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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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NEW BOOKS AND ACTIVITY PAGES

So many great picturebooks have been published in 2023.
Here’s our selection of some of the best.

We hope hope you and your children will enjoy sharing these books again and again and enjoy conversations, creative activities, finding out more or imaginative story play.

Looking for a gripping new novel for a more experienced reader or to read aloud to them? Here are a few new titles to look out for. Find out more here.

OUR BOOK IN FOCUS

Our book in focus is Maybe, Chris Haughton, Age 0-5

When three baby monkeys are left with strict instructions not to go to the mango tree as there are tigers there the temptation is just too much and in no time at all they find themselves narrowly escaping danger.

Maybe brilliantly captures the feelings of the very young when warned not to do something tempting. The illustrations are stunning, and the monkeys’ huge eyes convey their thoughts and feelings powerfully.

Joan tells us about sharing Maybe with her granddaughter, Nancy (2 and a half). After sharing the book a couple of times, they play the story together.  
Visit our activity page: Buy the book

MESSAGE TO PARENTS FROM SONIA THOMPSON, BIRMINGHAM HEADTEACHER

Sue McGonigle from Lovemybooks recently interviewed Sonia Thompson, Head Teacher of St Matthews C of E Primary School, Birmingham. See whole video
See Sonia’s message to parents below.

TYGER by SF SAID WINS CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR

Congratulations to TYGER by SF Said, illustrated by DaveMcKean, which is winner of Book of the Year: Children’s Fiction at the British Book Awards. All the judges agreed that the book already “felt like a classic”.

SF Said says ‘I put 9 long, hard years of my life into writing TYGER because I believe children’s books are the most important books of all. So it was beyond incredible to see it win Children’s Book Of The Year at the #BritishBookAwards. Thank you @thebookseller @theweekjunior & the judges!!!’
See our Tyger activity page

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR PATRONS 🧡 🧡 🧡

Award for Michael Rosen
Congratulations to Lovemybooks’ patron Michael Rosen on winning the prestigious Pen Pinter prize for his fearless body of work including his writing for children. Ruth Borthwick one of the judges said Rosen has “championed a way of writing for children which reflects their everyday worlds, using humour and wordplay to validate their imaginative ways of thinking and being”, said judge and chair of English PEN, Ruth Borthwick. Read more here: Author Michael Rosen wins 2023 PEN Pinter prize for ‘fearless’ body of work | Books | The Guardian


The Island of Brilliant
Interested in children’s books? Another of our wonderful patrons Frank Cottrell Boyce has launched a great podcast with author illustrator Nadia Shireen entitled The Island of Brilliant The Island of Brilliant! | a podcast by Frank Cottrell Boyce and Nadia Shireen (podbean.com)


SF SAID
SF was appointed writer in residence at Booktrust in March.
See Writer in Residence at BookTrust: SF Said | BookTrust


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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

WELCOME TO LOVE MY BOOKS

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