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Ridiculous Raps and Rhymes is a hilarious, high-energy rhyming adventure from two master storytellers – Michael Rosen and MC Grammar.  In this brilliantly bonkers episode of AIYC, Michael and MC join host Helen Mulley to explore rap, rhyme and collaborative writing, sharing practical ideas to help children fall in love with language. To support this episode, a free resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, extracts from the book, working wall materials and more, is available at https://www.teachwire.net/podcasts/michael-rosen-mc-grammar/ This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, spread across several lessons, or used individually.  Section 1 starts at 00:00 Section 2 starts at 12:58 Section 3 starts at 33:40

We're delighted to be back with The Bestest Story in the World... Ever! – a funny, fast-paced book by storyteller and author Chip Colquhoun. In this episode of AIYC, Chip joins host Helen Mulley to explore where stories come from, how we borrow and reshape ideas from other tales, and why storytelling matters in everyday life. To support this episode, a free resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, extracts from the book, working wall materials and more, is available at https://www.teachwire.net/podcasts/chip-colquhoun/ This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, spread across several lessons, or used individually.  Section 1 starts at 00:00 Section 2 starts at 14:05 Section 3 starts at 38:25 Anyone who pre-orders Bestest Story in the World Ever before 10th September 2026 can enter a draw to win a free school author visit from Chip Colquhoun by uploading their receipt at Epic Tales. 30 schools will win in total, with entries rolling over each month for more chances to win. Buying from a bookshop could double your chances, since bookshops can also nominate schools directly.

In this very special episode, current Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho talks to Helen about his hopes and ambitions for his time as Laureate - and especially, his flagship project: 'Poetry Prompts', which invites everyone in the nation to become a poet, through weekly videos exploring different aspects of the craft.  A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/JCoelhopack.  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 Joseph reading his poem This Bear.  Section 1 starts at 00:00 Section 2 starts at 07:48 Section 3 starts at 21.23 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

Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good is a fantastically funny book, written and illustrated by Louie Stowell. In this episode of AIYC, Louie joins Helen to talk about the Norse mythology on which the novel is based, what happens when you poo in a space rocket, how to kickstart your writing when you're just not in the mood – and much more besides! A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/LStowellpack. 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 Louie reading from Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good. Section 1 starts at 00:00 Section 2 starts at 14:27 Section 3 starts at 29:25 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

An action-packed adventure with amazing characters and a gripping storyline is tricky to write, but this is precisely what Jason Rohan manages to do with the first book in his new high-octane series - S.T.E.A.L.T.H: Access Denied. And in this thrilling episode of AIYC, he explains exactly how... A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/JRohanpack. 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 Jason reading from S.T.E.A.L.T.H: Access Denied. Section 1 starts at 00:00 Section 2 starts at 16:15 Section 3 starts at 31:47 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

Coming up with new ideas for characters is one of the most enjoyable - and challenging - tasks facing established authors and young writers alike. In this episode of AIYC, Lisa Thompson talks to Helen about her latest novel, The Graveyard Riddle, which features some familiar faces alongside a new creation or two, and explains how she 'magpies' ideas all the time, in case they might one day end up in a story. A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/LThompsonpack. 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 Lisa reading from The Graveyard Riddle. Section 1 starts at 00:00 Section 2 starts at 10.32  Section 3 starts at 22.49 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

It's so important that children are able to see themselves in books - which is why Konnie Huq's Fearless Fairy Tales is an important, as well as a wildly funny and enjoyable, read; and her chat with Helen in this episode is a riot of joyful positivity from start to finish! A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/KHuqpack. 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 Konnie reading from Fearless Fairy Tales. Section 1 starts at 00:00 Section 2 starts at 11.28 Section 3 starts at 24.16 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

Justin Somper drops into AIYC to explain how he got the idea to blend myth and history in his fantastic Vampirates series - and issues a musical challenge to listeners! A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/JSomperpack. 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 Justin reading from the first Vampirates book: Demons of the Ocean. Section 1 starts at 00:00 Section 2 starts at 14:13 Section 3 starts at 28:57 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

Liz Pichon - creator of the wildly popular Tom Gates series - puts down her pens for long enough to chat with Helen about her latest book, Shoe Wars... and just how much fun it is to write a real villain!  A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/AIYCLPichonpack. 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 Liz reading an extract from Shoe Wars. Section 1 starts at 00:00 Section 2 starts at 10:04 Section 3 starts at 21:52 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

Best-selling (although she REALLY doesn't like to talk about it...) author Maz Evans joins Helen for a joyful, inspiring and wonderfully daft discussion about all things writing-related; and why there's no such thing as a child who 'can't write a story'. A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/AIYCMEvanspack. 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 Maz reading an extract from Vi Spy. Section 1 starts at 00:00 Section 2 starts at 12:53 Section 3 starts at 25:25 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

Phil Earle speaks to Helen about the story that inspired him to write his brilliant MG novel When the Sky Falls – and reminds listeners that there’s more than one way to be ‘a reader’... A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/AIYCPEarlepack.  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 Phil reading an extract from When the Sky Falls Section 1 starts at 00:00 Section 2 starts at 13:16 Section 3 starts at 27:46.  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

Undoubtedly a legend in the world of children's writing, Dame Jacqueline Wilson shares some of the secrets of her extraordinary success with listeners - including the importance, sometimes, of NOT doing your research... A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/AIYCJWilsonpack. 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 Jacqueline reading an extract from The Primrose Railway Children. Section 1 starts at 00:00  Section 2 starts at 19:10  Section 3 starts at 34:19. 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

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 24:05 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

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

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