Summer holidays are the perfect time to catch up on some reading. It can be tricky for teachers to find time to read in term time but the summer holiday provides that quieter time to catch up on recently released children's literature as well as just enjoying reading! It's so important for us to keep up to date with recently released texts so we can recommend them to children in our class, talk about them and more importantly ask our headteachers for copies of them for school! Exposing the children we teach to new an upcoming authors helps them to branch out from the comfort of those well known and popular texts and in turn has an impact on vocabulary, writing and motivation to read for pleasure. 

The best place to start when looking for amazing, recently released children's books are those that have been nominated for book awards this year like the Yoto Carnegies, The Kate Greenaway Awards or Waterstones Book Awards.  These awards look for recently released books and judge them. A perfect shortlist for short of time teachers!

At Roade English Hub we spend a lot of time talking about books! I thought I would share our some of our hot picks that we just cannot put down! Perfect for reading curled up on the sofa, in a lounger or by the pool. Take a look at my choices and please feel free to share yours with us on social media. 

Don't forget that we are currently running a competition for schools that get their self referrals in before 6th September. Your school could be in with a chance of winning a book pack for your library. It takes ten minutes to do and you can find the form easily on our website www.roadeenglishhub.co.uk. 

Happy holidays and happy reading!

Written with compassion and sensitivity by Matt Goodfellow and blessed with Joe Todd-Stanton's distinctive illustrations, this eminently relatable coming-of-age verse novel revolves around Nate's troubled journey into the final year of primary school. The Hub team have really loved this book and there has even been a tear or two! It's perfect for sharing with a year 6 class.

Putting an incredibly fresh spin on the domestic psychological thriller, Freida McFadden delivers a chilling tale of duplicity, jealousy and greed as a live-in housemaid to a wealthy family must keep her real identity hidden at all costs. There is a series of these book and the Hub team have enjoyed all of them. They are quick but engaging reads suitable only for adults though!

The award-winning artist delivers a breathtaking picture book that encourages the act of noticing and the enjoyment of all the mesmerising things occurring in nature.  Roade English Hub team love beautiful illustrations and in this book they are stunning!

The bestselling author of A Fatal Crossing and The Murder Game returns with a delicious closed community thriller set on the shores of the Italian beauty spot, as a murderer strikes at a highly exclusive wedding. The Hub team love a murder mystery to this has been really popular! 

Meet four magical friends who control the seasons in this irresistible new series from author-illustrator Jo Lindley. Say hello to the Little Seasons! The sun is shining and the Little Seasons are on their way to the beach. But Summer is feeling hot and bothered . . . First their picnic is overrun by hungry creatures. Next their game of catch is ruined when their ball goes POP. Luckily his friends know the perfect way to relax: building a giant sandcastle. Finally Summer is starting to have fun! But no one has noticed the great big wave that’s rolling in! It's a great story to share with children and the Hub team loved it!