Welcome to The Teacher’s Bookshelf, our new blog series highlighting must-read titles to support your literacy teaching and professional development. Each half term, we will ask a literacy expert to share four or five books that have made a real difference in their work—titles that offer fresh thinking, proven strategies, and real classroom impact. Whether you’re exploring a new topic or refining your approach, these hand-picked recommendations are sure to be a valuable addition to your staffroom or home library.

We are delighted to welcome Michelle Nicholson as our first guest reviewer. Michelle has over thirty years of primary teaching experience across a mixture of settings: as a class teacher, leading teacher, senior leader, and education consultant. Most recently she was the Primary English Lead at HFL Education (formerly Herts for Learning) and is now a programme developer for Little Wandle. She is dedicated to ensuring all children can enjoy success in reading and writing, no matter what their circumstance.

Something old

Bringing Words to Life: Robust Vocabulary Instruction by Isabel L Beck, Margaret G McKeown and Linda Kucan (The Guilford Press, 2013)

Michelle says: ‘This is an absolute gem of a book published over a decade ago. It remains the absolute go-to for all primary teachers when it comes to the theory and practice of supporting children to develop a broad and deep vocabulary. I’ve directed countless teachers to this book because its accessible, practical and impactful content really does hit the mark. You’ll have heard of the three tiers of vocabulary, but have you been to the source of the research? As well as considering which words to teach, this book delves into how to explain word meanings and how to make new vocabulary stick. It supports all aspects of literacy and even helps you consider the role of the learning environment in language acquisition. You’ll find the case studies instantly relatable and applicable and will want to dip into this book time and time again.’

Something new

Oracy: The Transformative Power of Finding Your Voice by Neil Mercer (Bodley Head, 2025)

Michelle says: ‘In this wonderful new publication, Neil Mercer, Emeritus Professor of Education at Cambridge University and Director of Oracy Cambridge, argues for oracy instruction to have its place in the curriculum alongside literacy and numeracy instruction. There is a huge disparity in the oral language experiences of children entering the school system, which in turn can affect pupils’ future success. To level the playing field, Mercer insists that ‘every teacher must be a teacher of oracy’ and explicitly teach the skills children need to become effective communicators and critical thinkers. This book explores a variety of themes – from the earliest stages of oracy to public speaking, regional dialects to collaborative talk – all with a view to supporting children to find their own voice. This book is so engaging that I devoured it in one sitting!’

Something instantly practical

The Megabook of Fluency: Strategies and Texts to Engage All Readers by Timothy V. Rasinski and Melissa Chessman Smith (Scholastic, 2025)

Michelle says: ‘You cannot have missed the current buzz around reading fluency. So, if you haven’t already consulted the world authority on this subject, Professor Tim Rasinski, this book is a perfect introduction to his work. In The Megabook of Fluency, Rasinski has teamed up with practising teacher, Chessman-Smith, to provide a jumbo compendium of literally hundreds of practical activities, strategies and resources for you to try out in class. And of course, this is all prefaced by the well-established theory, research and evidence explaining why fluency is so vital and how it works. If you want to develop children’s reading confidence and comprehension, this is a great place to start. With this book to hand, you’ll never be short of ready-to-use texts and activities to use with your class.’

Something for a quick win

A Little Guide for Teachers: SEND in Schools by Amjad Ali (Corwin, 2024)

Michelle says: ‘Not strictly speaking literacy specific but, just as SEND is everybody’s business, you’ll quickly see how Ali’s words of wisdom are applicable in all aspects of primary teaching. As a little pocketbook of only 84 pages, this book won’t demand much reading time but it packs a punch. The book will clarify your understanding of SEND and support you to meet the needs of all learners in your class, no matter how vulnerable they are. Each short chapter includes hints and tips, offers ideas to try in class, gives pause for reflection (what practice will you try/ refine or ditch?) and has room for your notes.’

By the author

The A-Z of Primary English by Michelle Nicholson (John Catt Education, 2025)