UKLA Book Awards

This is a fabulous book. The environmental message about the role of bugs in nature’s ecosystem is clear, creatively told and one that is desperately needed. Many children do not like bugs and creepy crawlies and some think nothing of squishing them if they come too close.

The end pages of this book are a good starting point for discussion with children – they are full of beautiful fruit pudding recipes that appear annotated in pen by the badger in the story. Teachers can ask children why they think these end pages have fruit recipes when the front cover of the book indicates it is all about bugs. By the end of the book, children will be clear of the importance of bugs in pollinating plants and allowing plants to grow and bear fruit that we can then eat and include in amazing desserts.

The illustrations in the book afford great discussion about the wildlife in the story and the interdependence of each with the environment. If you lift the book jacket, the inside is filled with pictures of different insects – all carefully drawn and labelled demonstrating the huge variety of bugs we have. If you the jacket off completely children will be amazed by the ‘second book cover’ that has a different book title altogether with the title ‘How to Cook Fruit: A Culinary Badger’s Guide to Preparing Gruit’ and you can see badger reading this book on the first page of the story. This can prompt lots of discussion about why the author decided to do this.

This is a fabulous book, for the story, the discussion it prompts about the environment and insects and also a consideration of the role of Emily Gravett’s choices about the layout and design of the book. A must!

Fish are fishy! Have you ever noticed? This phenomenally tongue-in-cheek picture book starts deadpan and dull, explaining that a mammal is a mammal, a bird a bird – predictable features and characteristics, with staid illustrations. But when it comes to fish, the reader is warned that fish are different. Fish are not to be trusted. And things turn wild.

Sharpson’s deadpan tone makes for a fantastically funny book, allowing the reader to read between the lines. The book lends itself brilliantly to discussions about bias and evaluating what we read by considering the reliability of the source and context, perfect for the modern world in which even young children are confronted with fake news and online prejudice.

Dan Santat complements Sharpson’s text with clever wacky illustrations, from the tube that leads from a domestic fish tank to the sea, to the page that will make younger children think twice before sitting on the toilet, to the nightmarish vision of robot fish towards the end. This is a book that will challenge, while poking enormous fun at the whole endeavour.

A picture book that does not condescend to its audience nor preach any kind of sensible message – other than, obviously, don’t trust fish! Brilliantly funny. To be read again and again.

Once I Was a Tree uses fabulous illustrations and just the right amount of toilet-humour to explain the life of this book, once a tree and formerly a seed that came out of a squirrel’s bottom!

There are references to seed dispersal, plant life-cycles and deforestation that will help readers consider aspects of how humans utilise natural resources and how they can be respectful of the world around them.

If you enjoy funny picture books that explain how things work, you will enjoy this picturebook.

A moving and heartfelt story about the relationship between an orphan and a pit pony in 1950s Yorkshire.

Reminiscent of classics like Black Beauty and Goodnight Mr Tom, Birdie is both a heart-warming animal story and a powerful exploration of belonging and bravery. A must-read for young readers, teachers and anyone who cherishes stories about finding hope in the face of adversity. Timeless, heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting, Birdie is destined to become a classic.

This is the first in a series of adventures from Kieran Larwood (the author of the much-loved Podkin series of books) and illustrated by the excellent Joe Todd-Stanton.

Hero Trial is a classic tale of the underdog triumphing against the odds, standing up to bullies and showing that size and strength are not everything. Kit is a gnorf (part gnome, part dwarf) and Dungeon Runners is a TV game show that Kit is desperate to be on. The trouble is that he has no magical powers, combat skills or even a team. After being bullied into entering the Dungeon Runners trial, Kit needs to find a team double quick to make sure he isn’t humiliated by his mean next-door neighbour Breg the Troggle.

So starts his adventure in finding friendship, and courage and learning that you can win by being kind and using your intelligence. This imaginative and brilliantly illustrated story will appeal to quest lovers and adventure fans in lower KS2.

There’s No Such Thing as a Silly Question is a delightful journey through the realms of curiosity and imagination.

The book is beautifully illustrated and is brimming with a treasure trove of questions that will spark awe and wonder in young readers. From the mundane to the extraordinary, the questions in this book cover a wide range of topics, whether it’s inquiring about how astronauts go to the toilet or how many people’s birthday it is today, each question is will leave you wanting to know more. The illustrations are a perfect complement to the text. They bring the questions to life, making the reading experience more enjoyable and adding a touch of magic to every page.

The book can be read from cover to cover or dipped into at random, making it a versatile choice for both independent readers and shared reading experiences. While the book is primarily aimed at children, it has the potential to entertain and educate readers of all ages. It encourages critical thinking, fosters a love of learning, and reminds us that there’s always something new to discover.