Children’s reading map based on Metrolink network features University writers and poets

Livi Michael's book The Whispering Road is on the reading map

An eye-catching children’s reading map inspired by the Metrolink network includes books by Manchester Metropolitan University writers and poets.

The initiative from Read Manchester and Transport for Greater Manchester aims to encourage children to try different authors and genres of books using the map as inspiration.

Books on the map include Faery Tales and New and Collected Poems for Children by Professor Carol Ann Duffy, Creative Director of the Manchester Writing School, and The Whispering Road by Livi Michael, children’s author and Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing.

Also featured are Marie Basting, an English graduate and associate lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan, and Matt Goodfellow, another graduate and popular local poet who is heavily involved in the Manchester Children’s Book Festival.

Their work is illustrated alongside well-known works by the likes of Roald Dahl and Michael Morpurgo. 

Michael, who grew up in Manchester and whose work is inspired by the city, said: “In the course of my lifetime, Manchester has been many things – a city of factories and football, of science and technology, music and commerce, but most of all, great books.

“I didn’t even know, growing up, that many of the stories I loved had been written by people who had lived or worked in Manchester. Actually, I didn’t think authors lived anywhere – they were supernatural beings whose books appeared magically on the shelves of my local library. I would have been amazed and delighted to know that they were real people living in the same city as me!

“Today, Manchester is a UNESCO City of Literature, home to so many great writers, publishers, libraries and bookshops, with links to all the other literary cities in the world. It is international and multicultural. There are over two hundred languages spoken here, and so many different communities – each one a universe of stories of its own.

“For all these reasons I am absolutely delighted to be included on this map and in this brilliant campaign by Read Manchester, in association with the National Literacy Trust, Greater Manchester Transport and Manchester City Council. “

The Whispering Road, released in 2005, won the Nestlé Children's Book Prize Bronze Award and the Stockton Children's Book of the Year Award, and was Borders' book of the month throughout the US in May of that year. 

The map, aimed at children aged 8-11, encourages children to read books from different lines by a wide variety of authors. For example they might hop on the School Tales line and then jump on to the Mystery and Magic line – offering a structured way for children to discover new books. 

Today, Manchester is a UNESCO City of Literature, home to so many great writers, publishers, libraries and bookshops, with links to all the other literary cities in the world. It is international and multicultural. There are over two hundred languages spoken here, and so many different communities – each one a universe of stories of its own

Every child in Years 5 and 6 in Manchester primary schools will receive a free copy of the map from Read Manchester. The books will be available to borrow from Manchester Libraries in physical or digital formats, and maps will also be available to download from the Read Manchester website. 

Read Manchester is a campaign from Manchester City Council and the National Literacy Trust that aims to promote reading for pleasure.

Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Executive Member for Skills, Culture and Leisure at Manchester City Council, said: “Getting children reading for fun is essential in developing their literacy skills from an early age. With lots of other activities available for children, offering a structure which allows them to track their progress will help keep them engaged.

“Different genres are available as children work their way along the Metrolink Map, so no two books will ever seem the same and they will be offered the chance to discover and immerse themselves in an exciting range of stories.”