APPROX AGE RATING: 9–12

Welcome back to The Reading Cafe, the award-winning podcast named Best Children and Young Adults' Show by the Independent Podcast Awards!

This episode is a double delight! We’re joined by award-winning author and screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce, along with his long-time collaborator, the brilliant illustrator Steven Lenton, for an inspiring and laughter-filled conversation all about stories, screenplays, and storytelling magic.

Frank is the celebrated author of Millions, Cosmic, and The Wonder Brothers, and he’s also the screenwriter behind Kensuke’s Kingdom and the unforgettable 2012 Olympics opening ceremony. His latest novel, The Blockbusters, brings his love of cinema and literature together in an exciting new adventure that celebrates friendship, creativity, and the power of stories.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

🎬 How Hollywood and screenwriting inspired The Blockbusters 🎙 Why hosting The Island of Brilliant podcast has changed how Frank thinks about children's books ✨ How magical elements help tell real-life stories in The Wonder Brothers 🎆 What it was like to help create the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony 📚 Frank's thoughts on the "happiness recession" and why access to books matters now more than ever 🎞 The challenges—and joys—of adapting Kensuke’s Kingdom for the big screen

PLUS: Illustrator Steven Lenton gives us a peek behind the scenes at how he brings Frank’s stories to life with colour, energy, and humour—and why pictures matter just as much as words.

To learn more: 📘 Frank Cottrell Boyce – https://www.stevenlenton.com

Don’t miss a single episode of The Reading Cafe! Subscribe, leave a rating or review wherever you listen, and most importantly… keep reading!

APPROX AGE RATING: 15+ (NATIONAL 5/HIGHER MODERN STUDIES/POLITICS)

Welcome to The Reading Cafe - the podcast from Holy Cross High School that aims to get people talking about reading!

The Reading Cafe LIVE 2025 audience event featured an interview with Darren McGarvey, award-winning BBC documentarian and Orwell Prize-winning author of Poverty Safari and The Social Distance Between Us.

During this excellent interview, Darren was in conversation with outstanding S6 Reading Leaders, Elsa and Grace. Our audience of National 5/Higher Modern Studies and Politics students had the opportunity to hear the writer’s responses to questions about key topics (poverty, health, gender and the criminal justice system) in preparation for the exam in May.

They also enjoyed live self-written scenes ('Tone Deaf' and 'The Glass Ceiling') performed by Advanced Higher Drama pupils focused on poverty and gender.

This is an invaluable resource for all pupils who are studying for the National 5 and Higher Modern Studies and Politics exams, so make sure you take lots of notes as you listen!

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FOLLOW: @ReadingCafePod on Instagram

APPROX AGE RATING: 9-11

Welcome back to The Reading Cafe!

Pari Thomson is the author of the acclaimed eco-fantasy series Greenwild, which won the 2024 Waterstones Children's Book Prize for both the overall category and the Younger Readers prize. In addition to her own writing, Pari works as the Editorial Director at Bloomsbury Children's Books. Her Greenwild series has been praised for its imaginative storytelling and environmental themes.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL DISCOVER:

• Why Pari chooses to write children's literature
• How the magic of nature inspires her
• Plus, Pari reads from Greenwild: The World Behind The Door

This episode also features Holy Cross Geography teachers, Stephanie Murphy and Dawn Honnet, who will be talking about their connection to nature and literature.

To learn more about Pari Thomson, visit: https://us.macmillan.com/author/parithomson

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Please leave a rating, review wherever you listen to podcasts and... keep reading!