Welcome to this month’s round up of what has been happening in the world of children’s books. February saw the announcement of the longlists for the Carnegie Medals for Writing and Illustration and of this year’s Read for Empathy Collections. These highlight both the range and the quality of children’s literature available and its importance. Of course next week is World Book Day and the excellent Literacy Hive website has a range of resources and ideas linked here if you are still doing any last minute organising.

A personal highlight this month was attending the celebrations to mark ten years of Empathy Lab at the Artworkers’ Guild in London. This was a chance to thank founder Miranda McKearney for the awesome job she has done and to give a warm welcome to Imogen Bond who has taken over Miranda’s role. There was an air of positivity and hope in the room that was so reassuring and valued by all who were there I think. Please do have a look at the links included in this round up providing information about the new Read for Empathy Collection and one of their forthcoming training sessions.

What I’m reading…

An animal whodunit for new readers, entertaining little witches on a mission, dragons and danger, exploring life on the Moon and a ghostly visitor in the fog feature in my selection of books for children published this month. You can read my reviews here. My Dog, a debut by Olivia Wakeford illustrated by David Litchfield, is the story of a friendship between ten year old Rhys and a black Labrador called Worthington. It is also a tender exploration of grief, family, friendship and love which could help readers to recognise emotions in themselves and in others. This book would be a powerful tool for developing empathy. I was grateful to be given the opportunity to review this book for Just Imagine.

When Diamonds by Armin Gerder was longlisted for the Carnegie in 2022 I was struck by the powerful storytelling through both text and illustration in this thought provoking picture book. It was published in paperback in January and revisiting it now I’m reminded that its themes, including poverty, capitalism, inequality and corruption, make this an excellent tool for prompting discussion on social matters for secondary age pupils and for upper primary too.

At the moment I am reading A Skeleton in the Closet, the first in the new Mizzy Mysteries by Claire Hatcher-Smith. Published this week its main protagonist, would be super sleuth Mizzy, has Down Syndrome and as we mark National Down Syndrome Awareness Day on 21st of this month this enjoyable story is well timed. It is so good so see inclusive representation of this type and to allow all children to see themselves in books.

News, articles and resources…

World Book Day: The Children’s Book Show Presents Michael Rosen’s Request Show – I understand that it is not too late for you to sign up for this free live on-line event on Thursday 6th March at 11.30am. Over the last few weeks children have been submitting their special requests so that Michael Rosen will be performing poems that are the children’s favourites. He will also be answering pupil questions, talking about the joy and importance of poetry, and sharing some stories from his life as a writer. It promises to be a happy event and a great way to celebrate World Book Day.

Waterstones Children’s Book Award Shortlist – this shortlist, chosen by booksellers, was announced in February. This year’s selection is a tribute to the depth and diversity of contemporary children’s literature across three age ranges, from a gorgeous picture book celebration of Chinese cuisine to a shapeshifting girl’s fantastical quest and a razor-sharp queer romcom. The category winners and overall winner will be announced at a special ceremony on the evening of Thursday 27 March.

Henrietta Branford Writing Competition Opens – The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition, the annual competition for young people which runs in conjunction with the Branford Boase Award, opened on 11th February. The competition aims to find and encourage writers of the future, something author Henrietta Branford was always keen to do. Anyone under the age of 19 can enter the competition. This year’s competition with the theme, “Make ‘em laugh!” is inspired by 2024 winner Nathanael Lessore’s book, Steady For This. The judges are looking for stories, poems, song or rap lyrics that will make them laugh. They can be inspired by real life events (like many of the incidents in Nathanael’s books) or entirely fictitious. Six winners will receive signed copies of each of the books shortlisted for the 2025 Branford Boase Award. Their stories, poems, song or rap lyrics will be published on the Branford Boase Award website. The closing date is Friday 30 May 2025.

Empathy Lab Reveal the 2025 Read for Empathy Collections – this unique list of 70 titles for children and young people aged 3-16+ has been carefully curated by experts as a tool to help those living and working with children and young people to discover empathy-boosting reading recommendations in the run up to Empathy Day. Sharing this collection of books and using the guides provided by Empathy Lab feels like something we can all do in the face of mounting concern about children’s well-being. Please do explore the helpful resources and information provided.

Tuesday 11th March 4.00pm-5.30pm. An Empathy Lab short online training course. ‘Boys
Books and Reading for Empathy’. As our boys grow up, there are concerning trends
which we believe educating for empathy has the potential to combat. This training helps
you choose and use empathy-rich books which increase reading for pleasure, explore
what it is like to be a boy or young man in 2025, challenge pressures to conform to
gender stereotypes, raise aspiration and support wellbeing. Aimed at teachers,
librarians and parents.Cost: £70/person with 10% discount for members of the SLA, SLG,
YLG and the UKLA. Booking information can be found on the link above.

School Library Association: Reading and Empathy: Sharing young people’s experiences – webinar 17th March 3.30pm -4.30pm free for SLA members Hear about the latest research, explore how students can be supported in using reading to understand themselves and others, and discuss how to apply this research in your school library.

2025 Carnegie Medals Longlist Announced – on 12th February the long lists for Carnegie Medals for both Writing and Illustration were announced. These longlists were chosen from 119 nominations by the judging panel which includes 14 children’s and youth librarians from CILIP’s Youth Libraries Group. Independent publishers dominate with 23 books longlisted from 13 different publishing houses, including small presses Firefly Press, Otter-Barry, Little Island, Lantana and UCLan Publishing. British writers dominate the Medal for Writing longlist, including Scottish writers Brian Conaghan, and Margaret McDonald, Welsh writer Lesley Parr and Irish writer C.G. Moore.

Love My Books February Newsletter – Lovemybooks is for parents, carers, teachers, schools, and early years staff, created by literacy experts. It is free and ad free with over 250 activity pages full of creative book-based ideas and their regular newsletter highlights new additions to their helpful website. February’s newsletter includes a lovely article by a new mum describing her baby’s reading journey and suggestions for baby’s first bookshelf. There are wise words from Love My Books patron Frank Cottrell Boyce and brilliant new activities linked to books for children of differing ages. It is well worth signing up for the newsletter if you haven’t already done so.

Are picture books undervalued? This new ambassador of children’s literature thinks so. – I was nodding vigorously as I read this interview with Mac Barnett, the Library of Congress’ newest National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. “We’re never going to win the argument that you should read a book because it’s good for you,” he said. “This isn’t why kids read.”

The Klaus Flugge Prize Longlist Announced – This is the tenth year of the Klaus Flugge Prize, which was set up in 2016, in honour of esteemed publisher Klaus Flugge, a hugely influential figure in picture books and founder of publishing house Andersen Press. The prize is awarded annually to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s book illustration. This year there were over three dozen submissions, from 26 different publishing houses; 16 have made it to the longlist. You can find out more about the illustrators and their books on the official website linked above. Do look out for some online events with the 2024 winner, Kate Winter, to mark the tenth year of the award.

An Evening in With Just Imagine: Online Book Event: Mental Health and Well Being – the online events organised by Just Imagine for their author and illustrator events programme, plus topical panel discussions, is perfect for teachers, librarians, and all adults who create and enjoy children’s books. Next Thursday 6th March at 7pm Nikki Gamble is joined by Stewart Foster and Coral Rumble, whose latest books sensitively draw attention to the problems many young people face.

Hay Festival Programme for Schools – The Hay Festival 2025 free Schools Programme was announced recently. Step into a world of different perspectives, KS2 Thursday 22nd May & KS3/4 Friday 23rd May 2025 both live and online. There are some fabulous authors participating including, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Patrice Lawrence and Jenny Pearson. Places are on a first-come first-served basis and all events will be livestreamed on the day and are free to watch again later. Booking details are available on the website above.  

Storytelling Magic: an interview with Judith Eagle – The Great Theatre Rescue is one of my reading highlights of the year so far and Joy Court has interviewed Judith for Books for Keeps. If my review didn’t tempt you I think this interesting article may do!

Children’s and teens roundup: the best new picture books and novels – Imogen Russell Williams’ latest selection of new books include a boy with his head in the clouds; a Kurdish refugee’s tale; helicopter heists, a dancer’s dreams, a mission to save Mars and more.

LitFest 2025 – From workshops to story trails, poetry to storytelling there is something for all ages this March with LitFest. Much of the programme is available to access both online and in person, and the children’s events are free.

National Literacy Trust: Audiobooks and literacy – The National Trust’s latest research found that in 2024, 2 in 5 (42.3%) children and young people said they enjoyed listening to audio formats. It also found that listening enjoyment is stable across age groups and genders. Following the previous research on the decline in reading enjoyment this is a positive to be built on. The National Literacy Trust website linked above contains further research and resources for schools and tips for families to help you explore the world of audiobooks.

Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye recently…

Our Love written & illustrated by Fátima Ordinola – I am always keen to discover picture books for my little grandson and this review by Veronica Price has pushed Our Love on to my shopping list. This celebration of parental love featuring many different animals would also be appropriate to share as we approach Mothers’ Day.

George and the Mini-Dragon by George Webster with Helen Harvey illustrated by Tim Budgen – National Down Syndrome Awareness Day takes place on 21st March and I would particularly like to draw attention to this wonderful review by Jacqui Sydney. You may be aware that George Webster, of CBeebies fame, has published two picture books but this is his first chapter book. Jacqui sums up the book’s appeal when she says, “Readers will really take to George for the simple reason that in so many ways, he is just the same as them.“

After by  Pádraig Kenny – a new sci-fi thriller by the author of the popular The Wild Robot set in a post apocalyptic world due out next week and reviewed by Tom Griffiths. In his review Tom highlights the many possibilities for discussion prompted by the themes contained in this story. He also says that it will be one of his favourite reads of the year so definitely one to look out for!

Pieces of Us by Stewart Foster – Monday 24th February to Sunday 2nd March is Eating Disorders Awareness Week and the blog tour to mark the publication of Stewart Foster’s first YA title has been taking place to coincide with this event. Kate Heap’s review highlights its importance to readers: “Honest, heartfelt and real, it explores sensitive topics with courage and strength. Stewart Foster’s debut young adult novel is just as powerful as his incredibly successful middle grade stories.“

That’s everything for this month and I do hope that everyone enjoys their World Book Day celebrations.