Sam Creighton
@samcreighton.bsky.social
Teacher, reader, talker, writer. Literacy lead. Faith, family, fiction, films. Catholic ✝️ Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 43:1. Need me? I’ll be in a book 📚
Made it out for a run for the first time in six days this evening - in the pelting rain no less - and, not to overstate it, but running gives me more life than basically anything else 🏃♂️❤️ ☔️
October 20, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Made it out for a run for the first time in six days this evening - in the pelting rain no less - and, not to overstate it, but running gives me more life than basically anything else 🏃♂️❤️ ☔️
'It is no great victory to learn to do something that one will not choose to do given the choice.' Eisner quoted in Making Poetry Happen in the context of children being volitional readers of poetry, but it's just as true & vital for all aspects of reading & writing. We need the skill AND the will 👏
October 19, 2025 at 4:34 PM
'It is no great victory to learn to do something that one will not choose to do given the choice.' Eisner quoted in Making Poetry Happen in the context of children being volitional readers of poetry, but it's just as true & vital for all aspects of reading & writing. We need the skill AND the will 👏
Reposted by Sam Creighton
For #KidsBooksFriday this week let’s highlight great kids puzzle and activity books. I find these are a great way to get kids to engage with physical books, particularly those who fear reading large swathes of text (as I did when I was wee). And they’re just great fun. #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit
October 17, 2025 at 7:32 AM
For #KidsBooksFriday this week let’s highlight great kids puzzle and activity books. I find these are a great way to get kids to engage with physical books, particularly those who fear reading large swathes of text (as I did when I was wee). And they’re just great fun. #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit
'Times betwixt & between the demands of the curriculum where poetry can have a presence for teachers & pupils through reading aloud in an atmosphere of enjoyment & challenge is the place where poetry can matter most' My reading during kids' tennis lessons - real food for thought.
October 19, 2025 at 8:43 AM
'Times betwixt & between the demands of the curriculum where poetry can have a presence for teachers & pupils through reading aloud in an atmosphere of enjoyment & challenge is the place where poetry can matter most' My reading during kids' tennis lessons - real food for thought.
Plain Jane and the Mermaid by @verabrosgol.bsky.social is an utterly brilliant graphic novel. Drawing from a range of folklore, it examines our eternal obsession with physical beauty & how we need to overcome that to find real worth and happiness. A great pick for UKS2 🌊 🧜♀️ 🦭
October 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Plain Jane and the Mermaid by @verabrosgol.bsky.social is an utterly brilliant graphic novel. Drawing from a range of folklore, it examines our eternal obsession with physical beauty & how we need to overcome that to find real worth and happiness. A great pick for UKS2 🌊 🧜♀️ 🦭
I'm enjoying Adventures in Wonderland by @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social (thanks for the rec @newhambookshop.bsky.social). This point is spot on, kids' lit is a place where it is sensible to hope. Opposed to most adult lit which is centred on the inevitability of tragedy/the tragedy of inevitability.
October 12, 2025 at 9:03 AM
I'm enjoying Adventures in Wonderland by @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social (thanks for the rec @newhambookshop.bsky.social). This point is spot on, kids' lit is a place where it is sensible to hope. Opposed to most adult lit which is centred on the inevitability of tragedy/the tragedy of inevitability.
Reposted by Sam Creighton
With the IBC Excluded Voices report making for sober reading this week, let’s use #KidsBooksFriday to celebrate brilliant books from global majority writers.
#KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit
www.inclusivebooksforchildren.org/excluded-voi...
#KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit
www.inclusivebooksforchildren.org/excluded-voi...
October 10, 2025 at 6:47 AM
With the IBC Excluded Voices report making for sober reading this week, let’s use #KidsBooksFriday to celebrate brilliant books from global majority writers.
#KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit
www.inclusivebooksforchildren.org/excluded-voi...
#KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit
www.inclusivebooksforchildren.org/excluded-voi...
What if the refugee crisis wasn’t happening far away, but here—in our own homes? No Refuge by Joe Brady & Patrice Aggs is a gripping, empathetic graphic novel that refuses to look away. I reviewed it for @justimaginecentre.bsky.social @the-phoenix-comic.bsky.social
justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...
justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...
No Refuge - Just Imagine
From Sudan to Syria, from Gaza to Ukraine and from Afghanistan to the DRC, the 24-hour news cycle is filled with tragic tales of refugees. The problem is that watching these crises unfold on our scree...
justimagine.co.uk
September 25, 2025 at 5:41 AM
What if the refugee crisis wasn’t happening far away, but here—in our own homes? No Refuge by Joe Brady & Patrice Aggs is a gripping, empathetic graphic novel that refuses to look away. I reviewed it for @justimaginecentre.bsky.social @the-phoenix-comic.bsky.social
justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...
justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...
Reposted by Sam Creighton
Does your class love graphic novels? We are thrilled that Mai K. Nguyen is joining us for a Children's Authors Live event on Friday, 26th September at 1:15
justimagine.co.uk/author-live/... @uklitassociation.bsky.social @sconnor7.bsky.social @samcreighton.bsky.social
justimagine.co.uk/author-live/... @uklitassociation.bsky.social @sconnor7.bsky.social @samcreighton.bsky.social
September 21, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Does your class love graphic novels? We are thrilled that Mai K. Nguyen is joining us for a Children's Authors Live event on Friday, 26th September at 1:15
justimagine.co.uk/author-live/... @uklitassociation.bsky.social @sconnor7.bsky.social @samcreighton.bsky.social
justimagine.co.uk/author-live/... @uklitassociation.bsky.social @sconnor7.bsky.social @samcreighton.bsky.social
Thank you @newhambookshop.bsky.social! King's Hansel & Gretel is deliciously dark & more faithful than expected. Sendak's pictures are the right amount of scary. The Rosen/Oxenbury is so fun & I can't wait to read it aloud. My Hair... is beautifully lyrical. Now to start the new Rundell!
September 12, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Thank you @newhambookshop.bsky.social! King's Hansel & Gretel is deliciously dark & more faithful than expected. Sendak's pictures are the right amount of scary. The Rosen/Oxenbury is so fun & I can't wait to read it aloud. My Hair... is beautifully lyrical. Now to start the new Rundell!
Today's discussion with fellow @uklitassociation.bsky.social Award longlisters is absolutely one of the highlights of my year. An incredibly hard task to narrow the 7-10 category down to just 20 texts but the vibrant and thoughtful discussions are an honour to witness and be part of 👏 📚 ❤️
August 29, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Today's discussion with fellow @uklitassociation.bsky.social Award longlisters is absolutely one of the highlights of my year. An incredibly hard task to narrow the 7-10 category down to just 20 texts but the vibrant and thoughtful discussions are an honour to witness and be part of 👏 📚 ❤️
Everything crossed to get MCR tickets. My teenage self is beyond excited... 😂😂
August 15, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Everything crossed to get MCR tickets. My teenage self is beyond excited... 😂😂
Reposted by Sam Creighton
Schools are back this week in Scotland. So at @samcreighton.bsky.social’s suggestion, this week’s #KidsBooksFriday is about great books to share with a new class of kids. I’m not a teacher but I think these are all great books to read to kids as a first port of call. #UKKidLit #KidLit #KidLitUK
August 15, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Schools are back this week in Scotland. So at @samcreighton.bsky.social’s suggestion, this week’s #KidsBooksFriday is about great books to share with a new class of kids. I’m not a teacher but I think these are all great books to read to kids as a first port of call. #UKKidLit #KidLit #KidLitUK
This is a pretty amazing place to live. I think everyone should get to see the sea every day.
August 6, 2025 at 9:37 AM
This is a pretty amazing place to live. I think everyone should get to see the sea every day.
Excited to discover @lighthousecomics.co.uk in my new town. I only popped in but it looks fab. Picked up Haru in the hope of making the next #LetsTalkGraphicNovels @mattobin.bsky.social @richardruddick.bsky.social @rcharlesworth.bsky.social 👏 Will be sure to go in again to buy these new titles too.
August 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Excited to discover @lighthousecomics.co.uk in my new town. I only popped in but it looks fab. Picked up Haru in the hope of making the next #LetsTalkGraphicNovels @mattobin.bsky.social @richardruddick.bsky.social @rcharlesworth.bsky.social 👏 Will be sure to go in again to buy these new titles too.
I hope you're happy @struan-murray.bsky.social! My 9 year old is bereft having finished Dragonborn because the next instalment isn't out yet! He adores it and now can't choose his next book, as he thinks nothing will compare! 😂 How long until he can get his hands on part two?!
August 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
I hope you're happy @struan-murray.bsky.social! My 9 year old is bereft having finished Dragonborn because the next instalment isn't out yet! He adores it and now can't choose his next book, as he thinks nothing will compare! 😂 How long until he can get his hands on part two?!
The world is a stunning place 👏 🌳 A family stroll through Brockhill Country Park. My kids get taken there quite a lot by school, such an amazing resources to have on your doorstep!
July 31, 2025 at 1:07 PM
The world is a stunning place 👏 🌳 A family stroll through Brockhill Country Park. My kids get taken there quite a lot by school, such an amazing resources to have on your doorstep!
I help run a MAT book club where teachers from each of the 5 schools meets half-termly to discuss 2 texts. Here are my initial choices for next year but I'm very open to suggestions or recommendations! @teresacremin.bsky.social @richardruddick.bsky.social @jonnybid.bsky.social @smithsmm.bsky.social
July 31, 2025 at 7:44 AM
I help run a MAT book club where teachers from each of the 5 schools meets half-termly to discuss 2 texts. Here are my initial choices for next year but I'm very open to suggestions or recommendations! @teresacremin.bsky.social @richardruddick.bsky.social @jonnybid.bsky.social @smithsmm.bsky.social
Reposted by Sam Creighton
“Students have been incentivised to behave and write like an algorithm in order to please the measurements by which they’re judged…”
- @biblioracle.bsky.social
- @biblioracle.bsky.social
July 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
“Students have been incentivised to behave and write like an algorithm in order to please the measurements by which they’re judged…”
- @biblioracle.bsky.social
- @biblioracle.bsky.social
Lovely 4 days alone with my kiddos! Bravo @englishheritage.bsky.social & @nationaltrust.org.uk. We've ✅ Dover Castle, Richborough Roman Fort, Walmer Castle & Scotney Castle (& Radnor Park, Brockhill Country Park & Cheriton Library). We've Warren Coastal Park & Battle Abbey today & Cliveden tomorrow
July 27, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Lovely 4 days alone with my kiddos! Bravo @englishheritage.bsky.social & @nationaltrust.org.uk. We've ✅ Dover Castle, Richborough Roman Fort, Walmer Castle & Scotney Castle (& Radnor Park, Brockhill Country Park & Cheriton Library). We've Warren Coastal Park & Battle Abbey today & Cliveden tomorrow
Some great stuff here 👏
'Teachers should reflect on how weighted their English curriculums are towards other subjects as opposed to explicitly focusing on the teaching of writing.'
100% this 👆 we need to use writing lessons to actually teach writing knowledge & skills!
'Teachers should reflect on how weighted their English curriculums are towards other subjects as opposed to explicitly focusing on the teaching of writing.'
100% this 👆 we need to use writing lessons to actually teach writing knowledge & skills!
Children as Writers: Does choice impact motivation in Year 6 writing? by Alice Bidder
writing4pleasure.com/2025/07/24/c...
writing4pleasure.com/2025/07/24/c...
Children as Writers: Does choice impact motivation in Year 6 writing? by Alice Bidder
By Alice Bidder – Hartland International School How many times have you needed to write a diary from the perspective of an evacuee or a non-chronological report on the Vikings in your life? M…
writing4pleasure.com
July 25, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Some great stuff here 👏
'Teachers should reflect on how weighted their English curriculums are towards other subjects as opposed to explicitly focusing on the teaching of writing.'
100% this 👆 we need to use writing lessons to actually teach writing knowledge & skills!
'Teachers should reflect on how weighted their English curriculums are towards other subjects as opposed to explicitly focusing on the teaching of writing.'
100% this 👆 we need to use writing lessons to actually teach writing knowledge & skills!
Reposted by Sam Creighton
If you want to read some thoughts on Tolkien, Le Guin, Pullman, Blackman, Blake & more - I very much enjoyed talking about them all in this interview about Tyger with The Daily Bulldog:
dailybulldog.com/arts/an-inte...
dailybulldog.com/arts/an-inte...
An Interview With SF Said
A remarkable book is being released in the U.S. today. Tyger by SF Said won the British Book Award for Children’s Fiction Book of the Year when it was published in the U.K. in 2023…
dailybulldog.com
July 24, 2025 at 2:23 PM
If you want to read some thoughts on Tolkien, Le Guin, Pullman, Blackman, Blake & more - I very much enjoyed talking about them all in this interview about Tyger with The Daily Bulldog:
dailybulldog.com/arts/an-inte...
dailybulldog.com/arts/an-inte...
These pictures sum up my four perfectly. The six year old and two year old running off with wild abandon, the four year old dancing around with a flower and the nine year old about to fall off a hill because he's lost in a book (Reek by @alastairchisholm.bsky.social) 😂
July 24, 2025 at 10:23 AM
These pictures sum up my four perfectly. The six year old and two year old running off with wild abandon, the four year old dancing around with a flower and the nine year old about to fall off a hill because he's lost in a book (Reek by @alastairchisholm.bsky.social) 😂
“Manhood’s become a rock / I cannot lift alone.”
Joseph Coelho’s The Boy Lost in the Maze remakes the Theseus myth into a mirror—reflecting modern masculinity, identity and the timeless search for self.
My review for @justimaginecentre.bsky.social
justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...
Joseph Coelho’s The Boy Lost in the Maze remakes the Theseus myth into a mirror—reflecting modern masculinity, identity and the timeless search for self.
My review for @justimaginecentre.bsky.social
justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...
The Boy Lost in the Maze - Just Imagine
Myths are a thing of liquid. They flow to fit the vessel into which they are poured, curving into each crevice and curling into every corner—the same water taking on new and unrecognisable shape. Each...
justimagine.co.uk
July 20, 2025 at 12:40 PM
“Manhood’s become a rock / I cannot lift alone.”
Joseph Coelho’s The Boy Lost in the Maze remakes the Theseus myth into a mirror—reflecting modern masculinity, identity and the timeless search for self.
My review for @justimaginecentre.bsky.social
justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...
Joseph Coelho’s The Boy Lost in the Maze remakes the Theseus myth into a mirror—reflecting modern masculinity, identity and the timeless search for self.
My review for @justimaginecentre.bsky.social
justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...
Reposted by Sam Creighton
Here is our first round-up of reviews for the summer holidays for you. Happy reading everyone! Thank you @librarylady.bsky.social
@kashleyenglish.bsky.social
@samcreighton.bsky.social
@barbaraevav.bsky.social and all our other reviewers this week:
justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...
@kashleyenglish.bsky.social
@samcreighton.bsky.social
@barbaraevav.bsky.social and all our other reviewers this week:
justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...
July 20, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Here is our first round-up of reviews for the summer holidays for you. Happy reading everyone! Thank you @librarylady.bsky.social
@kashleyenglish.bsky.social
@samcreighton.bsky.social
@barbaraevav.bsky.social and all our other reviewers this week:
justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...
@kashleyenglish.bsky.social
@samcreighton.bsky.social
@barbaraevav.bsky.social and all our other reviewers this week:
justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...