Happy publication day to Wild Journey: A Flight of Stories Across Deserts & Forests, Cities & Seas by A.M. Dassu and illustrated by Joe Lillington. Five captivating stories of emotional growth from across the globe connected by migrating starlings with stunning illustrations👇🏽 For ages 7+

Newham Libraries (my locals) are a lifeline for our community. But the Council is considering slashing the budget by 50%.This could mean closures, staff cuts, and service reductions. As we approach the year of reading we can’t allow councils to defund our libraries! actionnetwork.org/petitions/sa...

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It’s November 1st and I just checked, I have not turned into a pumpkin nor ceased to exist. I’ve checked in on all the other Black authors and illustrators and can confirm we all still exist after Black history month ends. In case you were wondering.

Accurate. #WritingCommuity #WriterSky #WritersLife

Me the next day if I stay out past 10pm.

Day 30 of sharing my favourite Black authored books and today is one of my favourite kids books Birdie. This is about mixed heritage identity, pit ponies and families, all set in 1950s Yorkshire. It’s just stunning.

Day 29 of sharing my favourite black authored books and it has to be this gem from Catherine Johnson. Josephine Baker was an extraordinary woman and this is a brilliant storybook bringing her to life from her childhood to working for the resistance. For ages 8+

This is such sad news…one of the few publishers that really got it when it comes to inclusivity and diversity in kids literature

Wildfire is set to publish Patrice Lawrence’s "sweeping historical novel", inspired by the life of Josephine Baker. The Last Star in Paris will be published on 11th February 2027 👇 #BookSky

Day 28 of my favourite Black authored books and we have the wonderful Mayowa and the Sea of Words by Chibundu Onuzo. A charming and original adventure with a strong message about social responsibility. And introduces the strange world of logosaltering aka book jumping! For ages 8+

Day 26 and 27 of my favourite Black authored books and next up are two compelling thrillers. Ace of Spades looks at the weaponisation of racism in a prestigious boarding school. And Where Sleeping Girls Lie looks at SA in a boarding school setting with Mean Girl vibes. Both are excellent.

So, now there's a booker prize for 8-12 year old kidlit, let's have one for YA and picture books. The PB one I already have a name for. The Picture Booker.

Let’s rename A.I. Artificial is another word for fake. Fake Intelligence is not appealing. F.I. F*** It.

Day 25 of my favourite Black authored books and back to middle grade with one of my favourite fantasy series. This is about found families and mixed heritage identity. There’s a Black Arthurian Knight, changelings and a children’s home based on a real piece of history. I love it!

Day 24 of my favourite Black authored books. Do You Dream of Terra Two. This is brilliant, young adult, character-driven gripping sci-fi. Six teenagers are recruited for a 23 year space mission to find a new Earth. I also love her book More Perfect. I will basically read anything Temi Oh writes!

Day 23 of my favourite Black authored books and I’ve recently finished this wonderful young adult book My Life as a Chameleon. This beautifully brings to life the experiences of a mixed heritage girl growing up in Lagos and Manchester and deals with identity and mental health.

Day 22 of my favourite Black authored books is King of Dead Things by Nevin Holness. This YA book explores a hidden magical London, a group of teenage misfits and Caribbean folklore. It’s one of my favourites!

Day 21 of my favourite Black authored books and we have The Changing Man by Tomi Oyemakinde. An unsettling horror fantasy about what happens when an urban legend threatens a prestigious boarding school.

Is there an equivalent of ‘clutches at pearls’ for right wing white men?

Day 20 of my favourite Black authored books for kids and teens. Today is Augmented by Kenechi Udogu, a great sci-fi novel about friendship, romance and rebellion set in a post climate change future.

Day 19 of my favourite Black authored books and it’s Liccle Bit by the late, great Alex Wheatle. A big-hearted and powerful look at teenage boyhood and peer pressure. I also really enjoyed the BBC adaptation. For ages 12+

Day 16 of my favourite Black authored books and we’re into the ones for teens. I loved this book about vengeful ancestors, circus performers and people trafficking with a messy, tough central character I adored. A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars by Yaba Badoe

Day 17 of my favourite kids books by Black authors. And today’s gem is Rat by Patrice Lawrence (ages 10+) about one boy’s mission for revenge along with his two pet rats. It’s about community, loneliness and family. And it’s a super readable book from Barrington Stoke too.

Day 16 (&15) of recommending my favourite Black authored kids books are two brilliant ones that centre Black boys and music. Nineties nostalgia and japes with Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer. And a blend of rap competitions, humour and Black masculinity with Steady for This.

Celia Imrie farting on Celebrity Traitors has made my whole year!

I’ve given up ranting at the industry on the latest stats on diversity in kids literature, it does not care. Clearly. If it gave a sh*t things would not be GETTING WORSE!! Trying a different tack! www.instagram.com/reel/DPy85Mt...

Day 14 of Black authored kidlit. My son and I have both loved this graphic novel. This is about a Black girl scientist who invents a plastic eating monster called Chomp who starts to grow out of control. For ages 7+ @heychante.bsky.social

Day 13 of great Black authored kids books. Mia and the Lightcasters by Janelle McCurdy is a page-turning epic fantasy with great world building, strange creatures and family and friendship at the core. I loved the sibling relationship in this book too!

Day 12 of my month of Black kids books. This is The Tunnels Below by Nadine Wild Palmer. A wonderful, slightly surreal fantasy adventure set in a hidden world beneath London. Cecilia finds herself working to save her new friends from a tyrannical overlord. Original and brilliant.

Today’s Black authored book is this gem. do love a Benjamin Dean book - (especially his YA) but he writes fantastic middle grade books. This adventure about demons who fall from the sky, an extra-ordinary friendship and a controlling authority is amazing.

My Black book for today is (and excuse the blowing of one’s own trumpet) my own. Because it won the Readers Choice Award at the Diverse Book Awards last night and I’m still feeling v emotional about it! This explores Black Tudor history through time travel and I’m so bloody proud of it!

I don’t think any of this is a surprise and yet it’s still extremely concerning. Really shows the lack of commitment the industry has to improving and sustaining diverse representation in children’s literature. For things to be back sliding when they weren’t even where they needed to be…

Continuing sharing a whole month of great Black authored kids books. Today is Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun - one of the first books that really got me into reading middle grade. I mean it’s Balck girl scifi and her Afro hair is her superpower. I could not love this series more.

Next up for my month of Black kids books is another double - both by Clare Weze. She blends real world social issues with elements of magic and science creating unique and wonderful adventures. Up Above The City is her latest book and highlights the hidden plight of refugee communities.

FIVE DAYS until the third Elemental Detectives Mystery publishes! This series is incredible - thrilling action, magnificent world building, beautiful writing and dazzling magic. It has it all! Written by the brilliant @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social with striking cover art by Paul Kellum 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

I was going to post a Black book every day this month and here we are on the 5th and I’m only just starting….its been a WEEK! But let’s go. The brilliant 10 Children who changed the world by Paterson Joseph. A wonderful way to bring Black British history to life for kids 9+

Is there a collective noun for a group of Black British history books?

And the addressing of chronic underfunding for schools that will enable them to staff, support and maintain libraries ongoing along with properly embedding a culture of reading for pleasure will also accompany this I assume…otherwise it’s just a headline!

WORLD BOOK WEEK OFFER Are you a school in the Scottish islands? Would you like an author visit with no author fees? Step this way and check out the alt text below…. Please get in touch via my website contact form 📚🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social @asls.org.uk @slgscotland.bsky.social

In case you’re looking for the latest anti Trump reading list. These are all amazing books for kids and teens venturing autistic and neurodiverse protagonists. Autism is not a disease, it’s a neurotype. And there is no conclusive scientific evidence that paracetamol whilst pregnant causes autism.

Okay, but who is going to be the first to order Heartstopper Volume 6 by Alice Oseman via our website? #kidlituk

This was such a lovely day and as always going into schools and talking to kids is the best thing!

An amazing video to share with kids discussing the St Georges flag. Brilliantly has the history and how things can be used on one hand to celebrate and on thebither to threaten. youtu.be/mAMOP4-dES4?...

The Snow Girl is publishing in paperback on November 6th, with a brand new cover illustrated by Melissa Castrillon ❄️💙

If anyone is going to the Black Writer’s Guild conference tomorrow come say hi!

Three new books out this month. Loved Champions of the Galaxy (we need more Black scifi esp for kids), Everything Amplified is a teen graphic novel and love letter to music. And Role Model is a powerful book about being autistic daughter of the new prime minister by @ellemcnicoll.bsky.social

A gentle reminder that you can ask (as in pay) Black people to talk about Black British history any month of the year. Not just October…

Looking for a spooky middle grade read? (Especially if you’re adult who can’t handle adult horror) - this was a treat. Hold onto your cassava seeds and enjoy a dose of Caribbean folklore . For ages 8+

Given that Black Tudors was the reason I started writing children’s books I’m approaching Miranda Kaufmann’s new book Heiresses with some caution - but also very excited!