Mark Goodrich
@markgoodrich.bsky.social
Was a lawyer, now a primary teacher. Interested in politics, chess, citizenship and education especially reading and maths. Has lived in 🇯🇵🇰🇷and now in 🇱🇦. https://open.substack.com/pub/markgoodrich
Loving my Christmas present of The Compendium of (Not Quite) Everything by @jonnelledge.bsky.social. However, on number systems, whilst I appreciated the Indian version of lakhs and crores, I think he missed a trick by not also including the Japanese version of "man", "oku" and "cho". Here it is!
January 31, 2026 at 6:54 AM
Loving my Christmas present of The Compendium of (Not Quite) Everything by @jonnelledge.bsky.social. However, on number systems, whilst I appreciated the Indian version of lakhs and crores, I think he missed a trick by not also including the Japanese version of "man", "oku" and "cho". Here it is!
Also, I guess it’s debatable whether Manjiro is a refugee in this book but Heart of a Samurai by @margipreus.bsky.social is a wonderful historical novel based on a true story. It’s not very well known in the UK so feel it’s worth bringing to people’s attention.
January 30, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Also, I guess it’s debatable whether Manjiro is a refugee in this book but Heart of a Samurai by @margipreus.bsky.social is a wonderful historical novel based on a true story. It’s not very well known in the UK so feel it’s worth bringing to people’s attention.
Great topic and so many of my favourites have already been done. One that hasn’t is The Unforgotten Coat by @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social. A really heartwarming read for younger children.
January 30, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Great topic and so many of my favourites have already been done. One that hasn’t is The Unforgotten Coat by @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social. A really heartwarming read for younger children.
In fairness, this has now been changed. I moaned about it and it wax changed minutes later!
January 27, 2026 at 3:25 PM
In fairness, this has now been changed. I moaned about it and it wax changed minutes later!
Wow! I never knew the BBC paid so much attention to me!
January 27, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Wow! I never knew the BBC paid so much attention to me!
OK, sure. I have raved about The Murderer’s Ape before but no harm in doing in again. Also, I don’t think I have mentioned my theory that the “classic” kids book which stands up best today is Charlotte’s Web. Still a wonderful and accessible read.
January 23, 2026 at 12:32 PM
OK, sure. I have raved about The Murderer’s Ape before but no harm in doing in again. Also, I don’t think I have mentioned my theory that the “classic” kids book which stands up best today is Charlotte’s Web. Still a wonderful and accessible read.
Thar she blows!
(Interesting to me that the numbers just keep steadily growing with only minor fluctuations now)
(Interesting to me that the numbers just keep steadily growing with only minor fluctuations now)
January 23, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Thar she blows!
(Interesting to me that the numbers just keep steadily growing with only minor fluctuations now)
(Interesting to me that the numbers just keep steadily growing with only minor fluctuations now)
Quintessential Lao PDR picture.
January 18, 2026 at 5:27 AM
Quintessential Lao PDR picture.
Taking a different approach for #KidsBooksFriday.. I am again reading The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo and I love the way it treats serious themes in such a light and skilful way. It’s a wonderful book at any time but especially when things are grim. Read it - you will feel better! #KidLitUk
January 9, 2026 at 9:17 AM
Taking a different approach for #KidsBooksFriday.. I am again reading The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo and I love the way it treats serious themes in such a light and skilful way. It’s a wonderful book at any time but especially when things are grim. Read it - you will feel better! #KidLitUk
Very late with this but waited for @thestorygraph.com wrapped of the whole year to help my memory!
This was my top read of the year - The Gun, the Ship and the Pen by Linda Colley.
A brilliant historical examination of constitution writing. Might not float everyone’s boat but I loved it!
This was my top read of the year - The Gun, the Ship and the Pen by Linda Colley.
A brilliant historical examination of constitution writing. Might not float everyone’s boat but I loved it!
January 2, 2026 at 6:50 AM
Very late with this but waited for @thestorygraph.com wrapped of the whole year to help my memory!
This was my top read of the year - The Gun, the Ship and the Pen by Linda Colley.
A brilliant historical examination of constitution writing. Might not float everyone’s boat but I loved it!
This was my top read of the year - The Gun, the Ship and the Pen by Linda Colley.
A brilliant historical examination of constitution writing. Might not float everyone’s boat but I loved it!
In relation to this bit of the Substack, I should acknowledge and credit 2 accounts who have identified themselves as having done this. (To clarify - well before I wrote the Substack).
Kudos to @suecowley.bsky.social and @debrakidd.bsky.social!
👏 👏 👏
Kudos to @suecowley.bsky.social and @debrakidd.bsky.social!
👏 👏 👏
January 1, 2026 at 2:39 PM
In relation to this bit of the Substack, I should acknowledge and credit 2 accounts who have identified themselves as having done this. (To clarify - well before I wrote the Substack).
Kudos to @suecowley.bsky.social and @debrakidd.bsky.social!
👏 👏 👏
Kudos to @suecowley.bsky.social and @debrakidd.bsky.social!
👏 👏 👏
🧂 and 🔥 cocktail!
December 30, 2025 at 10:52 AM
🧂 and 🔥 cocktail!
Just trying this very Christmassy drink!
December 24, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Just trying this very Christmassy drink!
Tough life out here in Laos.
December 19, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Tough life out here in Laos.
Has to be Secret Squirrel with his sidekick Morocco Mole. (Also one of my finest pieces of Alt Text).
December 15, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Has to be Secret Squirrel with his sidekick Morocco Mole. (Also one of my finest pieces of Alt Text).
Hi #EduRunners! Some of you haven’t even gone to bed on Saturday and I have done a 10K on Sunday!
December 13, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Hi #EduRunners! Some of you haven’t even gone to bed on Saturday and I have done a 10K on Sunday!
Always good to hear about exciting new reads from contemporary writers.
December 8, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Always good to hear about exciting new reads from contemporary writers.
Since you took my "go to" (The Murderer's Ape), some leftfield choices which can be read on different levels:
The Explorer by Katherine Rundell
Murder Most Unladylike by @redbreastedbird.bsky.social
Watership Down by Richard Adams
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
#KidLitUK #KidsBookFriday
The Explorer by Katherine Rundell
Murder Most Unladylike by @redbreastedbird.bsky.social
Watership Down by Richard Adams
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
#KidLitUK #KidsBookFriday
December 5, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Since you took my "go to" (The Murderer's Ape), some leftfield choices which can be read on different levels:
The Explorer by Katherine Rundell
Murder Most Unladylike by @redbreastedbird.bsky.social
Watership Down by Richard Adams
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
#KidLitUK #KidsBookFriday
The Explorer by Katherine Rundell
Murder Most Unladylike by @redbreastedbird.bsky.social
Watership Down by Richard Adams
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
#KidLitUK #KidsBookFriday
Can you see your face here?!
December 3, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Can you see your face here?!
That was 💯 going to be my top emoji! 😂
December 3, 2025 at 12:26 AM
That was 💯 going to be my top emoji! 😂
I was not surprised by my top word!
Check out your 2025 Bluesky Harvest from @anisota.net! anisota.net/harvest/
Check out your 2025 Bluesky Harvest from @anisota.net! anisota.net/harvest/
December 3, 2025 at 12:14 AM
I was not surprised by my top word!
Check out your 2025 Bluesky Harvest from @anisota.net! anisota.net/harvest/
Check out your 2025 Bluesky Harvest from @anisota.net! anisota.net/harvest/
Celebrating 50 years of Lao PDR! My phone doesn’t really do justice to how loud these fireworks were.
December 2, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Celebrating 50 years of Lao PDR! My phone doesn’t really do justice to how loud these fireworks were.
OK - smashed it with over a month to go. What do I challenge myself to next year #BookSky ? @thestorygraph.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:31 PM
OK - smashed it with over a month to go. What do I challenge myself to next year #BookSky ? @thestorygraph.com
For this, I have to go with the amazing Orphans of the Tide by @struan-murray.bsky.social. Just a brilliant and fantastically constructed book. #KidLitUK
November 21, 2025 at 8:11 AM
For this, I have to go with the amazing Orphans of the Tide by @struan-murray.bsky.social. Just a brilliant and fantastically constructed book. #KidLitUK
Hi #EduRunners, 7k today and i don’t know how I am going to cope back in the UK when I can’t finish with a coffee and a Lao-style banh mi!
November 15, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Hi #EduRunners, 7k today and i don’t know how I am going to cope back in the UK when I can’t finish with a coffee and a Lao-style banh mi!