The Island of Brilliant!
Nadia Shireen and Frank Cottrell Boyce have been shipwrecked on the Island of Brilliant with nothing but a pair of hammocks, a pile of children’s books and the world’s greatest ukulele band (The Ukulele Uff Trio) to keep them going. Everyone wants the best for their children. Everyone should know that reading for pleasure not only increases educational attainment but also helps build happiness and resilience. If you’re going to read for pleasure you need choice. Nadia and Frank will be chatting about what’s new and brilliant in children’s writing with the help of visitors to the island and reviews delivered via sea-shell from the doyen of children’s literature critics, Emily Drabble. Music: The Ukulele Uff Trio Producer: Geoff Bird
Episodes

5 days ago
5 days ago
Nadia (of the 'lovely audio presence') and Frank welcome the fabulous writer Maisie Chan to the island to talk about some of her brilliant books - including 'Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths' and 'Keep Dancing Lizzie Chu'. They also chat about the books they've been reading to pass their days in the sunshine - and head to the sea shell shelf to listen to Emily Drabble from BookTrust reviewing some of the best from the recent crop of new children's books.

Sunday Apr 30, 2023
The Island of Brilliant! Episode 1 with Cressida Cowell.
Sunday Apr 30, 2023
Sunday Apr 30, 2023
Frank and Nadia are shipwrecked on an island and have to finish a pile of children's books before they can even think about leaving. Along the way they chat about the books they are currently reading in their their hammocks, hear a review of some of the best new children's books (via seashell) from Emily Drabble, and are visited by recent Children's Literature Laureate Cressida Cowell, who naturally arrives on the back of a dragon.
Music: The Ukulele Uff Trio
Producer: Geoff Bird
Books featured:
Tyger by SF Said
The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
Captain Looroll by Matt Carr
Wild Song by Candy Gourlay
The Storm Swimmer by Clare Weze
Mia and the Lightcasters by Janelle McCurdy
I Really Really Need A Wee by Karl Newson

Monday Apr 24, 2023
The Island of Brilliant! Trailer
Monday Apr 24, 2023
Monday Apr 24, 2023
Nadia Shireen and Frank Cottrell Boyce are shipwrecked on the Island of Brilliant, with just a pile of books and the world's greatest Ukelele band (the Ukulele Uff Trio) for company. The first full episode will be available in May 2024 and will see recent Children's Literature Laureate Cressida Cowell fly across to the island on the back of a dragon.
Producer: Geoff BirdIn Episode 1 Nadia and Frank discuss Tyger by S F Said (illustrator Dave Mckean) and The Magician’s Elephant by Kate Dicamillo (illustrator Yoko Tanaka). Emily reviews ‘Captain Loo Roll’ by Matt Carr, ‘Wild Song’ by Candy Gourlay, ‘The Storm Swimmer’ by Clare Weze, ‘Mia and The Lightcasters‘ by Janelle McCurdy , ‘I Really Really Need A Wee’ by Karl Newson.