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Welcome to Lovemybooks

Lovemybooks is for parents, carers, teachers, schools, and early years staff, created by literacy experts. Free and ad free with over 250 activity pages full of creative book-based ideas.
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RAYMOND BRIGGS

We are very sorry to hear that Raymond Briggs has died.

He leaves a great legacy: He was a remarkable illustrator and maker of picturebooks. The Snowman is now part of our culture, and his anarchic Fungus the Bogeyman and Father Christmas are beloved by all generations.
He challenged expectations of who picturebooks are for and the themes they can address in When the Wind Blows and Ethel & Ernest, which featured his parents.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR PATRONS 🧡 🧡 🧡

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DAVID ALMOND
David received an OBE for services to Literature in April. He has also received two international prizes this year, the Nonino International prize one of Italy’s most prestigious literary prizes and the James Kruss prize awarded to a living author of children’s and YA books distinguished by linguistic brilliance originality imaginative storytelling and cosmopolitanism.

Visit our activity page for David Almond’s Tale of Angelino Brown and The Boy who Climbed into the Moon

JOSEPH COELHO
We are utterly delighted to announce that award-winning poet, playwright and author Joseph Coelho is the brand new Waterstones Children’s Laureate! ⭐

JULIAN GRENIER
Julian receives a CBE in the Jubilee Honours list. He is a Headteacher and National Leader of Education and one of our first patrons. Julian is a dedicated pioneer in early years education and has a particular focus on young children’s communication and early literacy. He has a doctorate in education (EdD).
Visit the website of Sheringham Nursery School where Julian is Headteacher and see the Teaching School Programme at www.sheringham-nur.org.uk

Julian blogs at www.juliangrenier.blogspot.co.uk You can follow him @juliangrenieR

FAMILY REVIEW: HOW WAR CHANGED RONDO

See this month’s family review of How War Changed Rondo by Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv by Samantha and her two daughters.

‘Reading How War changed Rondo is a very useful way to begin to introduce the complexities and horrors of warfare to a younger audience. Having a conversation about the events in Ukraine with younger children can seem a daunting task, but this book allows that conversation to take place in a controlled and manageable way, while still not sugar-coating its events and implications.’

Children in conflict
Stories can be the ideal vehicle for children to begin to develop some insight into the experiences of individuals escaping from conflict situations, and empathy for their plight particularly relevant with the current situation in Ukraine. They can also allow the opportunity for discussion. See our top ten picturebooks on the theme of children in conflict. Image from: Tomorrow, Nadine Kaadan

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Our book in focus is Pirate Stew by Neil Gaiman, illus. Chris Riddell, Age 5-9 years

What might happen if mum and dad go out for the evening leaving a pirate to babysit? Find out in Pirate Stew, a rollicking rhyme of a picture book with fabulous illustrations guaranteed to delight young readers. This is a perfect book for summer holiday story fun – why not dress up as a pirate, search for treasure and make your own pirate stew?
See our activity page   
Buy the book

Sue McGonigle from Lovemybooks talks about our website

What people say about Lovemybooks
The activities brought the story to life! Elena, Parent

Lovemybooks is a treasure trove of well researched guidance on books and reading Alex Law, Head teacher

Everything I think is important about Lovemybooks is right there in its name!
SF Said, author

Praise for Lovemybooks

I would encourage any nursery/primary teacher school to take a look at these resources!
Lovemybooks is also an amazing website to share with your parents.
Sonia Thompson our patron and Birmingham Head Teacher:

"The Lovemybooks website is something that I have shared with training teachers here at Brookes & with parents too. It's a HUGE database and worth schools subscribing to the newsletter and passing the site onto parents as well.
"Mat Tobin Lecturer in Primary English and Children's literature at Oxford Brookes

“The Lovemybooks website is a brilliant resource of both fun and educational activities”  Sarah, parent

“This site is gold, such a rich resource for schools and parents, and the bodies behind the scenes are experts in their field”  The Writing Web

"Lovemybooks is such a brilliant resource for parents and teachers! Thank you Lovemybooks for such brilliant recommendations and such imaginative and inspiring activities to continue the fun further!" Rachel, parent and teacher

"Caspar loves reading but he gets particularly excited when we can bring books to life for him. Lovemybooks provides some great inspiration for how to achieve this. Thanks Lovemybooks for the great recommendation and fantastic ways for Caspar to immerse himself in the book!"  Ben, parent

"Fallen in LOVE with @lovemybooksUK lovemybooks.co.uk absolutely brilliant activities to enhance reading time with children."
Cheshire SEN tutor

"As an early years lecturer at Strathclyde University I would like to express how useful your web site has been in delivering training to early years teacher within Scotland . They have notified parents and used the web site to support their own work in nursery. The feedback has been exceptional so I was keen to let you know." Deirdre Grogan Early Years lecturer Scotland

"I am a child care provider in the US.  I just found your site today by accident while looking for an "Elmer" template.  I am IN LOVE! I have saved your site to my computer and will be back soon and often.  Thank you for this amazing resource."
Kelly Simpson US

"What an amazing resource!"Jennie Clarke 

"What a wonderful website!!"  Helen Bradford Senior Teaching Fellow UCL Institute of Education

You can search the Lovemybooks website for:

* Topics and themes…
Our specially chosen books are arranged in topics and themes that young children love, with ideas for ways to share the books and lots of exciting things to do Read more…

* Books for different age groups
Find books for children aged 0-3, 3- 5, 5-7, 7-11 Read more

* Our Top 10 book lists
Whether you want to find out about exciting new picture books, alphabet books, folk and fairy tales or story apps you’ll find them here in our Top 10 books sections Read more…