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

.. @darrenchetty.bsky.social , @mariesadulak.bsky.social , Sandra Agard, Nadifa Mohamed. 🌟the opening of the new Alex Wheatle Reading Room 🌟the launch of a new Black Interest Core Collection Both at Brixton Library. Officially cutting the ribbon to the Reading Room, Alex’s daughter said:

Brilliant piece for Media Studies looking at radical @channel4.bsky.social anti-racist programming in the 80s. A time when @engmediacentre.bsky.social collaborated with the channel on our publication Powerful Texts @darrenchetty.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

The Reading Crisis Episode 2 @mostlybooktalk.bsky.social Takeaways for me included: @darrenchetty.bsky.social reflecting on the use of phonics when he was a primary teacher: “a lot of emphasis went on the capacity to decode, but not to make meaning.” #KidLitUK podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...

A brilliant event last week facilitated by @darrenchetty.bsky.social ILEA* archival materials from Celia Burgess-Macey & EMC inspired reflections on a legacy of anti-racist work in education and provoked conversations on where we go now. (*Inner London Education Authority) #KidLitUK

Black Poets/BtSG column in @booksforkeeps.bsky.social Inspired by a new poetry collection @darrenchetty.bsky.social & @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social look back at previous anthology iterations&publication challenges faced-incl. the diminishing of dialect: #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/beyo...

Yesterday evening with @theclpe.bsky.social we hosted 'Exploring the archive (ILEA & EMC): the past, present + future of antiracist education + children's literature', organised by @darrenchetty.bsky.social. A packed house for an after-school event - so much commitment to anti-racist pedagogy

Born 125 years ago today in Pwllmeyric near Chepstow Eddie Parris The first person of colour to play for Cymru. He played against Ireland in Belfast in 1931 in a 4-0 defeat @footymuseumcymru.bsky.social @darrenchetty.bsky.social

2/2 AFTERNOON For those of you in London, come along to @theclpe.bsky.social / @engmediacentre.bsky.social for a conversation about anti-racist education with Kandace Chimbiri, @darrenchetty.bsky.social and Celia Burgess-Macey. Free reg: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-past-p... #KidLitUK

Looking forward to this community conversation!

“Crucially, Amir’s moment of self-actualisation is not straightforwardly assimilationist” @darrenchetty.bsky.social on Sita Brahmachari’s Phoenix Brothers in @writersmosaic.bsky.social Refs “its many layers and what it suggests about literature and education” writersmosaic.org.uk/reviews/phoe...

It’s out! The latest Books for Keeps. Looks dreamy😍- esp excited about diving into pieces by Farrah Serroukh @theclpe.bsky.social @charliehacking.bsky.social @bexlibrarian.bsky.social and those fab BtSG columnists @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social & @darrenchetty.bsky.social Also front cover🍩🍩🍩! #KidLitUK

1/2 The Past, Present and Future of Children’s Books & Antiracist Education. ⭐️Jan 28th⭐️ 5-6.30pm See you there! @darrenchetty.bsky.social @engmediacentre.bsky.social @theclpe.bsky.social Registering essential- see link in post below:

Read more about the exhibition in this BfK article by @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social & @darrenchetty.bsky.social booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/beyo...

For a longer account of the day, with take out quotes, see our Insta reel on the grid!

… @candygourlay.bsky.social & @balirai.bsky.social @darrenchetty.bsky.social & @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social Sandra Agard with @catwrote.bsky.social & JT Williams. @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social who sang us out with join-in choruses 🙂 Look out for the blog up and coming on the IBBY site.

The most recent @ibbyuk.bsky.social conference centred on what histories children are traditionally told and how these can be resisted, expanded, interrupted. A superb lineup of speakers including: Farrah @theclpe.bsky.social @chrishaughton.bsky.social @gitaralleigh.bsky.social with … #KidLitUK

I've listened to the BBC pocdcast 'Anatomy of a Cancellation' in full. At the outset it promises high concept - The Rashomon Effect. Yet numerous vital perspectives are absent. And then there's the title itself. It's as if the film was called 'Rashomon; Suicide of a Samurai'.

Very excited to finally get my hands on #beyondthesecretarden - will be digging in this weekend

I've listened to the BBC pocdcast 'Anatomy of a Cancellation' in full. At the outset it promises high concept - The Rashomon Effect. Yet numerous vital perspectives are absent. And then there's the title itself. It's as if the film was called 'Rashomon; Suicide of a Samurai'.

Really interesting listening to @darrenchetty.bsky.social talking about how history is written when it comes to racially minoritised people - thinking about the POV, the reader, context, and how the narrative humanises, shows agency and recognises heterogeneity in social groups.

Now listening to @chrishaughton.bsky.social speaking at the IBBY “Whose History?” conference. His book The History of Information is one of my absolute favourites. #kidlituk

From 2021, on the discussion of Kate Clanchy's book: 'How does a book in which a writer frequently employs controversial and denigratory language come to be championed as a work of political acumen? What does this suggest about how writing is evaluated?' booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/beyo...

‘Chetty’s I am Going to Make a Friend carries on Lobel’s project. It is his first picture book; we can hope for many more.’ Delighted to read such a detailed philosophical review of I'm Going to Make a Friend. digitalcommons.montclair.edu/iapc_thinkin...

‘Chetty’s I am Going to Make a Friend carries on Lobel’s project. It is his first picture book; we can hope for many more.’ Delighted to read such a detailed philosophical review of I'm Going to Make a Friend. digitalcommons.montclair.edu/iapc_thinkin...

Interrogating the tellers of history. @ibbyuk.bsky.social conf. Saturday 8thNov 🤩starry lineup!🤩 Incl.: Farrah Serroukh @theclpe.bsky.social @gitaralleigh.bsky.social @balirai.bsky.social @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social @darrenchetty.bsky.social @chrishaughton.bsky.social

Great Line up! Tickets available: www.tickettailor.com/events/ibbyu... @ibbyuk.bsky.social @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social @theclpe.bsky.social @chrishaughton.bsky.social @gitaralleigh.bsky.social @balirai.bsky.social @candygourlay.bsky.social @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social

Very excited about the upcoming @ibbyuk.bsky.social conference! Come along and hear from these AMAZING speakers or stream online. WHOSE HISTORY? Challenging historical narratives through writing for children and young people #kidlituk #ukkidlit #edusky

Great Line up! Tickets available: www.tickettailor.com/events/ibbyu... @ibbyuk.bsky.social @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social @theclpe.bsky.social @chrishaughton.bsky.social @gitaralleigh.bsky.social @balirai.bsky.social @candygourlay.bsky.social @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social

We're thrilled to welcome back @darrenchetty.bsky.social to our #ThoughtfulConference2025 Darren will speak about the notion of 'Cynefin' which has become central to educational discourse in Wales. Its not to late to join us: www.sapere.org.uk/conference-2... DM for info on bursary tickets.

Delighted to be asked back onto the 50YSR podcast to talk about the Wizard of Oz in December. Here's my last time, talking about Return to Oz: podscan.fm/podcasts/fif...

Declaring something as the best while also admitting complete ignorance of alternatives is not a war on Woke but a war on logic.

Here’s ⬇️⬇️⬇️your reminder of why you want to be taking your book buying to @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social 😃 (Nb: if you support our work, this is an additional way to boost us: choose us as your bkshop at bookshop.org & a % of ANY book you buy goes to us + other indie booksellers♥️)

⭐️Comics &graphic novels starring racially minoritised characters.    With each #BeyondTheSecretGarden column by @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social & @darrenchetty.bsky.social in @booksforkeeps.bsky.social -we share the highlights at @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social #KidLitUK uk.bookshop.org/lists/beyond...

EMC In-person: Belonging and unbelonging in children’s literature (EMC_Free) www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/6fae...

THE Rad. Children’s Book Party of 2025😉 For those of you who were there- and those of you who weren’t, you can now see an album of happy faces from the recent #LittleRebelsAward Award Ceremony here: littlerebels.org/2025/10/10/p... @housmansbookshop.bsky.social #KidLitUK

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

And now, (some of) our 2025 #LittleRebelsAward Shortlistees happily join our little gallery of past shortlistees- thank you, all of you, for all of the work you have done making social justice topics engaging, riveting & accessible for young audiences ♥️ #KidLitUK ⤵️

I judged this year’s Welsh music prize – and Don Leisure’s winning album sums up the nation’s eclectic spirit

Charity Event- 16 October: A 100-year Journey of Diversity and Representation in Comics! www.cartoonmuseum.org/whats-on-eve...

Delighted to be included. Read the full @booktrust.org.uk list here: www.booktrust.org.uk/book-recomme...

It's the start of Banned Books week. And the Nobel Prize for Literature will be announced on Thursday bannedbooksweek.org

…your contributions were spot on,highlighting the political/radical ‘work’ of your books &truly showcasing why you all own the title BIG REBEL It was a privilege to hear you all-the audience feedback was so, so good! @northodoxpress.bsky.social @knightsofbooks.bsky.social @graffegbooks.bsky.social

1/2 A fabulous Little Rebels Award Shortlistee Panel at our award night last week. Thank you @darrenchetty.bsky.social for your always-thoughtful & inquisitive chairing. And thank you @sarahhaggerholt.bsky.social @ellemcnicoll.bsky.social @sflayzell.bsky.social &Cathy Jenkins.. #KidsLitUK #UKKidsLit

More than 6,800 book bans were enacted during the 2024-25 school year in 87 p-s districts across 23 states, acc2a report released Wed by PEN America, a nonprofit that advocates4free expression. The report was released ahead of Banned Books Week, which starts Sunday. www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-...

A superb collection!!

Delighted to be included. Read the full @booktrust.org.uk list here: www.booktrust.org.uk/book-recomme...

Enjoyed talking about Beyond the Secret Garden, children's and YA literature, racism and antiracism...and Roy of the Rovers...Huge thanks to Susan Cahill and Sinéad O'Hart for inviting us!

shows.acast.com/storyshaped Excited to see that the Storyshaped episode with @darrenchetty.bsky.social is available for everyone to hear now!