Melissa Colothan
@mrscreadsalot.bsky.social
Mother, Primary Wirral Y5 teacher, KS2 English lead & bookworm, OU TRG leader, UKLA25 book prize judge, runner, coffee-drinker, music-lover.
Currently reading: Jakub's Otter
Currently reading: Jakub's Otter
Orbital has been sat in my TBR for a while. I bought it for my husband and it just didn't click for him so I didn't rush to read it. But for me, it clicked. I thought it was heavenly, ethereal and intensely calming.
October 30, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Orbital has been sat in my TBR for a while. I bought it for my husband and it just didn't click for him so I didn't rush to read it. But for me, it clicked. I thought it was heavenly, ethereal and intensely calming.
These would make such a brilliant writing stimulus for a story setting. Detailed images of the insides of musical instruments. #writingforpleasure
www.instagram.com/p/DQT-IMGiE9...
www.instagram.com/p/DQT-IMGiE9...
October 29, 2025 at 5:38 PM
These would make such a brilliant writing stimulus for a story setting. Detailed images of the insides of musical instruments. #writingforpleasure
www.instagram.com/p/DQT-IMGiE9...
www.instagram.com/p/DQT-IMGiE9...
One of my TAs is enjoying reading the books I have in my room. In return she loaned me The Lotterys Plus One. I enjoyed it so much & loved this diverse family. Families aren't perfect but we can learn a lot about each other's differences from The Lotterys. I'd like to live in their house please!
October 24, 2025 at 10:11 AM
One of my TAs is enjoying reading the books I have in my room. In return she loaned me The Lotterys Plus One. I enjoyed it so much & loved this diverse family. Families aren't perfect but we can learn a lot about each other's differences from The Lotterys. I'd like to live in their house please!
The two most amazing people have joined my class on supply working as TAs.They painted this brilliant bookshelf for the bottom of our new reading display. I can't begin to describe how transformative they've been with their 1:1 children. Some people are golden. I hope we can keep them in school 🙏
October 24, 2025 at 10:03 AM
The two most amazing people have joined my class on supply working as TAs.They painted this brilliant bookshelf for the bottom of our new reading display. I can't begin to describe how transformative they've been with their 1:1 children. Some people are golden. I hope we can keep them in school 🙏
I've been enjoying Anzu and the Realm of Darkness. It has gone straight to the top spot of most in-demand books in class! #readingforpleasure
October 14, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I've been enjoying Anzu and the Realm of Darkness. It has gone straight to the top spot of most in-demand books in class! #readingforpleasure
I've been dying to get my hands on a copy of How Was That Built? Trying to have a push on reading across the curriculum and this week we are looking at pulleys so the perfect opportunity to delve into this. Can't wait to read more and see what else this book has to offer #readingacrossthecurriculum
October 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
I've been dying to get my hands on a copy of How Was That Built? Trying to have a push on reading across the curriculum and this week we are looking at pulleys so the perfect opportunity to delve into this. Can't wait to read more and see what else this book has to offer #readingacrossthecurriculum
Piers visited my daughter's school today! Currently trying to figure out how I can manage to wait until she has finished reading before I can get my mitts on her copy Midnight Treasure! She has informed me the visit was REALLY interesting 😊
October 7, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Piers visited my daughter's school today! Currently trying to figure out how I can manage to wait until she has finished reading before I can get my mitts on her copy Midnight Treasure! She has informed me the visit was REALLY interesting 😊
This week, I've been reading Small Wonder by Ross Montgomery. I might have been ever so slightly late to work finishing it as I couldn't put it down and my class were desperate to get their hands on it! I loved it. #readingforpleasure
October 3, 2025 at 1:27 PM
This week, I've been reading Small Wonder by Ross Montgomery. I might have been ever so slightly late to work finishing it as I couldn't put it down and my class were desperate to get their hands on it! I loved it. #readingforpleasure
Oh wow, it's a signed copy too! Didn't realise when I bought it, even better! 😀
September 27, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Oh wow, it's a signed copy too! Didn't realise when I bought it, even better! 😀
When poetry and information texts meet, the outcome is superb! Fantastic book from @brianbilston.bsky.social and Joe Berger. This is going to be very much enjoyed in school and across the curriculum 😊 Thoroughly recommend adding this to your school library. #poetryforpleasure
September 27, 2025 at 5:09 PM
When poetry and information texts meet, the outcome is superb! Fantastic book from @brianbilston.bsky.social and Joe Berger. This is going to be very much enjoyed in school and across the curriculum 😊 Thoroughly recommend adding this to your school library. #poetryforpleasure
This also seems like a good time to share that we have changed how we are recording reading this year to use The Reading Journey. One week in and impressed so far. The children are able to build their online bookshelves that we discuss in book club time, as well as the teacher's own shelf.
September 13, 2025 at 12:49 PM
This also seems like a good time to share that we have changed how we are recording reading this year to use The Reading Journey. One week in and impressed so far. The children are able to build their online bookshelves that we discuss in book club time, as well as the teacher's own shelf.
Having ran the Great North Run last week, Running My Own Race seemed like a great choice for my first read of the school year. Really enjoyable and I've added it to our reading corner.
September 13, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Having ran the Great North Run last week, Running My Own Race seemed like a great choice for my first read of the school year. Really enjoyable and I've added it to our reading corner.
I'm now reading Case Histories by Kate Atkinson. I've decided to delve back into Kate's Jackson Brodie series as I really enjoy her writing. Her most recent books are so character rich so I'm going into her back catalogue as a result. Very much enjoying it so far!
September 13, 2025 at 12:39 PM
I'm now reading Case Histories by Kate Atkinson. I've decided to delve back into Kate's Jackson Brodie series as I really enjoy her writing. Her most recent books are so character rich so I'm going into her back catalogue as a result. Very much enjoying it so far!
4. All Fours. This was not for me. Open to hearing others views but I just didn't like the main character (was this intentional?) and spending the ridiculous amount she did to decorate a motel room just so she could have an affair just felt daft.
September 13, 2025 at 12:36 PM
4. All Fours. This was not for me. Open to hearing others views but I just didn't like the main character (was this intentional?) and spending the ridiculous amount she did to decorate a motel room just so she could have an affair just felt daft.
3. Intermezzo. The jury is still out. I didn't feel desperate to keep reading it and the characters irritated me at times, but then the characters also stayed me with for a while afterwards and I did think about it a lot. I kinda preferred Normal People.
September 13, 2025 at 12:36 PM
3. Intermezzo. The jury is still out. I didn't feel desperate to keep reading it and the characters irritated me at times, but then the characters also stayed me with for a while afterwards and I did think about it a lot. I kinda preferred Normal People.
2. You Are Here. I'm not a romance novel fan. They usually give me the ick. But David Nicholls writes romance like no other. It's not sickly, nor does it make my toes curl. If you enjoyed One Day, you love this too.
September 13, 2025 at 12:36 PM
2. You Are Here. I'm not a romance novel fan. They usually give me the ick. But David Nicholls writes romance like no other. It's not sickly, nor does it make my toes curl. If you enjoyed One Day, you love this too.
Summer is already seeming like a distant memory, but these were my grown-up reads over the holidays.
1. The Names. I was absorbed in this incredible debut that was heart-wrenching in its depiction of domestic abuse, the generational ripple effects, alternative realities & sliding doors moments.
1. The Names. I was absorbed in this incredible debut that was heart-wrenching in its depiction of domestic abuse, the generational ripple effects, alternative realities & sliding doors moments.
September 13, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Summer is already seeming like a distant memory, but these were my grown-up reads over the holidays.
1. The Names. I was absorbed in this incredible debut that was heart-wrenching in its depiction of domestic abuse, the generational ripple effects, alternative realities & sliding doors moments.
1. The Names. I was absorbed in this incredible debut that was heart-wrenching in its depiction of domestic abuse, the generational ripple effects, alternative realities & sliding doors moments.
Last big run before the big run! 11 miles today. Gorgeous to run along the Mersey to the Irish Sea from Seacombe to Leasowe and back again. The next coast we'll be finishing at will be by the North Sea at the end of the Great North Run, eek!
August 27, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Last big run before the big run! 11 miles today. Gorgeous to run along the Mersey to the Irish Sea from Seacombe to Leasowe and back again. The next coast we'll be finishing at will be by the North Sea at the end of the Great North Run, eek!
What an absolute honour to talk about some AMAZING books along with my fellow teacher judges at the #UKLA25 Book Awards this evening. The quality of books we have read is simply outstanding. An unforgettable experience, an incredible impact in our schools.
June 27, 2025 at 7:55 PM
What an absolute honour to talk about some AMAZING books along with my fellow teacher judges at the #UKLA25 Book Awards this evening. The quality of books we have read is simply outstanding. An unforgettable experience, an incredible impact in our schools.
The cutest spelling of 'make up'.
June 14, 2025 at 10:07 AM
The cutest spelling of 'make up'.
Just finished reading My Name Is Samim after seeing lots of posts about it. Heartbreaking. I hate that this story needs to be told, but it must, and it is told exceptionally well in this book. One for all to read. #readerteacher
June 9, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Just finished reading My Name Is Samim after seeing lots of posts about it. Heartbreaking. I hate that this story needs to be told, but it must, and it is told exceptionally well in this book. One for all to read. #readerteacher
Intrigued after @checkemoutbooks.bsky.social post about Adam Allsuch Boardman's The Unexplained UFOs I bought An Illustrated History of Urban Legends & read it today. I have, while reading though, been on some very interesting Google searches about ridiculous conspiracies & unexplained phenomena! 🛸👽
May 25, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Intrigued after @checkemoutbooks.bsky.social post about Adam Allsuch Boardman's The Unexplained UFOs I bought An Illustrated History of Urban Legends & read it today. I have, while reading though, been on some very interesting Google searches about ridiculous conspiracies & unexplained phenomena! 🛸👽
Half term began yesterday for me! So today, I ran and I read. Not at the same time I should add! I finished Bright I Burn. I do enjoy a book with a strong character as its narrator! #readingforpleasure
May 23, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Half term began yesterday for me! So today, I ran and I read. Not at the same time I should add! I finished Bright I Burn. I do enjoy a book with a strong character as its narrator! #readingforpleasure
Glasgow Boys is just utterly brilliant. Not sure I've been so invested in two characters in a long time. I wanted to both know and look after Banjo and Finlay so much! You have to read this if you haven't already, beautifu, hadsh, tender.. #UKLA25 #readerteacher #readingforpleasure #ks3books
May 10, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Glasgow Boys is just utterly brilliant. Not sure I've been so invested in two characters in a long time. I wanted to both know and look after Banjo and Finlay so much! You have to read this if you haven't already, beautifu, hadsh, tender.. #UKLA25 #readerteacher #readingforpleasure #ks3books
This is a wonderful book about finding yourself within while the world seems to fight against you. Empowering and heartwarming but clear for all to access. Many would benefit from reading this... #readingforpleasure #UKLA25 #transrightsarehumanrights🏳️⚧️
May 9, 2025 at 9:43 PM
This is a wonderful book about finding yourself within while the world seems to fight against you. Empowering and heartwarming but clear for all to access. Many would benefit from reading this... #readingforpleasure #UKLA25 #transrightsarehumanrights🏳️⚧️