Looking for a new middle-grade superstar or a picture book with serious sparkle? ✨🦄
In our latest episode, we are joined by the incredibly busy and brilliant author Rashmi Sirdeshpande (@rashmiwriting )!
We’re diving into her fabulous new releases:
⭐ Hari Kumar Ultimate Superstar (illustrated by Mamta Singh) – a hilarious, diary-style middle-grade read.
⭐ Super Uma (illustrated by Nakul P.) – a picture book packed with sparkle and, of course, the all-important unicorn!
Rashmi also gives us a sneak peek at her upcoming books and shares where you can catch her live (both in-person and online) this month.
Catch Rashmi at these upcoming events:
🗓️ 17 May: Brighton Festival
🗓️ London Schools Literature Festival (Link in bio for details!)
💻 Plus, free online events with Puffin Schools (8 May) and the British Library (exploring place through guidebooks!).
Books mentioned in this episode:
📚 Hari Kumar Ultimate Superstar (illus. Mamta Singh)
📚 Hari Kumar Ultimate Superstar: Going for Gold (illus. Mamta Singh) – out 13 August
📚 Super Uma (illus. Nakul P.)
📚 Amazing Asia (illus. Jason Lyon)
📚 This is who I am (illus. Ruchi Mhasane) – out in paperback 7 May
📚 Never Show a T-Rex a Book (illus. Diane Ewen)
🔗 Link in Bio: Listen to the full conversation and find links to all the books and event tickets!
👇 Which of these reads are you adding to your TBR (To Be Read) pile first? Let us know below!
📖 Follow @MostlyBookTalk for more...
Are you ready to share a story? 📖✨
For our latest conversation in the National Year of Reading series, we are joined by Louisa Farrow from The Federation of Children's Book Groups (FCBG).
The FCBG is a fantastic national, voluntary, and self-funded organisation dedicated to promoting the enjoyment of children’s books. They bring together parents, carers, teachers, and publishers who all share one goal: nurturing a love of reading from first picture books to young adult fiction.
In this episode, we’re shining a spotlight on a very special event running throughout May: National Share a Story Month! 🎉 This year's theme is Once Upon a Storytime, focusing on the pure joy of reading aloud and the power of stories to bring communities together.
🚨 VOTING CLOSING: Children's Book Award 2026 🚨
We also discuss the brilliant Children's Book Award - the only national award voted for entirely by children! Voting closes this Friday, 8th May, so make sure your young readers have their say.
What you'll discover in this episode:
🌟 How local book groups support young readers across the country.
🌟 Ways to get involved with National Share a Story Month.
🌟 Why children's voices matter so much in the Children's Book Award.
🔗 Link in Bio: Listen to the full conversation with Louisa now, find the FCBG's free resources, AND get the direct link to vote in the Children's Book Award before the deadline!
👇 What is your all-time favourite book to read aloud? Let us know in the comments!
📖 Follow @MostlyBookTalk for more...
How do you give 3,500 children the gift of reading? 📚✨
For our latest conversation in the National Year of Reading series, we are sitting down with Emma Bell, CEO of Chapter One.
Chapter One is transforming children's literacy across the UK. Through their incredible network of volunteer reading partners, they provide dedicated one-to-one reading support to nearly 3,500 children in communities stretching from Edinburgh to London, Manchester to East Sussex, and beyond!
In this episode, we discuss:
🌟 The life-changing impact of one-to-one reading time.
🌟 How their volunteer reading partner programme actually works.
🌟 The massive difference a little bit of dedicated time can make for a child's confidence.
🌟 How YOU can get involved and help support young readers in your area.
Whether you are looking for an inspiring literacy programme or searching for a way to give back to your community, this episode is full of heart.
🔗 Link in Bio: Listen to the full conversation with Emma Bell now!
👇 Have you ever volunteered in your community? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments!
📖 Follow @MostlyBookTalk for more...
Can one-to-one support change the trajectory of a child's life? 📚✨
For our latest conversation in the National Year of Reading series, we are joined by Amy Lewis, Head of Coram Beanstalk.
Coram Beanstalk is on a mission to ensure no child gets left behind when it comes to the magic of books. They work directly with primary, secondary, and virtual schools to provide that essential in-person, one-to-one support.
What makes their approach special:
Personalised Support - Helping children find the specific books that inspire and delight them.
Building Confidence - Giving young people the encouragement they need to flourish.
Readers for Life - It’s not just about literacy; it’s about setting children on a lifelong path of reading for pleasure.
Whether you're an educator looking for resources or someone interested in volunteering, this episode is a deep dive into how we can all help children grow a love for reading.
🔗 Link in Bio: Listen to the full episode with Amy Lewis now!
👇 Who was the person who first encouraged your love of reading? A teacher? A librarian? A parent? Let’s celebrate them in the comments!
📖 Follow @MostlyBookTalk for more...
💬 If you could do ONE thing to fix the reading crisis, what would it be? 📙
The Reading Crisis: Part 6 | Finding the Solution 📚 👇
In the final part of our series, we put a single, vital question to our guests: What is the one thing you would do to address the reading crisis?
From the urgent need for properly funded libraries and librarians to a total rethink of how we “position” reading for children, the answers are both practical and inspiring.
We’re bringing you REAL CONVERSATIONS from:
✨ Dapo Adeola
✨ Sita Brahmachari
✨ Louie Stowell
✨ Tom Palmer
✨ Jenny Hawke
...and our incredible panel of literacy experts and educators!
Shoutout to our amazing Co-Producer Belinda Naylor for helping bring this series to life. 👏
🔗 Tap the link in our bio to listen to the finale now!
📢 JOIN THE DISCUSSION: We want to hear from you.
What is the ONE thing you would do?
Stay tuned for how you can contribute your ideas to the Mostly Book Talk community.
📖 Follow us for more book talk...
💬 Want a 40-year treasure trove of book secrets? 📚
📘 National Year of Reading: Books for Keeps with Andrea Reece 👇
As part of the National Year of Reading, we’re sharing REAL CONVERSATIONS with the people making a real difference in how young people discover books.
In this episode, we are joined by Andrea Reece, Managing Editor of the legendary children's book magazine: Books for Keeps. 📖✨
Since the 1980s, Books for Keeps has been an essential resource, offering:
✨ Expert reviews & curated recommendations
✨ The latest news & literary events
✨ Deep-dive essays on children’s literature
✨ An incredible 40-year digital archive!
Whether you’re a teacher, librarian, or parent, this is a must-listen for anyone who wants to stay at the heart of the children’s book world.
🔗 Tap the link in our bio to listen now and explore the Books for Keeps archive!
👇 What's a children's book you think everyone should read? Let us know!
📖 Follow us for more book talk...
💬 Ever wondered what the world’s best cake tastes like? 🍰
🎧 Nadia Shireen takes us deep into the wild world of Grimwood! 👇
Episode 42, Nadia Shireen. We’re venturing into the mad and unpredictable world of Grimwood with the brilliant Nadia Shireen. We’re celebrating the paperback release of the fifth book in the series: Rock the Vote! 🗳️💥
Tune in to find out:
✨ Where Nadia gets her wildest ideas from
✨ Her secret writing and illustration process
✨ Why pictures are just as important as the words
✨ And the ultimate mystery... what would Titus's best cake actually be?
🔗 Tap the link in our bio to listen now and find all the Grimwood books!
👇 If you were a citizen of Grimwood, what would your "animal name" be? Tell us in the comments!
📖 Follow us for more book talk...
📚Episode 41: Sophy Henn
💬 Ever felt like you want EVERYTHING?
🎧 Sophy Henn joins Mostly Book Talk to discuss her new book! 👇
In this episode, we’re chatting with the brilliant author and illustrator Sophy Henn (@sophyhenn ) about her hilarious new picture book, I Want Everything! A perfect story for anyone who has ever struggled with a case of the “gimmes.”
We also dive into the action-packed world of her Happy Hills graphic novel series and the latest installment: Cheesy Bob Strikes! 🧀💥
We cover so many fan-favorites in this chat, including:
✨ Pizazz
✨ Bad Nana: Older not Wiser
✨ Lifesize Dinosaurs
✨ The Best Worst Day Ever
✨ Pom Pom Gets the Grumps
🔗 Tap the link in our bio to listen now and find links to all the books mentioned!
👇 What’s the one thing your kid (or you!) currently “wants everything” of? Let us know!
📖 Follow us for more book talk...
💬 How do we get kids to read for pleasure? 📙 The Reading Crisis: Part 5 👇
In Part 5 of our series, we’re looking beyond the classroom to explore the magic of author engagement, the importance of family involvement, and how community spaces help children discover and talk about books.
We’re bringing you REAL CONVERSATIONS from the best voices in children’s literature and education, including:
✨ Dapo Adeola
✨ Sita Brahmachari
✨ Louie Stowell
✨ Tom Palmer
✨ Jenny Hawke
As well as top literacy experts from the UCL Institute of Education, The Open University, and more!
Shoutout to our amazing Co-Producer Belinda Naylor for helping bring this together!
🔗 Tap the link in our bio to listen to Part 5 now! Stay tuned until the end of the series; we’ll be sharing how YOU can share your ideas and join the Mostly Book Talk discussion.
👇 What was your favourite space to read in as a kid? Let us know in the comments!
📖Follow us for more book talk...
📙 Episode 40: @sarahcrossanwriter on Gone for Good
📚 In this episode, we’re joined by award-winning author Sarah Crossan to talk about her powerful new verse novel, Gone for Good. A gripping, read-in-one-sitting thriller, the story follows sixteen-year-old Connie, who is kidnapped in the middle of the night and taken to a so-called ‘behaviour modification programme’ at Silver Lake, where she becomes drawn into the mystery surrounding a missing resident, Belle.
🌍 We explore how writing in verse intensifies the tension, why the novel tackles the controversial troubled teen industry, and what makes this such a compelling read for older teens and adults alike.
💡 We also discuss Sarah’s thoughtful reflections on social media about putting away our screens and protecting time for reading for pleasure and why that matters more than ever.
🎧 A thought-provoking and page-turning conversation. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
