Can't wait for this week's Sunday Late Show on @TTRadioOfficial, where co-host Huma and I have the pleasure of talking to US teacher and author Tim Smyth about how he uses comics and graphic novels in the classroom.

I really enjoyed putting together a set of teaching resources for Zero Override by @66blackman. It's set in London a few years in the future, where humans and AI robots co-exist in a society heavily reliant on technology. An exciting read! Resources here: teachwire.net/teaching-resou…

Loving all the photos of the shortlisted books for the Verse Novel Awards arriving in schools this week. Over the next few weeks, hundreds of children across the UK will be reading, sharing and discussing them, before choosing their winners. I can't wait to hear what they think!

'If we want children to develop a genuine appreciation of poetry, to experience the joy of creating their own poems, dipping into a collection with a friend, or performing a poem to the class, we must embed it as part of a school’s reading culture.' jonbiddle2.substack.com/p/us…

My latest article for Educate magazine. Audiobooks, magazines, comics, podcasts, digital texts... it all counts.

With many schools starting again next week, it's the perfect time to start thinking about how strengthen a culture of reading. @timredgrave, @MarieZarro97723 and I are delighted to be relaunching the @patronofreading initiative. padlet.com/mariezarro/patron…

Delighted by the response to my picturebook assembly overview. It's great to hear that people are finding it useful. If you missed it last time, you can find the link here: padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/readin… There are also links to the lists from the previous two years.

My 2026-27 overview of picturebook assembly suggestions is now ready. I've continued to focus on empathy and inclusion, linking the book selections to significant dates across the year. I really hope it's useful. The link can be found here: padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/readin…

A few months ago, @MarieZarro97723 and I came up with the idea of creating pupil-judged awards for verse novels written for children. Thanks to the incredible generosity of @theliteracytree and @BadgerLearning Learning, we've been able to make it a reality.

With EmpathyLab's Empathy Day Festival only a couple of weeks away, do make sure you sign your school up for these fantastic free author events. empathylab.uk/empathy-day

I watched a fantastic adaptation of Crossing the Line by @tiafisher_ last night, a book which tackles the growing County Lines crisis. In the Q&A session afterwards, I was delighted to learn that the team are now planning to take it into secondary schools across the country.

Delighted to be one of the judges for the 2026 Lollies. I've loved reading all the longlisted titles over the past few weeks, and am looking forward to the shortlisting meeting in London on Friday. @MichaelRosenYes @AlexFKoya #KatieAbey @scholasticuk

'Let's comic-ise the classroom' (@MarieZarro97723) On Thursday 21st May (3:45pm-5:00pm), the brilliant @RuddickRichard and I will be delivering a session about how graphic novels and comics can become an integral part of the primary classroom. eventbrite.co.uk/o/jon-biddl…

Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds is a wonderful collection of loosely linked short stories, and one I dip into regularly with pupils. I really enjoyed creating a set of free teaching resources based around the book for @TeachPrimary magazine. theteachco.com/uploads/speci…

My latest article for Educate magazine explores the importance of getting the transition in reading from KS2 to KS3 right, and how children's reading identities evolve as they move through education. A huge thank you to Amy Brookes for sharing her insights as a school librarian.

I was extremely fortunate to attend the Young Poet Laureate poetry masterclass at Faber and Faber with one of my Year 5 pupils yesterday. The programme, organised by the @NatPoetryCentre and the @Literacy_Trust, is outstanding.

The @OpenUni_RfP website is packed with examples of practice from teachers, librarians and students, so do take a look. I've recently had a piece published exploring the importance of pupil choice in reading. ourfp.org/eop/choices-choice…

Leave the Trees, Please by Benjamin Zephaniah and Melissa Castrillón is a deserving winner of the 2026 Margaret Mallett Award for Children's Non-Fiction. It is a lyrical plea to protect nature and the environment, accompanied by vibrant illustrations in a red and green palette.

Over the past few weeks, I've been talking with @MarieZarro97723 about setting up a pupil-judged award for verse novels written for children (two categories, primary and secondary). They're clearly a growth area in children's books right now and are getting lots of attention.