Bookwandering with Anna James
Episodes
The Snowman with Joseph Coelho
21 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Former children's laureate and poet Joseph Coelho joins me to talk about Raymond Brigg's beloved Christmas classic, The Snowman. We talk about festive...
Kasper in the Glitter with Rochelle Dowden-Lord
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Debut novelist Rochelle Dowden-Lord joins me to talk about Kasper in the Glitter, Philip Ridleys' gloriously odd 1994 children's book that's illustrat...
The Lord of the Rings with Leah Williamson and Jordan Glover
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lioness captain Leah Williamson and her co-writer and cousin Jordan Glover join me this week to talk about The Lord of the Rings. We talk about how Le...
The Secret Garden with Kate Mosse
02 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bestselling author and founder of the Women's Prize Kate Mosse joins me this week to talk about Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1911 classic, The Secret Gar...
The Wind in the Willows with Piers Torday
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning writer and playwright Piers Torday joins me this week to talk about The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. We discuss talking anima...
Alanna by Tamora Pierce with Katherine Webber
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bestselling author of books for children and teenagers (and my best friend) Katherine Webber joins me to talk about the Alanna books by Tamora Pierce,...
The Hunger Games with Mikaela Loach
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Climate justice activist, speaker and writer Mikaela Loach joins me this week to talk about The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, the YA dystopian ...
Twilight with Harry Trevaldwyn
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Actor, comedian and writer Harry Trevaldwyn joins me to talk about Twilight, Stephenie Meyer's iconic 2005 YA vampire novel. We talk about Harry's obs...
Half Magic with Rachel Khong
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning author Rachel Khong joins me to talk about Half Magic, Edward Eager's 1954 fantasy classic about a family who find a coin that grants th...
A Traveller in Time with Jessie Burton
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bestselling author Jessie Burton joins me to talk about A Traveller in Time, Alison Uttley's 1939 time slip novel about a girl who falls back to Tudor...
Pride and Prejudice with Cariad Lloyd
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Comedian, writer and podcaster Cariad Lloyd joins me to talk about Jane Austen. Cariad is the co-creator of Austentatious, the improvised Jane Au...
Earthsea Part 1 with Brian Hook
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Theatre producer and friend of the pod Brian Hook joins me to talk about the first three books in Ursula K Le Guin's Earthsea series. Brian is the co-...
Ella Enchanted with Laura Wood
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Laura Wood joins me to talk about Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. Laura is the bestselling author of several books for children, teens and ...
Pawn of Prophecy with Jay McGuiness
15 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode ten, Jay McGuiness joins me to talk about Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings. Jay is a member of boyband The Wanted and previous winner...
A Wrinkle in Time with C Pam Zhang
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode nine, C Pam Zhang joins me to talk about American classic A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. Pam is the author of Booker Prize-lo...
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase with Sophie Dahl
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode eight, Sophie Dahl joins me to talk about a mutual favourite, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken.Sophie has written books across ...
Peter Pan with Nikita Gill
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode seven, Nikita Gill joins me to talk about JM Barrie's beloved children's novel Peter Pan. Nikita is a poet and has published several b...
The Borrowers with Kate DiCamillo
22 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kate DiCamillo joins me to talk about Mary Norton's 1952 children's classic, The Borrowers. Kate is the beloved and multi-million bestseller...
Sabriel with Kiran Millwood Hargrave
15 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode five, Kiran Millwood Hargrave joins me to talk about Garth Nix's 1995 fantasy classic, Sabriel. Kiran is the award-winning and bestsel...
Holes with Jeffrey Boakye
08 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode four, Jeffrey Boakye joins me to talk about Louis Sachar's beloved 1998 novel Holes. Alongside his broadcast and education work, Jeffr...
Truckers with Eliza Clark
01 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode three, Eliza Clark joins me to talk about Terry Pratchett's 1989-1990 Nome trilogy which kicks off with Truckers. Eliza is the author of cu...
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry with Angie Thomas
16 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode two, Angie Thomas joins me to talk about Mildred D. Taylor's 1977 children's classic, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Angie is the author of ...
John Burningham with Max Porter
10 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Max Porter joins me to talk about the work of the late author and illustrator John Burningham who created Avocado Baby, Mr Gumpy's Day Out and Borka a...
The Ogre Downstairs with Cressida Cowell
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cressida Cowell joins me to talk about The Ogre Downstairs by Diana Wynne Jones, the 1974 fantasy standalone. Cressida is the author of the multi-mill...
The Story of Tracy Beaker with Laura Dockrill
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Laura Dockrill joins me to talk about the iconic Tracy Beaker. Laura is the author of books for all ages from picture books to poetry including her me...
Where the Wild Things Are with Guy Gunaratne
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Guy Gunaratne joins me to talk about Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak’s beloved 1963 picture book. Guy is the award-winning author of In Ou...
The Forbidden Game with Juno Dawson
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Juno Dawson joins me to talk about the Point Horror cult classic, The Forbidden Game by LJ Smith. Juno is the bestselling author of several books incl...
The Dark is Rising with Emily St John Mandel
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anna is joined by Emily St John Mandel, author of novels including Station Eleven, The Glass Hotel and Sea of Tranquility. Emily chose Susan Cooper’...
Spider-Man with Nikesh Shukla
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nikesh Shukla joins me to talk about his lifelong love for Spider-Man. Nikesh is the author of several books including Stand Up and Brown Baby and the...
A Little Princess with Gabrielle Zevin
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bestselling author of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow Gabrielle Zevin joins me to talk about the beloved children's classic/problematic fav, A Litt...
Charmed Life with Katherine Rundell
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the first episode I talk to academic and children's author Katherine Rundell about Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones, the 1977 beginning of the Chr...