Coventry Inspiration Book Awards: The Third Eviction

Another week, and another set of brilliant books leave the competition. Has your favourite been evicted this week?

What’s the Story? (Reception to Year 2) – Speak Up! by Nathan Bryon, illustrated by Dapo Adeola

Join the brilliantly passionate and instantly loveable Rocket as she organises a peaceful protest to save her local library!

Bookworm Rocket loves to collect new books on her weekly visit to the library, and to read all about inspirational figures like Rosa Parks. She is heartbroken when she discovers the library will be closing down! Can she use what she’s learnt from Rosa and speak up to save the day?

This empowering, heartwarming picture book is a love letter to libraries and the power of reading. And it shows the incredible power we ALL have when we find our voice and speak up about the things that matter.

Read more Rocket stories from award winning duo Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola – Look Up! andClean Up!

Telling Tales (Year 3 and 4) – Adventuremice: Otter Chaos by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre

The first book in a delightful new series full of friendship and adventure, from adored, award-winning author/illustrator duo Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre.

Meet Pedro. He’s tiny, but while looking for a BIG adventure he is rescued by the ADVENTUREMICE – a brave, determined team who keep all the Mouse Islands safe from harm.

Pedro’s dream is to show he’s heroic enough to join their ranks. And he soon gets the chance to prove himself, when a big scary otter starts causing trouble in the waters nearby…

If this was your favourite, you’ll be delighted to know there are two more books in the series out already!

Hooked On Books (Year 5 and 6) – The Song Walker by Zillah Bethell

The Song Walker is an extraordinary new story of friendship, discovery and courage.

“There are three questions that I need to find the answers to:

Where am I? What am I doing here? And… Who am I?”

When a young girl wakes up in the middle of the desert, she has no idea who she is. She’s wearing one shoe, a silky black dress, and she’s carrying a strange, heavy case.

She meets Tarni, who is on a mysterious quest of her own. Together, the two girls trek across the vast and ever-changing Australian Outback in search of answers. Except both are also hiding secrets…

If you love The Song Walker as much as I do, try Zillah’s other books, like the award winning The Shark Caller. Dive beneath the waves with this spell-binding adventure of friendship, forgiveness and bravery, set on the shores of Papua New Guinea, perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell and Eva Ibbotson.

“I want to be able to call the sharks. Teach me the magic and show me the ways.”

Blue Wing is desperate to become a shark caller, but instead she must befriend infuriating newcomer Maple, who arrives unexpectedly on Blue Wing’s island.

At first, the girls are too angry to share their secrets and become friends. But when the tide breathes the promise of treasure, they must journey together to the bottom of the ocean to brave the deadliest shark of them all…

Happy reading!