Surprise, surprise. Most people preferred being 50 years younger.

I REALLY MISS MY DAD

You will find Dad’s sonnet in the memory garden in Horsham park. I don’t believe in an afterlife and I’m inclined to cringe when people talk to their dead relatives in books or television dramas. None the less, I often find myself drawn to the park bench beneath Dad’s poem…

"It's like going on holiday in my head!"- 9-year-old in #LetterboxClub

Our Letterbox Club sends fun parcels to children experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage.

The books are chosen by a panel of experts, and here's what's coming up!

Find out more:

www.booktrust.org.uk/how-we-help/...

The front covers of Zak Monroe is Not My Friend, The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh, A History of My Weird, Go Big, New Kid, Being Miss Nobody and The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks, plus the words: "Books about starting secondary school"

The move to secondary school can be a really exciting time - but a bit nervewracking too.

Books can help children to process these emotions, so we asked Zak Monroe is (Not) My Friend author @simonpackham.bsky.social to recommend some to try:

www.booktrust.org.uk/book-recomme...

Absolutely brilliant. Definitely in my top three of the past sixty years.

Saw 'My Neighbour Totoro' last night. Such a brilliant show. We're going again!

We have 4 copies #ZakMonroeIsNotMyFriend by
@simonpackham.bsky.social to #WIN!
Sam is about to move to secondary school & discovers his best friends haven't chosen him to join their tutor group. He feels lost, how will he cope?
RP & Flw by May 2 to enter
@uclanpublishing.bksy.social
#WRDMagComp

Very excited that 'Zak Monroe is (Not) My Friend' is out today. Have a good one Sam and Zak!

Thanks Henry. Hope you're both well.

Ten Random Things I’ve Learned About Publishing

TEN RANDOM THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT PUBLISHING (WITHOUT THE CYNICAL STUFF!) When my new middle-grade novel 'Zak Monroe Is (Not) My Friend' (UCLan) comes out on April 3rd it will be my tenth published work of fiction. To mark that milestone (well it…

Visited the lovely Bookbugs & Dragon Tales bookshop in Norwich yesterday. Got to sign the wall too!

🎭 Exciting News! 🎶

We’re thrilled to announce that Clare Packham and Fintan Kealy are the new Cameron Mackintosh Resident Musical Theatre Writers at British Youth Music Theatre! 🎉

Starting this Spring 2025, Clare and Fintan will spend six months at BYMT in Leeds, developing a brand-new musical!

Thanks Henry. Hope all's well.

My Dad would have been 100 today. Still miss him so much. To celebrate his birthday, I always read one of his plays.

Can’t wait to see this musical version of my YA meets Victorian schoolboy story meets Lord of The Flies (with weird choirboys) ‘unpublishable’ novel.

a drawing of a person with the words " spread the love " on it ALT: a drawing of a person with the words " spread the love " on it

A gentle reminder that bloggers review books because we are passionate about reading. We don't get paid and do it out of genuine love. The best way to show your appreciation is to support us back. Promote our posts. Share what we do. Give back some of the love we give you.

A woman sitting on the floor of a library holding an open picture book, as a curious toddler gets close to look at the pages

Our research shows nearly a third of children do not have multiple reading influencers in their lives.

It's essential we support as many people as possible to share stories with young children - helping them to enjoy the lifelong benefits of reading:

www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/i...

Objection to the Government's Proposed Copyright Exemption for Generative AI Training To add your name to this letter, please fill and submit the form at the bottom. Wednesday 12th February 2025: We are some among the 2.4 million working in the UK creative industries. We are staring i...

There's still time to make a change 🗣️
Add your name to this author-organised letter and encourage the government to change its course on copyright exemption for generative AI use of creatives works
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

#CreativeRights #ArtificalIntelligence #PayTheCreator

This is coming soon!

Thank you. The thing I remember about transitioning in the 70s was being told the art teacher who everyone called 'Killer' wasn't quite as bad as he sounded!

I'm wearing my scarf to support childrens' well-being with @coramlifeeducation.bsky.social #WearYourScarfDay

so so so so so happy to be on this amazing list with @pinchytheatre.bsky.social !!! our tryout’s on the 25 Feb if you wanna come support 🦞🐖🦞🐖🦞🐖🦞

Loved this one. A great idea beautifully realised.

Has Anyone Seen Archie Ebbs? | Firefly Press Archie Ebbs has the perfect life. Good friends, a nice home and classmates who laugh at (nearly) all his jokes. But all that is about to change. As his family have to face unsettling times, Archie has...

Has Anyone Seen Archie Ebbs? by Simon Packham is a good one - about a boy who feels he is turning invisible when his family lose their home and have to navigate homelessness and hostel living.

fireflypress.co.uk/books/archie...

Thank you.

Copy of the book and associated press release. The book’s cover carries the title across most of its space. In the top right corner, a boy in a hoodie smiles down at the boy in the bottom left corner who is wearing a backpack over a striped jumper and has his arms crossed.

A heartfelt and encouraging #MiddleGrade story for anyone feeling lost in the face of life's big changes, Zak Monroe is (Not) My Friend by Simon Packham looks like a fabulous read. Our 03/04, huge thanks go to @antswilkinson.bsky.social @uclanpublishing.bsky.social #KidlitUK #UKKidlit

So amazing for me (and my kids) to see my pretty niche job represented in a children’s book. Thank you @simonpackham.bsky.social - worrybot bringing joy to public health consultant parents across the country! #publichealth (And my daughter said it was great & recommended to all her friends)

Thank you so much. I'm glad your daughter enjoyed it. My brother in law was head of public health in Brighton, so it seemed like a good idea!