17 - Chitra Soundar - internationally published, award-winning author of children's books

In this podcast episode, MC Grammar discusses, his passion for reading and, of course, for all things grammar related. He generously shares stories of his background as a teacher and how teaching is at the heart and centre of MC Grammar. He talks about the link between rap and poetry and how The Adventures of Rap Kid books support children's enjoyment of reading for leisure. MC Grammar is the creation of award-winning teacher and rapper Jacob Mitchell, who went viral in 2019 after a video of him rapping popular children's book The Gruffalo received more than five million views. Having struggled in school himself, the father of four credits his discovery of books as his turning point with education. Jacob believes no child should be left behind, and that there needs to be excitement, challenge, inclusion and, most importantly, fun in the classroom! The Adventures of Rap Kid is his debut children's series. KS1, KS2, KS3 Tapestry, our partners have kindly devised a FREE educational resource to support this Podcast. Please click on the link to download and share: https://tapestry.info/laura-henry-allain-podcast-activities/ Tapestry is the original and leading childhood education platform, providing an online learning journal, progress monitoring and management system for Early Years settings and primary schools. It helps educators to celebrate children and engage families in mainstream and SEND provision. Tapestry keeps families in touch with how their child is doing, enables educators to build a picture of each child's development and interests, and provides the tools for the daily running of a setting. Created by educators for educators, Tapestry was launched in 2012. We are now an award-winning platform used in more than 40 countries, supporting 14,000 schools and settings. Visit us at: https://tapestry.info

Mama G shares her love of libraries and the influence her childhood library had on her decision to become a writer. She talks about how libraries are a hub within the community and the positive impact they can have on children. Mama G also discusses the history of pantomimes and how these well-loved shows are a British institution. Her pantomime-related book, Oh Yes I Am!, is a message for every child to feel positive about themselves. Mama G is a storytelling pantomime dame, who shares stories about being who you want and loving who you are. She has taken her stories all over the UK and North America, was a semi-finalist on Britain's Got Talent, and had her first picture book published in 2024! EYFS, KS1, KS2, KS3 Tapestry, our partners have kindly devised a FREE educational resource to support this Podcast. Please click on the link to download and share: https://tapestry.info/laura-henry-allain-podcast-activities/ Tapestry is the original and leading childhood education platform, providing an online learning journal, progress monitoring and management system for Early Years settings and primary schools. It helps educators to celebrate children and engage families in mainstream and SEND provision. Tapestry keeps families in touch with how their child is doing, enables educators to build a picture of each child's development and interests, and provides the tools for the daily running of a setting. Created by educators for educators, Tapestry was launched in 2012. We are now an award-winning platform used in more than 40 countries, supporting 14,000 schools and settings. Visit us at: https://tapestry.info

Stacey reflects on her Caribbean heritage and how it influences her art and writing. She shares her creative journey and how her Grenadian culture should be embraced positively around the world. In Will and Krill, Stacey highlights the importance of children being able to share their feelings, and that it is okay for children to feel unique. Stacey Byer is a Caribbean author-illustrator whose childhood was filled with folk tales and adventure. After graduating from college with an illustration degree, Stacey used her skills to promote art education and literacy on her island of Granada. Her experiences working with children have inspired her to create diverse stories everyone can enjoy.

Eric shares his career journey and provides a behind-the-scenes view of publishing thanks to the variety of job roles he has had. He encourages authors to ask questions about the publishing process. Eric discusses the use of AI in publishing and how it should be used ethically and legally. In Guardians of the New Moon, Eric reflects on how his own experience has influenced characters in the book. Eric Huang wanted to be a palaeontologist. Fieldwork didn't live up to his Jurassic Park dreams, though, so he accepted a secretarial job at Disney Publishing – kickstarting a career spanning three continents. Today Eric is an author, podcaster, and a lecturer at City University of London's Masters in Publishing programme. KS1, KS2, KS3 Tapestry, our partners have kindly devised a FREE educational resource to support this Podcast. Please click on the link to download and share: https://tapestry.info/laura-henry-allain-podcast-activities/ Tapestry is the original and leading childhood education platform, providing an online learning journal, progress monitoring and management system for Early Years settings and primary schools. It helps educators to celebrate children and engage families in mainstream and SEND provision. Tapestry keeps families in touch with how their child is doing, enables educators to build a picture of each child's development and interests, and provides the tools for the daily running of a setting. Created by educators for educators, Tapestry was launched in 2012. We are now an award-winning platform used in more than 40 countries, supporting 14,000 schools and settings. Visit us at: https://tapestry.info

Ramzee's writing career has been varied and includes creating comics and plays; he is keen to show refugee and asylum children in a positive light in his work. He explains how his ADHD impacts him as an author, and shares the process of being a writer and illustrator in The Cheat Book. Ramzee is a London-based author-illustrator, who debuted with the middle-grade novel The Cheat Book (Hachette Children's, June 2024), winning the 2025 Leeds Book Award and James Reckitt Hull Children's Book Award. He has written comics for 2000AD and Marvel and runs comics workshops. Ramzee participated in the 2019 Vaults Festival New Writers Programme and BBC's London Voices Writer's Room. KS1, KS2, KS3 Tapestry, our partners have kindly devised a FREE educational resource to support this Podcast. Please click on the link to download and share: https://tapestry.info/laura-henry-allain-podcast-activities/ Tapestry is the original and leading childhood education platform, providing an online learning journal, progress monitoring and management system for Early Years settings and primary schools. It helps educators to celebrate children and engage families in mainstream and SEND provision. Tapestry keeps families in touch with how their child is doing, enables educators to build a picture of each child's development and interests, and provides the tools for the daily running of a setting. Created by educators for educators, Tapestry was launched in 2012. We are now an award-winning platform used in more than 40 countries, supporting 14,000 schools and settings. Visit us at: https://tapestry.info