Meet the Mentors! Tilda edits all ages and genres of children's and YA fiction, from the early stages of developing a story to polishing a manuscript for submission or publication. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.
Meet the Mentors! Lucy is a commissioning editor of illustrated non-fiction, with experience in picture books too. She grew up in Scarborough and Teesside and now lives in Sheffield. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.
Meet the Mentors! Karyn is senior editor at Floris Books in Edinburgh, working on beautiful and inspiring board books, picture books, middle grade novels, storybook anthologies and illustrated non-fiction for children in Scotland and beyond. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.
Meet the Mentors! Grace is Senior Commissioning Editor for Orchard Books, part of Hachette Children’s Books, working from their Edinburgh office. She commissions non-fiction for age 0–7, and loves every minute of it! Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.
Meet the Mentors! Georgina worked at Waterstones for five years, both in-store and in head office, before joining Hachette Children's Group in 2021. She has published a variety of middle-grade and young adult fiction. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.
Meet the Mentors! After eight years as an in-house editor, Corinne swapped London’s tube for Scotland’s hills. Specialising in children’s non-fiction, she works as a freelance editor for major publishing houses, including Puffin, Hachette and Quarto. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio
Looking for a job in publishing? The CBNN Mentor Scheme pairs publishing hopefuls based in the North & Scotland with mentors in all of these areas.
Find out more about the CBNN Mentor Scheme and how to apply using the link in our bio! Applications close on Friday 1st May.
Applications for the 2026 Mentor Scheme are now open!
Each year the CBNN mentor scheme offers places to aspiring publishing professionals living in the North of England and Scotland. As part of the scheme, mentees will receive 1:1 mentoring with a publishing professional over four months 📚
In this Northern Highlight, we interview Alan Dapre, an author based in North Ayrshire, in the south-west of Scotland. Alan tells us a bit about his picture book, My dog Max, illustrated by Alex Ayliffe. Link in bio 📚 @alandapre.bsky.social
Have you ever dreamed of working in children’s publishing? If so, you should apply for the Children’s Books North Network Mentor Scheme! Open to anyone interested in working in publishing based in the North of England, or Scotland. No prior experience needed. Link in bio to apply 📚🩷
In this Northern Highlight, we interview Jo Empson, an author based on the Isle of Sky. Jo tells us a bit about The Sea Below My Toes, a book she illustrated and Charlotte Guillain wrote. Link in bio 📚
In this Northern Highlight, we interview Catherine Jacob, an author based in York. Catherine tells us a bit about what she’s working on currently, and how she’s been touring schools round Yorkshire with Betsy Buglove and the Lucky Ladybirds. Link in bio 📚 @catherinejacob.bsky.social
For our April CBNN Reads, CBNN’s Network Champion & Social Media Lead Georgina Bulga has chosen The Great Bear by Annie Booker. Published by Two Hoots. Link in bio 📚 @twohootsbooks.bsky.social
In this Northern Highlight, we interview Ira Bova, an author based in Frodsham and originally from Ukraine. Ira tells us a bit about her books Extraordinary: To Dream and Irwin’s Huge Help. Link in bio 📚
Join Corrinne Averiss for a storytime and craft morning at Simply Books to celebrate the Children's Books North Network Prize!
🎟️ Book your child’s space following the link in our bio.
luma.com/CorrinneAver... @newwritingnorth.bsky.social
In this Northern Highlight, we interview Helen Rutter, an author based in the Peak District’s Hope Valley. Helen tells us a bit about her latest book Advice From a Twelve Year Old Nobody, which came out on the 12th of Feb. Link in bio 📚 @harpercollins.bsky.social
Illustrators will be contacted about their submissions by 16 June 2026, and the shortlist will be announced later in June.
As always, a big thank you to our brilliant partners for helping make the CBNN Prize possible 🙌 @newwritingnorth.bsky.social @artscouncilengland.bsky.social
Submissions for the inaugural Children’s Books North Network Prize are now closed! ✨
A huge thank you to everyone who joined our Prize Roadshow events and submitted an entry. Our judging panel can’t wait to see all the different ways you’ve brought Fabulous Frank to life.
We’re delighted to share that after a year as a dedicated member of the committee, our former Cuppas Lead Bethany Sparks has stepped into a new role as a CBNN Co-Lead alongside Emma and Bea 🎉
🎉 New members announcement 🎉
We are delighted to welcome four new members to CBNN. Please join us in giving a warm welcome to: Kate Herbert, Holly Bushnell, Tom Jordan, and Sara Semple. We are so excited to have you all on board 📚
Only a few days to go until submissions close for the CBNN Prize! The deadline is now Tuesday 10th March Noon, we are so excited to see all of your amazing work 🥳📚 @newwritingnorth.bsky.social @artscouncilengland.bsky.social
For our March CBNN Reads, CBNN’s Prize Champion Katie Siddall has chosen Coorie Doon by Jackie Kay and illustrated by Jill Calder. Published by Walker Books. Link in bio for full review 📚 @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social
Book cover showing a boy pirate with a parrot on his shoulder. Surrounding the character are black and white lineworks of a jewel, treasure chest, coin, crab and pirate ship. The main text reads 'My Pirate Colouring Book'
An image showing 6 different book covers for a colouring book series, each by a different artist. The side text reads 100 Pages of Colouring, Bold and Simple Designs
New Book Alert! 🦜My Pirate Colouring Book, out today with Igloo Books. My first time illustrating a full colouring book and hope I get to do more ⚓ #kidlitart #newbook
We’ve given you a bit more time to enter the CBNN Prize!
Due to popular demand, we’ve decided to extend our call for entries deadline to Tuesday 10th March noon! 📚✨ @newwritingnorth.bsky.social @artscouncilengland.bsky.social
The Children’s Books North Network turns 6! A huge thank you to all of our members and supporters, and to the original co-founders, Emma, Liz and Tilda. We are excited for the next 6 years and to see CBNN grow even bigger, with lots of amazing things to come 🎂🥳💝
It’s now only 1 week to go until the CBNN Prize deadline closes! We’re so excited to see all your submissions, follow the link in our bio for full information on how to enter 🥳📚
In this Northern Highlight, we interview Gaynor Andrews, an author based in Moray in the north east of Scotland. Gaynor tells us a bit about her rhyming picture book, Pandora and the Story Forge, which comes out in paperback in May! Link in bio 📚 @gaynorandrews.bsky.social
This week we interview Brooke, our newest CBNN Committee Member! Brooke is a bookseller at House of Books and Friends in Manchester, with a passion for getting children excited about reading. Link in bio for full interview 📚
Our Power of Reading Impact Report 2025 is now live! Discover how evidence-informed, book-based teaching boosts attainment, narrows gaps and helps children see themselves as readers and writers. Read more: clpe.org.uk/research/power-reading-i...
