Friday Library Recommendations: CIBA Runners Up – Week 2
It’s our final week celebrating the amazing books shortlisted for this year’s Coventry Inspiration Book Awards, and we look at what to read next if one of these runners up was your favourite book.
What’s The Story? – Flower Block by Lanisha Butterfield, illustrated by Hoang Giang
When Jeremiah plants a packet of sunflower seeds, the very last thing he expects is for the vines and leaves to grow overnight and burst through the ceiling of his apartment. As Jeremiah and his brother chase the magical plant up through the floors of their tower block home, they discover an array of curious neighbours who join in the adventure. But what could be waiting for them at the top of the building? And will Jeremiah find his voice to help the neighbours discover the true magic hidden within these sunflower seeds?


If this was your favourite book, try Omar, The Bees And Me by Helen Mortimer, illustrated by Katie Cottle
In a world full of complex environmental stories, Omar, The Bees and Me offers an uplifting and accessible take on sustainability for young readers. With a focus on the importance of protecting nature, this delightful book encourages children to plant wildflowers and create bee corridors in their local communities.
The story follows Omar, a new boy from Syria, who befriends Maisie as they embark on a journey to help the bees. Through their growing friendship, themes of cultural identity and belonging are explored, offering a heartwarming message of inclusion and collaboration.
Katie Cottle, the award-winning illustrator behind The Green Giant and The Blue Giant, brings the story to life with her stunning artwork, making the book as visually captivating as it is meaningful. The book also includes fascinating bee facts on the endpapers and a delicious honey cake recipe on the final page, perfect for encouraging young readers to engage further with the story.
A gentle and joyful read, Omar, The Bees and Me is a wonderful resource for parents looking to introduce children to sustainability, cultural diversity, and the magic of nature.
Telling Tales – Hercules by Tom Vaughn, illustrated by David O’Connell
If Hercules Braver is going to survive his new secondary school, he has to live up to his name, fast. He needs to become strong and tanned and popular, like a Greek hero. Not weak and pale and unpopular, like a Greek yoghurt. But his bid for popularity ends up saddling him with a set of impossible tasks… like cleaning out the monster-riddled school pond, facing up to the school bully and finding the headmaster’s missing cat. Then Herc’s charming, impressive birth dad turns up after years living in Greece, and Hercules thinks his problems are solved. With God-like strength and awe-inspiring powers, could his dad even be … the real Zeus?! And will Hercules learn what it truly means to be a hero?


If this was your favourite book, try Loki: a bad god’s guide to being good by Louie Stowell
Get ready to laugh out loud, a lot, as we meet Loki as he would never want to be seen in this anarchic adventure.
After one prank too many, trickster god Loki is banished to live as a “normal” school boy. If he can show moral improvement within one month, then Loki can return to Asgard … and if he can’t? Then it’s eternity in a pit of angry snakes. To keep track of his progress, Odin has handed over this magical diary in which Loki is forced to confess the truth. (Even when that truth is as ugly as a naked mole-rat.) As if moral improvement and the indignities of school weren’t challenging enough, Loki is banned from using his awesome godly powers and (even worse) must put up with Thor tagging along and making him look bad. Anyone reading Loki’s diary is about to learn that this is one god who hasn’t a clue how to tell good from bad, trust from tricks, or friends from enemies…
As he writes in his truth journal, we see him battle against and then come to accept the challenge he has been set to save himself from an eternity of torture. I loved the journal’s responses to his lies and self-beliefs. Poking fun at modern day life, sharp observational humour is used to great effect to show our anti-hero evaluating his fate at Odin’s hand.
Louie’s hilarious doodles and cartoons show the inner workings of our god turned boy’s mind as we see him struggle with concepts like living in a mortal body in a mortal’s house, what a conscience is and feelings like guilt bubbling to the surface. His understanding of friendship grows slowly as he gets to grips with school, smartphones and mortal snacks.
With plenty of hints at the legends that surround Loki scattered liberally throughout the book, there is plenty to spark curiosity in readers about the Viking’s Trickster God and his family in Asgard.
Hooked On Books – Kofi And The Rap Battle Summer by Jeffrey Boakye
Kofi had an idea… one big lightning bolt of an idea that hit him like electricity. And all it needed was Kelvin’s incredible memory for words.
Kofi is used to stuff going wrong, he’s usually in detention or about to be. But when he finds out his best friend Kelvin has a photographic memory, he comes up with a genius money-making scheme. The whole school is obsessed with music, but no one can ever make out the words, so the boys hit the jackpot selling a new fanzine full of song lyrics: PAPER JAM. It’s not long before one of the teacher’s tells Kofi: ‘You could be a real leader at this school, you know that?’ and . . . suddenly it’s turning out to be the best summer ever!


If this was your favourite book, try The Adventures Of Rap Kid by MC Grammar
Get ready for a laugh-out-loud adventure with the first book in a brilliant new series from the multi-award-winning teacher and World Book Day Ambassador, MC Grammar!
Meet Z, a boy who only speaks in rhyme. Teased at school for his unusual way of talking, Z is known as “Zero” – not because he has nothing to say, but because he says nothing at school! But Z is about to find his voice in a big way. When the Royal Rap Rumble comes to town, searching for the next rhyming rap legend, Z is given the chance to show the world what he’s made of. With the help of his super-cool English teacher, Mr G, his best friend SFX, and a hip-hop makeover, RAP KID is born!
Can Z become the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) and take home the coveted golden mic? The stage is set for an epic rap battle, and the vibes are about to get real!
Filled with humour, heart, and an infectious energy, The Adventures of Rap Kid celebrates the power of words, creativity, and the importance of friendship. This fun and inspiring story is perfect for young readers who love a good rhyme and are ready for a rap-packed adventure!
Happy reading!
