The longlists for the 2026 Carnegie Medals have been announced. 19 books are on the Illustration Medal longlist, including 17 illustrators longlisted for the very first time. Which would you choose for the shortlist? @CarnegieMedals #Carnegies2026 booksforkeeps.co.uk/carnegie-med...

They're here: the longlists for the #Carnegies2026. 19 books are on the longlist for the Carnegie Medal for Writing, including 5 past winners. Is your favourite here? Which of these books would you choose for the shortlist? @CarnegieMedals #booksky booksforkeeps.co.uk/carnegie-med...

🎉 The 2026 #ReadForEmpathy collection is here! Celebrating 10 years with 65 diverse, brilliant books for ages 3–16+, curated to reflect our world and spark meaningful conversations during the National Year of Reading. 📖 Download our free guides (link in bio) 🗓️ Join our FREE webinar: 12 Feb, 4pm

Tree Thing by @pierstorday.bsky.social and #MatthewTaylorWildon is as beautifully told as it is illustrated. It’s a read-aloud story, that feels like a classic. A thought-provoking story about the beauty of nature and a plea to protect it. @hachettechildrens.bsky.social

Books from @fireflypress.bsky.social that I’m really looking forward to reading in the coming weeks…

What makes Finding Life stand out is there is just enough information on each of the 13 historical periods to capture the interest of the curious reader and the list of creatures Sophie Williams gives the reader to find in the beautiful detailed illustrations. Highly recommended from Cicada Books

Amazing Shark by @michaelstavaric.bsky.social is a truly stunning nonfiction book about sharks. It’s full to the brim with shark facts, beautifully illustrated, written with an original voice, witty, asking the curious reader questions, with interesting activities! @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social

For everyone who loves Margery Williams classic story, The Velveteen Rabbit, @dc-litchfield.bsky.social has illustrated a new picturebook version. It’s as delightful and charming as the original. A must-have book for all who love this poignant tale and everyone else too! @scholasticuk.bsky.social

This gentle story from Wales’ Children’s Laureate, Nicola Davies, about how maps help a young girl’s move to a new country and stimulates conversations with children about managing changes, making connections and mapping a better world. @templarbooks.bsky.social

Stop the Ball by Susanne Strasser is a wonderful interactive board book that builds and builds with animal after animal joining in to chase a runaway ball to a very satisfying end. And so much fun with sound words to have with young children. Highly recommend! @geckopress.bsky.social

Bedtime stories just got better with Bear’s Nap by Emily Gravett A wonderful interactive story where you’ll find out that crows go caw-caw, owls twit-twoo and much more but will you find out who is keeping Bear awake… Utterly joyous and a classic to read over and over! @twohootsbooks.bsky.social

Four ducks set out on a lake for an adventure. One is nervous, he’s heard there’s a monster lurking beneath. He tags along & does indeed see something! The deadpan humour of the disbelieving ducks is utterly brilliant as is the world Leo Timmers has created in the lake! @geckopress.bsky.social

And here they are in all their glory... Picture Fiction for Early Readers Shortlist 2026! ✨📚🏆 #Spark6Shortlist

Our guest category: Non-Fiction Shortlist 2026! ✨📚🏆 #Spark6Shortlist

7+ Fiction Shortlist 2026! ✨📚🏆 #Spark6Shortlist

9+ Fiction Shortlist 2026! ✨📚🏆 #Spark6Shortlist

11+ Fiction Shortlist 2026! ✨📚🏆 #Spark6Shortlist

Just when I thought there wasn’t another WW2 story for 9+ that could stop me in my tracks, The Lions Run by Sara Pennypacker comes along. An incredible story about the rights of children & mothers, the treatment of animals & with characters at its heart that makes it impossible to put down.

Just finished Murder at the Ivy Hotel by Emily Hourican. Loved it. Full of suspense and intrigue this is a page-turning whodunnit for readers 9+. It feels like this could be the start of a series and I’m hoping very much that it is! @scholasticuk.bsky.social

We are pleased to announce the longlist for the 2026 #BranfordBoase Award, recognising the year's outstanding debut writers for children AND their editors 👏#kidlit #booksky Thank you to @alcs.co.uk & @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social for their support. branfordboaseaward.org.uk/2026-longlist/

Giveaway! I’m giving one lucky person the chance to pick one shelf of books from our Bertvent bookcase. Follow and repost by midday on Saturday 27th and I’ll pick someone at random! Which shelf will you choose? (UK only)

🌟COVER REVEAL🌟 #Wonderland from #PatienceAgbabi is a YA verse novel, and a celebration of Northern Soul music and culture in 1980s north Wales. 🎨 Cover designed in-house 📚️ HITTING BOOKSHOPS 14 MAY 2026 📚️ @bouncemarketing.bsky.social #NorthernSoul #ColwynBayPier #WiganCasino #1980s #UKYA #80sYA

Join Christopher Lloyd for some festive fun with our general knowledge quiz. Free for schools and home educators. Hosted by @lauraspargo.bsky.social There's still time to register justimagine.co.uk/author-live/... @sconnor7.bsky.social @

Here's a nice readaloud idea for Parents/Teachers in the buildup to Christmas. Wrap all Xmas/Winter books up individually and read 1 a day from Dec 1st. @mariannedoherty.bsky.social @martingalway.bsky.social @charliehacking.bsky.social @nikkigamble.bsky.social @jobowers.bsky.social #ChristmasReads

THANK YOU to @justimaginecentre.bsky.social who have donated these wonderful books to our primary school library! We are so grateful. More photos to come of them in their new booky habitat! @jobowers.bsky.social

If you like your stories ghostly, scary, supernatural and steeped in legend & folklore, then The Red Gloves by Catherine Fisher is the collection for you. @fireflypress.bsky.social Here’s my review for @justimaginecentre.bsky.social justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...

We're having a poetry parade! A F Harrold joins us for a Children's Authors Live event on Friday, 24th October at 10.00. There will be poetry readings and lots of ideas for writing your own poems, too. Details here buff.ly/PuwcSUq

Join Aaron Becker in his studio this Friday afternoon. Find out about the making of The Last Zookeeper, take a peek at what Aaron is working on now and see the space where he works. Schools and home educators can register here justimagine.co.uk/childrens-au...

Bright Beginnings. There's still time to register Classic Nursery stories with James Mayhew. James' events are among the most popular of our Evening in series - entertaining and informative. All welcome @otterbarrybooks

Here are this week’s book reviews. Thank you to all our fantastic reviewers: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...

Coming up Thursday, 16th October, 7.00 pm... one of our most popular evenings of the year. Our Halloween special with Jack McKay, Laura Theis, Christopher Edge and Michelle Robinson. Make it a family night in. justimagine.co.uk/evening-in/h...

Here are our latest round-up of book reviews. Thank you to all our reviewers this week: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...

This week’s round up of book reviews did you. Thank you to all our fantastic reviewers this week: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...

Drumroll 🥁 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁 Just Imagine’s 3000th book review! Thank you Lucy Timmons for your fantastic review of Fablehouse: Heart of Fire: ‘a tale of hidden magic, shapeshifting talents, friendship and belonging...’ Read full review here: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...

Our friends @englishassociation.bsky.social are collecting stories of how teachers are planning to support the National Year of Reading. Let them know here: bit.ly/4-11YearOfRe... #nationalyearofreading

Here are this week’s round-up of book reviews. Thank you to all our reviewers this week: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...

Does your class love graphic novels? We are thrilled that Mai K. Nguyen is joining us for a Children's Authors Live event on Friday, 26th September at 1:15 justimagine.co.uk/author-live/... @uklitassociation.bsky.social @sconnor7.bsky.social @samcreighton.bsky.social

Here are all our latest book reviews this week. Thank you to all our reviewers: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...

All the details for Michael Rosen Day November 13 www.michaelrosen.co.uk/michaelrosen...

Your 2026 UKLA Book Awards Longlists are here - the only national children’s book awards judged by teachers! This year they feature books in translation, past winners, exciting debuts and a huge range of genres and themes. Click here to see the full Longlists: ukla.org/ukla-book-aw...

Start with a Teapot by Enric Lax is such an original, imaginative and funny book to encourage us to be creative, have a go, make mistakes and draw! Love it! @geckopress.bsky.social

Shoes! A Footwear Fashion Frolic by Anna Davies and Daisy Wynter from Cicada Books is a visual treat from cover to end, filled with fascinating facts about shoes, shoe designers through the 20th century. I love it!

An exciting fast-paced adventure by Katya Balen filled with quirky characters, mudlarking, magic and history. Another new @justimaginecentre.bsky.social Reading Gladiators book club choice for Year 2. My review for Just Imagine here: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...

The River Thief is a highly engrossing multi-layered story combining early seventeenth history, folklore, adventure and nature. And a new @justimagine_books Reading Gladiator Book Club choice for Year 5. @templarbooks.bsky.social Review for Just Imagine here: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...

Our first September book reviews. Thank you to all our wonderful reviewers: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...

Join Justin Somper for this fun-filled event to kick start the new school year..

Registration for the Reading Gladiators and Power-Up Book clubs is now open. vimeo.com/1114671306?s... To find out more about this award-winning book club, visit readinggladiators.org.uk

August book review round-up. Thank you to all our reviewers this month: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-book… Many of them are on our new recommended booklists: justimagine.co.uk/book-lists/ And they are all available to purchase at Best Books for Schools: bestbooksforschools.com

Part 2 of this week’s book reviews. We hope you find some inspiration for bank holiday reading. Thank you to all our reviewers this week: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...

Part 1 of this week’s book reviews. Many of our books reviewed this week are on our recommended book lists for the new school term: justimagine.co.uk/book-lists/ Thank you to all our reviewers this week: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...