Photograph of Mr Gum creator Andy Stanton. He is sitting on a stool looking directly into the camera and wearing a hat with a badge on it. Photo by Paul Musso for the Hay Festival.

A sketch of Mr Gum, illustration by David Tazzyman.

Since ‘putting a bend in the road of kids’ literature’ in 2016, the MR GUM series has sold more than four million copies in the UK and been translated into 34 languages. Delighted to have a NEW interview with creator Andy Stanton! #booksky #kidlituk @farshorebooks.bsky.social

bit.ly/4vFfY5z

I am a Royal Rulebreaker — Through the Bookshelf Celebrating some of the female royal rebels from across the world who have defied convention, ‘I am a Royal Rulebreaker’ is a very energetic, accessible read, enhanced by bold illustrations!

Today's review...'I am a Royal Rulebreaker' by Fern Riddell illustrated by Taylor Dolan @dkbooks.bsky.social A very entertaining read with excellent illustrations! #KidLitUK
www.throughthebookshelf.com/reviews/i-am-a-royal-rulebreaker

IMAGINARY present FRIENDS Meet the Makers James Strong on Directing Interviewed by Chris Chibnall International Emmy & Multiple BAFTA award winning director known for Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Broadchurch, Doctor Who & Vigil Wed 22 Apr, 1pm, Bridport Town Hall Francesca Massariol & Caroline Greville-Morris on Production Design Interviewed by Chris Chibnall Best known for Pillion & Mutant Chronicles Thur 23 Apr, 1pm, Bridport Town Hall David Arnold on Composing Interviewed by Chris Chibnall Best known for Casino Royale, Tomorrow Never Dies, Independence Day, Stargate, Hot Fuzz & Sherlock Fri 24 Apr, 1pm, Bridport Town Hall Suzanne Mackie on Producing Interviewed by Chris Chibnall Best known for The Crown, Calendar Girls, Kinky Boots & Agatha Christie's Seven Dials Sat 25 Apr, 1pm, Bridport Town Hall Eddy Pearce on Location Management Interviewed by Caroline Greville-Morris Best known for Ammonite, Persuasion, Paddington in Peru & the upcoming Sense and Sensibility Sun 26 Apr, 1pm, Bridport Town Hall

For anyone wanting to get in to film/TV, I’ve put together a series of lunchtime talks from Wednesday to Sunday next week on directing, design, composing, producing & locations with fantastic guests. Free for under 25s.

Do share! Part of From Page to Screen festival. @bridportarts.bsky.social

Pitch vs Assessment vs Bootcamps

Pitch = 5 minutes where you try sell your story.

Assessment = The editor reads your manuscript in advance and then discusses it with you in a 15 minutes one-on-one session.

Writing Bootcamps = A whole day with an editor!

www.cyaconference.com/bootcamp

Join Nathanael Lessore, Theo Parish & Tia Fisher, hosted by Jake Hope.

Shadowing, AI & creativity, copyright with ALCS + a new ALCS competition.

3 March | 12PM | Online
Register: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HmaQxnF...

Never Too Late 60+ award - Bridport Prize This £500 award is for the highest placed writer aged 60+ across poetry, short story, novel or flash fiction.

Don’t forget the Never Too Late Award from the Bridport Prize which recognises entries from writers over 60 across all categories of prizes.

Link below

Please share :)

Reading is a Work Out for your Brain - M G Leonard YouTube video by Maya G. Leonard

Dear teachers, it is the #NationalYearofReading2026. I've had requests to make a video to encourage reading for classrooms. Here it is. Please share and feel free to use it however you choose: youtu.be/xrAeYD1ZQ1A

Cover of the new issue of children's books review journal Books for Keeps. Artwork from Neill Cameron's new Donut Squad book. It is gloriously jam coloured with a host of animated donuts. Text reads Author interview Neill Cameron Windows into Illustration Alea Marley plus New Year Predictions and Barry Cunningham looks back.

Out now! BfK276, our first of 2026: Authorgraph interview with Neill Cameron, Alea Marley's Windows into Illustration, new Beyond the Secret Garden, predictions for the coming year & Barry Cunningham reflects on 50 years in children's books🤯#booksky #KidLit

booksforkeeps.co.uk/issue/bfk-27...

"Urgent: Thousands of babies and toddlers in Wales are about to lose access to Bookstart and other BookTrust Cymru programmes"

❗URGENT: Babies & toddlers in Wales will lose access to #Bookstart and other BookTrust Cymru programmes as the Welsh Government has stopped direct funding.

This will affect the poorest families first and hardest.

👉 https://bit.ly/49D6q0P
🎧 Listen on BBC Radio Wales (1hr25) https://bbc.in/49JYpr6

Graphic saying "The V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize.

We’re delighted to announce this year’s longlist for the @rsliterature.bsky.social V.S Pritchett Short Story Prize! Congratulations to everyone listed, the winner will be announced at the #ALCSAwards. Read here: www.alcs.co.uk/news/longlist-for-for-v-s-pritchett-short-story-prize-2026-announced/

E-books are reading.
Comics are reading.
Genre is reading.
Fanfic is reading.
Text-based games are reading.
Audiobooks are reading.
Braille books are reading.
Non-fiction is reading.
Picture books are reading.
There is no single way to read, nor is any reading style more worthy than another.

A new law has just passed that (and I know it's hard to believe) dictates that you have to share the post i've attached.

Now look. I was as surprised as you are that they chose this one, but what can I do?

I've reposted it myself, just to be on the safe side.

Last chance to get a signed copy of Stepfather Christmas before the Advent countdown starts on Monday! www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...

Unsolicited writing advice, no. 430: Read. Read widely. Read what you love, and what you don't. Read what you know, and what you don't yet know. The wider your reading, the better your chance of avoiding the limitations of being influenced by only one author, one genre, one culture, one time.

Writing YA Fiction Tuesday 3 March Online workshop Discover how to write for a young adult audience in this two-hour online workshop with award-winning writer Liz Hyder.

Was there a story you read as a young person that transformed your thinking, ignited your imagination and stayed with you long after you turned eighteen? Learn how to write your own YA masterpiece with award-winning writer Liz Hyder.

Book now: buff.ly/FYiu4Qh

This really is a shame.

In times like these we really should be commissioning more engaging, informative evidence-based shows, not fewer.

Halloween is nearly upon us, and we are standing up for ghosts, a better recognition of the contribution and role of ghostwriters in celebrity-authored children’s fiction.

We have published new Guidelines to ensure the role of the ghostwriter is more visible and recognised.

✨📚 𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐋𝐒 & 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒!!!! 📚✨

We’re launching a FREE digital half-termly newsletter that schools can easily share with parents and guardians to support reading for pleasure at home.

➡️ For more info & to sign up to the newsletter go to: mailchi.mp/authorfy/morethanbooks (it’s free!) 🎉

Quite worrying considering how incompetent he was

Authors Live: Frank Cottrell-Boyce Waterstones Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce joins us for a special episode of Authors Live

We are thrilled that Frank Cottrell-Boyce will be joining us for a special episode of Authors Live on 26 November!

The Children's Laureate will be telling us all about his new book, The Blockbusters!

Register to take part now

www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning-and...

The front covers of poetry books we recommend plus the words: "Books for National Poetry Day"

Happy #NationalPoetryDay!

Whether you were inspired by Alex Wharton in yesterday's #BookTrustRepresents workshop, love our #WriterInResidence Matt Goodfellow's books, or just want to enjoy some verse, check out our poetry booklists 👇

https://bit.ly/42kuLG0

I'm also wondering where this money will be found. They could cut back on testing, that must cost a lot to administer, but I don't hold much hope of that happening.

In the run-up to #BlackHistoryMonth in October, we're offering schools the chance to win one of three bundles of @catwrote.bsky.social's acclaimed dyslexia-friendly narrative non-fiction*. (1/2)

Light green graphic with small white stars dotting the background. The graphic is titled “We Need Diverse Books presents: Magic Stories are for Everyone – Author Panel number 3”. Sandwiched between the text are two rows of author headshots: four on the top row, five on the bottom row. The headshots are for authors featured in WNDB’s third “Magic Stories are for Everyone” panel series. Starting from the top row, the featured authors are as follows: Dhonielle Clayton, Leslie Adame, LD Lapinski, Kyle Lukoff, Marieke Nijkamp, Eden Royce, Aiden Thomas, Alder Van Otterloo, and Xiran Jay Zhao.

🔔 The third author panel in our “Magic Stories are for Everyone” series is officially available to stream on YouTube starting today!

✨ bit.ly/MagicStories3

The Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2025 The Laugh Out Loud Book Awards (the Lollies) celebrates the best and funniest children's books in the UK and Ireland, voted for by children.

Voting is open for this year's Lollies. Grown ups can vote on behalf of children, or because they love kids books. I'm so happy to have The Goat and the Stoat and the Boat shortlisted! shop.scholastic.co.uk/lollies
#kidlituk #picturebooks #primaryteachers #reception #nursery

There’s no doubt going to be conversations in your classroom around flags popping up in areas so if you’re not familiar with Boy, Everywhere check it out as it’s an essential book for Y5+. Tbf, adults need be reading this modern classic too! 📖 @amdassu.bsky.social #kidlituk

michaelrosenblog.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-...

British Chinese Woman holding golden shell casing from Frist World War

GLASGOW PALS! I'm going to be doing a FREE interactive author talk @ this year's Byre Road Book Festival which takes place 25-28th Sept. I will be talking about my new novel Nate Yu's Blast From the Past and I will even bring about the 1917 shell casing I have!

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/maisie-cha...

About Time — How Two Writers Made The Most Elusive Concept Kid-Friendly ✓ Chris Antzoulis highlights About Time by Rebecca Struthers and Alom Shaha ✓ A wonderfully engaging children's book on horology and more! ✓

Publication day for “About Time”! It seems to have got the horology world very excited (see review below). I hope some of you might take a look to learn about something so absolutely central to our existence - you literally can’t imagine it not existing, because without time, there’d be no thought

You will never want to play hide and seek again after reading this! Impossible to put down once you've started