#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Daniela Sosa. From Some Days, about all kinds of days, including “days when nothing much happens at all“. From a soothing, retro spread using various techniques & swirly, splattery marks. Simon & Schuster 21 May. @simonandschuster.bsky.social @angliaruskinuni.bsky.social

💥75 finalists 7 - 18yrs performing #poetry by heart Grand Finale Shakespeare’s Globe 6 July 💥NEW People’s Choice Awards for Freestyle performances 💥Special Awards for schools overcoming particular challenges 💥Guests Alice Oswald, Matt Goodfellow, Kate Wakeling poetrybyheart.org.uk/the-competit...

Fantasy gives you "the ability to lose yourself completely. As a writer and as a reader." Our latest issue #BfK278 just got even better! Don't miss our new interview: author Natasha Bowen talks dragons with Tanja Jennings 🐲 #BookSky #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/drag...

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by author/illustrator Rong Rong, who lives in the New Forest. Half the opening spread of Jolly Monster Town, setting/title of her new graphic series. First is a sleepover story, The Party Pickle. A map to pore over or draw your own. Nosy Crow 7 May. @nosycrow.bsky.social

What a bright starry shortlist for the #KlausFluggePrize Including debut illustrator @circleyuen.bsky.social ‘s Our Dance. See our love for this book here: www.letterboxlibrary.com/product-page... (+ see our Insta reel on the grid). @graffegbooks.bsky.social #KidLitUK #BookSky

Everything UK Kids Lit in the one place. Articles, reviews, interviews, JOY. ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ #KidLitUK #BookSky

Calling young #writers! You have until 29 May to enter the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition! Write a story, poem or song lyrics on a theme inspired by Margaret McDonald's 2025 Branford Boase Award winning GLASGOW BOYS @faberchildrens.bsky.social Details & Ts&Cs branfordboaseaward.org.uk/hbwc/

ICYMI: Six debut illustrators have been shortlisted for the 2026 Klaus Flugge Prize, the £5,000 annual award for the most promising newcomer to children’s picture-book illustration 👇

In the new Books for Keeps, my interview with Alexis Deacon & my Picture This about illustrations with trees, by Anthony Browne, Ruth Brown, & X Fang. Free to read on booksforkeeps.co.uk @booksforkeeps.bsky.social @puffinbooksuk.bsky.social @scallywagpress.bsky.social @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social

#NewIllustrationoftheDay by Catharina Valckx, Amsterdam-based author & illustrator of Edith: The Girl Who Was 100 Years Old, a quirky, stylish chapter book about a newborn put under a fairy's spell never to age beyond 10. Here her father calls on the fairy. Gecko Press 5 May. @geckopress.bsky.social

The latest @booksforkeeps.bsky.social is out - free online! Beyond the Secret Garden looks at multilingualism in children's books. @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social and I discuss 'I'm Going to Make a Friend'. And an excellent column on tower blocks (and gardens!) from @letterboxlibrary.bsky.social!

Our NEW issue is here, #BfK278 📢 packed with interviews, features and children's book reviews. Includes Brian Moses, Natalia Shaloshvili, Alexis Deacon, Everything with Words, Letterbox Library recommends, new Beyond the Secret Garden AND @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social #BookSky #KidLit bit.ly/4tIl0fz

Poetry By Heart is a poetry speaking competition for schools in England. The Poetry Society has been pleased to partner on it since its founding in 2013 by former Laureate Sir Andrew Motion & current Co-Director Dr Julie Blake MBE. It's hugely popular in schools, creating a real buzz around poetry!

This year's @poetrybyheart.bsky.social finalists have been announced! 1 in 4 state secondary schools and >1K primary schools took part in 2026! Well done to all entrants and congrats to the pupils & teachers chosen to perform at Shakespeare's Globe in July. poetrysociety.org.uk/news/poetry-...

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay. I’m always fascinated to learn more about materials and technique so this behind-the-scenes photo spread, taken by David Mackintosh to illustrate the 25th anniversary edition of Lauren Child’s I will not ever never eat a tomato, seems to me a great bonus. Orchard 30 April.

Six debut illustrators have been shortlisted for the 2026 Klaus Flugge Prize, the £5,000 annual award for the most promising newcomer to children’s picture-book illustration 👇

The 2026 Klaus Flugge Prize shortlist is here! 🎉 📚 This year’s shortlist features illustrators from Germany, China, Argentina and the UK 🌍 - a brilliant showcase of how picture book illustration speaks a universal language. ✨: https://www.gardners.com/Awards/klaus-flugge #KlausFluggePrize #KFP26

Just announced, shortlist for the 2026 #KlausFluggePrize for most exciting newcomer to picturebook illustration. Congratulations to these six talented illustrators! "Inspiring to see such originality & promise in debut work" says judge Rob Biddulph #BookSky booksforkeeps.co.uk/distinct-vis...

"In my view, an editor is there to illuminate and support the author on their journey in creating the story they want to tell" Fascinating piece by #BranfordBoaseAward shortlisted Bella Pearson of @guppybooks.bsky.social for @booktrust.org.uk #editing #BookSky www.booktrust.org.uk/resources/fi...

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Jill Barklem from the ever-popular Brambly Hedge world. Nice for Mice was out on 7 May as a new board book. “It’s nice for mice to snack in the shade.” Revisiting Barklem’s accurate, handmade, natural detail & characterisation of small animals. @harpercollins.bsky.social

Hopes, dreams, and the alchemy of writing; NEW BfK interview with author Fiona Dixon, who discusses her debut CROW THIEF OF MAGIC (HarperCollins Children's Books) with Joanne Owen #BookSky #KidLitUK bit.ly/48QyYEy

We had an absolutely fabulous day sharing poems and tips for learning poems by heart! Thank you for having us 🌟

Exciting news! One of my poems has just gone up on @poetrybyheart.bsky.social 7+ timeline. When I see who else is up there, I can't quite believe it. I really am a 'poetry person' now! I hope some children choose it to perform it in forthcoming competitions. poetrybyheart.org.uk/timeline/7plus

Award-winning #illustrator, #author and animator Yasmeen Ismail will discuss taking your creativity seriously, using social media in a way that doesn't steal your time & making a living out of your art. Book now: https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/events-and-courses/artists-life-yasmeen-ismail

Sean Taylor: The CLiPPA Prize List and the Importance of Poetry for Children childrenspoetrysummit.com/2026/04/16/s...

Enjoyed this thoughtful substack from Afoma Umesi critiquing Mac Barnett ‘s Make Believe &its provocative 94.7% much-quoted opener (Esp. 💜her thoughts on role models v heroes, didacticism & “sudden epiphanies” in MG #kidslit) readingmiddlegrade.substack.com/p/make-belie... #KidLitUK #BookSky

👀Our new issue BfK 278 out 14 May: BRIAN MOSES AUTHORGRAPH @scallywagpress.bsky.social @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social at 80 NATALIA SHALOSHVILI WINDOWS INTO ILLUSTRATION ALEXIS DEACON @otterbarrybooks.bsky.social WHAT DO BABIES WANT (IN BOOKS) @letterboxlibrary.bsky.social RECOMMENDS & much more!💥

'Village', my new non-fiction prose book, features witches, wheelbarrows & cheerful survival-especially of women.The villagers dictated the blurb in the image! Kindle/phone/computer edition only 99p! Generous paperback £9.99.Only via Amazon. SEARCH FOR ALISON BRACKENBURY VILLAGE AMAZON

Our NEW Book of the Week is THE SUMMER AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE by Lisa Williamson @dfbstoryhouse.bsky.social An entertaining , 'can't put down' novel that also raises issues of great relevance to young people.' 5⭐#BookSky #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/the-s...

✏️PENCILS AT THE READY, TEAM! In this brand new episode of #DrawWithRob we're drawing a cute BANANA 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/_63s-K5oS2w

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Devon illustrator and printmaker Philip Harris, from The Shipwreck Atlas, using traditional dip pen and Ink and tools inherited from his grandfather. Wide Eyed Editions 7 May. With text by Jo Arnold telling the stories of more than 50 shipwrecks. @quartokids.bsky.social.

The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration will open to the public on Friday 5 June 2026 with 3 exhibitions, a cafe, shop, gardens & free spaces including a Library and Creative Studio. Exhibition tickets on sale now. Find out more 👇#BookSky #KidLitUK bit.ly/4cVHoeY

It's great to see the #CLiPPA Poetry Award shortlist! It's the UK's leading prize for poetry for children, highlighting brilliant new collections for the young 📖 Congratulations to all the @theclpe.bsky.social shortlisted poets 🌟 More for schools here: r1.dotdigital-pages.com/p/1RW5-1LFF/...

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Rebecca Cobb from The Ice Cream Crocodile written by Mariesa Dulak. Faber 7 May. Delightful image with an array of animals in pink light & lots of incidents to spot. From a circus tale about not judging by appearances. @faberchildrens.bsky.social @rebeccacobb.bsky.social

The #ChildrensBooker2027 gets underway today! Adult judges are announced, children's judges sought, and publishers can begin to submit books for consideration. Congratulations to everyone involved for championing children's literature #BookSky #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/judges-annou...

Thrilled to have a poem featured by the fantastic @poetrybyheart.bsky.social! It's a poem aimed at little kids and is a very popular performance piece. Enjoy: poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/perfor... #BookSky #KidLitUK

Seven books have been shortlisted for the 2026 Branford Boase Award, jointly awarded to the author and editor of an outstanding debut novel for children 👇 #BookSky

ICYMI: Sarah Odedina will step down from her role as editor-at-large at Pushkin Children’s Books at the end of 2026 after 11 years at the press 👇 #BookSky

Marilyn Singer: Not Just the Facts - Nonfiction Poetry childrenspoetrysummit.com/2026/04/23/m...

"I love how these short, seemingly simple tales are vast and rich, containing so much about what it means to be human." NEW #BookoftheWeek THE HOUSE WITH CHICKEN LEGS RUNS AWAY and NEW Q&A with author Sophie Anderson 💀 #BookSky #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/the-h...

And the #BranfordBoaseAward shortlist is out! It dashes across all of the genres and welcomes in a truly exciting array of debut voices. Gorgeous! #KidLitUK #BookSky

Hats off to the @branfordboaseaward.bsky.social for putting editors and the work they do in the spotlight 👏And to @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social and @alcs.co.uk for supporting it. #BookSky

The #BranfordBoaseAward honours editor as well as author, highlighting the importance of editors in nurturing new talent. Huge congratulations to this year's shortlisted editors 👏#BookSky #KidLitUK Find out more about the shortlist on our website now branfordboaseaward.org.uk/shortlist-20...

The shortlist for the 2026 #BranfordBoaseAward is out! Discover the 'magnificent' debut novels on this year's shortlist. Congratulations to these talented authors & editors 💐 & thank you to @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social & @alcs.co.uk for supporting the award. branfordboaseaward.org.uk/shortlist-20...

Our Editor, Philip Jones, will be speaking alongside Daniel Hahn and Cathryn Summerhayes at Hay Festival 🎤 They will question what AI can write and what the future may be for artists working alongside AI. Get your ticket here 👉 www.hayfestival.com/p-25500...

Meet the talented authors shortlisted for this year's #BranfordBoaseAward 💐 In the National Year of Reading, it's more important than ever to highlight the new voices to catch the attention of young readers. Congratulations to them all #KidLitUK #BookSky branfordboaseaward.org.uk/shortlist-20...

Such exciting news! Huge congratulations to all the authors and editors who have been shortlisted 👏

Thread 👀 #BookSky #KidLitUK

#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

📢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