Week 4 then - who’s up to shout about Mr J? I’ll tell you who I’m going to shout about. Sophia Thakur and her 2019 collection “Somebody Give This Heart A Pen” Let’s ignore that the TV station who quoted her on the cover is now but a distant memory of Gen X’s everywhere (adios MTV…) - this collection is awash with emotion, with personal journeys and stories of identity that immerse you entirely in Sophia’s world. (Well, her world as it was in 2019 - life has taken her lots of very exciting...

Week 3 PJ…wotcha got? Brian Moses. And not just that, the very best of him. This volume of his work contains everutning the title suggests. Brian’s witticisms, his humour, an occasional smidge of philosophy and a huge shovel load of rhyme all combine to make this one a must read. There are pieces in here upper KS2 and above will enjoy but as an adult I’ve also found them immensely nutritious (from a literary point of view - even I don’t actually ‘digest’ books) Got a favourite Paul? Yes -...

Whatcha recommending this week PJ? Well, this week it’s everyone’s favourite type of underwater earthquake in literary form, Coral Rumble. Her 2020 collection Riding a Lion is always a goto on my bookshelf and is immensely popular in classrooms all over the UK. With delightful black & white illustrations from Emily Ford throughout, it’s a cracking read. The collection breaks down into pieces about animals, the weather, getting out & about, family & friends and a whole section devoted to...