**No grannies were harmed in the making of this book!**
Trick a shark! Lift a jumbo jet! Escape a deserted island! Stop a runaway train!
Explore a bunch of ridiculous (and not-so-ridiculous) dilemmas – with solutions from the astonishing world of physics.
Sounds unbelievable? Test the science for yourself, with easy-to-follow experiments throughout!
What are you waiting for? Let’s save Granny!
Written by bestselling and award-winning author Swapna Haddow, with brilliantly funny colour illustrations from award-winning illustrator Jess Bradley.
A Book for Every KS1 Child
On Thursday 26th February all children across school took part in an assembly led by Brian and Michael McCarthy. Michael is an inspiring author who kindly donated one free book to every pupil in KS1 as part of his passion to inspire reading and a love of stories.
Michael McCarthy was born 1976 in Liverpool, is registered blind, hemiplegic and has learning difficulties. Aged 8 he had a near fatal accident which left him physically and mentally challenged. After spending many months in a coma/semi-coma state, he endured hours of painful physiotherapy which eventually led to him being able to walk again. Michael is a very purposeful character and has overcome great adversity.
His sheer determination has led him to achieve completing the London Marathon, climbing mountains, competing in a London to Paris bike ride challenge, a swimming gold medal in the Special Olympics, Great North Run twice, visiting Kenya to help the Street Kids plus raising funds for charity.
Michael asked, “How can I become famous like Roald Dahl?”
“You need to write a book first,” was the reply.
The ambition has now been realised, with great success, in this series of books describing the adventures of two mischievous dogs. Woodstock and Churchill’s personalities are based on two real dogs which have been in his life.
Michael tells his stories to a friend Catherine Brown who transcribes for him. The team is complete with Rob Bennett creating magical and colourful illustrations that make the stories jump off the page.
What better way to inspire our pupils and get ready for World Book Week!
World Book Week
Monday – World Book Week Assembly
- At 10am in the school hall World Book Week is launched in style with an introductory assembly led by Mr Larkham.
Tuesday – Book Fair
- Please come along after school to the school hall and pick up a bargain book at our school book fair.
Wednesday – EYFS/KS1 Author Workshop
- Children in EYFS, Years 1 and 2 will have the wonderful opportunity to engage with Author Bryher Mckenzie. During the workshop Bryher will be sharing what it’s like to be an author and telling us more about her new title Great Aunt Margot and Me.
Thursday – KS2 Workshop
- Pupils in Years 5 and 6 will be getting stuck into stories and poetry through performance with Chair of Trustees of Shropshire Bookfest ‘Chris Tay’
Friday – The Grand Finale
- Fancy Dress
- Pop-up book shop
- World Book Day Menu
- Golden Ticket Book Competition
World Book Day Vouchers
We know every child enjoys reading more when they can pick a book that excites them. Don’t forget this week your child will be coming home with their very own book voucher.
Explore this year’s £1/€1.50 World Book Day books and support your child to pick a title they’ll love.
For a digital copy of the Free Book Token, please click the link below:
DIGITAL FREE BOOK TOKEN
Each digital token is single use per transaction, but schools can share the same token with all parents and carers. The same PDF and barcode can be used for every child within the school.
Digital tokens can be shown on a phone or tablet, or printed and taken into a participating bookseller.
World Book Day Competition
It’s time to GO ALL IN on reading and get creative!
To celebrate World Book Day and the UK’s National Year of Reading 2026, sponsors of World Book Day National Book Tokens are inviting children of all ages to DESIGN A NATIONAL BOOK TOKEN for their annual competition. This year’s winners will be selected by three very special guest judges: bestselling authors and illustrators Paddy Donnelly, Nadia Shireen and Sonia Leong!
The National Year of Reading theme, Go All In, is all about diving deeper into the things you already love through reading. Whether you’re passionate about football, animals, space, fashion, gaming, history, music or making people laugh, books can bring your interests to life in exciting new ways.
Challenge your child to create a bold, eye-catching gift card design that celebrates their interests and shows how books help them explore ideas, spark imagination and go further through reading, and they could win prizes galore.
Six winning entrants will bag HUNDREDS of pounds for their schools and themselves so they can choose all the books they need during the National Year of Reading and beyond. Plus, one overall winner will see their design turned into a real National Book Token for every child in their class – and enjoy a visit to a bookshop to spend them!
So get the pencils, pens and paints ready… and let’s GO ALL IN this World Book Day.
Click here for link to template – Design a National Book Token template
PRIZES
ONE OVERALL WINNER (chosen from the first prize winners in each category) will receive a £10/€12 National Book Tokens gift card in their design for every child in their class,* and the opportunity for their class to visit a real bookshop to spend their National Book Tokens.
FIRST PRIZE in each age range wins: £350/€400 National Book Tokens for the school and £100/€115 National Book Tokens for the pupil
SECOND PRIZE in each age range wins: £200/€230 National Book Tokens for the school and £50/€60 National Book Tokens for the pupil
HOW TO ENTER
To enter, children should design a National Book Tokens gift card on the theme of Go All In, using their designs to show how reading brings their passions to life.
Here are some ideas to get started:
- What do you love?
- Think about your interests, hobbies or favourite things – from sport, art and music to animals, adventures, facts or fantasy. How does reading help you explore them more deeply?
- How does reading connect to your passion?
- Does reading help you learn new skills, imagine new worlds, discover real-life heroes, or understand something better? Try to show this through pictures, colours or symbols.
- Go bold!
- A gift card should stand out. Use strong images, clear ideas and eye-catching designs that make someone want to pick it up and give it as a gift.
- Look at real gift cards
- Check out gift cards in shops or online. What do they have in common? What makes your favourites work so well – and how can you use those ideas in your own design?