#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Dermot Flynn from Fia and the Last Snow Deer. Verse novel set in prehistoric Ireland, by Eilish Fisher. Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration. Reindeer, “Deer Mother“ & magic feast, in a room as “bright as the sun“. Puffin pb 6 Nov @puffinbooksuk.bsky.social

The 2026 #KlausFluggePrize is underway: submissions are open (publishers have until 14 January to get their entries in) and look at this stellar panel of judges 👀 #illustration #picturebooks #KidLit booksforkeeps.co.uk/eleventh-kla...

Start of the process but the winners are on these lists... congratulations to everyone nominated #writing #illustration

Nominations have been announced for the 2026 Carnegie Medals @carnegiemedals.bsky.social. This year 62 books are in contention for the Carnegie Medal for Writing and 65 for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration. Are your favourites here? #Carnegies2026 #KidLit booksforkeeps.co.uk/nominations-...

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by German illustrator Michele Ganser from non-fiction study Amazing Shark, with narrative by Michael Stavaric. Painstaking, monochrome image with the elegance of an old-fashioned etching. Pushkin Children’s 6 Nov @michaelstavaric.bsky.social @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social

"a hugely enjoyable and original story" 5⭐ for our NEW Book of the Week, DIRK JONES IS NOT THE CHOSEN ONE by Gatlin Perrin @fireflypress.bsky.social #KidLit booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/dirk-...

We are 5! 🎈 THANK YOU for being part of the mission. At a time when Amazon profits are soaring, and small businesses face ever increasing pressure, WHERE you choose to spend your money makes all the difference in keeping these community spaces on the high street. Bookshop.org

The @ibbyuk.bsky.social committee has revealed the books chosen as this year's UK Honour Books, including books in Welsh alongside books in English. This is the first time books in Welsh have been included. #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/ibby-uk-anno...

If you're signed up for our newsletter, you'll have received our latest packed with news, #BfK interviews & reviews you might have missed, + extra from our friends. Check it out🔽If you're not signed up, correct that now (sign-up form on our homepage) #kidlit tinyurl.com/5n6rvymk

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by the late Geoffrey Hayes, from his peaceful, pocket-sized 1976 book, Bear By Himself, about the joys of solitude. Among its charming, square, green-and-brown, ink-and-wash images, this is “Smelling the rain“. Reissued on 4 November by NYRB Kids. @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social

Just deactivated my account on X and already feeling better for it.

At its 75th anniversary, my piece on The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe in The Sunday Times. "Lewis’s childhood was unhappy — at his Hertfordshire boarding school he was 'beaten, cheated, scared, ill-fed'.... His mother died when he was nine." www.thetimes.com/magazines/cu... @thetimes.com #Narnia

In a return to the world of Wiskling Wood, first explored in her VICTORIA STITCH stories, Harriet Muncaster introduces a brand new character, Wiska Wildflower. Book 1 is our NEW Book of the Week and there's a bonus author Q&[email protected] #KidLit booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/the-d...

Just in the wake of Diwali (sorry, a batch of books arrived late), #NewIllustrationOfTheDay is a lovely handmade spread by Aditi Anand from One Diwali Day written by Dev Kothari. With free pencil drawing and glowing pastel crayon. Walker 25 Sept. @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social @aditianand.bsky.social

📢The Children's Booker Prize will launch in 2026, celebrating the best contemporary fiction for children aged 8-12, written in or translated into English. Frank Cottrell-Boyce to judge with 3 children involved in choosing the winner. Prize pot over £50k. #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/childrens-bo...

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Didier Cornille from BIG, Little: A Book of Opposites, a small pocket book of tiny, witty, inventive graphics, full of visual jokes, in which each image is surprising in a different way including the use of pullouts. Post Wave Publishing 3 Oct. @postwavebooks.bsky.social

Congratulations to the winners & all those highly commended in The HarperCollins Reading for Pleasure Awards 2025. Find out who has been crowned & how they have built a reading community in their school or library. 👏 #EduSky @openuni-rfp.bsky.social booksforkeeps.co.uk/58089-2/

Jamie Carroll is one to watch. His debut picturebook, MILO AND THE MOUNTAIN is the NEW #BfK Book of the Week #KidLit @theobrienpress.bsky.social booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/milo-...

Final warning! You have until midnight tonight 17 October to apply for a FREE place @ibbyuk.bsky.social conference Whose History 8 November via our special offer. Find out more, and get your entry in🤞#KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/books-for-ke...

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Jacques Goldstyn from Sketch, a wonderful (& very grown-up) graphic novel about a child who is drawn differently & is creative, imaginative and unconventional in a strictly conventional community. Skilled, lighthearted cartoon in ink & watercolour. Greystone Kids 16 Oct.

Not long until @ibbyuk.bsky.social conference 8 November, even less time to apply for a FREE place via our special offer. Find out more, and enter by Friday 17 October🤞#KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/books-for-ke...

🌊⚓️🏛️🔮⚡️♟️🐍🏺 open.substack.com/pub/clarespo...

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Britta Teckentrup from the picturebook Family by Patricia Hegarty about how creatures look after each other. Otters holding hands as they sleep, & moonlight on water. Out in paperback Little Tiger Press 2 October. @brittateckentrup.bsky.social @littletigeruk.bsky.social

We were delighted to catch up with Adam Stower to chat about his charming series, MURRAY AND BUN! Book four, Murray the Ghosthunter is out now. Read the interview & find out why he feels these are the most ‘me’ of all his books @HarperCollinsCh #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/bein...

Simon Lamb: Celebrating Bookshop Day with Children's Poetry childrenspoetrysummit.com/2025/10/09/s...

Hi #LittleRebelsAward Folk! 10 days on and we’re still absolutely buzzing 🐝from our award evening. A huge thank you to @theclpe.bsky.social for allowing us to host in their glorious Literacy Library. For your weekend, we leave you with this JOYFUL moment below… #KidsLitUK #UKKidsLit

Events like this make me wish I lived in Manchester. Part of a reading series at Manchester Poetry Library curated by Jean Sprackland to celebrate the publication of her book, Night Vision www.mmu.ac.uk/poetry-libra...

“A week to celebrate the books that have been challenged, removed or silenced, and to stand with the people who write, sell and share them”. #BannedBooksWeek is THIS WEEK! Visit the Banned Books Week folk in the UK on X & @indexoncensorship.org And in N America @bannedbooksweek.bsky.social

Recommended reading & particularly on #WorldSightDay, ELLA JONES VS THE BATTLE NOISE, latest in Lucy Edwards' mythology inspired adventures starring 12 year old Ella. Ella, like Lucy, is blind. Reviewed by #BfK reviewer Rebecca Butler. @scholasticuk.bsky.social booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/ella-...

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Oliver Jeffers from his picturebook I’m Very Busy about friends who are importantly crossing things off a list & nearly forget a birthday. With his trademark stick legs, an empty setting & toys whose faces reflect the mood. HarperCollins 9 Oct @harpercollins.bsky.social

Some big news! I’m thrilled THE OTHERNAUTS is coming out next year, my retelling of the quest for the Golden Fleece that now features a sarcastic 11yo oracle, a boy who can metamorphose and a small tone-deaf siren. Can’t wait to introduce you to Phoebe, Perry and Cora. 🏛️🏺⚓️🌊🤣

"It means the world to me that so many younger readers have connected with the book." Read our interview with the brilliant @margaretmcdonald.bsky.social, who became the youngest ever winner of the Carnegie Medal for Writing for her debut novel Glasgow Boys. www.alcs.co.uk/news/intervi...

I’m genuinely so honoured and so excited to read the debuts that will shape the future of children’s literature. A total dream!

#KidLitUK #UKKidLit

Giving an illustrated talk about local and national hero Samuel Plimsoll in Folkestone for the New Folkestone Society on 25th October, 2pm. Details on this poster. @littlebrown.bsky.social #Folkestone #merchantshipping #socialhistory #plimsollmark #plimsolls #safetyatsea #lotsofpictures #teaandcakes

"Recent #BranfordBoaseAward shortlists have highlighted significant shifts of direction in writing for children. We look forward to finding fresh voices in the submissions & stories we haven’t read before." Julia Eccleshare Submissions open now #KidLitUK branfordboaseaward.org.uk/2026-bba-det...

ICYMI CONGRATULATIONS to the first ever double prize winner of The Little Rebels Award for Radical Children’s Fiction @sarahhaggerholt.bsky.social

Our founder and co-director Dr Julie Blake talks all things Poetry By Heart on the Mostly Book Talk podcast. mostlybooktalk.buzzsprout.com/2301206/epis...

Poetry By Heart competition 2026 is live. Register today and follow our tips for running your school competition, and maybe we'll see you at the Grand Finale at Shakespeare's Globe on Monday 6th July 2026! poetrybyheart.org.uk/the-competit...

The #BranfordBoaseAward, 'a barometer of developments in children’s books' opens for submissions today with the announcement of this year's panel of judges. They will be led by 2025 winner Margaret McDonald. #writing #editing #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/margaret-mcd...

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by James Mayhew from his collection of 10 stories, My Book of Classic Nursery Tales. Characterful creatures in an image from The Tortoise and the Hare, made with collage using paper printed with patterns and textures. Otter-Barry Books 9 October @otterbarrybooks.bsky.social

Terrific episode of Mostly Book Talk with special guest Julie Blake of @poetrybyheart.bsky.social Inspired by #NationalPoetryDay and keen to embed #poetry in your school? Tune in! mostlybooktalk.buzzsprout.com/2301206/epis...

If you’ve got a teenager in your home – or 30 in your classroom – you know how hard it can be getting young people to open up about ‘difficult’ subjects. Tia Fisher has a suggestion: use stories as a springboard. NEW in #BfK274 @tiafisher.bsky.social #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/spri...

Lovers of gentle romance (and cake) will find our new #BookoftheWeek a delicious treat. Sit down with a cup of tea and enjoy ANY WAY YOU SLICE IT by Méabh McDonnell 🍰 @theobrienpress.bsky.social booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/any-w...

My third book is officially out in the world today and I am being very normal and chill about it. Where The Shadows Hide is the third book in The PSI Investigations series, published by @theobrienpress.bsky.social and dare I say it’s the best one yet.

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Annie Booker from her debut picturebook The Great Bear about a mythical creature who protects the oceans & teaches a destructive human to protect them too. Handmade image of the towering bear & a tiny figure slumped in shame. Two Hoots 9 Oct. @twohootsbooks.bsky.social

Date for the diary, #comics fans: the 2026 Phoenix Fest will take place in Oxford 25-26 April, a weekend of interactive fun & community with live comic artist shows, draw-a-longs & meet the artist sessions. Tickets on sale January @dfbstoryhouse.bsky.social booksforkeeps.co.uk/the-phoenix-...

On National Poetry Day, the greatest poem I have ever read

Perfect start to #NationalPoetryDay, listening to @poetrybyheart.bsky.social Champion Albie on the Steve Harris breakfast show BBC Radio Solent. His winning performance of Swinburne's A Forsaken Garden is breathtaking! Listen again: 50 minutes in ❤️ bbc.in/SolentDorset @bbcsounds.bsky.social