The Island of Brilliant!

Frank's post-laureate slump is well and truly un-slumped by the arrival of A. M. Dassu, a benign force of nature to match anything he and Nadia have experienced on the island before. She appears from the waters to regale the pair with stories from her life as a children's writer, and how she is driven to tackle issues around racism and stereotyping head on. She also knows how to keep F&N onside with her excellent choice of snack. If that weren't enough to shake Frank from his blue funk, Nadia's hilarious wordplay with marvellous Emily Drabble's moniker finishes the job.  

Emily's Picks: 

Rust Head by Ross Mackenzie - Andersen Press

African Queens by Onyinye Iwu - Walker

Princess (Apparently) by Siren Knight - Usborne

The Other Boy by Hamed Amiri - Hachette

Bessie’s Bees by George Kirk and Ana Gomez -Templar

What's that coming over the dune, is it a monster? It is, a grizzly slimy sea monster, and look who it's vomited up onto the otherwise spotless sand on the Island of Brilliant seafront! Jack Meggitt-Phillips, the wunderkind author of the glorious 'The Beast And The Bethany' series, as well as a brand spanking new adaptation of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde. A shame he didn't bring a mop to clean up the vomit, but high tide should see to that. Emily Drabble of Booktrust recommends the best of the latest crop of books for August reading pleasure - and the Ukulele Uff Trio treat us to a dollop of blue skies and musical sunshine. 

Emily recommends: 

Squid Bits - That’s A Nice Hat by Jess Bradley. DFB

Worm’s Big Dig by Tom Inn-Disbury -  Anderson 

A Sister like you, Sarah Hagger-Holt - Usborn

They sent a Cat to Saturn by Valerie Bloom and Ken Wilson Max - Otter Barry

Lotta & Lola Pudding NOW Please by Lauren Child - Simon and Schuster

"The Old Order Changeth And Maketh Way For New" - but not without a fight. As Frank gives in to the inevitable, with the encouragement of some restraining techniques, he welcomes the magnificent Patrice Lawrence to his old job as Children's Laureate. In a coup for Nadia and Frank (and boy did they need one), Patrice has swum straight from her inauguration ceremony to the island. There, she tells them about her plans for her tenure - with vulnerable children as her top priority. It's an emotional day for certain - all a bit much for all concerned, particularly Nadia, who is heard inadvertently saying something nice about Frank. You heard it here first, dear listener.

He's behind some of the most celebrated and beloved books of recent times - Goth Girl, The Edge Chronicles, Ottoline and a gazillion more - and he's also, it turns out, the captain of the Mellow Submarine! Which is excellent news for Frank and Nadia, as it means that Chris Riddell (for it is he) is able to swing on by for a piercing, no-holds-barred interview about wine gums among other things. Always keen to get his bearings, he whips out his trust pen and pad to sketch the first official cartographic sketch of the island, revealing coves to our two resident coves that they never knew existed. The big shock comes in the form of an orchard, the result of a certain someone palming them off with a bushel of apples some time ago.  It's a joy to have Chris run aground for awhile, why not pull up some driftwood and have a listen?

Frank's been tipping out talcum powder on the sand, Nadia's spent hours ironing patches onto her bell-bottom jeans. It can only mean one thing - Patience Agbabi is on her way to the island to talk about her amazing new book, Wonderland. It's all about sixteen-year-old Tamilola who, like Patience before her, enjoys nothing more than dancing up a storm to Northern Soul records on Colwyn Bay pier. Patience wows Nadia and Frank with her tales of joyful all-nighters (not to mention her snacks) and has them pondering just how hard it would be to build a sprung dancefloor on the beach.