It’s our final week celebrating this year’s Coventry Inspiration Book Awards shortlisted books, and we look at the second runners up. If any of these were your favourite books, do try my recommendations for what to read next.
Our last book in the What’s The Story category is the hilarious Frank The Pizza by Eoin McLaughlin illustrated by Mike Byrne.
Making friends isn’t always easy, and all Frank the Pizza wants is someone to accept him for who he is. So when he gets invited to a birthday party, his parents worry and warn him to be careful…but Frank is already planning his outfit. At the party, no one seems to get his jokes and he ends up lonely in the corner – until he meets Frances. As the night goes on, these new friends become more daring and suddenly the party takes an unexpected turn. Were Frank’s parents right? Is life dangerous when you’re delicious?
If you loved Frank The Pizza, do try Bun On The Run by Smriti Halls, illustrated by Chris Jevons the perfect story to have children giggling from the very first page. Bernard may look like an ordinary iced bun—perfectly round, perfectly squidgy, and topped with the brightest cherry—but he’s hiding a huge secret: he dreams of adventure!
Fed up with sitting on a plate in the baker’s shop, Bernard decides it’s finally time to make a run for it. What follows is a gloriously funny chase as he discovers that life outside the bakery is far more dangerous than he expected… especially when hungry humans start eyeing him up for tea.
Smriti Halls’ playful, rhythmic language makes this a joy to read aloud, and Chris Jevons’ bold, expressive illustrations bring Bernard’s big personality to life on every page. Children will love spotting the visual jokes, cheering Bernard on, and predicting what sticky situation he might end up in next.
Perfect for shared reading, this is a deliciously silly picture book that celebrates bravery, determination, and the power of a good sprinkle of sugar.
Our final book in Telling Tales is The Night Forest by Polly Ho-Yen and Illustrated by Sojung Kim-Mcarthy.
Polly Ho-Yen’s gently magical storytelling shines in this beautifully illustrated early chapter book, brought to life by Sojung Kim-McCarthy’s atmospheric artwork. Young readers follow Ziggy, who begins waking in a mysterious night-time forest whenever they fall asleep—whether at Mum’s or Dad’s house. What starts as something frightening slowly becomes an empowering journey as Ziggy learns to face their fears and understand the feelings stirred by moving between two homes. With its tender exploration of separation, night terrors and courage, this enchanting tale offers comfort and reassurance, making it a brilliant choice for children navigating big emotions.
The Wobbly Life of Scarlett Fife by Maz Evans and Chris Jevons Scarlett Fife has BIG feelings, the kind that don’t just bubble up, they blast out in spectacular, world‑shaking ways. Maz Evans has created another brilliantly funny, heartfelt story that takes a thoughtful look at anxiety, friendship and growing up, all wrapped in a fast‑paced, laugh‑out‑loud adventure.
Scarlett is trying her very best to stay calm, especially when her family has exciting (and slightly overwhelming) news to share. But the more she tries to squash her feelings down, the more they burst out in increasingly explosive ways – we’re talking collapsing vases, flying objects, and even an unforgettable incident involving 2,669 sugar cubes. Every wobble of worry seems to make Scarlett’s world literally shake, and soon she realises she can’t keep everything bottled up, no matter how hard she tries.
Maz Evans’ trademark humour shines through every chapter, perfectly balanced with warmth and empathy. Scarlett is a wonderfully relatable character for any child who has ever felt their emotions run away with them, and Chris Jevons’ lively illustrations add even more energy and heart to the story.
This book opens the door to important conversations about managing big feelings, while keeping young readers thoroughly entertained. Honest, hilarious and full of heart, The Wobbly Life of Scarlett Fife is guaranteed to make families laugh together – and maybe breathe a little deeper too.
Our final book for Hooked On Books is After by Padraig Kenny, illustrated by Steve McCarthy. This gripping dystopian adventure offers a powerful blend of hope, humanity and heart.
Jen and her dad journey across a silent, post‑technology world, searching for others after a mysterious collapse known as the Flood. But Dad isn’t quite what he seems—he’s an AI who survived by glitching free of the system, a secret Jen must protect at all costs. As they navigate empty landscapes and new dangers, the story explores what truly makes someone family, and where real threats lie.
Thought‑provoking yet full of warmth, this is a compelling read for confident readers in Year 5 and up who enjoy adventurous, emotionally rich stories.
If you loved After, do try TrooFriend by Kirsty Applebaum. Intelligent and insightful, TrooFriend is an enthralling tale of family, friendship and what it means to be human, with a sinister undercurrent that sweeps you along.
In a world where humanity is dependent on technology, to the extent of providing a safe replacement to human friends for children, we see the desperate need for human connection, be it from family or friends.
Sarah’s issues at home and school are exceptionally relatable, as are the decisions she makes to be popular. The use of Ivy to highlight the right or wrong of those decisions is subtly done as we see her begin to think for herself and become a sentient being, and helps to create the growing sense of unease underpinning the story.
Sarah grows throughout, from an angry, selfish child who doesn’t realise what she has and is fed up of being alone, to a caring, compassionate child who recognises her mistakes and owns them.
With themes of friendship, loneliness, morality, ethics around A.I., and what it means to be human, there are so many different discussions and debates that can arise. The news coverage of the growing crisis shows how quickly it can stir up panic within a populus, and how differing groups can be labelled very quickly, and those labels stick, whether proved or not.
Happy reading!
