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Author & Illustrators

Elizabeth Laird Books

Crusade is a richly detailed historical adventure, from Carnegie shortlisted author, Elizabeth Laird.

Two boys. Two faiths. One unholy war . . .

When Adam’s mother dies unconfessed, he pledges to save her soul with dust from the Holy Land. Employed as a dog-boy for the local knight, Adam grabs the chance to join the Crusade to reclaim Jerusalem. He burns with determination to strike down the infidel enemy . . .

Salim, a merchant’s son, is leading an uneventful life in the port of Acre – until news arrives that a Crusader attack is imminent. To keep Salim safe, his father buys him an apprenticeship with an esteemed, travelling doctor. But Salim’s employment leads him to the heart of Sultan Saladin’s camp – and into battle against the barbaric and unholy invaders . . .

Inspired by an Ethiopian folk tale, Gloria’s Porridge shows young children how one act can cause a chain reaction and affect other people’s lives.

When Cat wanted some of Gloria’s porridge, he ignored her saying no and ate it all. Gloria then scares Cat who tickles the donkey, who interrupts the bees who then frighten the hen. It is up to the fox then to show the others the importance of not letting this setback slow them down.

This re-imagined folk tale tackles difficult ideas like having to take responsibility and overcoming setbacks in a fun and simple manner, ideal for young readers. Toby Newsome’s colourful illustrations are inspired by his South African surroundings.

This story is one that stayed in my thoughts for a long time after reading it. It tells the story of Omar and his family who live in Syria. Civil War breaks out and impacts on the family in different ways, eventually leading to them to flee Syria and become refugees. This realistic, moving story is an important read in opening children’s eyes and helping them to understand the plight of refugees.

A retelling of a tale by Rumi, an ancient Persian poet. On one level this is the story of a boy who is too scared to go to bed because of the monster under the bed. The boy’s dad gently encourages him to make friends with the monster so he won’t be scared of it anymore. In the story, the boy and his dad also discover that fighting the monster doesn’t get them anywhere. With universal messages of acknowledging and making friends with your fears, and that trying to fight what we are scared of is rarely the answer, this will resonate with children (and adults) of all ages. It might also help children deal with their anxiety over making new friends.

This is the story of a young Ethiopian boy called Solomon, who has a passion for running. He dreams of becoming a medal-winning athlete. Little does he know that soon he will need to run with all his might in a race to save his grandfather’s life. This inspiring story was shortlisted for the prestigious Carnegie Medal.

This story from award-winning author Elizabeth Laird is a great choice for KS2.

When young Finn takes a dive in the water near his fishing village, he is delighted to find dolphins to swim with. However, the dolphins face a terrible threat due to the masses of rubbish floating around in their water. It is up to Finn to find a way to save the sea creatures and prevent their natural environment from becoming ruined.

This is a topical and thought-provoking novel with environmental and ocean themes.

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