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All the Primary English support you need from a network of trusted experts and peers to plan, teach and assess English in your school(s).

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22/10/2026

Unlikely friendships, a forest-dwelling cat witch, moving verse and two books celebrating the power of pictures to tell stories. Here are this week’s five picks for your primary bookshelf.

Little Ghost and the Robot
by David Litchfield
Suggested ages 5–8 | Picture book
Published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, on 8 October 2026.

An emotional little ghost and a logical robot discover that being different needn’t mean being alone. A beautifully illustrated adventure about friendship, courage and finding where you belong, with plenty to talk about during a shared classroom read.

Pomona: Stories of the Cat Witch
by Tor Freeman
Suggested ages 6–10 | Illustrated short stories
Published by Guppy Books, on 1 October 2026

Meet Pomona and her unusual forest friends in a collection of funny, gently quirky adventures. From baking a cake with love to finding a friend for a lonely caterpillar, these stories explore kindness and empathy with warmth and humour. A seasonal choice to enjoy well beyond Halloween.

When the Birds Wake Up
By Jessica Mary Ellis, illustrated by Sophie Burrows
Suggested ages 9–11 | Verse novel
Published by David Fickling Books on 10 September 2026

A new school, cruel classmates and her grandma’s fading memories leave ten-year-old Pear feeling overwhelmed. Then scruffy rescue dog Piglet arrives. Told through verse, letters and notes, this illustrated story explores music, friendship and the quiet courage of being yourself. One for readers who enjoy Matt Goodfellow and Sharon Creech.

The Bayeux Tapestry: The Graphic Novel
By Martin Howard, illustrated by Javi de Castro
Suggested ages 7–9 | Historical graphic novel
Published Nosy Crow, in partnership with the British Museum, on 13 August 2026

Kings squabble, armies clash and the events of 1066 unfold in a lively, full-colour graphic novel. Researched by British Museum experts, this humorous retelling offers an inviting route into history while showing how pictures can carry a powerful story.

How to Make Awesome Comics
By Neill Cameron
Suggested ages 7–11 | Non-fiction and creative activity
Published by DFB Phoenix on 8 October 2026

What could be more exciting than reading comics? Creating your own! The creator of Donut Squad and Mega Robo Bros guides budding comic makers through generating ideas, inventing characters and developing their drawing skills. A playful invitation to pick up a pencil and discover the storyteller within.

Which will find a place on your bookshelf?

21/10/2026

There's encouraging news for those of us who love sharing poetry with children. The National Literacy Trust's latest research shows that poetry reading has reached its highest level since tracking began in 2010. Among children aged 8–11, 43.6% said they read poetry in their free time at least once a month and 25.3% said they write it.

In our latest blog post, SLN Manager Caroline Wood explores what English leaders and schools can do to sustain that enthusiasm and make poetry a meaningful part of everyday school life.

Read more on our website 🔗

20/10/2026

Keeping up with changes shouldn’t be another job on your list. Every week, SLN brings you short, clear updates on primary English: what’s changed, what it means and whether any action is needed.

Free for everyone, helping you stay informed and lead with confidence.

Read our latest updates on the SLN website, including:
🟡 Oracy and Curriculum Reform: what English leaders need to know
🟡 KS2 writing assessment: updated guidance for 2026-27

SLN, by your side as guidance changes.

15/10/2026

Welcome to our new weekly book focus: The SLN Bookshelf. We will be featuring a selection of new and forthcoming children’s books that we think are genuinely worth schools knowing about. 📚

This week we would like to highlight these recently released titles ➡️

I Will Haunt This
By Viviane Schwarz, illustrated by Chris Riddell
Ages 4–7 - Picture book - Published 24 September 2026 by Walker Books
When a little ghost’s vase is broken, it must search for somewhere new to haunt and encounters a girl who needs encouragement too. Schwarz’s poetic storytelling and Riddell’s characterful illustrations create a gentle, comforting exploration of friendship, creativity and finding somewhere to belong. An especially lovely autumn read-aloud that is spooky without being frightening.

The Messenger
By Lyndsay Roberts Rayne
Ages 7–11 - Wordless picture book - Published 24 September 2026 by Bloomsbury
This striking visual narrative follows Nell from the peace of a rural farm to training as a First World War messenger dog and ultimately to the trenches. Told through powerful, film-like illustrations, it offers older primary readers rich opportunities for inference, discussion and historical exploration. A moving book about loyalty, courage and the roles animals have been forced to play in human conflict.

Witchy Boo: Casts Her First Spell
By Arden Jones, illustrated by Saoirse Lou
Ages 5–7 - Illustrated chapter book - Published 3 September 2026 by Puffin
Boo is a ghost who would rather make people smile than frighten them. When a witch’s hat reveals her unexpected magical abilities, she begins to discover that she need not conform to anyone else’s idea of what a ghost should be. Short chapters, an accessible layout and warm two-colour illustrations make this an inviting early independent read, with a reassuring message about self-acceptance and finding your own kind of magic.

Ghost and Toast: Slice to Meet You!
By Phil Corbett
Ages 7–11 - Graphic novel - Published 10 September 2026 by Picadilly Press
Ghost cannot remember how he arrived in a haunted mansion, but his search for answers is enlivened by Toast, a relentlessly cheerful talking slice of bread, and complicated by a thoroughly villainous croissant. Bold artwork, uncluttered panels and gloriously surreal humour make this highly accessible, but its inventive visual storytelling gives more experienced graphic-novel readers plenty to enjoy too.

Follow us to see more book recommendations selected especially for schools 📖

14/10/2026

In our latest blog we explore new National Literacy Trust research highlighting the link between reading confidence and wellbeing, and consider how schools can help every child feel they belong in a reading community.

Research from National Literacy Trust explores the relationship between reading and wellbeing, drawing on responses from more than 52,000 children and young people aged 8–18. Reading confidence showed the strongest relationship with wellbeing among the reading measures examined: 84.3% of confident readers reported high wellbeing, compared with 58.2% of those who lacked confidence.

Continue reading our thoughts and practical tips here: https://schoollitnet.org.uk/general/helping-children-feel-confident-as-readers/

12/10/2026

“If you aren’t using shared writing in its different forms to teach writing, then are you really teaching writing?”

Claire Halstead will be offering the latest and best practice in modelling writing in shared and guided writing sessions. The aim of this training is to give classroom teachers and subject leaders the opportunity to consider and discuss best practice in the teaching of writing, from EYFS to Year 6.

📅5 November
⏰13:15-15:00
💻Book here: https://schoollitnet.org.uk/events/shared-and-guided-writing-081026/

09/10/2026

At our next network meeting we will be welcoming Jasbinder Bilan, author of the fantastic books pictured here and more 📚📚📚

Visit our website to book your space and join us in November to hear from Jasbinder: schoollitnet.org.uk/events

At these online meetings we will also share updates, practical tips and ideas, all brought together to support primary English leads to deliver excellent outcomes in their settings.

08/10/2026

Today is World Octopus Day 🐙
Here are five great children's books featuring these fascinating creatures to share with with your class. Swipe to see them all📚

Leo and the Octopus written by Isabelle Marinov and illustrated by Chris Nixon, published by Templar Books.

Obsessive About Octopuses by Owen Davey, published by Flying Eye Books.

My Friend the Octopus written by Lindsay Galvin, published by Chicken House.

If I Had an Octopus written by Gabby Dawnay and illustrated by Alex Barrow, published by Thames and Hudson.

Octopus Socktopus by Nick Sharratt, published by Alison Green Books.

07/10/2026

Black History month is an opportunity for additional focus on the impact of Black heritage and culture, these brilliant books look specifically at Black British history and would be great additions to classroom book collections.

Swipe to see the books and see below for details ⤵️

Black AND British by David Olusoga, published by Macmillian Children's Books.

Black and British: An Illustrated History written by David Olusoga and illustrated by Jake Alexander & Melleny Taylor, published by Two Hoots.

Growing Up Black in Britain by Stuart Lawrence, published by Scholastic.

The Black Curriculum: Migration written by Millie Mensha and illustrated by Camilla Ru, published by DK Children.

The Black Curriculum: Legacies written by Lania Narjee and illustrated by Chanté Timothy, published by DK Children.

Brilliant Black British History by Atinuke and Kingsley Nebechi, published by Bloomsbury.

Bright Stars of Black British History written by J.T. Williams and illustrated by Angela Vives, published by Thames and Hudson.

A diverse bookcase is essential (year-round) so children can see themselves, their families and communities celebrated in books. 📚💛

06/10/2026

We’re delighted to welcome Caroline Wood as SLN Manager. 📚💡🏫

With extensive experience in primary education and school leadership, Caroline brings first-hand insight into the opportunities and challenges facing schools. Read more about this new chapter for the network in our latest news post.

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Website

http://schoollitnet.org.uk/

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