Author In Your Classroom

A Cast of Characters, with Lauren Child

One of the UK's best-loved author illustrators, Lauren Child, spends an uplifting half hour with Helen, discussing her own characters, what it means to illustrate other people's words, and how to spot a good idea when it comes to you. A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/AIYCLaurenpack. This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Lauren reading an extract from Pippi Goes Aboard. 
Section 1 starts at 00:00
Section 2 starts at 8:28
Section 3 starts at 24:05Join the Plazoom community by signing up to our newsletter for free resources and special offers at plazoom.com! 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/plazoomshop 
ⓕ https://www.facebook.com/Plazoom-648739442272915 
ⓟ https://www.pinterest.co.uk/plazoom 

Choose your adventure! with Rhianna Pratchett

Storytelling takes many forms - and in this episode, the supremely talented Rhianna Pratchett explains to Helen why writing for video games is such a uniquely challenging, enjoyable and satisfying way to do exactly that; and how she has now used that experience to create a ‘choose your own adventure’ book where, as in a game, the reader’s choices can genuinely change the direction of the narrative. A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/AIYCRhiannapack. This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Rhianna reading an extract from Crystal of Storms, with Helen making the reader choices! 
Section 1 starts at 00:00
Section 2 starts at 18:40
Section 3 starts at 30:23 
Join the Plazoom community by signing up to our newsletter for free resources and special offers at plazoom.com! 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/plazoomshop 
ⓕ https://www.facebook.com/Plazoom-648739442272915 
ⓟ https://www.pinterest.co.uk/plazoom 

Characters overcoming difficulties, with Helen Rutter

Actress and comedian Helen Rutter drops into the podcast to talk about her debut novel. Titled The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh, it's a funny and touching story about Billy Plimpton, who is just starting secondary school, is desperate to become a stand-up comic... and who is also living with a stutter. A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at http://bit.ly/AIYCHelenRutterpack. This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Helen reading an extract from The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh. 
Section 1 starts at 00:00 
Section 2 starts at 10:40 
Section 3 starts at 24:05 
Join the Plazoom community by signing up to our newsletter for free resources and special offers at plazoom.com! 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/plazoomshop 
ⓕ https://www.facebook.com/Plazoom-648739442272915 
ⓟ https://www.pinterest.co.uk/plazoom 

Daydreaming a poem, with Michael Rosen

Michael Rosen - possibly one of the nation's most-loved poets and authors - shares some of his best writing tips with listeners, and also talks about his latest collection of poetry, 'On the Move', and why the topic of migration is so powerful for him. A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/AIYCMichaelRosenpack. 
This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Michael reading a poem from 'On The Move': 'The Migrants in Me'.
Section 1 starts at 00:00
Section 2 starts at 11:45
Section 3 starts at 24:58.
Join the Plazoom community by signing up to our newsletter for free resources and special offers at plazoom.com! 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/plazoomshop 
ⓕ https://www.facebook.com/Plazoom-648739442272915 
ⓟ https://www.pinterest.co.uk/plazoom 

Weird and wonderful reality, with Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Screenwriter and author Frank Cottrell-Boyce pops into the podcast to discuss his brand-new children's novel, Noah's Gold - and why the internet can cause a real problem for storytellers!
A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/AIYCFrankCBpack. This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Frank reading from Noah's Gold.
Section 1 starts at 00:00
Section 2 starts at 10:14
Section 3 starts at 23:29
Join the Plazoom community by signing up to our newsletter for free resources and special offers at plazoom.com! 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/plazoomshop 
ⓕ https://www.facebook.com/Plazoom-648739442272915 
ⓟ https://www.pinterest.co.uk/plazoom 

Writing about what you love, with Dan Freedman

Former sports journalist and author of the wildly popular Jamie Johnson series of books, Dan Freedman, drops in to the podcast to discuss his latest novel, Unstoppable - and how it's possible to turn a passion into fuel for developing reading and writing.
A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/AIYCDanFresourcepack.
This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Dan reading from Unstoppable.
Section 1 starts at 00:00
Section 2 starts at 20:55
Section 3 starts at 33:45
Join the Plazoom community by signing up to our newsletter for free resources and special offers at plazoom.com! 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/plazoomshop 
ⓕ https://www.facebook.com/Plazoom-648739442272915 
ⓟ https://www.pinterest.co.uk/plazoom 

Making objects magical, with Joan Haig

Joan Haig joins Helen Mulley to talk about her captivating debut novel, Tiger Skin Rug, and what it feels like as an author to turn an ordinary object into something truly magical...
A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/AIYCJoanresourcepack.
This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Joan reading from Tiger Skin Rug.
Section 1 starts at 00:00
Section 2 starts at 09:59
Section 3 starts at 26:54
Join the Plazoom community by signing up to our newsletter for free resources and special offers at plazoom.com! 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/plazoomshop 
ⓕ https://www.facebook.com/Plazoom-648739442272915 
ⓟ https://www.pinterest.co.uk/plazoom 

Telling stories from the past, with Bali Rai

Bali Rai, author of Now or Never (part of Scholastic's brilliant 'Voices' series) has some powerful things to say about the responsibility involved in telling true stories from history - especially from a perspective that hasn't been heard before... 
A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/AIYCBaliresourcepack.
This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Bali reading from Now or Never. 
Section 1 starts at 00:00 
Section 2 starts at 08:44
Section 3 starts at 23:55
Join the Plazoom community by signing up to our newsletter for free resources and special offers at plazoom.com! 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/plazoomshop 
ⓕ https://www.facebook.com/Plazoom-648739442272915 
ⓟ https://www.pinterest.co.uk/plazoom 

Finding your voice, with Benjamin Zephaniah

Poet, playwright, author, musician and performer Benjamin Zephaniah explains how and why he writes, discusses the historical truth behind his latest novel, Windrush Child, and has some powerful advice for children struggling to find their voice, and make it heard... 
A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/AIYCBenZresourcepack. 
This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes a reading from Windrush Child. 
Section 1 starts at 00:00
Section 2 starts at 13:15
Section 3 starts at 26:56 
Join the Plazoom community by signing up to our newsletter for free resources and special offers at plazoom.com! 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/plazoomshop 
ⓕ https://www.facebook.com/Plazoom-648739442272915 
ⓟ https://www.pinterest.co.uk/plazoom 

Create a Christmas story, with Catherine Doyle

Author Catherine Doyle, best-known for her Storm Keeper series of middle grade novels, talks to Helen Mulley about her latest book: a captivating reimagining of A Christmas Carol… but including the purple reindeer and mischievous Elf on the Shelf that Dickens somehow forgot to include in the original… 
A free resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/AIYCCatDresourcepack.
This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes the author reading from their own work.
Section 1 starts at 00:00
Section 2 starts at 05:43
Section 3 starts at 21:10
Join the Plazoom community by signing up to our newsletter for free resources and special offers at plazoom.com!