Inspiring readers with Lyfta

Samantha, an EYFS teacher from Farndon Fields Primary School used the Beachcomber storyworld, about Rob, who collects rubbish and creates artwork to raise awareness of plastic ocean pollution, alongside Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel, illustrated by Alexandra Colombo. The picture book is suitable for children aged two to six, and tells the story of a boy who realises the air and water in his town are polluted, and embarks on a journey to get others involved in improving the environment.

You can also use the resources in the Andrea's Yard, Phone Box Saviour, and Beekeeper's Garden and Fish Tales storyworlds to further explore sustainability and environmental themes.

Natasha, from Ysgol Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd in Cardiff read Onjali Q Raùf's The Boy at the Back of the Class with her students. This story gives a child's perspective on the refugee experience, and is suitable for children aged seven to eleven. Natasha used this book alongside the resources in the Awra Amba storyworld to explorethe value of education.

Teachers could also use the Dinnertime 360° Storyworld, particularly films A Regular Finnish Family or My Daughter and I to explore the issues around migration, marginalisation and multiculturalism.

For secondary school English teachers wanting a fantastic opportunity to explore sexuality and identity, Dean Atta's Black Flamingo is perfect. This novel, written as a series of poems, follows Michael, a gay, black teen who explores his identity through drag. Our Pride storyworld, which is based in Curacao, would be great alongside this text. Here they will meet Qwensley who, since coming out as gay at 16, has tried to balance his sexuality, faith and his relationships with his conservative family. Alternatively, Sally Nicholls' novels are a great place to explore strong female characters. Things a Bright Girl Can Do allows students to see women from different class backgrounds in the suffrage movement and her 2020 novel, The Silent Stars Go By, explores what it means to be a young woman in World War One who finds herself pregnant when her fiancée goes missing in action. The Awra Amba storyworld series can be used alongside this to provide multiple opportunities to look at gender equality, and the Everyone Has a Story storyworld from Hong Kong explores what it means to be a woman and use your voice in protest.