#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Dan Ojari, from a picturebook collaboration with his son Finn: Is This A Plum? It has a hand-made look, and rhyming text & clever cutouts encourage readers to make connections & look for the whole picture. Puffin 23 April. @puffinbooksuk.bsky.social @danojari.bsky.social
Graphic with photos of the four judges for this year's Branford Boase Award, given to author and editor of the year's outstanding debut novel for children and young people. They are Anjali Patel, Katherine Woodfine, Margaret McDonald and Stephen Dilley. It also includs the logos for ALCS and Walker Books who support the Branford Boase Award.
📢The shortlist for the 2026 #BranfordBoaseAward will be announced *tomorrow* 23 April.
Which of the 24 excellent debuts on our 2026 longlist have our judges chosen? Follow us to find out! #KidLitUK #newtalent
branfordboaseaward.org.uk
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 delighted to be returning to the London Children’s Literature Festival (the artist formerly known as Barnes Children’s Literature Festival) on Saturday 27 June. I will be talking all things foxes and werewolves and hosting a live episode of #DrawWithRob. Tickets 👉https://tinyurl.com/8v3w6ea9
"Poems are like wild, living, out-of-control things that make readers have feelings and thoughts we poets can’t even imagine. And, looking around me, I see a world in need of more wild, living, out-of-control things." Sean Taylor, shortlisted for the #CLiPPA children's #poetry award 👏👏 #BookSky
Sean Taylor: The CLiPPA Prize List and the Importance of Poetry for Children childrenspoetrysummit.com/2026/04/16/s...
Some great #poetry books in this selection!
"Something for everyone!" At a live online event for children in schools across the country, Nicola Davies has announced the shortlist for the #CLiPPA, CLPE #Poetry Award. The Shadowing opens Monday 20 April 👀 Congrats to all the poets 👏@theclpe.bsky.social
booksforkeeps.co.uk/something-fo...
Logo for the English 4 - 11 Picture Book Awards, run by the English Association the National Association for the Teaching of English, and the United Kingdom Literacy Association.
Have you seen?
The English Association @englishassociation.bsky.social has revealed the shortlist for the 2026 English 4-11 Picture Book Awards, the best children's picture books of the year. Congratulations to all the authors and illustrators 💐#KidLitUK
booksforkeeps.co.uk/shortlist-fo...
Photograph of award winning illustrator Jon Klassen. He is wearing a cap and tan shirt. Photo taken by Carson Ellis.
The logo for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award which features a sketch of Astrid Lindgren.
Canadian illustrator and picture book artist Jon Klassen is the recipient of the 2026 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, given annually to a person or organisation for their outstanding contribution to children’s and young adult literature. #booksky
booksforkeeps.co.uk/jon-klassen-...
A photograph of Michael Rosen, poet and children's author.
Logo for the Hans Christian Andersen Award presented by Ibby International Board on Books for Young People.
Michael Rosen @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international distinction given to authors & illustrators of children’s books @ibbyuk.bsky.social #booksky #KidLitUK
Cai Gao receives the Award for Illustration
booksforkeeps.co.uk/michael-rose...
The cover of Owning It Our Disabled Childhoods in our own words editing by Jen Campbell, James and Lucy Catchpole and illustrated by Sophie Kamlish, one of the books submitted for the Ibby UK Outstanding Books For Young People With Disabilities list.
The cover of Let's Play by Alex Strick, one of the book submitted for the IBBY UK Outstanding Books For Young People With Disabilities list.
IBBY UK has revealed the books submitted for consideration for the 2027 Outstanding Books For Young People With Disabilities.
Record submissions and publishers making 'thoughtful progress' in this area. @ibbyuk.bsky.social #booksky
booksforkeeps.co.uk/2027-submiss...
This year's annual commemoration of Samuel Plimsoll in Folkestone, 30 May at St Martin's Church, Cheriton, where he is buried. Working on a different talk from the one I gave here two years ago, and last year at the Folkestone Society. #folkestone #samuelplimsoll. But there will be cakes again.
Great lists! #booksky
We are delighted to share the shortlist for the English 4-11 Picture Book Awards!
@hachettechildrens.bsky.social @magiccatpublishing.bsky.social @flyingeyebooks.bsky.social @bonnierbooksuk.bsky.social @whatonearth.bsky.social @postwavebooks.bsky.social @scallywagpress.bsky.social
Our April calendar poems are 'Eletelephony' by Laura Richards and 'Equilibrium' by Theresa Lola 🗓️❤️ head to our website for special recordings by Erica Hesketh and Theresa Lola plus extra resources for teachers!
🗓️ poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/equili...
🗓️ poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/eletel...
#NewIllustrationoftheDay by Australian Illustrator Jess Racklyeft from Storm, a non-fiction picturebook about stages of a storm on a beach, with text by Claire Saxby. Allen & Unwin 2 April. Light-filled watercolour and collage. @allenandunwin.bsky.social @clairesaxby.bsky.social jessracklyeft.com
The cover of Small Magics by Alex Dunne, which is the new Books for Keeps Book of the Week. It shows the central character, Molly, standing in a magic shop.
Small magics, bit hit! Small Magics by Alex Dunne, published by @theobrienpress.bsky.social is our NEW Book of the Week: 'ideal reading for everyone who’d like to come across ‘small magics’ themselves' #booksky
booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/small...
#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Lucy Ruth Cummins from her picturebook Dalmartian, about a green-spotted dog who is an alien from outer space, with human habits. Drawn with clarity, warmth, simplicity, and a big, soft line. Published in paperback, Simon & Schuster 9 April. @simonandschuster.bsky.social
Congratulations! New review via #BooksforKeeps and a link to @nicolettejones.bsky.social Authorgraph interview here booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/auth...
Hard copy of Piper at the gates of dusk
My new book PIPER AT THE GATES OF DUSK is out today! A new Chaos Walking trilogy begins!
Logo for The Ashdown Forest Foundation
NEW writing competition for young people ✍️ Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh, the Ashdown Forest Foundation #poetry writing competition is open. Joseph Coelho and Fiona Sampson are both judges 🔻
booksforkeeps.co.uk/59542-2/
✏️PENCILS AT THE READY, TEAM! In this brand new episode of #DrawWithRob we're drawing a cute AVOCADO character 🥑! So grab some paper and something to draw with and let's do this! Remember to share your pictures using the #DrawWithRob hashtag. GOOD LUCK!
👉 youtu.be/_Fw6bAHIRLw
#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by
Ali Stearn from her picturebook Jack Brock and the Walk, about a pony that visits patients in hospital, and about lots of dogs. Graffeg 2 April. Unpolished but lovingly recorded pencil and watercolour relishing the character of different breeds. @graffegbooks.bsky.social
Cover of the new Books for Keeps Book of the Week, Murder at the Hotel Marvelo written by Ruth Lauren, illustrated by Federica Frenna and published by Piccadilly press. It shows the hotel with some of its magical guests, and the three main protagonists out front.
Looking for some magical holiday reading? Check into our NEW Book of the Week: MURDER AT HOTEL MARVELO by Ruth Lauren illustrated by Federica Frenna. Classic locked room murder mystery with a difference! @piccadilly-press.bsky.social #booksky #kidlit 🏨
bit.ly/4va8c3l
#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Rebecca Crane from My Very Own Space, picturebook with text by Pippa Goodhart about a little rabbit looking for peace & quiet to read. Busy but airy composition, with appealing creatures, in shades of sienna & eau de nil. Flying Eye pb 5 March @flyingeyebooks.bsky.social
Poetry News is always excellent reading! Thank you @poetrysociety.org.uk
✨ New blog post ✨
Eva Eland shares the inspiration behind Different and how Mia learns that being different isn’t something to hide but part of who she is.
Read more: https://clpe.org.uk/blog/different-blog-eva-eland
✨ New blog post ✨
Mariajo Ilustrajo shares the inspiration behind 'Unusual Guests' and a glimpse into her writing process!
Read more: clpe.org.uk/blog/unexpected-guests-b...
Books 4 Keeps have been following this project’s journey. Here, @bexlibrarian.bsky.social outlines the work so far and looks forward to the year ahead (and introduces us to the 2nd cohort of 23 creatives! 😍) @booksforkeeps.bsky.social
#KidLitUK
booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/cont...
