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Reposted by Mat Tobin

Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · Aug 29

My 10yo has been creating his own comic this week. The eagle eyed amongst you may spot the influence of @neillcameron.bsky.social in his artwork. For this week’s #KidsBooksFriday, what books have you found that can help inspire kids to create their own art/writing? #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit

Image of a comic made by a 10yo featuring 2 stick figures battling through a city. Our hero has blue power and his nemesis has red power. Towards the end of the page the hero takes on some of the red power to defeat his enemy. But some of the evil red power escapes during the battle…

Book cover for Mega Robo Bros: Power Up by Neill Cameron

Book cover for Bumble & Snug and the Angry Pirates by Mark Bradley

Book cover for The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Aug 22

He's made up by your comment! Thank you - we're looking forward to heading back in

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Reposted by Mat Tobin

P.G. Bell @pgbellwriter.bsky.social · Aug 22

That's one of my all-time favourite reviews in a single line. Thanks for picking it up, and I hope you both enjoy the rest of it!

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Aug 22

My youngest and I read the opening chapters to @pgbellwriter.bsky.social latest and are HOOKED!

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Aug 11

Round 1 of 4 played. It's actually awesome!!

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Aug 11

About to play my 10 year old's boardgame! It's taken him several days to make. Looks awesome! #RainbowFriends

@robcrossley4.bsky.social
@jonnybid.bsky.social

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Aug 1

SF, I cried several times throughout from joy and its sheer beauty. I loved every single moment.

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Jul 31

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Jul 30

"Would their child become a diviner? A healer? A spirit waker?"
In Spirit Warriors, @ashleythorpe.bsky.social conjures a world of ancestral magic, power, and purpose rooted in Jamaican folklore. A cracking opening and concept! Perfect for KS2 readers.
Publishing 14 August #Usborne #SpiritWarriors

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Jul 30

That's a lovely play on 'growth', Ursula. I'll absolutely pass this on to the group. We especially enjoyed the illustrated reference list at the back - a lovely touch!

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Jul 29

Are we allowed to know if you're working on something new?
I hope you're allowed the time to create and develop as much as you have with the last two graphic novels. It's clear that Botticelli is deep in research but also love too.

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Jul 29

You're so talented. Although the art is a delight, I just relished all the research and details. You could tell that every single stroke mattered

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Jul 29

@umurrayhusted.bsky.social An absolute, absolute, absolute joy! I've just finished #BotticellisApprentice We read and discussed #ACatStory at our #LetsTalkGraphicNovels group a few years back & you kindly showed up. This is just as wonderful. Congratulations - I wish it every possible success!

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Reposted by Mat Tobin

Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · Jul 11

Following on from this week’s sci-fi chat from @jacquisydney.bsky.social and @pgbellwriter.bsky.social, what are your #KidsBooksFriday sci-fi recommendations? We’re lucky to have the phenomenal @alastairc.com leading the charge and I’ve read a few other brilliant examples lately. #KidLitUK #KidLit

Book cover for I Am Raven by Alastair Chisholm

Book cover for North and the Only One by Vashti Hardy

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Jul 10

Brilliant as always from Megan.

DamsonEd @damsoned.bsky.social · Jul 10

Some initial thoughts…

www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

‘The over-simplified writing framework sidelines the key message’

While there is much to applaud in the new primary writing framework, it deals with the most critical part of writing as an afterthought, argues Megan Dixon

www.tes.com

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Jul 10

📚 “Somewhere you’ll be safe. Somewhere you’ll get the answers you want so badly. A magical library…”

Sangu Mandanna ’s #VanyaandtheWildHunt is a new fantasy that fuses British folklore with Indian mythology

✨ Out now from
@macmillankidsuk.bsky.social

#childrensbooks

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Jul 5

📚✨ From @theemmapress.bsky.social spellbinding poetry

Theis' poems conjure tenderness & tension, & speak to uncertainty, identity & longing. One moment gentle, the next crackling with teeth — perfect for readers on the cusp of everything. Out 18_09 & beautifully illustrated by Kate Lucy Foster.

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Jun 27

Absolute YAY to more Andy Stanton!

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Reposted by Mat Tobin

Richard Ruddick @richardruddick.bsky.social · Jun 25

There are some amazing graphic novels coming out in the next few months, and a lot of them are sequels to very popular texts. Be sure to keep an eye out for these as they're going to be very popular in classes. #kidlit @robcrossley4.bsky.social @mariannedoherty.bsky.social @mattobin.bsky.social

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Reposted by Mat Tobin

Imogen @imogenm16.bsky.social · Jun 24

@mattobin.bsky.social
Hi Mat,
We have loved shadowing the Klaus Flugge prize this year! I have emailed you our photos from across the six classes but our winners were: Slug Life (2 classes), The Cafe at the Edge of the Woods (2 classes), The Cat Who Couldn't Be Bothered and The Christmas Mouse.

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Reposted by Mat Tobin

Imogen @imogenm16.bsky.social · Jun 24

We loved reading the children's varied responses!
@mattobin.bsky.social

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Jun 22

“I wish you were here in this great big meadow, like a sea of lacy clouds…”

A sensory-rich, heart-deep picturebook from Kathy Stinson and Ojibwe artist Maya McKibbin. A gentle exploration of longing, love and the wild around us.

I do love🌿 #GreystoneKids books #IfYouWereHere

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Jun 22

Louise Rosenblatt reminded us that reading is a transaction — not a transfer. The text doesn't hand down meaning; it waits. And in the space between reader and page, meaning is made, shaped by the child’s questions, memories, wonderings. We read with the text, not at it (2/2)

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Jun 22

What I’ve always loved about reading with children is the way we invite them to step into the story — to safely test their thoughts like stepping-stones, to linger in ambiguity, to imagine boldly. Whether one-to-one or in chorus, that shared wondering is, for me, where the magic begins (1/2)

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Mat Tobin @mattobin.bsky.social · Jun 21

“Reading a poem for someone else is like eating their dinner and describing the menu.” –Rosenblatt

Many teachers create space for children to experience texts firsthand — to feel, to wonder, to respond.
How can we continue to honour that personal encounter in every classroom?

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