Summer School: Class, Culture & Discontents 📆 July 23rd - 24th 📍London Full programme with all star line up ⭐ 23rd July feat @darrenchetty.bsky.social @jolittler.bsky.social @jasnijjar.bsky.social etc on prison education, meritocracy, colonialism, war + more www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/summer-sch...

London folks! 📣 THIS THURSDAY 5.30-7pm FREE @darrenchetty.bsky.social in convo. about picture book debut I’m Going to Make a Friend @littletigeruk.bsky.social Guess which friendly not-for-profit will be on hand with this glorious book (for just £6, rrp. £7.99) & posters… 😉 #BookSky #KidLitUK

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... Interesting episode on Englishness, football and racism. Striking that presenter David Baddiel doesn't reflect on his own role in weaving all three together on national television.

Top children’s books about friendship by former #LittleRebelsAward Judge & shortlister @darrenchetty.bsky.social -for @booktrust.org.uk blog. Includes 2 #LittleRebelsAward titles 😊 ♥️The Boy Who Loved Everyone 🌻Sunflower Sisters #KidLitUK #BookSky www.booktrust.org.uk/book-recomme...

The full lineup for this event on June 2nd now includes @candygourlay.bsky.social @nazneenahmed.bsky.social @clairelinney.bsky.social JT Williams plus organisers @darrenchetty.bsky.social & @louiestowell.bsky.social It will be a great discussion - come join us! www.eventbrite.com/e/childrens-...

If you've spoken to me recently you might have heard me wang on about how excited I am about this discussion about contemporary uk speculative children's fiction and colonialism. If you're free afternoon of June 2nd (so, freelancers/students/other time-flexible persons) 4.30-6, JOIN US! #KidLitUK

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... Interesting episode on Englishness, football and racism. Striking that presenter David Baddiel doesn't reflect on his own role in weaving all three together on national television.

A few tickets left for our Community Conversation on Speculative Fiction and Colonialism in children's literature. Join the conversation along with teachers, readers, publishers and some of the finest current children's authors!

FREE EVENT Places going fast for fab event we're co-hosting with @theclpe.bsky.social, convened by @darrenchetty.bsky.social. Writers include: @louiestowell.bsky.social @gitaralleigh.bsky.social @clairelinney.bsky.social @candygourlay.bsky.social + JT Williams www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/childrens-...

Launch / discussion / drinks! All welcome! I'll be talking to Helen Jones about my debut picture book, I'm Going to Make a Friend, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhata (Little Tiger) & my work on #kidlit. Followed by a drinks reception and book signing. Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-launc...

And now @candygourlay.bsky.social has confirmed! Come along and join the conversation on Children's Literature: Speculative Fiction and Colonialism - free and open to all. Registration below!

“While many children in the UK live their lives using more than one language, this has rarely been acknowledged in the novels that are published.” Latest BtSG column @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social & @darrenchetty.bsky.social in @booksforkeeps.bsky.social #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/beyo...

I'm delighted for my mates who support Arsenal. They're so happy. And they'll probably never get to experience the true joy of seeing your team win a game to stay in the football league, or go from bottom division to top (twice), or win its first ever major trophy. This is the closest they'll get :)

It's 101 years since the birth of Malcolm X / el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz. Here's a video I made with primary students in 2009: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXTu...

Beyond the Secret Garden is phenomenal! Actually Books for Keeps as a whole is always worth a read! Trust me I am a Librarian! 📚📜

What a read! @booksforkeeps.bsky.social #Bfk278 ⭐What Baby Books do Babies Really Look at? ft Look Touch Learn p12 ⭐Multilingual Children’s Literature @darrenchetty.bsky.social @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social Kende! Kende! Kende! p19 ⭐Tower Blocks Rise Up @letterboxlibrary.bsky.social Errol's Garden p21

Please join us if you're able to get to London for 4.30pm on June 2nd and this sounds like your cup of tea. I haven't been this excited for an event for adults in a long time!

And here's the link! booksforkeeps.co.uk

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!

The first Community Conversation, Lessons from the Archive - ILEA, Children's Books, and Antiracism, was a huge success with over 60 people attending. This promises to be equally fascinating

Thrilled to be taking part in this important community conversation with @darrenchetty.bsky.social @louiestowell.bsky.social @clairelinney.bsky.social and JT Williams. Of interest to children's writers, educators, children's literature scholars, booksellers & publishers but free & open to all!

EMC + @theclpe.bsky.social are hosting another free 'Community Conversation' convened by @darrenchetty.bsky.social on June 2nd after school. A valuable chance to make connections, exchange ideas + hear from leading children's authors. Please sign up! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/childrens-...

Please retweet.

We are DELIGHTED at the choice of Chris Haughton as the new @laureatenanog.bsky.social! Chris’s stirring speech spoke about his wish to bring the wider world of international books to the children of Ireland. We think this is going to be a fabulous laureateship. @chrishaughton.bsky.social

👀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!💥

“Friendship involves choice and consent..I wanted to create a story that explored that a little.” A child sets out to make a friend& wonders about what sort of friend *they* are.. @darrenchetty.bsky.social on the thoughtfulness behind his picture book I’m Going to Make a Friend #KidLitUK #BookSky

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Organising this summer school with support from @thesociologicalreview.org 🚨Class, Culture & Discontents 📍23rd & 24th July 🏫 Balham, South London 🧑‍🍳 Free lunch Great line-up of speakers on a wide range of topics, come one, come all Free tickets ⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/summer-sch...

All 🌟 line-up @jasnijjar.bsky.social @jolittler.bsky.social @alexkelbert.bsky.social @sachahilhorst.bsky.social @academicdiary.bsky.social @darrenchetty.bsky.social @lukedenoronha.bsky.social + many more who aren't on here. Please share! Full programme TBA soon!

Your reminder that you can find highlights from the superb Beyond the Secret Garden columns on our @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social shop front. @booksforkeeps.bsky.social @darrenchetty.bsky.social @booksforkeeps.bsky.social #notforprofit #coop #workerscoop #KidLitUK uk.bookshop.org/shop/letterb...

A lovely blog for @theclpe.bsky.social by @harrywoodgate.bsky.social re: The Butterfly House with its emphasis on community, compassion and wellbeing- which all also sing out of Grandad’s Pride , shortlisted for #littlerebelsaward in 2024. #KidLitUK

1/3 FROM THE B WORD…to EXTINCTION REBELLION! 😷We brought out our 1st #LittleRebelsAward video during the 2020 lockdown 🤓Watch our judges introducing that year’s 7-strong shortlist! ⭐️JUDGES: @darrenchetty.bsky.social Shaun Dellenty @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social #KidLitUK youtu.be/5WttycAT0Hg?...

Now on the bbc. Thanks to the @neunion.bsky.social for taking this issue seriously and pledging to oppose censorship and the far right. Vital at all times, and limiting access to books feels especially cruel in the National Year of Reading @literacy-trust.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The @neunion.bsky.social on recent #Bookbans , referencing school librarians reporting "internal and external censorship". #KidLitUK www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Children's and Young Adult Literature (CYAL) at UCL. The next session will discuss 2 books that explore racism and racialisation - 'Tyger' and 'The Doll Test'. The CYAL book group is open to all students and staff at UCL and to people beyond UCL by invitation (just send me a message).

An update on the Greater Manchester school library #bookban ⬇️ Stay in touch with the UK ripples arriving from across the pond by following @indexoncensorship.org -and look to #BannedBooksWeek UK 4-10 October. #KidLitUK

2/2 to appreciate our appreciation of KID REX TO THE RESCUE see- ⭐️Our insta reel(grid image below) ⭐️Our online review: www.letterboxlibrary.com/product-page... where you can also buy the book while supporting a not-for-profit workers’ #coop ! @mayowrites.bsky.social @creativedy.bsky.social #KidLitUK

Reading a write up of this @ibbyuk.bsky.social event feat @gitaralleigh.bsky.social and thinking how much I'd like to watch a panel on colonialism/decolonisation in children's fantasy-historical fiction. If anyone knows of one, I would LOVE to watch: www.ibby.org.uk/whose-histor... #UKKidlit

1/2 A brilliant afternoon last week, welcoming Chapter 2 of GLL Literary Foundation (a #coop like us!) That’s 22 new early-career creatives signed up for support in reaching their audiences. Inclusive literature & an inclusive industry woven into the project. #KidLitUK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social

The analysis of Suschitzky’s Open-Air ABC, pub’d, 1947 with the tension between creator and publisher is especially fascinating.

“All alphabet books are political”. What an opener. The politics of children’s ABC books. Another on point #BeyondTheSecretGarden column in the latest @booksforkeeps.bsky.social by @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social & @darrenchetty.bsky.social #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/beyo...

Speakers ref’d in blog: Farrah @theclpe.bsky.social @chrishaughton.bsky.social @gitaralleigh.bsky.social @candygourlay.bsky.social @balirai.bsky.social @darrenchetty.bsky.social @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social Sandra Agard @catwrote.bsky.social JT Williams @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social #KidLitUK

“A truly impressive roll call of children’s book creatives&academics..famed for the ways..they have interrogated & interrupted the versions of UK history children have traditionally received” We blogged for @ibbyuk.bsky.social on their Nov 2025 Conference. www.ibby.org.uk/whose-histor... #KidLitUK

For tix, visit websites: 🚀Leeds Playhouse 🚀Birmingham Rep 🚀Unicorn Theatre (London) Directed by Sameena Hussain Adapted by Asif Khan

That year our award judges were: @catwrote.bsky.social BJ Epstein @darrenchetty.bsky.social @emilydrabs.bsky.social @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social Here’s Zanib’s winning-smile photo!

In possibly the MOST EXCITING NEWS: Planet Omar is treading the boards in Leeds, London & Birmingham. The Muslims by Zanib Mian, later recast as ‘Planet Omar’, won the #LittleRebelsAward in 2018 Since then, Omar has soared on a trajectory of mind-blowingly-brilliant success! #KidLitUK

I think about this tweet every time I feel something online start to curl its annoying little grip into my head

Fascinating article about colour-blind casting in latest TV adaptation of Lord of the Flies by @darrenchetty.bsky.social, co-author with @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social of @engmediacentre.bsky.social published Beyond the Secret Garden www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

1/3 Thanks to Brixton Library for a fabulous tribute to The Brixton Bard, Alex Wheatle, last week. See lambeth_libraries and our insta accounts for the full celebration! Highlights included: 🌟readings of Alex’s work by Nathanael Lessore, Ken Wilson Max, Ramzee, @emilydrabs.bsky.social … #KidLitUK