Why author visits are so important for schools | Series 1, Episode 37
Season 1, Episode 37 of the School Reading List podcast. New book post, 30 great books for January 2026 and why author visits are so important for schools.
Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Sam Hutchinson is a British children’s publisher and author of information and activity books. He runs the independent imprint b small publishing, commissioning and creating non-fiction for early years and primary readers. In 2018 he was named IPG Young Publisher of the Year and was included in The Bookseller magazine’s Rising Stars list, recognition for editorial leadership and market impact.
Alongside his publishing role, Hutchinson writes practical, curriculum-adjacent titles that introduce science and languages to young readers. His credits include volumes in the STEM Starters for Kids series such as Science Activity Book and Zoology Activity Book; search-and-find nature titles including Animal Camouflage and Animal Habitats; and language-learning and first-words books in the Hello Languages range, among them My First 1000 French Words and My First 1000 Spanish Words. His books are issued internationally in multiple formats.
As a publisher, Hutchinson has overseen award-winning non-fiction lists, including the Blue Peter Book Award-winning factual title published in 2018 by b small. His work with authors, illustrators and educators focuses on clear design, hands-on activities and accessible explanations aimed at building confidence across STEM and languages.
Selected works (author): Science Activity Book; Zoology Activity Book (STEM Starters for Kids); Animal Camouflage; Animal Habitats; My First 1000 French Words; My First 1000 Spanish Words.
Season 1, Episode 37 of the School Reading List podcast. New book post, 30 great books for January 2026 and why author visits are so important for schools.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in spring 2026. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
December 2025’s book club includes titles by Monika Singh Gangotra, Sam Hutchinson, Jim Smith, Isabella Harcourt, Serena Patel, Sophie Anderson, Serena Holly, Lucy Edwards, S.A. Reyhani, Denise Brown, Natalie Lucy, B Wheeler & Natasha Preston.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Summer 2021. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
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Our latest reading national curriculum year group recommended reading lists:
Picture books for the under 5s | Books for Reception | Books for Year 1 | Books for Year 2 | Books for Year 3 | Books for Year 4 | Books for Year 5 | Books for Year 6 | Books for Year 7 | Books for Year 8 | Books for Year 9 | Books for Year 10 | Books for Year 11