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Amy McKay - Editorial Expert

Amy is a knowledgeable, innovative and enthusiastic school librarian, living and working in Cumbria. Amy is a past UK School Librarian of the Year.

With over 17 years’ experience in school libraries and over a decade as the Yoto Carnegies National Coordinator she has a vast knowledge of children’s literature. She is a familiar face at festivals and has judged numerous book awards, including the Blue Peter Book Awards and the Nibbies.

Amy loves nothing more than sharing her love of books and reading, connecting young people with the authors and books that will enrich their lives for years to come.

Latest Reviews By Amy McKay

Perhaps more than ever young people have an overwhelming amount to deal with. From inescapable social media pressures to climate concerns, as well as all the usual teen challenges brought by changing hormones, school pressures and learning to navigate friendships and relationships; our young people deserve all the help we can offer to enable them to blossom and live the best lives they can. Becky Goddard-Hill’s book is a perfect tool to do so with. Focused on building resilience to navigate life’s inevitable challenges, the book first explains what resilience is and how we all need ... View Full Review

Year 6 Joe is sick of being average, ordinary, BORING. Inspired by an online video, he determines that he will be Average Joe no more, instead he will start secondary school as a somebody. And when a Bigfoot-like creature is spotted in local woods he thinks he’s found the perfect solution – catch the beast and become a star. Equipped with little more than a vague hope and dragging his best-friend, Tiago, along for support, Joe sets off for the woods. With Jenny Pearson’s trademark humour, and fun illustrations from Aleksei Bitskoff, this is a perfect comic ... View Full Review

Following the success and acclaim of Ten-Word Tiny Tales Coelho readers will be delighted by his next offering: Ten-Word Tiny Tales of Love. Rather than providing only the start of a story these non-traditional story starters each provide a glimpse of a full story, beckoning eagerly for creative writing enthusiasts of all ages to be inspired by his words and bring the story further to life. Those inspired by Coelho’s concise creations are offered tips and activities, that suggest ways they might expand the stories or create stories of their own. Each tale is brought to life with ... View Full Review

Indu loves her ballet lessons at the Shine and Shimmer dance school, but she’s starting to feel different to her ballet besties. Unlike her friends she doesn’t want a career as a ballerina and she doesn’t enjoy being the centre of attention, she just wants to enjoy dancing as a fun hobby. When her dance teacher announces they are going to perform Cinderella Indu is not sure if she is up to the challenge. Can she conquer her worries or will she let her friends down? The second instalment in the fantastic Ballet Besties ... View Full Review

Flippa the seal loves looking after her best friend, Patrick the polar bear, but Patrick feels funny. Flippa says he’s too big and too hairy to catch his own fish, can that be true? And what will happen to their friendship if Patrick CAN catch his own food? Despite the icy setting this is a delightfully warm story about the nature of friendship and relying too much on others. It will be a great conversation starter for discissions about setting boundaries and healthy relationships. Goll’s bold illustrations charmingly bring the arctic setting to life, with northern ... View Full Review

In 24 seconds Neon will have sex for the first time with his girlfriend Aria, right now he’s in the toilet trying to calm his nerves. 24 minutes ago he was knocking on Aria’s front door, full of love and anticipation. 24 hours before that he was working on his school year book project and receiving romance advice from his big sister. Twenty-Four Seconds From Now continues in this unique style, moving back through Neon’s story in increments of 24. Hours, days, weeks and months. As we travel back through his life we learn not only the story ... View Full Review

Abandoned as a baby, Birdie has happily grown up in Fitz Williams Children’s Home until her great aunt calls for her to live with her. Leaving her beloved carer. Mrs. Dudley, and the busy streets of 1950s Leeds behind, Birdie sets off for the sleepy village of Barrington Dale. What she encounters is far from the loving family home she was hoping for though. The village pit is closing, and racism whispers in every shadow. Running from bullies Birdie meets an underground pit pony whose life is even more miserable than hers, can her kindness and determination save ... View Full Review

Get ready for the ultimate autobiography! In its own words our very own Earth tells the story of its life – past, present and future. Through the bright and bold comic-style format we find out about the evolution of Earth itself and its inhabitants, the biodiversity of its lifeforms, and what is likely to happen next on this special planet. As packed with fascinating facts as the Earth itself, young readers will be engrossed from start to finish. I particularly enjoyed the detailed timeline of all the different periods in Earth's history, how each contributed to the Earth's development and ... View Full Review

Feather lives locked inside an isolated stone fortress called the Wall. Surrounding her small community and their slowly eroding compound is a vicious, deadly forest. Ever-changing and growing, the forest is home to deadly tentacles and lethal creatures, intent on destroying their human neighbours. When Feather is cruelly tricked by a new friend, she must seek justice beyond the safety of the familiar stone walls or risk the lives of all those she loves. With her loyal companion, Sleek, an adorably cute scaled ferret, for company she journeys out along the Wall; meeting friends and foes, and discovering new stories ... View Full Review

This beautifully illustrated hardback provides the perfect opportunity to start conversations with children about feelings. Written in a style to encourage a shared reading experience, this book provides a gentle way to help children recognise different feelings and the importance of sharing how they feel openly and honestly. With 20 feelings covered there are plenty to discuss, not just the obvious but others, such as shy, bored, proud and lonely. Each feeling has its own section with themed illustrations, and real-world examples of how and why the feeling might be occur. All feelings are given equal importance and balance. For example, ... View Full Review

On a daytrip to the busy and bustling city, Leonie is as brave as a lion. Racing through crowds, growling in museums and charging through pigeon-filled squares, she is fierce and bold. But as evening creeps in and shadows grow, it is the comforting arms of her loving mum she needs. This is a charming picture book about grabbing life and new experiences with two hands. Leonie is a great example of a bold, confident little girl claiming her place in the world. Whilst the ending provides a gentle warning about not straying too far too quickly, and the power ... View Full Review

Brothers Theo and Jeremiah fear they are in lots of trouble when Jeremiah’s sunflower plant grows at a monstrous rate overnight. What will the other residents of their tower block say? As they search each floor for the top of the plant, they meet a diverse and friendly community of neighbours who agree to help them - even the scary old man from Flat 62 finds a smile. But what will they find at the top? And can a few magical seeds really bring lasting happiness to the block residents? A joyous story complimented by charming illustrations, this is ... View Full Review