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BookTrust: Getting children reading
- About BookTrust, the UK’s largest children’s reading charity
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Quizzes
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- Incredible facts about the secret life of bees...
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- Roald Dahl: how many fantastic facts do you know about the legendary storyteller and his books?
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Stories for kids online and fun games to play
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Writing tips from authors
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- Finding a publisher, by Louise Walters
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- How technology can help you write, by Nikesh Shukla
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Patrick Ness's guide to writing
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News and features: What's happening in children's books
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BookTrust news
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BookTrust news 2019
- BookTrust announces judges line up for Blue Peter 20th Anniversary Book Awards
- BookTrust Storytime Prize shortlist unveiled in search for best book for sharing
- BookTrust teams up with Cyberjammies for Pyjamarama
- Calling all Reception classes in Wales… The Pori Drwy Stori explorers need your help!
- Candy Gourlay takes the reins as new BookTrust Writer in Residence
- Cressida Cowell announced as new Waterstones Children’s Laureate
- Cyril and Pat by Emily Gravett crowned winner of first ever BookTrust Storytime Prize
- Floella Benjamin and James Mayhew join top librarians to judge BookTrust Storytime Prize
- Funny children's books are celebrated as the Lollies 2018 winners are unveiled
- Here are the 2020 Blue Peter Book Awards contenders – and there's something for everyone
- 'It's really never too early to share a book': Paul Howard-Jones to give BookTrust Annual Lecture
- Jan Pienkowski honoured with BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award
- Join BookTrust Cymru to celebrate the Big Welsh Rhyme Time 2020
- Jump into you PJs with BookTrust's Pyjamarama
- Just one book can brighten a vulnerable child's Christmas: BookTrust launches festive fundraising campaign
- Leeds City Council and BookTrust sign exciting partnership to launch the Leeds Year of Reading
- Less than 2% of published authors and illustrators in the UK are British people of colour says new BookTrust research
- Marta Altés kicks off the 2019-20 Arts Council NI Author Tour as all Primary One pupils receive her book
- Michael Rosen unveils the hilarious books on the Lollies Awards 2020 shortlist
- Minister for Education launches new programme to boost speaking and listening skills for 10,000 nursery children
- New Bookstart Dechrau Da titles announced for 2019
- New BookTrust Writer in Residence, Cerrie Burnell, to share the magic of storytelling
- New Caru Canu TV series helps children in Wales sing and rhyme
- On the Same Page – early book sharing across health, education and the arts
- On the same page conference about reading for children in Northern Ireland
- Parents swap books for tech at bedtime, new BookTrust research discovers
- Patrice Lawrence, Chitra Soundar and more stars join BookTrust Represents' first training events
- Patronus art auction for BookTrust kicks off celebrations marking 20 years of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Poetry and big issues take the lead in children's books as Carnegie and Kate Greenaway medals announce 2019 longlists
- Pyjamarama: Etiquette expert William Hanson shares his top tips for wearing PJs out and about
- Reception teachers… win a Pori Drwy Stori Celebration Event for your school!
- Sainsbury's Children's Book Awards unveils 2019 shortlist in fiercest competition yet
- Sarah McIntyre gets school kids bubbling with creativity
- The Boy at the Back of the Class and The Colours of History win 2019 Blue Peter Book Awards
- The Duchess of Cornwall has hosted a tea at Clarence House yesterday to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Waterstones Children’s Laureate
- The Pori Drwy Stori explorers have been named!
- Time to Read 2019 book is The Cave by Rob Hodgson
- Verse novels lead the way as Carnegie and Greenaway Medal shortlists are unveiled
- We’re proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Letterbox Club in Wales.
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BookTrust news from 2020
- "Creativity has never been more important": Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell launches creative summer camp
- #PassThePen unveils pairings taking part in campaign to promote authors and illustrators of colour
- #Unitedbybooks: Leading children’s reading organisations, authors and illustrators come together to support families at home
- Author Dan Freedman talks knife crime, gang culture and sibling rivalry as part of his Northern Ireland school tour
- Bath Festivals and the Waterstones Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell go global with the launch of the free online Reading is Magic Festival
- Big-Welsh-Rhyme-Time-what’s-happening-10th-to-14th-February-2020
- Blue Peter celebrates 20 years of favourite children’s books – time to pick a winner!
- Bookstart founder and children's books pioneer Wendy Cooling dies
- BookTrust Cymru gives over 35,000 free books to children in Wales
- BookTrust Cymru HomeTime
- BookTrust gifts over 235,000 books to children across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to help families impacted by lockdown
- BookTrust gives away over 50,000 copies of picture book My Pet Star to help families during lockdown
- BookTrust launches Time to Read campaign to help 740,000 children start school
- BookTrust NI's care package initiative delivers 20,000 free books to families during lockdown
- BookTrust Represents and Waterstones Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell team up to promote authors and illustrators of colour with #PassThePen
- BookTrust selects The Runaway Pea for 2020 Time to Read campaign
- BookTrust Storytime Prize Shortlist Unveiled
- Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell's tenure extended until 2022
- Detectives, discoveries and incredible people from history make the line-up as the 2021 Blue Peter Book Awards contenders are revealed
- Education Minister Peter Weir confirms funding for BookTrust’s Bookstart programme in Northern Ireland
- Elmer and Mr Benn creator David McKee wins BookTrust's Lifetime Achievement Award
- Harry Potter wins Blue Peter Book Awards 20th Anniversary prize
- Molly and the Shutdown launches in Irish, Welsh and English
- More than a quarter of a million school children experiencing literary poverty
- New BookTrust Illustrator in Residence Ed Vere is set to inspire with the power of pictures for children’s wellbeing
- Our Pori Drwy Stori Celebration Winners!
- Parents reveal the bad habits their children tell them off for.
- Pride of Rotherham: Ed Vere paints stunning new mural for Clifton Park and Museum
- Reading and traditional children’s activities surge in lockdown – but significant minority are at risk of falling behind
- Reading is Magic Festival: Discover the all-star line-up of authors and illustrators joining Cressida Cowell
- Reading Together Day: Ambassadors and schedule highlights announced for 16 July 2020
- Representation in children’s books still not reflective of society, says BookTrust and CLPE
- Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Awards 2020 Winners Announced
- Sharna Jackson inspires the next generation of authors in Bristol
- Shortlists for 2020 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals announced
- Smriti Halls named as BookTrust's new Writer in Residence
- The Big Welsh Rhyme Time 2020: What a week of rhyming fun!
- This Is Owl rules the roost and wins the BookTrust Storytime Prize 2020
- Waterstones Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell launches new BookTrust Home Time hub for families
- Wildspark and Rise Up triumph to be crowned winners of the 2020 Blue Peter Book Awards
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BookTrust news from 2021
- “Poetry has power” says John Agard, the first poet to be awarded BookTrust’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award
- A Kind of Spark and A Day in the Life of a Poo, A Gnu and You are crowned winners of the 2021 Blue Peter Book Awards
- All primary schools in England to be supported to bring inclusive and representative stories into the classroom
- Aspiring comedians, polar bears and animal inventors make the line-up as we reveal the 2022 Blue Peter Book Awards contenders
- Bookstart Baby Packs in Wales are changing
- BookTrust and the Sun on Sunday team up for Books For Kids campaign
- BookTrust Cymru launches week of rhymes and stories to boost children’s wellbeing and support families during lockdown
- BookTrust helps CBeebies update their Storytime app to support families on their reading journeys
- BookTrust Represents, Knights Of and CLPE unveil new Black British anthology Happy Here
- BookTrust teams up with over 20 other organisations to celebrate a Summer of Reading
- BookTrust to support 740,000 new primary school children to make Time to Read
- BookTrust’s new Writer-Illustrator in Residence set to champion under-represented voices and the art of storytelling
- Clare shares how she was inspired to take a virtual walk to Buckingham Palace for BookTrust
- Coming soon: A new public library experience to help more families ‘discover the joy of reading’
- Experts call to put the needs of babies and the youngest children at the heart of the next Welsh Government
- Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall announces her continued Patronage of BookTrust
- McIlveen confirms funding for Bookstart Baby programme
- Onjali Q. Raúf announced as BookTrust Writer in Residence
- The Duchess of Cornwall joins Waterstones Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell MBE to open 'Life-changing Library' at Griffin Primary School in Wandsworth
- Tummy Time and Zoom to the Moon added to Bookstart Baby bags to inspire a love of reading
- Waterstones Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell launches flagship Life-changing Libraries project to show the transformative power of libraries
- Welsh Government invests an additional £5 million to support more children in Wales to develop a love of reading
- Year 6 pupils in Wales prepare for reading Journeys and Adventures
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News 2017
- Bardd Plant Cymru pens poem for 25 years of Bookstart
- Bath, Book, Bed: Exhausted parents lose over 650 hours of sleep a year
- Blue Peter Book Awards shortlist: fiction favourites flaunt strong female leads
- Bookbuzz: 17 books to make reading fun for your class
- BookTrust teams up with Lego to give families free Duplo
- Children meet author Sheena Wilkinson at Belfast Harbour
- Children want books about gaming this Christmas, according to new polling
- Children’s Book Club makes way for brand-new BookTrust website
- 'Children's books should be taken seriously', says Lauren Child
- Chris Riddell becomes BookTrust
- Chris Riddell visits Belfast pupils to encourage doodling, drawing and visits to school libraries
- Eluned Morgan AM celebrates 25 years of Bookstart
- Faber titles win 2017 Blue Peter Book Awards
- Fabulous judges sign up for this year's Blue Peter Book Awards
- Lauren Child becomes the tenth Waterstones Children’s Laureate
- Lauren Laverne reads a new online story your child will love
- New research shows parents sideline story time for social media
- New Writer in Residence Taran Matharu bridges gap between video games and reading
- Raymond Briggs wins BookTrust 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award
- Sainsbury’s joins forces with reading charity BookTrust to celebrate books and stories
- Snap up special discounted theatre tickets to a showing of The Lorax
- The Bumblebear: every reception child in England will get this book
- Young readers dive into a Titanic book event in Belfast
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News 2018
- ‘Every child should have access to literature and creativity,' say two Children’s Laureates
- 123 Splosh, All About Me! and Max the Brave unveiled as brand new Bookstart titles
- Alex T. Smith visits Belfast schools to help inspire a love of reading
- Author Sarah Crossan makes an 'inspiring' visit to Northern Ireland students
- BookTrust celebrates 20 years of the Waterstones Children’s Laureate
- BookTrust Cymru supports thousands of nursery children in Wales to develop early language and oracy skills
- BookTrust NI and SONI celebrate their continued partnership in Armagh
- BookTrust partners with ClearVision Project to bring Braille books to children
- BookTrust supports families in Wales to ‘Take Time to Talk, Listen and Play’
- 'Boredom and staring into space must be allowed,' says Lauren Child at BookTrust NI event
- 'Denying children books dumps them into a cultural wasteland,' says Baroness Floella Benjamin at BookTrust Annual Lecture
- Fake news not fooling kids who read, says BookTrust and leading developmental psychologist
- Free books for toddlers as BookTrust NI and SONI celebrate their ongoing partnership to get more children reading
- How books can help toddlers to develop vital life skills
- Is fiction actually stranger than fact? Decide for yourself as the 2019 Blue Peter Book Awards contenders are revealed
- John Burningham and Helen Oxenbury win double BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award
- Keeeeeep reading! Strictly star Ore Oduba teams up with BookTrust for National Bookstart Week
- Local children boogie with the birds to celebrate National Bookstart Week in Northern Ireland
- Louise Pentland, Alex T Smith and Darren Chetty to judge Blue Peter Book Awards 2019
- Michael Morpurgo gets knighthood for services to literature and charity
- Monkeying around with reading: every reception child in England to get this free book
- Nadia Shireen announced as the new BookTrust Writer-Illustrator in Residence
- Nadia Shireen announces winners of Me, Myself and I writing competition
- Poet Aneirin Karadog visits school children in Ceredigion to celebrate stories and rhymes
- Putting poetry in the picture
- Romantic relationships are suffering because of a lack of sleep, parents admit
- Sainsbury's Children's Book Awards 2018 shortlist is revealed
- Tales of unexplained phenomenon and magical witches and warriors win 2018 Blue Peter Book Awards
- The Big Welsh Rhyme Time
- The Tiger Who Came to Tea named Children's Classic at Sainsbury's Book Awards
- Winners announced for the first international Lauren Child Poetry Illustration Prize
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News 2022
- Award-winning poet, playwright and author Joseph Coelho announced as new Waterstones Children's Laureate
- BookTrust awarded £17.3m and recognised as National Portfolio Organisation by Arts Council England
- BookTrust CEO and Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho visit the Queen Consort at Buckingham Palace
- BookTrust finds UK parents are preparing for a scaled-down Christmas as cost-of-living crisis bites
- BookTrust NI and Salvation Army help inspire a love of reading
- BookTrust Northern Ireland teams up with Children’s Books Ireland to ensure children on both sides of the Irish border have access to diverse and inclusive books
- BookTrust teams up with Waterstones Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell and World Book Day for special #PassThePen
- BookTrust unveils exciting new interactive books being included in Bookstart Baby bags
- Bradford Royal Infirmary teams up with local library service to give babies the best start in life with books
- Build-A-Bear Foundation pledges its support for BookTrust’s #JustOneBook appeal
- Cressida Cowell MBE announces end of tenure as Waterstones Children's Laureate
- It’s Rhyming Fun for Everyone as BookTrust Cymru’s Big Welsh Rhyme Time returns for 2023
- Jacqui takes part in the Marathon Walk London each year for BookTrust
- Michael Rosen to encourage reading and rhyming with babies and toddlers as BookTrust’s latest Writer in Residence
- New findings from BookTrust shine a spotlight on representation in children’s books and its impact on children’s motivations to read
- Nick Sharratt to celebrate the extraordinary power of pictures in children’s books as BookTrust’s latest Writer-Illustrator in Residence
- Rhymes, songs and stories take centre stage as BookTrust Cymru’s Big Welsh Rhyme Time returns for 2022
- Rhymes, songs and stories take centre stage as BookTrust Cymru’s Big Welsh Rhyme Time returns for 2022
- Supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged children thanks to the generous support of Waterstones
- The Whales on the Bus picked by families as this year's BookTrust Storytime Prize winner
- Waterstones Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell MBE reveals transformative 'Life-changing Libraries' research
- Waterstones Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho launches Poetry Prompts campaign on National Poetry Day to 'inspire a nation of poets'
- Wildlife hits a winning streak as Invented by Animals & The Last Bear take top prizes at 2022 Blue Peter Book Awards
- World Book Day 2022: What you can expect to see from BookTrust
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News 2023
- #PassThePen returns to highlight up-and-coming authors and illustrators of colour
- “Every child can be a reader”: SF Said will champion making reading more inclusive as BookTrust’s new Writer in Residence
- “Fun is fundamental”: Michelle Robinson brings the fun of reading together to her role as BookTrust’s new Writer in Residence
- A BookTrust pilot is supporting families and practitioners to share stories with their children in their early years
- Almost a quarter of children from low-income families missing out on the benefits of reading in their first year
- Black British Book Festival returns to celebrate inclusivity in literature
- BookTrust and Adoption Focus supporting families through shared reading
- BookTrust and Kinship partner to empower kinship carers through shared reading
- BookTrust and St Christopher’s Fellowship champion family-focused reading this summer
- BookTrust brings 50,000 children into over 2000 libraries with its Storytime programme and announces the shortlist for the 2024 BookTrust Storytime Prize
- BookTrust celebrates double win at the prestigious MRS Awards
- BookTrust celebrates World Book Day 2023
- BookTrust Chief Executive Diana Gerald awarded MBE in King's Birthday Honours
- BookTrust Early Years report highlights success in encouraging family reading
- BookTrust research highlights the importance of multiple 'reading influencers'
- BookTrust Storytime returns to Northern Ireland to help make visiting the library a regular part of family life
- BookTrust to share new interactive Axel Scheffler book chosen by early years experts to encourage families to start reading with their babies
- Can You Tickle a Tiger? wins BookTrust Storytime Prize 2023
- Dads Make Stories Magic: BookTrust teams up with Farshore and HarperCollins to get dads reading
- How does reading benefit children?
- Letterbox Club: Our impact in 2023
- New mum writes and publishes children’s book during maternity leave to raise money for BookTrust
- New projects remember Bookstart founder Wendy Cooling MBE
- New research from BookTrust reveals the impact of parental reading enjoyment on children’s reading habits
- Poetry Prompts with Waterstones Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho to return - with special guests
- RENEW X BookTrust: The Biodiversity Storytelling Summit 2023
- Share the magic of books with children who need it most, with BookTrust's 2023 Christmas appeal
- Sharing books and bears to get children reading – BookTrust and Build-A-Bear Foundation
- The 2024 Booktrust Storytime Shortlist - The Best Books For Sharing With Young Children
- Waterstones Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho launches 'Bookmaker Like You' with a mission to ensure 'every child can see themselves as as storyteller with a voice to be heard'.
- Waterstones Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho set to complete epic library marathon
- Yorkshire’s elected Mayors join forces with BookTrust and commit to promoting early years reading to give local children the best start in life
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News 2024
- #PassThePen: Emerging authors and illustrators of colour in the spotlight
- Author Adeola Sokunbi kicks off BookTrust’s author tour of Northern Ireland’s primary schools
- Author Sophy Henn joins the BookTrust Northern Ireland Stories tour
- Award-winning author & screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce revealed as new Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2024-2026
- Big Welsh Rhyme Time brings bilingual rhyming fun to children in Wales
- Bookshop.org launches new charitable initiative ‘Read It Forward’ with BookTrust
- BookTrust and Big Give: Double the joy of reading together
- BookTrust announce the BookTrust Storytime book of the year for children under five
- BookTrust research reveals decline in childhood reading enjoyment
- Flying enthusiast takes to the skies to raise money for BookTrust
- How our Northern Ireland Authors tour helped get children reading
- Leading children’s reading charity BookTrust, announce the ‘must have’ books for children under five
- Literary magazine Slightly Foxed support BookTrust with 20th anniversary prize draw
- Patrice Lawrence MBE to shine a light on how books can support vulnerable children as BookTrust’s new Writer in Residence
- Pyjamarama 2024: Registrations are open for the ultimate reading day!
- Rashmi Sirdeshpande unveiled as BookTrust's new Writer in Residence
- Reading Together: BookTrust teams up with all 12 Children's Laureates to call for investment in early years reading
- Registrations now open for BookTrust’s Letterbox Club 2024-25 programme
- Strictly’s Carlos Gu returns to Blackpool to launch CBeebies Bedtime Story and BookTrust collaboration
- What schools think about Bookbuzz – survey results are in!
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BookTrust news 2019
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Features
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2013
- 30 things to tell a book snob
- 30 Things to tell a Grammar Snob
- A character I have loved unswervingly since I was seven years old...
- A Comfortable Hammock for Boobs
- Alan Johnson: 'We must get books into children's hands'
- Ask BookTrust - Why does my son re-read the same books?
- Boys, books and football
- Celebrating forgotten favourites
- Creating a book-loving school
- Disability in classic children's literature
- Giving the girls elbow room
- How to make books more popular
- Inside the Book Fort
- Leigh Bardugo: The Grisha Honour Guard
- Mary Hoffman - My favourite books
- My favourite books from childhood
- Pollockmaniacs: Anne Plichota and Cendrine Wolf
- Researching The River Singers
- Ros Asquith: Keeping difference in mind
- The Book Corner
- The root
- The Seven Writing Myths
- 'We are all works in progress'
- What is the opposite of a troll? A fairy, obviously
- What's in a name?
- Why people don't read books
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2014
- 15 things I learnt from judging the Blue Peter Book Awards 2015
- 5 Minutes with Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davis
- 'A book is like medicine, they make me feel better.' - Read for My School winner Alex Hewett
- Alex as Well
- Bookmark interviews Yasmeen Ismail
- BookTrust gifts books to neonatal units
- Childhood books, games and memories, and a slightly pompous elephant
- Disabled characters and the need for authenticity
- Emma Thompson opens new Peter Rabbit library: In pictures
- Emma Thompson talks to BookTrust
- Ensuring inclusive images
- Getting to know me
- In defence of unhappy endings (‘you just have to read it to understand’)
- Just give me the facts!
- Katherine Rundell talks about winning a Blue Peter Book Award 2014
- Laura Wall takes a gander at Goose
- Lemn Sissay & Sheena Wilkinson visit Northern Ireland for Foster Care Fortnight
- Line of Fire: Diary of an unknown soldier - author Barroux visits school
- Notes from the Drawing Board Starting stories with a picture
- Notes from the Drawing Board: Drawing with Conté crayons
- Notes from the Drawing Board: On a Quest with White Wizard (Neil) Gaiman
- Notes from the Drawing Board: There will be alligators
- On writing and needing diverse books
- On writing characters who aren't like me
- Red Squirrels - dyslexia friendly picture books
- Research Digest: December
- Research Digest: October 2014
- Research Digest: September 2014
- Rhyming 'maroon' with 'baboon'
- Sensing change: creating 'Off to the Park!'
- Sheena Wilkinson: Winner of the CBI Book of the Year
- The Five of Us: 'a gesture of solidarity'
- Tony Robinson on winning a Blue Peter Book Award: 'If happiness is usually the size of a tennis ball, I feel the size of Tasmania!'
- Valentine Joe: telling the story of the short life of a real person
- Vanessa Curtis on writing inclusive books
- Writing from the perspective of a bully
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2018
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April blogs on BookTrust
- 10 illustrations that will make you laugh
- 11 excellent Bath, Book, Bed tips that work - from parents
- 5 books to steal your imagination - by authors from around the world
- 5 brilliant books about eco-warriors: 'You're never too young to make a difference'
- Be brave and dive in with Eric Makes A Splash
- Best Bedtime Books: See inside our favourite stories for Bath, Book, Bed 2018
- Cerrie Burnell: 'Bath, Book, Bed is a great way to get calm and snuggly!'
- Daddy Pig shares his Bath, Book, Bed tips: 'The trick is not to fall asleep first!'
- Emma Shevah: Why I write about non-traditional families
- Fiction with facts: the best formula for children’s books?
- Get buzzing for this gorgeous new picture book about bees
- Hello Hot Dog: Meet the silly sausage having the wurst day of its life
- How to tell stories... when you have no time for stories
- Interview with The Mac - Kwame Alexander
- Knit your very own pom-pom baby with The Woollies
- Meet Spyder: the arachnid agent on a mission
- Nadia Shireen: Getting started in picture books and unhappy endings
- National Bookstart Week: top tips for planning your Bird Boogie events
- Nimesh the Adventurer: when a walk to school turns into an epic adventure
- Six of the best retellings of Shakespeare for young people
- Snuggle up with these gorgeous Bath, Book, Bed illustrations
- Using the School Library Pack: The BIG School Read
- Wacky Bees and Second-hand Dogs: Translating Children's Books
- What to Read After... Beast Quest
- Why bedtime stories are so important - and how schools can help
- Why I love Bookbuzz, by a school librarian
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BookTrust blogs for May
- 10 thrilling books for budding explorers, chosen by Vashti Hardy
- 7 enchanting children's books based on fairy tales
- 8 of the most inspiring real-life women in children's books
- A little history of the suffragette movement: in 8 pictures
- Ade Adepitan on his children's book: 'This generation can dare to dream'
- Discover fascinating flora with Plantopedia
- Feed their minds with Chicken: learn all about this free newspaper for children
- Get ready for the childhood treehouse of your dreams
- Here's how a Ted Talk inspired a school to love its library
- How books can help a child to talk about difficult feelings
- How to make a Bookstart Bird Boogie funky flamingo
- How to write poems on the beach
- Let's get Bonkers for Beetles
- Look at this story about one boy's dream to have a garden
- Louise O’Neill: 'I’m writing the books I needed to read when I was younger'
- Meet the 5 best new children's book illustrators on the Klaus Flugge shortlist
- National Bookstart Week: A week of activities that can last a lifetime
- Snuggle up and get cosy with You're Safe With Me
- Spreading love and acceptance: Why I wanted to write Hats of Faith
- What to Read After... Horrid Henry
- Why asking how to get boys reading might be the wrong question
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BookTrust's August 2018 blogs
- 5 best children's books about mermaids, chosen by Sibéal Pounder
- 5 best children's books set on islands, chosen by Cat Doyle
- 'Fairytales are timeless': Chris Riddell on his favourite magical stories
- Go on a beautiful magical journey with The Night Dragon
- How books could help mental health and ease anxiety in children
- How books help children discuss difficult feelings - and feel less alone
- John Burningham's Would You Rather sequel poses more dastardly dilemmas
- Nadia Shireen: What I got up to while Writer in Residence (and a goodbye music playlist)
- Short chapters and tight plotting: how Sarah Govett wants her book to appeal to struggling readers
- Talking about the refugee crisis: 'For the first time, I truly understood the need to write'
- The most majestically magical horse pictures you will see today
- What to read after... Enid Blyton
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BookTrust's features from November 2018
- ‘We can find wildness all around us’: Gill Lewis on her new book, environmentalism and her favourite books as a child
- 10 kids' books about war: 'A journey and a sense of hope'
- 5 science fiction stories that are perfect for children
- Anna James on the book characters from your childhood that never leave you
- Badlands author JR Wallis: How learning Anglo-Saxon brought my books to life
- Bursting the bubble: Beverley Naidoo on how books help children explore other worlds
- Compassion, patience, empathy and kindness: why we need to write more about disability
- Corey's Rock: Get inspired to create your own beautiful illustrations with Sita Brahmachari and Jane Ray
- Could you live in a House with Chicken Legs? Take this quirky quiz!
- Dara Ó Briain: Why reading non-fiction to children could help them find their passions
- Favourite facts about the human body: from the crew of Professor Astro Cat
- How to become a time traveller when you write, with these storytelling tips
- How to get children to use your school library
- How to write a fascinating fantasy story, by author Catherine Fisher
- 'I had no positive female role models': Caryl Hart on her inspirational new book Girls Can Do Anything
- 'I hope Big Bear looks after you': How A. F. Harrold found comfort from Barbara Firth's bears
- Incredible artist Shaun Tan on illustrating 'the kind of cities you walk through in dreams'
- Jacqueline Wilson interview: 'It makes me feel so proud if my books help a child'
- Linda Newbery: How I ended up writing the follow-up to the children's classic, Flambards
- Rhymes in early childhood
- Shirley Hughes: How my wartime memories inspired my new book
- Top ten facts about colour and their role over the centuries
- Try-at-home-science: Can you solve the case of the cunningly concealed carbon?
- Using your Mind Banks: How to create a new world from the one you live in right now...
- Welsh nursery rhymes have a rich and colourful history
- What to Read After... Tintin
- Why I love Enid Blyton: Famous fans like Nicola Sturgeon and Jacqueline Wilson share their favourite stories
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BookTrust's features from October 2018
- 10 best kids' books about dragons, chosen by Liz Flanagan
- 5 funny books for mid-grade readers, aged 8-12
- 6 fantastic voyages in kids' books, chosen by P.G. Bell
- 6 kids' books to inspire mindfulness, happiness and well-being
- A story from Syria: How books bring children together
- A Story is a two-way thing | Michael Foreman on his new book Stubby, the importance of sharing stories and his love for true tales
- Accepting the loss of your vision: an author's tender tale of resilience
- Alex Wheatle: What happens when diverse readers see themselves reflected in fiction
- Another story to tell: writing about cultural appropriation in Candy Gourlay's book Bone Talk
- Author Fleur Hitchcock: My favourite mystery books for children
- Baroness Floella Benjamin gives the BookTrust Annual Lecture
- Celebrate Paddington's 60th anniversary with these glorious illustrations
- 'Every princess has a name, a life': Jessie Burton on The Restless Girls, her feminist retelling of a Brothers Grimm fairytale
- Frann Preston-Gannon on illustrating I Am the Seed That Grew the Tree - with a new baby and a wrist injury
- Here's a special poem from Writer in Residence Nicola Davies for National Poetry Day
- How to draw Squashy, the pet pumpkin from the Amelia Fang books
- How to get autumn to inspire your writing
- 'It was hard to do his story justice': How Catherine Johnson told the tale of an incredible hero
- Poems to Live Your Life By: Peek inside Chris Riddell's glorious new anthology
- Read this exclusive poem from the first-ever official anthology for National Poetry Day
- What to Read After... Goosebumps
- Wisp: How Zana Fraillon wrote a picture book about refugees
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BookTrust's July 2018 blogs
- 5 brilliant circus stories chosen by Juman Malouf
- Adding colour to the world: see this picture book about an unlikely garden
- 'An army carrying pencils and notebooks': Telling the story of Cuba's brigadistas
- Be more badger with this sweet new picture book
- Crossing the divide: 5 wonderful children's books about war and peace
- 'Have a little daydream': Jacqueline Wilson shares her tips for budding writers
- Have some fun and draw a cat in pants
- Here is the silliest picture book you'll read this summer
- How Bookstart has helped my daughter - in so many ways
- How to draw a VERY naughty bank-robbing baby
- How to draw Nadia Shireen's hilarious character Fatcat
- Me, Myself & I: Here are the winners of our writing competition
- The Girls: A gallery of illustrations from the gorgeous new picture book
- What to Read After... Gone
- Why inclusive picture books need to think about class and poverty, by Anna McQuinn
- Writing about epilepsy: 'I hope it’s not epilepsy that defines Jamal, but his determination'
- Writing about outsiders: 'It’s important to tell stories that reflect the diversity of humankind'
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BookTrust's June 2018 blogs
- 5 fantastic fictional fathers, chosen by Rob Biddulph
- A loving look at the bond between dad and daughter
- BookTrust Cymru's Lehanne Thornton shares her family's favourite books about birds
- Enjoy a Bookstart Bird Boogie with these fantastic illustrations
- Forgotten women: meet Joan Procter, the amazing dragon doctor
- Gary's Banana Drama: See inside Jane Massey's new picture book about a hungry gorilla
- Get ready to laugh out loud with the 2018 Lollies Award shortlist
- How Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman created the Worst Book Ever
- How You Choose empowers children - and celebrates difference
- 'I found myself staring at whitewashed bookshelves': Ruby Lovell on the importance of diverse reading
- Immortalising beautiful characters: How Emma Shoard illustrated Mal Peet's The Family Tree
- Myths and stories behind beautiful trees from all over the world
- Nadia Shireen: How to make the most of your book nook or school library
- Removing the blinkers: Beverley Naidoo on discovering Cinderella of the Nile
- The Day War Came: telling the story of child refugees
- Time for a giggle: Joe Berger picks 5 fantastically funny books
- What Does an Anteater Eat? See inside Ross Collins's brilliant picture book
- What it's like to love and lose a granddad as a child
- What to Read After... David Walliams
- Why I made this funny children's book about a Muslim family
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BookTrust's September 2018 features
- 5 brilliant must-read children's books by Russian authors
- 5 ways to have a lot of fun reading with your child
- A little history of libraries and why they are so magical
- Author Andy Briggs on books: our secret weapon in stirring interest in STEM subjects
- Child I author Steve Tasane: 'These children could be any one of us'
- Children's author and BookTrust Writer in Residence Nicola Davies wants every child to look at the nature where they live
- Could you be a genius?
- 'Give me a chuckle alongside my chills every day of the week' Curtis Jobling
- Go to the seaside with author Nicola Davies and get inspired to write and draw
- How to draw... a roly-poly flying pony called Kevin
- 'I didn’t know that women were allowed to be writers': Jill Murphy on the magic of making your own worlds and why Mildred Hubble is just like her
- Karen McCombie 'Shh… don’t tell my daughter!'
- Look inside The Last Wolf: a picture book masterpiece by Mini Grey
- Marta Altés shows children how to draw a Little Monkey
- Marta Altes, author of Little Monkey: 'Picture books are magic because the real story is made up in your mind'
- Moby Dick with a twist: Discover Patrick Ness and Rovina Cai's gorgeous new book
- My Name is Not Refugee named Klaus Flugge Prize winner: take a look inside
- 'Passion makes the best books': Why finding new children's authors is so important
- 'Poetry is the piano of literature': Jason Reynolds on his his life, work and everything in between
- Refugee children at school: How the classroom can be a place of healing, by Onjali Q Raúf
- Robin Stevens on writing a very unusual book
- Sita Brahmachari's Song Diary
- Stephen Davies on writing Hilda: the fearless girl character that everyone's talking about
- The best of both worlds with Marianne Levy
- The Dam: a celebration of music and place by David Almond and Levi Pinfold
- 'The experience was magical': Why I take my Year 7 students to a bookshop
- The story behind Bus Stop Baby
- Tom Palmer 'if I can be frightened, it means I am more likely to be able to frighten you'
- 'Until I was nine years old, I didn’t like books' Ross Mackenzie
- What to Read After... The Chronicles of Narnia
- 'You don’t need to dumb down for children in any way whatsoever': Cressida Cowell on her new book, writing for children and Einstein's quotability
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January
- 5 virtual reality books for your gaming-mad tweens and teens
- 5 ways social media can connect students with authors they love
- Beautiful night-time illustrations
- Bookbuzz Design a Book Cover 2018 Winner and Runners Up
- Cressida Cowell on how to create your own fantasy world
- 'Every person with autism is unique': why this dad made a book about his daughter
- From Woof to Dogger: 5 of the best ever dogs in children's books
- Get Creative!
- Help this little firefly find its way out of the darkness
- How reading helped me bond with my baby boyHow reading helped me bond with my baby boy
- How to engage with aliterate readers
- How to make a really successful comic like Corpse Talk
- 'I didn't think kids would read Diary of a Wimpy Kid!': Jeff Kinney on his books' success
- It's never too early: here's how to do yoga with your baby
- 'Kids of all ages respond to pictures'
- Make your inner ten-year-old laugh: how to write funny fiction
- Meet Max the Brave: the kitten on a mission to be read by 600,000 children this year
- Say hello to Little Red Reading Hood
- Snuggle up and learn how to draw Siba & Saba with Sandra Van Doorn
- Start the Story highlights
- Tell me a story out of your mouth: How to share the gift of storytelling
- What To Read After... Diary of a Wimpy Kid
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March 2018 blogs on BookTrust
- 10 amazing facts about Nadia Shireen – and hear her latest story read by someone special
- 5 ways to engage students with the School Library Pack from BookTrust
- A slice of picture-book pizza fun with Jon Burgerman
- Bend me, shape me: The best shapeshifters in books
- Don't worry about your wobbles: Sophy Henn's top five tips for believing in yourself
- Fictional mothers that I love
- Greenaway Medal: see the outstanding children's illustrations in the running for 2018
- Ground-Breaking Women, from mathematicians to pirates
- 'I wanted a deaf character who could do things no one else in the book could!'
- King Coo: meet the hilarious girl who has a beard and guards the woods
- Laura Dockrill on expectations, Big Bones and body positivity
- Lauren Child: Why I've set up a fabulous new award for young illustrators
- My favourite children’s books set in the North
- My favourite misunderstood baddies
- Patrice Lawrence: Make More Noise
- Sir Michael Morpurgo interview: 'We must not talk down to children'
- Something Fishy: Get a sneak peek at Polly Dunbar's very grumpy cat
- 'Something for all readers': Meet the eight great books on the Carnegie Medal shortlist
- Super illustrations of a Superhero Mum
- Tallest Tower, Smallest Star: Blow your mind with these amazing facts
- The Strongest Mum: see inside Nicola Kents beautiful debut picture book
- Trish Cooke on 10 diverse books that are total classics
- Watch out, The Red Dread is about! See inside this brilliant new children's book.
- What to Read After... Jacqueline Wilson
- Why I love drawing in the great outdoors, by Petr Horacek
- Why I Wrote Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
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Read BookTrust's fun features on children's books from December 2018
- 5 wonderful wintry reads to snuggle up with, chosen by Catherine Fisher
- 7 classic picture books to share with your child this Christmas
- 8 books for children about stories of survival
- 8 cracking Christmas stories featuring animals
- Gorgeous wintry wonderlands to explore - and the book that made me fall in love with them
- 'Having animals as characters gives you freedom': The story of Armadillo and Hare
- Here's the REAL Jungle Book you've been waiting for
- Nicola Davies: Some things to think about to help you write about winter
- Stories that remind us to think about EVERYONE at Christmas – not just those that love it
- The best kids' books of 2018, chosen by top authors and illustrators
- The children's books you need to read before they become 2019 movies and TV shows
- The One in the Wheelchair – a look at children's books and disability
- 'We need strong girl heroes in books': Cressida Cowell and Neal Layton on creating Emily Brown
- What to Read After... That's Not My board books
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April blogs on BookTrust
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Blogs 2015
- A great children's book about communicating differently
- A year in the life of a Poet in Residence
- Attitudes to learning disability and how children's books can help
- Author and father Malcolm Judge on encouraging his boys to read
- Autumn storytime inspiration
- Bird's song: Viv Bird bids farewell to Book Trust
- Books are not just about reading!
- BookTrust CEO Diana Gerald: 'It’s not just education and life chances at stake: it’s also the well-being of families and children.’
- Breakthrough books for reluctant readers
- Bring happiness with books!
- Can you still fly... if you can't walk? Jacqueline Wilson on her new book, Katy
- Celebrating women illustrators
- Celebrity book reviews?
- Cerrie Burnell: ‘Not just a story about someone with one hand’
- Championing reading for pleasure in schools
- Children's books and speech, language and communication needs
- Chris Riddell on Goth Girl and the Fete Worse than Death, and the Blue Peter Book Awards 2015
- 'Dads aren’t reading enough to their children'
- David Almond - 'A humble giant of a writer'
- Diana Gerald on BookTrust's Summer of Love Reading
- Diana Gerald on the impact of our book gifting programmes
- Diana Gerald: How Bookstart Bear helped a father read to his son
- Diana Gerald: 'No two days are ever the same in this job'
- Diana Gerald: Relax and read this summer
- Diana Gerald: What makes an eager reader?
- 'Dreams of Freedom'
- Dyslexia support with Picture Squirrels!
- Engaging children in books
- Five minutes with Jennifer Niven
- Getting ready for school!
- How reading helps and inspires military families to connect
- How to celebrate books in schools
- How to get inspiration from inclusive books around the world
- How to make books the star of Christmas
- Independent Bookshop Week
- Is there an age up to which happy endings are required?
- James Bowen writes about sleeping rough in London and how meeting Bob changed his life
- Jandy Nelson: ‘I found both my individuality and humanity in books’
- Learning Through Touch
- LGBT representation in children's and YA Books
- Libraries have never been more important
- Me and Earl and the Dying Girl: is the film as good as the book?
- Meeting the writers you love
- New Year’s resolutions that you will make you read more
- Northern Irish pupils judge the Blue Peter Book Award
- Nursery rhymes in a digital world
- Our favourite teachers in children's books
- Our Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Shirley Hughes
- Pippa Goodhart on 'A Dog Called Flow'
- Reading Harry Potter fosters empathy? Find out more in our research roundup
- Refugee Week 2015: 15-21 June
- Regrets, I've had a few… My final Book Trust blog
- Sharing books: a mum’s point of view
- Shirley Hughes interview
- The ABC of YA
- The importance of Bookstart in Northern Ireland
- The importance of including all children in books
- Thoughtful picture books
- 'To Be Invisible is an Awful Thing'
- Treating little monsters to spooky stories
- 'What? The Real Jane Ray in our house?'
- What’s the issue with Issue Books?
- World Vegetarian Day: Smriti Prasadam-Halls on T-Veg - her vegetarian children's book
- World Voice Day
- 'Writers are the authors of empathy' says Miranda McKearney OBE, founder of Empathy Lab
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Blogs 2016
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April
- Chris Riddell's and Steve Cole's favourite funny books for children
- Danny Wallace and Jamie Littler: Writing funny books for children
- Dwarfism, dyslexia and discovering the world through books
- Here are the UK’s best book jokes
- Phil Earle's top 5 funny books
- Seriously Funny: Steve Cole on funny books
- So, why did the book cross the road?
- August
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December
- 11 towns, 48 schools, 1,500 children - The Children's Laureate Northern Tour
- An inspiring year of reading - and it's all thanks to you
- Authors' Best Middle Grade Books of 2016
- Authors' Best Picture Books of 2016
- Authors' Best Teen Books of 2016
- Creative inspiration for the Christmas holidays
- Drawing Hiccup and Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon
- Exclusive Jackie Morris illustrations
- Jacqueline Wilson: you can make wonderful friends when you read
- Nick Sharratt in Lebanon
- Take an exclusive peek at Abi Elphinstone's Christmas story
- Ten things I learned from judging the Blue Peter Book Awards
- The wonder of maps
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February
- Help your child love books this Valentine's Day
- Homework for Hogwarts – a short history of magic
- How to make the ideal inclusive library
- Love for Books: Children's book character Lonely Hearts
- Love for Books: The best independent bookshops we love!
- Love for Books: Why it's OK to love the books you love
- Love for Books: Your pictures
- Love for Books: Your pictures part 2
- Phil Earle on his new book, Superhero Street
- Phil Earle talks to Tom Palmer
- Read what you love: vlog
- Seven things you need to know about the books on the Blue Peter shortlist
- 'This book is for all the young people who feel different'
- January
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July
- 10 things you didn't know about Roald Dahl
- Beatrix Potter was a trailblazer – and here’s why
- BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award: In pictures
- Giving a voice to selective mutism
- How to use books to talk about depression with your child
- Listen to a great book this summer
- Liz Pichon: 'I can honestly say I feel like I have the best job in the world!'
- Phil Earle on the best audiobooks for children
- Philip Reeve on YA and sci-fi
- Roald Dahl: what the world needs now is ‘zozimus’
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June
- 5 women writers who broke the mould
- Here are the best book tote bags you'll ever own
- How to help your child get ready for a new baby
- How to make knickers bunting for the Queen in 5 easy steps
- Klaus Flugge Prize: here are the best up-and-coming illustrators
- Sophy Henn: 'There are so many great reasons to share books with young children'
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March
- 7 ways you talk Shakespeare and don’t even know it
- CEO Diana Gerald: Top 5 tips for choosing a book for your child
- Clare Furniss interview: 'It's never possible to know what all the consequences of any decision will be'
- Phil Earle on the Letterbox Club
- Phil Earle with Darren Shan: 'The biggest teacher is yourself’
- Reasons why you love Read for My School
- Sharing books - as well as chocolate - this Easter
- The most read Read for My School books of 2016: 1-5
- The most read Read for My School books of 2016: 6-10
- This is what you asked the Children's Laureate to draw
- World Book Day: Your pictures
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May
- 10 crazy things you need to know about Alice in Wonderland
- Bath, Book, Bed: In illustrations
- Bedtime reading with Leigh Hodgkinson
- Francesca Simon talks about The Monstrous Child
- How to get that festival feeling with your family – at home
- Hugless Douglas author talks bedtime stories with his children
- Phil Earle interviews Neill Cameron
- The Bolds with Julian Clary and David Roberts
- Tired parents and tired children is a recipe for disaster
- What happens when two Laureates meet for the first time
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November
- Authors' favourite children's book
- BBCYWA writers - what they loved to read
- Children’s Book Week: a chance to read for fun and not just for tests
- Gill Lewis, thoughts on conflict
- Hurrah for translators: why we need to translate more children’s books
- I'm in LA for the filming of How to Train Your Dragon
- Let's help every child love books, whatever their needs
- Michael Grant: what if women had fought in the Second World War?
- 'No wrong book' - how to get your child genuinely loving reading
- Pamela Butchart - embracing your 'inner weirdness'
- S J Maas interview: 'Reading still plays a huge part in my writing process'
- The Song from Somewhere Else: illustrations and pictures
- Tips for reluctant readers
- Tips for writing graphic novels from Boffin Boy author David Orme
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October
- Amazing reasons to read as a family - whatever their age
- Floella Benjamin on Coming to England and its impact 20 years on
- Here are 8 amazing books to read this Black History Month
- How books start the most wonderful conversations with your child
- Lara Williamson, goodbye isn't always the end
- Marcus Sedgwick on Saint Death
- My writing shed
- Still loving storytime with my 10-year-old boy
- Tahereh Mafi's Futhermore: 'I couldn't get this girl out of my head'
- The beginnings of The Bear and the Piano
- When Ideas Collide!
- Wordless books: how to step into the picture with your child
- Writers' writing sheds
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September
- BBCNSSA - The shortlist and their stories
- Ben Faulks and Ben Cort talk children's books, muddy puddles and children's TV
- Chris Routh on the joy of being read to
- Christopher Edge on Science and Wonder
- Clare Balding interview
- Dan Freedman: Breaking down the walls
- Dr Dominic Walliman and Ben Newman talk cats in space
- Frances Hardinge: Who wants to embroider when you can dig up prehistoric monsters?
- From baby to boy: how to use books as childhood milestones
- Harry Potter and the surprise you're never too old for storytime
- It's always Time to Read
- Lydia's story: back in the world of Pride and Prejudice
- Mary Hoffman: why children need more diverse books in the world
- Nick Butterworth: why reading with your child is a 'win-win'
- Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston interview
- Prue Goodwin: 'A positive relationship with books as early as possible is what creates a reader'
- Siobhan Curham talks new friends and chasing dreams
- Want to raise a reader? Cut down on that screen time
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April
-
Blogs 2017
-
April
- Abi Elphinstone: writing with dyslexia
- Bath, Book, Bed: Candy Gourlay's 10 books to read with your eyes shut
- Bring Back Bedtime Stories! One school's campaign to get kids reading
- Celebrating Roma, Gypsy and Traveller stories
- Drawing hands
- Have a sneak peek at the illustrations for Jon Klassen's new book
- How to draw a pirate penguin (you know you want to)
- Jo Frost picks her favourite bedtime books
- Jo Frost: Are you setting a bad bedtime example?
- Let's set off our characters on their own adventures
- My inspiration for A Berlin Love Song: The forgotten holocaust, the Persecution of Roma and Sinti in the Third Reich - Sarah Matthias
- Sweet dreams: Jo Frost's top tips on keeping children in bed
- The perfect bedtime story: Top authors choose their favourites
- Watch out! The Chocolate Monster's about...
- Why Old Bear's Jane Hissey wants to Bring Back Bedtime Stories
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August 2017 blogs
- A Big Box of Random Stuff in my Mind
- Adam Frost - How to make your facts awesome!
- BookTrust Research Digest - August 2017
- Celebrating incredible children’s books with Sainsbury's books of the year
- Check out illustrations from The Adventures of John Blake
- Fleur Hitchcock - How I wrote Murder in Midwinter
- Have summer fun with Jarvis's Things to Make and Do
- Here are the human rights we love - in pictures
- How these adorable dogs are helping children love reading
- Imagination and fun: Lauren Child dreams big as the new Children's Laureate
- Johnna Rizzo - A big, fat thank you to fish
- Katy Birchall’s creative writing tips
- Look at the beautiful new book from the late Siobhan Dowd
- Miriam Moss - Turning real life into a book
- Polly Ho-Yen - On Memory
- Q&A with David O’Doherty
- Q&A with R. J. Palacio
- Read all the classics to your grandchild? Here are the books to try next
- S.F. Said - The epic story of Phoenix
- The Adventures of Dumpling the Unicorn!
- The Top 10 detective novels, picked by Robin Stevens
- Viv Schwarz - Making 'Is there a Dog in this Book?'
- Watch Laura Dockrill read the ultimate poem about mums
-
December
- ‘We need children to see disability as part of the norm – not a weird phenomenon’
- 10 real-life mysteries that no one has ever solved
- Best books of the year for children - all picked by authors
- Cuddle up and get cosy with the best Christmas reads, chosen by authors
- Discover a future festive classic with One Christmas Wish
- Fantastical illustrations of Fantastic Beasts
- Five super snowy stories to make you feel cosy
- Get a sneak peek at Quentin Blake's gorgeous new Three Little Owls illustrations
- Here are the best books to match your child's interests this Christmas
- How to get your gaming-mad kids reading at Christmas
- I Killed Father Christmas: See Chris Riddell's gorgeous illustrations for this festive tale
- Jason Segel and Kirstin Miller on Otherworld: what happens when gaming goes too far
- Look out for this update of A Christmas Carol
- See the pictures behind a fairy tale set in 13th-century Venice
- Snuggle up for storytime with Liam Neeson and The Polar Express
- Take part in some festive fun with 100 Christmas Colouring Book
- This is your weekend sorted: make easy Christmas biscuits and have storytime
- Twelve days of Christmas illustrations
- Want less festive cheer and more festive fear? Meet Christmas Dinner of Souls
- What To Read After... Wonder
- What's happening in children's books in 2017? Your complete guide to festivals, anniversaries, awards and events
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February
- Bookbuzz Design a Book Cover 2017 Winner and Runners Up
- Eight tips to make picture books more (naturally) inclusive
- How The Hobbit can change your world and get you writing
- How To Draw A Worm: A complete guide, by Will Mabbitt
- Inside the special illustrated world of Raymond Briggs
- Jellicle Cats: See T.S. Eliot's fantastic felines brought to life in brand new illustrations
- Naturally inclusive Picture Books
- Time to draw unicorns
- Welcome to Sarah McIntyre's Big Red Book Show
- 'Why I love Raymond Briggs': famous fans of the author-illustrator
- World Book Day ideas: quick and easy wins with a paper plate
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January
- Alex Wheatle: Without libraries I would have never become a writer
- Are you sitting comfortably? Then here's The Jackanory Story
- Cressida Cowell's dragon training inspiration
- Getting kids into reading – tips from Blue Peter judging schools
- Hints and tips for storytellers
- How comics are made: from the author of Lost Tales
- Interview with Frank Cottrell-Boyce
- See the illustrations that reach for the stars
- Top 10 books (sort of) about Egyptology
- Top 10 Fictional Deserts
- Top 10 Fictional Diaries
- Why dyslexia shouldn't stop you from being an author
- Why making these braille books is the best thing I've ever done
- Why we should all celebrate World Braille Day
- Why Winnie the Pooh is the wisest bear in the woods
- Writing about OCD: ‘It can show itself in so many ways’
- Zana Fraillon Interview: Books give people a way of entering another existence
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July
- Anna McQuinn – let’s have a world full of stories for everyone
- Captain Underpants' Dav Pilkey on how he learned to love reading
- Dave Pigeon: How to write a book with your best friend
- Fall in love with Cinnamon with these delicious illustrations
- 'Long may it continue': how books are getting better at writing disabled characters
- Olaf Falafel teaches us how to draw Old MacDonald - with a rap!
- Roller Girl gallery: a graphic novel full of girl power and grit
- Sarah McIntyre on drawing by the beach
- See inside Chris Riddell's brand new book Travels with my Sketchbook
- Tips for talking about drawing with children
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June
- 'A voice to the voiceless': Why children need books in troubled times
- Arts Council NI Stories Tour 2016/17 in pictures
- Check out these wonderful illustrations by Lauren Child
- Chris Riddell on being Children's Laureate - 'a humbling experience'
- Ed Vere reads his new book, Grumpy Frog
- Exciting new tactile books that everyone can enjoy
- Harry Potter's 20th: Levi Pinfold's beautiful illustrations cast a spell
- Have a look at the illustrations from Lucy Cousins' new book
- How to draw Edie's dog, by Edie (and Sophy Henn)
- Lollies Awards 2017 shortlist: Discover the funniest books of the year
- National Bookstart Week: How to draw dancing bunnies, by Ellie Sandall
- National Bookstart Week: See the gorgeous illustrations that Explore Outdoors
- Optimists Die First's Susin Nielsen: 'All young people feel like they don't fit'
- Sarah McIntyre on illustrating The Prince of Pants
- See how the new Waterstones Children's Laureate medal was made
- Sita Brahmachari: How books can change the world, one reader at a time
- Take the 20-minute book challenge
- Tom Fletcher talks his new book, reading to his children, and his favourite bedtime reads
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March
- #Herewestand - why we're calling for more diverse books
- 22 inspirational Dr Seuss quotes that you really need in your life
- A book that shows and celebrates a world full of difference
- Dear diary - 6 stories told in letters, emails and journals
- Dream big with these magical images from Silver
- Exploring the Kate Greenaway shortlist with judge Jake Hope
- Here's the Carnegie shortlist - but who should win the top prize?
- How film can support and inspire reading at school
- 'I love you, Natty': sharing our experience of Down’s Syndrome
- Jessica Ennis-Hill - 'Having my son really reinforced the power of reading'
- Let's draw together
- Let's embrace our bad drawings
- Like daughter, like mother - what happens when you write together
- Perdita and Honor Cargill: 'People think we're weird for writing together!'
- Shirley Hughes & Clara Vulliamy: 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!'
- Take a peek at the illustrations on the Kate Greenaway shortlist
-
May
- A book for every child: how a love of reading helps over a lifetime
- Fun and accessible for all: how Bookbuzz can help your school
- Growing up is hard to do - Katie Thistleton is the nation's new agony aunt
- How Story Hunters makes a difference: 'There's a real buzz'
- Insects are the new sushi! MG Leonard on eating creepy crawlies
- Kiran Millwood Hargrave picks her top 5 butterfly books
- Klaus Flugge Prize 2017: see drawings by the most exciting new illustrators
- Lauren Laverne – how to make reading fun (even when you're exhausted)
- Pictures Mean Business: 7 ways you can support illustrators
- Rachael Lucas on the many layers of the autistic experience
- Rae Earl: 'Cats and books go together like tea and cake!'
- Reeve & McIntyre: 7 reasons why it's awesome working with a co-author
- Research digest: May 2017
- 'Smallness is no hindrance to strength': David Almond tells us his favourite tiny characters
- Strong women can change the world: a booklist
- The best natural worlds in fiction
- The Tale of Angelino Brown: Meet the stars of David Almond's new book
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November 2017 blogs from BookTrust
- 7 of the best graphic novels for reluctant readers
- A New Frontier
- A teacher's guide to the books that help children being bullied
- Ali-A and Taran Matharu on the books you'll love if you're a gamer
- Andy Stanton's hilarious reasons why reading is great
- Award-winning Kiran Millwood Hargrave reads from her latest book
- Building blocks for readers: Why EVERY child needs access to books
- Crazy about cats? You'll love these pictures
- 'Dangerous men tried to silence me': See Malala's beautiful new picture book
- Enter the magical world of Stardust by Jeanne Willis and Briony May Smith
- Harry Hill's best (and tested) tips for all future comedy stars
- Have a look at hauntingly beautiful illustrations from Hortense and the Shadow
- Here are some of the best stories from video games
- How a pop-up bookshop got this primary school reading
- How Bookstart Rhymetimes helped me become the mother I am
- How to draw a disco sheep: your in-depth guide
- How to draw Kiki and Bobo: two very lively animals
- If you like dogs and libraries, you'll love this new picture book
- 'It's not just good to be yourself - it's perfect!' Tom Percival on celebrating uniqueness
- Meet Invisible Emmie: our new graphic novel heroine
- 'My poetry wasn't accepted at first': Roger McGough turns 80
- Read Wonder? Now meet the gorgeous picture book We're All Wonders
- Sara Ogilvie and Garth Jennings on The Wildest Cowboy
- The Children Who Loved Books
- The Gritterman
- The power of funny books for children who don't like reading
- Top tips to make your Bookstart Rhymetime a success
- Want a spooky Victorian adventure? Meet the S.C.R.E.A.M team!
- What To Read After... Harry Potter
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October
- 10 of the best feminist books for children
- 'Bookstart is the thing I am most proud of': Founder Wendy Cooling on how it all began 25 years ago
- BookTrust Annual Lecture 2017 and Bookstart 25th anniversary celebrations: Relive the evening in pictures
- Discover a brand new Cruella de Vil in The Hundred and One Dalmatians
- Don’t be afraid of fear!
- Everything you need to know about The Book Of Dust: La Belle Sauvage and The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman
- Exclusive: See the brilliant front cover for Philip Reeve's final Railhead book
- From writing online to a publishing deal: six Wattpad sensations
- Get utterly spooked with these pictures from Juno Dawson and Alex T Smith's Grave Matter
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: See Jim Kay's stunning illustrations
- Illustrations of adventure and discovery amongst the Egyptian Pyramids
- John Agard on the importance of poetry: 'Language can control our thoughts'
- Learn something new with Adam and Lisa Murphy (and a bucket load of zombie scientists)
- Meet Amelia Fang: the perfect Halloween heroine
- 'People always assume it's awful': Cerrie Burnell on her life with dyslexia
- Six super-spooky books to scare you
- Teacher top tips: how to get every child reading for pleasure
- 'The magic of libraries': Why we need them, by Joseph Coelho
- What To Read After... How To Train Your Dragon
- Writing on Wattpad versus publishing “real” books
-
September blogs
- Are you fascinated by monsters? Do you dream of solving crimes? Could you laugh in the face of danger?
- Books to reassure little ones about starting school
- Check out the little library in a very big shopping centre
- Check out these beautiful illustrations from the new 'Mary Plain' series
- Cressida Cowell is back: Read the opening to her brand new book The Wizards of Once
- Frances Hardinge: 'I always get a bit obsessive'
- How to find little pockets of time to fill with family reading
- 'Humanity behind the headlines': Books about poverty and compassion, picked by Bali Rai
- 'I'm partial to warthogs!': The Gruffalo creators' on their new book The Ugly Five
- Introduction to YA in 9 books
- Learn how to draw super-cute pugs from Sarah McIntyre and Philip Reeve
- 'Maybe I didn't eat ALL the chocolate cake...': Michael Rosen on his classic poem
- My inspiration for the Summoner Series
- National Poetry Day: Read poems by three brilliant rising stars
- New school rules
- Read the brilliant opening to Katherine Rundell's new book The Explorer
- 'The balancing act': how to keep reading fun in a busy family
- These people are all taking on the Time to Read Challenge - will you?
- Top authors share the most gripping 10-minute reads to enjoy with children
- Watch Taran Matharu talk video games and website book deals
- Why I'm Taking Inclusive Book Fairs Into Schools
- You're going to love the new Charlie and Lola book from Lauren Child
-
April
-
BookTrust books and reading features from 2020
-
April
- "A lot of stories have begun in the depths of the night" - how Jeremy Strong finds inspiration for his stories
- "We start and finish each day with stories" - Staying Home with Sally Nicholls
- A letter from Cressida Cowell: 'Reading is magic, and magic is for everyone'
- Branford Boase Award Shortlist 2020 announced
- Ed Clarke's top STEM-themed books for aspiring scientists and engineers
- Kittens and dinosaurs: the museum cats that inspired writer Holly Webb
- Michelle Paver talks about travelling to the frozen arctic for her latest book, Viper's Daughter
- Roar! The 9 best tigers in children's books
- The Book That Made Me: Frances Hardinge
- The Gruffalo, Stick Man and the Smartest Giant in Town lend a paw, a stick and a hand to help with the coronavirus effort
- The Longest Strongest Thread
- The power of emotional intelligence in strange times: How books can help us understand our feelings
- Things that make you go 'Eww!'
- What to read after... The Borrowers
- Why everybody is old enough to save the planet
-
August
- "Maybe it's people like us who will change things": Julia Green's stories of hope
- Being Me
- Check Mates with Stewart Foster
- Creating a Graphic Novel: How I Make Super Sidekicks
- Ed Vere's Drawing Diary Competition winner announced...
- Have you ever wondered whether adults really have kids’ best interests at heart?
- How the Rosa and Clive books celebrate inclusivity
- How to Befriend a Butterfly
- I stopped reading!
- Meet Sophy Henn's superhero Pizazz - and find out why being a hero isn't all it's cracked up to be
- Question Everything: 7 top tips to help your children spot fake news
- Real-life Mysteries with Susan Martineu
- Robo-Babies: How Laura Gallagher's IVF journey inspired her new picture book
- Something strange at Crater Lake
- The Book That Made Me: Harriet Muncaster
- The Soup Movement: How we can all find hope in stories of kindness
- What to Read After... Ed Vere
-
December
- "Becoming real": 8 books about beloved childhood toys
- "Christmas was about everyone coming together":Kereen Getten's Christmas in Jamaica
- "It's time to become wilder": the Lost Spells and the magic of the natural world
- "What if we've got the Santa story a bit wrong?": Sibeal Pounder on the girls who invented Christmas
- 2021 TV shows and movies: The children's books to read before they hit your screens
- Celebrating the tiny moments: how picture books can help babies develop
- Christmas shopping? Brilliant books to match 2020's must-have toys
- Future Friend: how David Baddiel ended up writing about a future where nobody can go outdoors...
- How stories can stir us up to be a force for good in the world
- How to choose the best inclusive books
- How to stay in the Christmas spirit all year round
- Jason Reynolds Q&A: 'The Long Way Down graphic novel heightens the emotional stakes'
- The best kids' books of 2020, chosen by top authors and illustrators
- Top tips for sharing stories with children, from Storytime Prize judge Zoey Dixon
- What to Read After... A Christmas Carol
- Why diversity matters at Christmas
- Why we need books set in other countries
- Words of Joy: How you could spread Christmas cheer this year
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February 2020 features from BookTrust
- "I wanted to give LGBTQ+ teens their very own adventure" - Darren Charlton on LGBTQI inclusion in writing for teens
- "It was the magic of hearing and sharing poems aloud that originally got me hooked": Joseph Coelho on poetry for us all
- 10 picture books to shine a positive light in 2020
- Bookbuzz Design a Book Cover 2020 Winner and Runners Up
- Cerrie Burnell's top books for kindness and empathy
- Family favourite rhymes for The Big Welsh Rhyme Time
- Find Your Girl Squad: 10 top tips for coping with changing friendships
- Little Unicorn author Aurélie Chien Chow Chine: How books and sophrology could help your children deal with emotions
- Nonsense words and stupid pictures
- Q&A with Jasmine Richards, by Cerrie Burnell
- Roopa Farooki on medical fiction for kids
- Taylor Doran's top tips for being an awesome storyteller
- The Book That Made Me: A. F. Harrold
- The Legend of the Jinn by Ross MacKenzie
- The Lost Homework: writing about the traveller community in children's fiction
- What to Read After... Janet and Allan Ahlberg
- Winners of Cerrie Burnell's creative writing competition announced
-
January 2020 features from BookTrust
- 8 top wintery reads to snuggle up on the sofa with
- Anti-racism is for everyone. Let's have the conversation with all our children
- How to save the planet from your sofa or school: How we can all be Guardians of the Planet
- 'If we're only given one image of ourselves, it severely limits our aspirations as people.' - Dapo Adeola
- Intergalactic Stories for Aspiring Astronauts
- It’s National Storytelling Week! Storyteller Michael Harvey tells us his tips on how to become a storyteller too.
- Lisa Thompson shares her favourite hoaxes throughout history (and how to avoid fake news)
- Michael Rosen on talking to children about the Holocaust: 'We need to give them space to express themselves'
- Missing mothers and motherhood in fiction: how children’s books often remove the mother figure and what that might mean
- The Book That Made Me: Michelle Harrison
- The language of fairy tales and what they tell us
- What happens when you retell a classic like Jane Eyre
- What to Read After... Judy Blume
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June
- "No-one chooses to be a refugee": Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed on When Stars are Scattered
- "This is the best fun ever!" How South Asian weddings inspired Zanib Mian to write about Pakistani culture
- Alex English's Favourite Adventure Stories
- Celebrating doctors and nurses: Matt Carr's 5 favourite literary medical marvels
- Cerrie Burnell: I Am Not A Label
- Elle McNicoll on being a neurodivergent author
- How to use emotion coaching to help little ones with their worries
- No Place Like Home: Sophie Kirtley's favourite Northern Irish stories
- Ten Mouthwatering Meals in Children's Books
- The Book That Made Me: Jeremy Strong
- The History of a Word
- Tips for Talking About LGBTQIA+ Issues
- Waterstones Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell shares some great ideas about how to start enjoying books with your family.
- What to Read After... The Boy at the Back of the Class
- Wild Reading
-
June
- "A whale in the sky": Shaun Tan on Tales from the Inner City and winning the Kate Greenaway Medal
- Chris Vick, author of Carnegie shortlisted Girl. Boy. Sea, talks about writing and working in marine conservation.
- Derek Keilty's Top Books in an Egyptian Setting
- Ed Vere on the Power of Pictures
- Empathy: the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow
- Fig Swims the World and the magic of intergenerational friendships
- How being a teacher inspired The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates
- How much do you know about the Ancient World?
- How to help your children return to school: 5 top tips
- Not Now Bernard is 40! Celebrate with this lovely storytime video
- The Book That Made Me: Catherine Rayner
- The 'What If?' Guide to Growing a Story
- What should I be doing about climate change?
- What to read after... The Hunger Games
- While We Can't Hug: Eoin McLaughlin on writing a physical distancing picture book with Polly Dunbar
- Why I'm Reading Kids' Books and Making Lego in Lockdown
- Yuck! Jennifer Killick on the surprising power of toilet humour
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March 2020 features from BookTrust
- "Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think" - the best found families in children's fiction, chosen by Matilda Woods
- "The school was thrilled to receive an author visit!"
- A letter from lockdown, by Michael Morpurgo
- Anisha Accidental Detective author Serena Patel: 'How my annoying family became the perfect book inspiration'
- CILIP Kate Greenaway medal shortlist announced
- How books can spark imagination at playtime
- How do you write an adventure on a train?
- How to love your body
- Losing Toys and Finding Solace
- My Favourite Alphabet Books
- New BookTrust Illustrator in Residence Ed Vere discusses the power of drawing and the importance of self expression for children.
- The Book That Made Me: Gill Lewis
- The Plastic Problem: 5 easy ways to help you save the world
- Watch Kwame Alexander read aloud from The Undefeated
- What to read after... Charlotte's Web
-
May
- 100 adventures to have before you grow up
- Corrinne Averiss: My tips for reading My Pet Star aloud
- How the power of pet therapy can help children overcome their anxieties
- 'I didn't see myself in children's books': Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad on writing for kids
- Jenni Spangler's top books in a Victorian setting
- Make your own My Pet Star shadow puppets
- Monkey Mayhem! Author Jon Blake and his son Jordi talk about Jon's latest book, Thimble Wonga Bonkers
- My Pet Star: Bake these cosmic cookies
- My Pet Star: Create your very own star suncatcher
- The Book That Made Me: Emily Gravett
- The Joy of Sharing Stories
- The magic of talking to children about dragons, by Liz Flanagan
- What to read after... Elmer
- Why talking is not everyone's thing
-
November
- #PassThePen booklist: Christmas gift ideas from brilliant BookTrust Represents authors and illustrators
- “Don’t strive for followers; strive for happiness”: Nikki Lilly on the world of social media
- 5 storytellers getting to the heart of conservation
- 8 books to read together in difficult times
- A Day in the Life of a Poo, a Gnu and You: Test your knowledge with this fun quiz!
- Boy, Everywhere: The importance of accurate, authentic representation in children's books
- Eight beautiful books about making friends
- For kids (and big kids): Top tips for managing your money
- Goodbye, Hello: Helping children to cope with change
- Inventors: 9 incredible people who changed the world we live in
- Seven picture books starring shapes
- Telling the story of the invisible children: Catherine O'Flynn on the impact of school closures
- The Book That Made Me: Chris Riddell
- The Humans: A stupendously brief history of books and stories
- 'The path isn’t always going to be smooth and rosy': Oliver Jeffers on preparing children for the world
- The secret magic of reading together: Smriti Halls' top tips for sharing stories
- Wanda's Words Got Stuck: Writing for children who struggle to find their voice
- What to Read After... Supertato
- What to Read After... The Runaway Pea
- 'With imagination and reading, the world is your oyster': Chris Ryan on encouraging children to enjoy books
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October
- "Teenage rebels": Cane Warriors author Alex Wheatle on writing the young people living through incredible events.
- Benjamin Zephaniah on new book Windrush Child: 'We have to learn from the past'
- Dreaming the Big Dream: Serena Patel on the importance of children seeing themselves in books
- Floella Benjamin on turning Coming to England into a picture book
- Headbutts, body slams and injustice: How a terrifying goat inspired Sophie Wills' new book
- How words can bring us hope in difficult times, by our Writer in Residence Smriti Halls
- 'Kindness is what holds worlds together': How Abi Elphinstone's jungle adventures inspired her new book Jungledrop
- Onjali Raúf's favourite books about kindness
- Owl or Pussycat? How Michael Morpurgo and Polly Dunbar find their inspiration in childhood memories
- Rashmi Sirdeshpande on the comfort, curiosity, and wonder of children's books
- Seven books about home and belonging
- Shaking up Shakespeare: when school plays go very, very wrong...
- Share your story to win a school visit or book bundle from our Writer in Residence Smriti Halls
- Six brilliant books celebrating grandparents
- 'Small ideas can resonate through everything': Poet Steven Camden introduces the books shortlisted for the CLPE Children's Poetry Prize
- The Book That Made Me: Eloise Williams
- Top 10 things to know about visual impairment, by author Penny Joelson
- 'We can always fight': World Burn Down author Steve Cole on how we can help our planet together
- What to Read After... The Worst Witch
- Wrigglers, wanderers, stampers and shy children... reading different stories to different listeners
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September 2020
- "Original and unforgettable": Liz Hyder wins the 2020 Branford Boase Award for Bearmouth
- 9 brilliant children's books inspired by India, chosen by Jasbinder Bilan
- Dan Smith's top sci-fi reads
- Dragon Mountain: Katie and Kevin Tsang on working together and why we need diverse characters in children's books
- Fantasy, Escape and Roleplaying Games: Why Kimberly Pauley loves Dungeons and Dragons
- From curious beasts to cautionary tales: 7 brilliantly beastly books to try
- How I transformed Roald Dahl's The Witches into a graphic novel
- How much do you really know about fungus?
- 'I feel like he's been with me my whole life': Authors and illustrators pay tribute to our 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award winner, David McKee
- I, Ada author Julia Gray: Why children need stories about incredible women in STEM
- Into the Spotlight: how the magic of theatre takes us all back to childhood
- Joseph Coelho on The Girl Who Became A Tree
- 'Keep drawing, folks!' Ed Vere signs off as BookTrust Illustrator in Residence
- Odd Kid Out: In praise of the underdog in children's books, from Adrian Mole to Wimpy Kid
- School libraries: Top tips for making them fun, safe places to be during COVID-19
- The 10 best miniature worlds in children's books, from The Borrowers to Brambly Hedge.
- The Book That Made Me: Anna James
- 'The shock is hard to get over!' Elmer creator David McKee on winning BookTrust's Lifetime Achievement Award and his incredible career
- Using humour to tackle serious topics
- What to Read After... Twilight
- Why Sita Brahmachari wants you to discover the amazing history in your street
-
April
-
BookTrust Features 2023
-
April
- “Libraries are places of comfort, friendly faces and opportunities. It’s an absolute privilege to do what I do”
- 5 epic fantasy reads
- 6 super stories that celebrate unexpected heroes
- Bookbuzz Design a Book Cover 2023 Winner and Runners Up
- Bookstart Toddler: “It’s about that bubble you create when you’re sharing a book with the child – that togetherness that you have.”
- Making babies laugh using books
- Planting seeds of inspiration: Why children need to read stories about young heroes
- Seven funny children's books for when you need a giggle
- Six Gripping Stories about Wild Animals
- The books that made me a reader – and a writer!
- The importance of characters with epilepsy and memory loss in children's books
- The importance of illustrations in child development
- The top 10 children's books of the 1990s
- Top tips for helping children to become readers
- Top tips to get children reading for pleasure in your classroom
- Using books to encourage discussion around social issues and climate change
- Using fiction about the environment to empower children and give hope
- Visual learners can love reading too!
- What to Read After... Lockwood & Co
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August 2023 Features
- "BookTrust Represents has been there my entire career. Being published feels surreal, but amazing!”
- 10 of the funniest female characters in children's books
- 5 top tips from SF Said on making every child a reader
- 6 magical books about wishes
- Books for building trust: “I find books really beneficial for talking about emotions. You don’t want foster children to be scared to talk about their experiences”
- Eight excellent historical mysteries
- Five picture books that celebrate making mistakes and being yourself
- Four favourite books about aliens: lift-off to a love of reading!
- Goodbye to our Writer in Residence SF Said and congratulations to our winners!
- How books about myths and legends can introduce children to other cultures
- Seven Super Books for Starting School
- The power of books to affirm identity and belonging
- Visual literacy: the importance of pictures in reading for pleasure
- What to read after... Holes by Louis Sachar
- Why diverse family representation matters
-
December
- 2024 TV shows and movies: The children's books to read before they hit your screens
- 5 best BookTrust moments from 2023
- Benjamin Zephaniah: "We were lucky to have him, and we are poorer without him"
- BookTrust Christmas Appeal: “Now, whenever my daughter sees the book on the shelf, she wants it”
- Five books on overcoming fears
- Five cosy wintery picture books from our Writer in Residence
- How to use books to talk to teens about boundaries and consent
- Nurturing a love of reading: Guided reading's place in the Year 1 classroom
- Pairing Story With Song
- Six super stories about reindeer
- Stories that celebrate Black culture
- Ten brilliant books about fairies and fairyland
- The best books to go with the Christmas toys of the year
- The best children's books of 2023, chosen by top authors and illustrators
- The importance of exploring grief in children's books
- The serious business of silliness in children's books
- What to Read After... Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- Why schools need books featuring neurodivergent characters
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February 2023
- Choice is the key to children reading for pleasure
- Five fantastic books about separated families
- Goodbye from our Writer Illustrator in Residence Nick Sharratt
- How reading supports children's mental health: 'It takes their minds off the fear and anxiety they may be feeling'
- How villains are actually GOOD at getting children reading
- Making new friends through BookTrust Storytime: “We wouldn't have met if it wasn't for coming here. The library is a really friendly place”
- Seven super reads for empathy
- Ten terrific books about sisters
- The mental health benefits of Dungeons and Dragons sessions in the library
- The responsibility of writing stories for children about the climate crisis
- Using Joseph Coelho’s Poetry Prompts as a teaching tool
- Using true stories from the past to inspire children to read
- What to Read After... Dork Diaries
- Why children need books about endangered species
- Why children need books about mental health
- Why picture books are crucial to child development and education
- Why schools need inclusive books
- Why we must include LGBTQ+ historical figures across the curriculum
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January 2023
- 5 of the best re-imagined classics
- Bobby Seagull's top tips to help you talk about money with your children
- Eleven excellent children's books about unbreakable friendships
- Finding yourself in a book: How picture books can reflect diverse experiences
- Having fun and making choices: 20 years of 'You Choose'
- How a School Library Can Have Impact
- How to use books and animals to help children talk about their emotions
- How we’re supporting children with additional languages on their reading journeys
- Keeping kids reading through choice
- Seven children's books to help talk about the Holocaust
- Six children's books with brilliant Black characters
- The benefits to children of learning a poem by heart
- Three more top tips on creating a culture of reading for pleasure in your school
- Top tips for using Chinese New Year as a learning tool in the classroom
- Using books to support young carers
- 'We are all richer for it': The amazing benefits of reading to children
- What to read after... We're Going to Find the Monster
- Why it’s important for children to read about different heroes
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July 2023 features
- “Growing up I didn’t get read to, it was more from school and things like that. But I made sure reading was a staple in my daughter’s routine”
- “I like the idea that she’ll remember it was her and daddy – that this was our time.”
- 5 laugh-out-loud reads for the summer holidays
- 5 ways books can help children talk about puberty
- 6 brilliant alternative history books
- 6 top tips for sharing a book at bedtime
- 7 awesome thrillers for teens
- A Summer Reading List: Life-Changing Children's Books
- BookTrust Storytime: “Families are amazed at how engaged their children have been”
- Children's authors share their top tips for writing stories
- How to write a fantasy story: it all starts with a map
- Inclusion – the importance of seeing yourself in a book
- Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde on creativity - and making it up as you go along
- Making Mischief: using poetry in the classroom
- Ten Tempting Treats in books
- Ten Terrific Books Set in Wales
- The importance of pictures to young readers
- The truth about disabled characters in children's books
- Top 5 books featuring Unusual Best Friends
- What to Read After... Hairy Maclary
- Why teens deserve great fiction
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June
- “It’s good for children to see a man reading stories. Just go for it because it’s so much fun – your child’s not going to be judgmental": Librarian Paul on Dads Make Stories Magic
- “It’s sharing the intimacy of a story – that special moment between you and them”: Helping dads to get reading
- 10 brilliant books that celebrate grandparents
- 5 easy ways to inspire children’s writing for pleasure
- 5 gentle picture books about common childhood fears
- 5 simple ways to help dads have fun sharing stories
- 5 top tips for choosing baby books
- 5 top tips to help children spot fake news
- 5 top tips to help quiet children with their confidence
- Doing voices and getting into character: Nathan and Lewis share their magical experiences of sharing stories with their babies
- Five fantastic illustrated young fiction books
- Five graphic novels to add to your collection
- Getting children interested in British imperial history
- How to Train Your Reader
- 'It doesn’t have to be sitting there with an encyclopaedia': Reading in the early years
- 'It’s a time where nothing else matters': Mum Liz on sharing her Bookstart Baby pack
- Jeffrey Boakye: The magic of books in urban settings
- Louie on the magic of shared reading: 'You just see the positive outcome. Your connection to your child is so different'
- Making the Invisible Seen: Disabled Characters in Children’s Literature
- The importance of positive portrayals of dyslexic children in books
- Three top tips for writing amazing stories, from SF Said
- Ways to help children become readers
- What to read after... The Tiger Who Came to Tea
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March 2023
- 7 historical YA titles to hook teens on history
- Book-lovers can work in STEM – creativity is crucial!
- BookTrust’s partners: “We’re advocates for them and they’re advocates for us. That’s what a true partnership should be”
- Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho talks with the Queen about the power of poetry
- Eight Strong Female Characters from Historical Fiction
- How books help families to bond
- How fiction can help explore feelings about mothers and daughters
- How nature books can inspire families to discover the mental health benefits of being outdoors
- How you can use fiction books to teach STEM
- 'I think you start with honesty': Kwame Alexander on talking to children about slavery
- If you want children to read, let them read what they love!
- 'It is really nice to see the pure enjoyment children get from reading': The Queen Consort sits down with Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho
- Meet our new Writer in Residence SF Said!
- Nine inspiring books to get children interested in conservation
- Reading and self-expression: 'Students who are confident with reading are able to articulate themselves well'
- Seven beautiful books that show the power of a 'quiet story'
- Seven stirring adventures with animal companions
- Ten terrific picture books with hijabi characters
- The Best First Lines of Middle Grade Books
- The problem with 'boys don't read': The dismissal of divergent reading
- What to read after... Varjak Paw
- Why all children should read about characters with learning disabilities
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May 2023
- "I loved it!" Here's what four children thought of their virtual author visit with Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock
- 5 tips to get children with dyslexia hooked on reading
- 5 ways to embed mental health exercises into the primary school routine
- 'Becoming the best version of ourselves': The crucial importance of empathy
- BookTrust Letterbox Club: 'The parcels make Dylan light up'
- Classroom prompts using the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlist
- Eight excellent outdoor adventures
- 'Everyone has a story to tell': 8 top tips for young writers
- Fantastic reads inspired by Japanese legends
- Five roar-some books about dinosaurs
- How books can spark conversations about thoughts and feelings
- How fiction can open up pathways into Black British History
- How Pyjamarama helped this school get children reading
- How to make poetry and performance a vital part of a child’s journey
- Seven super books set during schooldays
- Ten terrific books about mermaids and the underwater world
- The Magic Of Reading Aloud
- What to Read After…Dog Man
- Why magical stories keep young children reading
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November
- "You are building a new world and that is truly magic": Joseph Coelho's letter to children this Christmas
- “Thank you so much for the lovely books. I’m reading one at the moment”
- 10 books for families with toddlers to teens to read together
- 10 favourite books about the climate and nature crisis
- BookTrust Christmas appeal: "I love seeing children’s faces when they’re given their books"
- BookTrust's Christmas appeal: Brenda's story
- Eight books that empower children to stand up for themselves
- Eight fabulous fantasy stories
- Eight picture books about teamwork
- Families in Cambridge enjoy their BookTrust packs
- Five fantastic traditional tales from around the world
- Six top tips for encouraging children to read
- Sparking Children's Curiosity with Infographic Books
- Ten Fun Read-alouds from our Writer in Residence
- Tips for writing stories based on real-life people
- Top poetry books to help children celebrate the natural world
- Top tips for engaging young children with stories, songs and rhymes
- What to Read After... Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
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October
- "Where are you really from?" Using books to talk to children about race
- “Libraries have something for everyone. Seeing the children engage with the books in such a positive way at an early age is wonderful”
- 5 books that celebrate unique families
- 6 brilliant books exploring African myths
- 6 tips to get dyslexic children writing creatively
- 7 spooktacular Halloween reads chosen by librarian Sam Pope
- Celebrating accent and dialect – the importance of poetry to reflect children’s identities
- Five books that reflect a challenging reality
- How books can help new Year 7 students
- How scary books can help children understand their feelings
- How to grip readers by using humour in fantasy
- Librarian and Teacher Danielle tells us what having BookTrust Represents author visit from Sue Cheung meant for their pupils
- Make some noise – let’s celebrate libraries!
- Ten Books to get your pulse racing
- Tips on using comic books to engage readers
- Top 5 underwater reads
- Using books to show girl empowerment and tenacity
- Using books to talk to children about dementia
- What to read after... Amelia Fang
- Writer in Residence Michelle Robinson shares some top tips for sharing stories together!
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September 2023 Features
- "Bookstart Baby gives parents something that feels like a way forwards”
- 10 tips to make reading fun
- 5 ways to use audiobooks in the classroom
- 7 children's authors pick their favourite spooky stories
- A teacher's guide to getting to know your class's reading habits
- Electrifying a classroom and library: the importance of inclusive, diverse fantasy worlds
- Five books showing nature as a magical force
- Five ways books can get children interested in the Second World War
- Six books with the theme of anxiety
- Ten terrific historical novels
- Top tips for keeping children reading in secondary school
- Using books to create positive attitudes towards our bodies
- Using books to talk about male feelings
- What to read after... the Baby Aliens series by Pamela Butchart
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April
-
BookTrust Features 2024
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April 2024
- Books to spark a love of reading in children in care
- Bringing nature into a library
- Care Experienced History Month: How care experienced young people help us choose our Letterbox Club books
- Fantastic factual books
- How books about neurodivergence reflect real experiences
- How to keep teenage boys reading
- Seven superb books about time
- Six tips for using factual books in the classroom
- The crucial role of storytelling in Early Childhood Education
- Top tips for getting boys reading
- Using fiction to unlock the magic of plants
- Using sports books to talk to children about self work, teamwork and staying well
- What to Read After... A Series of Unfortunate Events
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August
- 7 brilliant picture books with South Asian characters
- 7 superb books about technology
- 8 brilliant children's books about siblings
- BookTrust’s role in multi-agency early years provision in Birmingham
- Five thrilling books set on islands
- Goodbye to our Writer in Residence Rashmi Sirdeshpande and congratulations to her competition winners!
- How books can help with worries about school
- Starting school or nursery: 5 top tips and 10 books to try
- Ten books to calm and reassure children
- The importance of representing foster families in children’s books
- Tips for encouraging reading for pleasure in your school
- What to read after Alex Rider
- Why children love reading fantasy
- Why children's science fiction is so important
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February 2024
- 5 thought-provoking books about young carers
- 6 questions to ask when looking for global books for very young readers
- BookTrust research: Children are 40% more likely to enjoy reading if their parents or carers do
- BookTrust’s impact in Brent: “There are many families with no awareness of libraries. Targeted outreach is needed"
- Engaging children with vision impairment in stories
- Family cycles of reading: What teachers need to know
- Fantastic Stone Age picture books
- Five top picture books about living in the moment
- Goodbye to our Writer in Residence Michelle Robinson and congratulations to her competition winner!
- How Pyjamarama gets school children excited about reading
- Michelle Robinson reads The Owl and the Pussy-Cat
- Nine LGBTQ+ books for 8–12 year olds
- Six science fiction middle-grade books to dive into
- The importance of adopted characters in children’s books
- Top 10 picture books on purpose, passion, and perseverance
- Using books to share positive environmental news
- What to read after... Dread Wood
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January 2024
- "Having BookTrust packs as a ‘way in’ has been really important": Evie's story
- 10 fun ways to make reading interactive
- 10 terrific books about imaginary friends
- 11 excellent graphic novels to try
- 5 brilliant books chosen by Joseph Coelho
- 6 brilliant bookish New Year's Resolutions to try in 2024
- How early chapter books can get children reading for pleasure
- How historical fiction speaks to young people
- How to read aloud to a classroom
- Keeping books fun while learning to read
- Keeping positive: Weaving conservationism into children's fantasy books
- Reading Together: Read our open letter calling for investment in early years reading
- Sir Michael Morpurgo: Why I'm supporting Reading Together
- Using books to celebrate festivals and different cultures
- What are pictures doing in a children's book?
- What to Read After... Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll
- Why all representation in books is so crucial
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July 2024
- 10 winning children's books about sport
- 5 books that will help the transition to secondary school
- Best Teddy Bear Books
- Books that support quieter children
- Five fantastic comic books chosen by Sophy Henn
- How books can help with children's development in the Early Years
- Preparing for next year’s class: keeping them excited about reading
- Summer Reading: Factual Book Recommendations
- The importance of factual books when reading together
- The importance of including neurodivergent characters in books
- The vital role of shared reading in early education and childcare
- Top 5 books in which humans communicate with animals
- Using the CLiPPA-shortlisted poetry books in the classroom
- What to Read After... The Unforgotten Coat
- Why it’s important to read retold myths
- Why working-class stories make such a difference to children
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June 2024
- 5 books to encourage empathy
- 6 favourite villains in children's books
- 6 tips to inspire children to write for pleasure
- 7 tips for keeping children reading through the summer holidays
- A sensory BookTrust Storytime: Nazia’s story
- Autistic Pride: Our stories matter
- Bookbuzz: helping students feel excited about reading
- BookTrust packs for refugee families
- How can you transform your pupil premium learners’ reading with BookTrust’s Letterbox Club? Key takeaways from our teacher webinar
- Making fantastic factual comics
- Picture books as conversation starters
- Six books about the wildlife on your doorstep
- Ten bonkers books to make children laugh
- Ten powerful books about mental health issues
- The importance of showing working-class lives in children’s books
- The power of sharing fairy tales with children
- Top 5 children’s books about sea-faring adventures
- What to read after Llama Out Loud!
- Why chapter books hook children on reading
- Why children like scary stories, or ‘Dreadtime Reading’
- Why dark, Gothic stories are good for children
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March 2024
- 10 books starring hapless heroes
- 7 swashbuckling pirate books
- Bookbuzz: Getting the right books into students' hands
- BookTrust packs for Afghan mums
- BookTrust’s Pyjamarama: having fun in PJs and raising money for a good cause
- CBeebies and BookTrust: a spectacular library story time in Blackpool
- Developing empathy through books
- Exploring books with Deaf children
- Getting children reading: The Gruffalo Effect
- How can books introduce environmental concerns to children?
- How non-fiction is a powerful form of storytelling that can grip child readers
- Meet our new Writer in Residence Rashmi Sirdeshpande!
- The benefits of including diverse children’s books in a classroom
- The gift that keeps on giving: why a love of reading is the best present you’ll ever give a child
- The value of maths games
- Top tips to engage the whole school community with reading for pleasure
- What to Read After Bunny Vs Monkey
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May
- 10 picture books about counting
- 6 books about nature and the climate crisis
- 7 sizzling books about dragons
- Exploring empathy using comics and graphic novels
- Favourite fiction about British History
- Five fantastic female villains
- Five favourite children’s books with a sprinkle of magic
- How books can make the UK a nation of genuine nature-lovers
- How fact books can boost empathy in children
- Letterbox Club: giving children equal access to reading
- Motivating children to read at home: 8 practical tips for parents
- The Illustrated Mum: humanising mental health through books
- The reason for rhyme in a picture book
- Using books with young people with SEND
- What to read after Oi Frog!
- Writer in Residence Rashmi Sirdeshpande announces her competition
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November
- 4 Books inspired by Hindu mythology
- BookTrust Christmas Appeal: ‘When people are battling to feed their families, reading and books aren’t easy to access’
- Children's books about World War II with non-British perspectives
- How to use picture books to support children facing challenging circumstances
- The crucial role of non-fiction in getting children reading
- What to read after... The Wild Robot
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October 2024
- 10 books about making a difference
- 5 books for Black History Month (and beyond!)
- 8 tips for engaging dyslexic children in stories
- 9 spine-tingling, rib-tickling stories
- BookTrust Storytime: creating positive library moments for families
- Disability and storytelling: a view from one lived experience
- How to engage children with ADHD in reading
- How to find books that particularly appeal to children
- Should all children feel valued?
- The importance of meeting characters with Down’s syndrome
- What To Read After Winnie the Witch
- Why children need picture books that explore difficult issues
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September 2024
- "Storytelling can be a shared pleasure": Frank Cottrell-Boyce's visit to a Sheffield nursery
- 5 funny books about serious issues
- 5 spine-tingling horror books for children
- 7 superb whodunnits for children, chosen by PG Bell
- Big School and other changes: Books that can help
- BookTrust and Baby Box: giving babies the best start in life
- How to hook in readers with short attention spans
- How to use books to welcome refugee children into the classroom
- Introducing our new Writer in Residence Patrice Lawrence
- More tips for encouraging reading for pleasure in your school
- The power of picture books and story time for children’s language development
- What to read after Murder Most Unladylike
- Why illustrations are crucial for children of all ages
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April 2024
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BookTrust Features in 2019
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April 2019 features and blogs
- ‘For me it’s a rollercoaster of emotions that I’m trying to manipulate the reader into’ - Alex Wheatle on fictional world building, creating new language and seeing yourself in a book
- 5 top tips for parents dealing with their child's mental health
- 7 magical realism books for children
- 8 funny books that will make your child laugh out loud
- 'Black books matter too': Atinuke on the power of stories
- 'Books are absolutely crucial in getting us to think about new worlds': we speak to the award-winning author, Onjali Q Rauf
- Frank Cottrell Boyce on why reading for pleasure is the most important thing you can pass on to a child
- How a picture book about a cat could help teach children about consent and boundaries
- How books build empathy and help children see other points of view
- 'I hope she is an inspiration to girls and boys alike': Anthea Simmons on Lightning Mary
- 'I want to write books that have hope in them': Patrice Lawrence on tackling heavy themes with light
- Make a funky Pyjamarama paper chain
- Mini Rabbit Not Lost: Join this little bunny on his big adventure
- Pyjamarama in your community: ideas for practitioners
- Rose Robbins: 'Books like this can comfort young carers'
- Step back in time with this fun and informative look at the history of fashion
- The 10 most unlikely villains in books (... and a bonus egg)
- The Book That Made Me: Patrice Lawrence
- 'The soothing power of uncomplicated pleasures': Why we should treasure comfort reading
- Time machines, airships and lots of magic: 6 of the best inventions in children's books
- What to Read After... You Choose
- Why I wrote a tribute to my daughter's curly hair - and more stories to try
- Zanib Mian’s top 5 books with families
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August 2019 blogs, features and interviews about children's books
- 10 of the best dogs in children's books
- Andy McNab: 'Reading absolutely changed my life - so now I'm writing for children'
- Bringing books to life: How to use props, songs and costumes to tell stories on stage
- Catherine Doyle on new book The Lost Tide Warriors, a children's adventure full of Irish myth and magic
- Dragons and rabbit pie: Should we be scared of danger in picture books?
- Drone's Eye View
- Drones: How writing about this technology can create some exciting new stories
- Fantastic Football Fun
- Five tricksy things about starting secondary school, according to Karen McCombie
- If a child is not into books, how can we help books find their way to the child?
- Jo Cotterill: I’m going to ask you a really personal question.
- 'Kids ARE reading - just in a different way': What social media and gaming can teach us
- 'Libraries have a power to shape lives': Why they're the lifeblood of our communities
- Q&A with Kwame Alexander
- Robin Stevens, author of Murder Most Unladylike, on how her main character Daisy is coming out as a lesbian
- Sam Wu has been a brilliant series for me to work on
- Show and Tell: Rob Biddulph's favourite books from his childhood
- Starting a new school: What every child needs to know
- Stories are hardly ever about just one thing
- Superbat!
- 'Telling the story of my homeland': How Akissi shows a different view of Africa
- The Book That Made Me: Sophy Henn
- The books and women that will inspire a lifetime of loving STEM subjects
- The Two Reasons I Write About War
- There's a Rang-Tan in My Bedroom: How YOU can help save orangutans
- Top baby names from classic children's books that you'll absolutely love
- What to Read After... Mr Gum
- 'Why I write for children', by author Rashmi Sirdeshpande
- Why the rights of children have never been so important
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BookTrust blogs, features, interviews, galleries and news from June 2019
- ‘It’s where the seeds of a child’s love for books and reading are planted’: Katrina Charman on the magic of bedtime stories
- ‘The Suitcase is a book about being more trusting and open – as well as migration’
- 10 gardens in children's books that will make you want to step outside and go on an adventure
- 'A reminder of the true art of storytelling': Celebrating Henrietta Branford's powerful novel Fire, Bed & Bone
- Beep! Beep! Make your own Pyjamarama car
- Candy Gourlay: The fantasy worlds of my childhood books
- 'Every one of my students is a potential hero in the making': How Muhammad Khan's class inspired his award-winning book
- 'Is this my story to tell?' Catherine Bruton on telling the tale of a Syrian refugee
- 'It's okay to feel sad sometimes': Why children need books about difficult emotions
- Pyjamarama: celebrate the wonder of bedtime stories at home
- Sarah Roberts’ Guide to Saving the Planet for children (and adults)
- Sharing stories to build empathy: Tom Percival on putting yourself in someone else's shoes
- Squeak squeak! 10 of the best rodents in children's books
- Ten amazing space (and Earth) facts from astronomer Dr Sheila Kanani
- The 10 best grandmothers in children's books, chosen by Bad Nana's Sophy Henn
- The Book That Made Me: Katherine Rundell
- The Missing Bookshop: A charming tale about the power of stories
- 'These missing voices are vital': Bali Rai and Patrice Lawrence on writing hidden histories
- What to Read After... Michael Morpurgo
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BookTrust's May 2019 features, blogs and interviews
- ‘If I’m feeling down, I get out Elmer': David McKee on what it's like to create an inspirational little elephant for children
- 5 books that will make you want to save the world
- 7 brilliant mystery books to keep you guessing, chosen by A Good Girl's Guide to Murder author Holly Jackson
- Bookbuzz behind the scenes
- Candy Gourlay shares creative top tips for children wanting to enter her writing and drawing competition
- Discover magical worlds and fabulous creatures with Storytime
- Emily Windsnap author Liz Kessler: 'How books can hold hidden messages - that even the authors don't know about'
- Girl In The Window: What it's like to have ME or Chronic Fatigue when you're young
- 'He reaches the child in all of us': Authors and illustrators pay tribute to Lifetime Achievement Award winner Jan Pienkowski
- Here's how to stop our kids feeling scared and powerless about the world
- How Bookbuzz encouraged independent reading in my school
- 'I treated myself to a vintage outfit!' Jacqueline Wilson on time travelling to the 20s for her new book Dancing the Charleston
- 'It never occurred to me that I'd do anything else': BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award winner Jan Pieńkowski on a life in books
- Look inside this new picture book that's like a Harriet the Spy for little ones
- Oh I do like to be beside the seaside... 5 middle grade books to enjoy this summer
- Pete Kalu on stereotypes: ‘I do not represent the whole of the deaf or black experience’
- Song For a Whale: the story of a deaf girl and a whale both searching for connection
- The 2019 Klaus Flugge Prize shortlist is unveiled: peek inside these wonderful books
- The Book That Made Me: Nicola Davies
- Tom Gates activities: Try these fun ideas and banish the half term boredom
- What to Read After... Noughts & Crosses
- Why we all need to see faces that look like us in the arts
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December
- 2020 TV shows and movies: The children's books to read before they hit your screens
- 8 adventure books for children that are perfect winter reads
- A little history of reading: How the first books came to be
- Being Earth Heroes: How we can ALL make a difference to our planet
- Books for young people to encourage mental wellbeing in troubled times
- Every child has a right to the joy that comes from books: the case for children with severe and profound learning difficulties in Wales
- Flood stories from around the world – and what they teach us
- Going beyond the edelweiss: How Jeanne Willis retold Heidi for a new generation
- How to help your child feel confident on stage this Christmas
- How to read aloud well
- Names in fiction: 'I am a "Jasmine", but don’t call me that!'
- Reluctant readers: how one writer learnt to love books
- Seven books containing foods that I would like to eat this Christmas
- The best children's books of 2019, chosen by top authors and illustrators
- The best comfort reading: Your top recommendations of stories to help you escape
- The Book That Made Me: Bali Rai
- Top Christmas toys 2019 – and the best children’s books to go with them
- What makes a good storyteller?
- What to Read After... The Snowman
- Why "choose your own adventure" books are still perfect for kids who love gaming
- Winter whiskers: 6 favourite festive felines in children's books
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February 2019
- #HookedOnBooks: your recommendations
- 8 of the best Irish children's books as chosen by author Sinead O'Hart
- 8 of the best witches casting a spell in children's books
- 'A good horror story starts in the backyard': Goosebumps legend R.L. Stine on why fear is good for children
- Bestselling teen author Holly Smale: 'I want to give young people hope and belief in themselves and the world'
- Bookbuzz Design a Book Cover 2019 Winner and Runners Up
- Books to help talk about death and loss with children
- Fear with a safety net: Why children should read scary books
- Flights of Fancy: discover stories, pictures and inspiration from all ten Children's Laureates in the brand-new book
- Grobblechops: a new take on monsters under the bed
- Heartstopper: a boy-meets-boy graphic novel romance that will win your heart
- Heavens above! 6 super stories about gods and deities
- Here are the super-talented children who won our poetry writing competition for schools
- 'I wanted to capture the essence of India': How Jasbinder Bilan's childhood diaries helped her write a novel
- 'If an adult steps into the room, their job isn’t to be judgmental' - Jason Reynolds on his work in schools, his new books, and finally getting recognition in the UK
- 'It felt impossibly remote': Beth Waters on exploring the magical world of St Kilda
- 'Like adding an extra shot of espresso': The powerful impact of reading aloud (and the science behind it)
- 'Opening our eyes': Why war stories are so important for children
- Pencil Dog: Take a peek inside this beautiful book
- Steve Antony: Why I've made the picture book they said would never sell
- The Bluest of Blues: look inside a beautiful picture book biography of botanist and photographer Anna Atkins
- The Book That Made Me: Christopher Paolini
- Two Sides: Discover this lovely tale of friendship and fall-outs
- What to Read After... The Gruffalo
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January
- #HookedOnBooks: 31 great books that could help get your child reading
- 10 brilliant book illustrations that you need to check out right now
- 5 tips for creating a fun and engaging book award in your school
- 7 of the best middle grade books with CATS
- 7 things I learned reading a bedtime story every night of 2018
- 7 twisted fairy tales to send shivers down your spine
- 'A unique skill can go a long way': Why we need both STEM AND arts subjects
- A wonderful gift for children: education consultant and former teacher, Jan mills, explains why she’s excited about our new Nursery programme in Wales
- Amber Lee Dodd: How telling stories changed my life (and why it could do the same for your child)
- Girls of the Crescent: Meet the two teenagers fighting for better representation in books
- How comedy (and books) can save the day for geeky tweens
- How to make the most of January: Fun activities for you and your children
- Pictures and words can change the world: here's how to help save the whales
- Start January well with this seasonal poem by top poet Joseph Coelho
- The Book That Made Me: Jacqueline Wilson
- The Letterbox Club in schools: 'It's important for all children to have aspirations'
- What to Read After... Mortal Engines
- Why bedtime stories will soon be your favourite time of the day (if it isn't already)
- Why you should try non-fiction audiobooks
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July
- 7 super summer reads for teens
- Boys Do Cry: How books could help young boys to express their emotions
- Defeating our demons: Writing difficult stories for our little ones
- Discover the best lighthouses in children’s literature
- 'Every child has the right to...' Read Cressida Cowell's giant to-do-list as the new Waterstones Children's Laureate
- Exclusive: Chris Riddell and Jim Kay reveal their beautiful Patronus on a Postcard artwork
- How to read again: Falling back in love with books
- 'I thought a lot about how dogs sort people’s lives out.'
- Look inside this beautiful underwater story that talks about grief and courage
- Making stories available for everyone: The book award for children with little or no sight
- 'Sometimes being a person is hard': How books can help children explore grief and loss
- The Book That Made Me: James Mayhew
- Time for Netflix? The best TV shows and movies based on children's books
- Times really ARE changing: How YA books are becoming more inclusive
- What to Read After... Dr Seuss
- When did we get so wasteful? Anne Fine's top tips to save the planet
- Why I love chimps and want you all to feel the same
- Windows to Other Worlds: Here are the winning entries, full of the wonderful worlds you've explored in books
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March 2018 features and blogs
- 'A world of walls': How a ham sandwich led to a story of outsiders and breaking down barriers
- Andy Stanton: Why I wrote the heartfelt When I Was A Child
- Celebrate Holi with Nadiya Hussain's recipe for delicious rainbow fudge
- 'Children see themselves in Kipper': Mick Inkpen on 30 years of The Blue Balloon
- Get lost in this beautiful love letter to camping, exploring and the great outdoors
- Girl 38: Telling the story of the Polish experience in the Second World War
- How reading books can make you adventurous and brave
- 'I just hope that it can help': Susan Varley on her iconic book about grief, Badger's Parting Gifts
- Join new Writer in Residence Candy Gourlay in opening up windows to other worlds through reading
- Matt Brown's top 5 school stories for kids
- Meet Little Badman
- Meet some Fantastically Great Women Who Worked Wonders in our sneak peek at the book
- Meet some truly incredible Young Heroes on International Women's Day
- Sheds, ginger biscuits and secret passwords: How Pamela Butchart is continuing Enid Blyton's Secret Seven series
- The Book That Made Me: David Almond
- What to Read After... Tom Gates
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November
- 8 favourite facts about our froggy friends
- Andrea Beaty on getting kids engaged in politics
- Cerrie Burnell: 'We are all made of stories'
- Dr Sheila Kanani: 'My top five space jobs and why they'd be so fun'
- Dyslexia at school: When the words don’t make sense
- Here are the young activists that can make the world a better place
- Hilary McKay on historical fiction: 'History is our roots, it grounds us'
- Ideas for school projects about invention – using Wildspark and other inventive books
- Lou Kuenzler's favourite funny-spooky reads
- Meet the children who changed the world
- Rise Up by Amanda Li – discover ordinary kids with extraordinary stories
- Samantha Baines on challenging hearing loss stereotypes in her book Harriet Versus the Galaxy
- 'Stories enable us to remember': Lisa Thompson on the power of tales about war
- Sweets and sweetshops in children’s literature – a personal pick and mix by Catherine O’Flynn
- Take five to listen to Cerrie Burnell read you her picture book, Fairy Magic
- The best fictional aunts
- The Book That Made Me: Satoshi Kitamura
- 'The children's delight was heartwarming': The power of the Special School Library Pack
- What to Read After... Artemis Fowl
- Why we need food banks – and other small acts of kindness
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October
- Africa Amazing Africa
- Brexit and The Little Island: Why we should talk to little people about big issues
- Cressida Cowell recommends her top witchy books for children
- Damaris Young: My top spooky middle grade reads
- Five ways to get the whole school reading with your School Library Pack
- Giraffe stories: Introduce your child to this incredible animal
- How we use School Library Pack in our school
- How we use School Library Pack in our school
- Seven Girls with Incredible Talents
- The Book That Made Me: Philip Reeve
- The idea of a flooded city is one that's fascinated me for as long as I can remember
- The importance of funny stories: Why kids need books that make them laugh
- The Man With (Over) 50 Library Cards
- Things get dark in the Hildaverse
- Top ghost stories for children with spooky settings
- What to Read After... Mog
- Why you should be obsessed with Ada Lovelace (just like me)
- Writing fiction about ADHD: 'I want children to see that it doesn’t have to be a negative thing'
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September
- 25 years since Handa's Surprise: here's why Eileen Browne thinks her picture book has been so loved
- 5 ways reading together can support children’s wellbeing
- A new generation will fall in love with the latest edition of The Wind in the Willows
- Author Sophie Anderson: The power of telling stories from memory or imagination (or a bit of both)
- BookTrust NI talks to Omagh-raised author-illustrator Clive McFarland
- Canaries in the coalmine: Why Marcus Sedgwick is writing about Chronic Fatigue and other illnesses we all need to better understand
- Candy Gourlay: Looking back as Writer in Residence and exploring worlds with BookTrust
- Cerrie Burnell on how fairy tales can help every child to love storytelling
- Charlie Changes Into a Chicken: How I accidentally wrote a book about childhood anxiety
- Children's author Chen Jiatong: 'Translation removes language barriers, it makes stories borderless'
- Cracking open the classics: Here are Kiran Millwood Hargrave's modern retellings of stories for middle grade readers
- Elizabeth Acevedo on why she's writing verse novels (that keep winning awards)
- How to help your child keep a level head about going back to school
- Meet Rob Hodgson, our new Time to Read author
- Michael Morpurgo on how a classic tale inspired him to write the story of a young refugee
- Renée Watson interview: 'No character should be all good or all bad'
- Sophie Green’s top 7 favourite mystery stories for a middle grade audience
- The Book That Made Me: Catherine Johnson
- 'This is someone I don’t know whose life I’m now a part of because they’ve read my book.'
- Top authors on the best stories to help children talk about their feelings
- What to Read After... The Crossover and Rebound
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April 2019 features and blogs
- BookTrust features pre-2012
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Features 2021
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April
- "The world needs unapologetically neurodivergent characters": Elle McNicoll on creating a character with Dyspraxia
- Ask Prof Mike: Reading to babies, making books a routine, and how to join a library
- Eight incredible books for children all about World War Two
- How you can help inspire a generation of future readers
- Love the telly? Check out our top five children's books about television
- Puppy talk and cat chat: How to talk to animals
- Seven (not too) scary books for 8-12 year olds
- Six musical themed books to ignite a love of music, specially chosen by author Caroline Magerl
- Top 5 Books about Space
- What is the most exciting part of Eid? From food to fabulous outfits, find out everything you need to know about Eid
- What to Read After... Cosmic by Frank Cottrell-Boyce
- What would it really be like to spend 24 hours in space?
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August
- 7 magical children's books about unicorns
- Ask Prof Mike: Being noisy in the library and reading stories like a CBeebies presenter...
- Explore South Asia with eight breathtaking children's books
- Fun tips for children starting secondary school
- Getting the school library ready for the new year
- Hidden gold: the art of the treasure hunt
- How to use books to help children understand feelings
- Looking out for aliens… Astronaut Tim Peake tells us what you can see when you’re in space.
- The best children's books to inspire young adventurers
- The Nature of Stammering
- Top tips for helping to get your child to sleep
- What to read after A Kind of Spark
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December
- 2022: A year in the life of BookTrust
- 2023 TV shows and movies: The children's books to read before they hit your screens
- Author Jeffrey Boakye shares his experience of a school visit: 'It's something I’m going to cherish’
- Brilliant books to match this Christmas's must-have toys
- Five fantastic books about appreciating each other
- How our festive book packs are spreading joy to children in South Wales
- How to talk to children about racism
- Ideas to liven up history lessons
- If your child finds Christmas celebrations overwhelming, they're not alone
- Seven Super Christmas Picture Books
- The best children's books of the year, chosen by authors and illustrators
- Tips for reading aloud to a child
- What to Read After... Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs
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February
- "In painful times, books can be the greatest comfort": Anne Fine on how reading can help children cope with feelings of grief
- 5 ways to show your library some love (and stop it becoming a store cupboard)
- 7 brilliant illustrated books for older children chosen by Louie Stowell
- Alex Wheatle: Why I wrote a pirate book that actually tackles slavery
- Check out these incredible winners from our 'Design a character' competition with Dapo Adeola – with one coming in a book to you soon
- Dapo Adeola ends BookTrust residency: 'I've learned a whole lot about what is possible'
- Dr Ranj's 5 top tips for keeping a healthy brain
- How to build confidence in your child
- Send your little one off to sleep with these bedtime tips from Atinuke
- Top tips for transitioning from picture books to chapter books
- Wham! Zap! Pow! 7 awesome comics picked by Alex Falase-Koya
- What to read after… Percy Jackson
- Why I wrote a queer picture book – plus recommendations of other LGBTQ+ positive books
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January
- "The best thing you can be is yourself": Frankie's World author Aoife Dooley on being diagnosed with autism as an adult
- 10 tips for helping children learn their first words
- 5 thrilling adventures on the high seas, chosen by Amy Raphael
- 5 ways to help children manage their anxiety
- 7 brand new tales with ancient roots, picked by Lucy Strange
- Cooking with kids: Great British Bake Off winner David Atherton on how to involve your children in the kitchen
- Dive into these 7 incredible diverse stories from history, chosen by Sufiya Ahmed
- Embracing our differences: Writing about an invisible disability
- How audiobooks can help children fall in love with reading
- Tips for kids on identifying fake news from journalist Nick Sheridan
- What To Read After... Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging
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July
- 7 amazing books that star Muslim characters
- 8 brilliant children's books about family illness
- Ask Prof Mike: Children who wander off, children who chew their books, and whether reading is just for school...
- Creating inclusive bookshelves: Why diversity matters
- Five fantastic books set in Africa
- Getting sporty kids into reading
- Helping children to learn through play
- The best books for gamers
- Tips on how to get your child into STEM subjects and improve their maths and tech skills
- Waterstones Children's Laureate 2022-2024 Joseph Coelho shares his BIG plans
- What to read after... The Legend of Kevin by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre
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June
- 8 top tips for parents of LGBTQ+ (or questioning) teens
- A guide to finding your bliss by the author of Find Your Happy
- Ask Prof Mike: Growing out of picture books, reading to 3 children at once, and different ways of telling a story...
- Bookbuzz Design a Book Cover 2022 Winner and Runners Up
- Five games for children to play in their school library
- 'I write the stories I wanted to read when I was younger': Author Karen Owen on writing about hearing loss
- Looking for a bit of magic? Check out our top 8 magical books for 9 to 12 year olds
- Selective Mutism - What, Why & How?
- Seven beautiful books about grandparents
- 'Stories connect us to our past and ancestors': Why every generation needs to keep sharing its family history
- Storytime is sacred: Why reading aloud is the most non-negotiable of non-negotiables
- Struggling to stay positive? Here's how Rashmi Sirdeshpande remembers the good things in life
- The mysterious tales of the Mabinogion
- 'We live in a wonderful multicultural world': Why diversity is at the heart of everything I illustrate
- What to read after The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
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March
- 6 super feminist reads for International Women's Day
- 7 incredible books for children learning about Ancient Egypt
- 7 tip-top tea parties in children’s fiction
- 8 books chosen by author Anna Ciddor about what it was really like to be a Roman
- 9 picture books that actually reflect the diversity of family life
- All the Nonsense in my Teeth: The tantrum-free guide to getting little ones to brush their teeth
- Author of Perfectly Weird, Perfectly You, Dr Camilla Pang, shares what it is like to grow up with ASD
- Books about war for older readers, picked by Michael Rosen
- Cameron Battle author Jamar J. Perry shares his must-read childhood favourites
- 'I am white-passing': Why this author wants to help children look beyond the surface and celebrate every aspect of their heritage
- What it's like to have an autistic mum – in my son's own words
- What to Read After... We're Going on a Bear Hunt
- Why author Julia Seal loves jellyfish
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May
- "Children need to know that things can get better": Michael Rosen and Michael Foreman on writing about war for children.
- "What's this book got to do with me?" Why children's books need to show disability and diversity
- 8 books for kids who don't like books
- Ask Prof Mike: Encouraging talking, reading confidence as an adult, and reading the same stories over and over again...
- Author Sophy Henn shares her top five superhero books with outsiders
- Five tips for sharing your love of reading with your grandchildren and five books to get you started
- How to encourage young children to read at your school
- Meet five women whose contribution to astronomy and science was out of this world
- Telling the stories of Windrush: 'It gave me a deeper understanding of my mother’s emotional journey'
- Ten terrific comics and graphic novels for children
- 'There is still a stigma around dyslexia': Parent and author Malcolm Duffy explores the topic in his latest book for children
- What to Read After... The Treehouse books by Terry Denton and Andy Griffiths
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November
- "It can plant a seed. It is a gift that can have a domino effect" - How our festive book parcels are making a difference to children in Manchester
- "Lots of people don't have extra cash to splash on a brand new book": The joy books can bring during the festive season
- “Giving students books that literally mirror what they are going through is so impactful for them”
- 8 books about friends from the authors of Friends are Amazing
- 9 of the best mischievous characters
- Five books that celebrate community
- Five of the Best Friendly Dragons
- How BookTrust Represents author visits support schools to build their reading cultures
- How to create brilliant drawings
- How to use books to bring history to life in primary schools
- How to use the World Cup as a learning tool in the classroom
- How we're working with food banks to brighten up Christmas for children across the UK
- 'It really is like a Christmas present': What our festive book gifts mean for foster children in East Yorkshire
- Six mouth-watering books about baking
- Six tips for talking about climate change with children
- Ten simple ways to be kind
- 'The books really had that wow factor': How our Christmas parcels make a difference in Liverpool
- Three top tips for creating a culture of reading for pleasure in your school
- Top tips for using books to talk to children about separation or divorce
- What children's books can teach us about friendship
- What to Read After... Horrible Histories
- Why author visits to schools matter
-
October
- 5 top tips to help children enjoy non-fiction
- A Trip to the Library: Pictures that Pop!
- ADHD and autism: How books are supporting one mum and her son
- Blasting into Space: 10 books about space
- Books with brilliant pictures and not too many words
- Eight brilliant children's poetry books for National Poetry Day
- Eight picture books for a scare-free Halloween
- Eight Spooky Stories for Older Children
- Grandmother Mrs Ahmed's Storytime Experience
- How this school is getting ready for a virtual author visit with Jeffrey Boakye
- How to get your pupils excited about reading
- How to use books to explore worries about siblings
- Overcoming the barriers to reading
- Picture books to help children talk about tricky topics
- Six frighteningly funny reads for Halloween
- Supporting reading for children with ADHD
- What to Read After... Funnybones
- Why comics are brilliant to get children reading
- Windows and mirrors: Why it's important for children to read about Black lives
-
September
- "A secret superpower": Top tips for reading with a bilingual child
- 10 brilliant books for children who love videogames
- 5 comics great for getting children into reading
- Books, Bollywood and Boogeying on Down: A Beginner's Guide to Bollywood
- Five fabulously funny books chosen by Stephen Mangan
- How to create your own magical creatures: 5 top tips from Patrice Lawrence
- Michael Morpurgo's top tips for sharing stories with children
- Reading for Pleasure: Michael Rosen's winning school announced
- Reading with children about dementia
- Seven books with inspiring male role models
- The Power of Pictures: the illustrations that inspired our new Writer in Residence Nick Sharratt
- What to read after... His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
-
April
-
Features 2021
-
April
- "What Happened To You?": What to do when a child asks someone about their disability
- Author Rod Campbell's top tips for reading to children
- Bookbuzz Design a Book Cover 2021 Winner and Runners Up
- How Em Norry found hope in booksHow Em Norry found escapism in books
- How six schools hope Life-changing Libraries could change their students' lives
- 'Libraries change lives': Read Cressida Cowell's open letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson
- Onjali Raúf and Tanya Steele celebrate Earth Day with their favourite books about our incredible planet
- Stuart Lawrence: How the power of reading can help us through difficult times
- Ten tips for creating an unforgettable school library
- The secret power of gaming: Author Helen Harvey on finding new ways to tell stories
- Why we need LGBTQ+ characters in children's books
-
August
- "I followed my heart - not any family expectations." Maisie Chan on misconceptions about growing up as a British Chinese person
- "I love you more than Sam loves Frodo": Goodbye from Onjali Q. Raúf
- 10 must-read children's books by Black authors and illustrators, chosen by Sharna Jackson
- Dogs Are Never Buried With Their Owners
- ent-day books about step-parents that ditch the stereotypes
- Everything is so Fast and Exciting
- Five vintage graphic novels that are still going strong today
- Just being You is more than enough': How to support friends through tough times
- Leap of the Century!
- Looking for diverse AND funny: How my children spotted a big gap in their children's books
- My Favourite Miracles
- My Favourite Miracles
- Nine essential books on Black British history, chosen by Musical Truth author Jeffrey Boakye
- Seven sensational books about the Romans, chosen by Thiago de Moraes
- Small changes, huge difference: Ways to tackle climate change as a family
- Survival in Space
- Talking to children about Afghanistan: Words of humanity as the refugee crisis worsens
- The Raven Heir: how the wilds of Wales helped author Stephanie Burgis find her place in the world
- The Sea has Risen!
- The Tiger Set Me Free
- What to Read After… Dogger
- Why do we Read Ghost Stories?
- Words for Silence: Finding our voice when words won't come
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December
- "Every adopted child is full of questions": How reading with her family helped Helenka Stachera find a place to belong
- #PassThePen 2021: Perfect Christmas gift ideas from BookTrust Represents authors and illustrators this year
- 10 films based on children's books we can't wait to see in 2022
- A Year of BookTrust: Here's what we got up to in 2021.
- Christmas shopping? Brilliant books to match this year's must-have toys
- Five wintery tales to warm the heart this Christmas
- How to sing a book to life and make reading extra fun
- Meet Edie Eckhart, comedian Rosie Jones' new children's character: 'People with disabilities absolutely deserve to be the hero of the story'
- Seven laugh-out-loud stories for Christmastime
- Six mind-blowing books about ancient myths and legends
- The very best books of 2021, picked by authors and illustrators
- Top tips for fussy eaters
- Watch Dapo Adeola read My Dad Is A Grizzly Bear by Swapna Haddow
- What to Read After… The Night Before Christmas
-
February
- "Don't sit on the baby!": Smriti Halls' guide to introducing a new baby to their big brother or sister
- "It's been emotional": How her son's stammer inspired Helen Rutter to write The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh
- "Nothing stops me. Ever.": Megan Rix on how being diagnosed with hearing loss later in life inspired her to write the Lizzie and Lucky books
- 10 amazing treasures from around the world (and beyond...)
- 10 fantastic children's books featuring Jewish characters
- 9 brilliant books to help you celebrate Chinese New Year
- 'Boys aren't always given space to express themselves': Dr Ranj on his new book about puberty
- Eight beautiful picture books about saving the environment
- Q&A with author Sally Gardner about The Tindims and how we can help look after the environment.
- Six brilliant LGBTQ+ books chosen by Benjamin Dean
- Stories of Joy and Hope: the winners are announced...
- The Smile Shop author Satoshi Kitamura: 'Kindness is probably the most important thing that we can give each other'
- What To Read After... Guess How Much I Love You
-
January
- 5 top tips for getting creative at home from Take Me Home activity book author Mary Richards
- Eight marvellous mysteries chosen by author Roopa Farooki
- Five tips for talking to young people about the Holocaust
- It's OK Not To Be OK: Top tips for managing your child's anxiety
- Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler brighten lockdown with more new coronavirus pictures, from Room on the Broom to Zog
- Seven tips for parents whose children want to try Veganuary
- Top tips for writing poems from Stars with Flaming Tails author Valerie Bloom
- What To Read After... Where's Spot?
-
July
- 7 historical books that transport us to the past, chosen by Hilary McKay
- 9 books about animals, nature and protest to inspire us to protect our world, chosen by This Book is Cruelty Free author Linda Newbery
- A different sort of normal (and proud): What it’s like to get an autism diagnosis at 33
- A Year of Reading: What happened next?
- BookTrust: Q & A with Dara McAnulty
- Here are your heroes! Read the winning stories from our Writer in Residence competition for schoolchildrenHere are your heroes! Read the winning stories from our Writer in Residence competition for schoolchildren
- Home is where the dog is: Writing about dogs as the thread that pulls families together
- LGBT+ picture books: Top recommended reads from writer and teacher Ian Eagleton
- Seven beautiful stories featuring Chinese mythology, chosen by Maisie Chan
- Tackling child food poverty: Onjali Q Raúf talks to Ewa Jozefkowicz
- Tackling racism beyond the football pitch
- The Perfect Shelter: Talking to children about serious illness
- Use your power and join us for a Plastic Free July
- What to Read After… Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls
- Writing about teenage boys: Body image, bullying, big feelings and more
-
June
- 9 fantastic folklore books to enjoy with your children
- A Year of Reading Activities: How this primary school put the love back into its library
- AV1 robots and homeschooling: How they inspired this lockdown children's book
- Before positive action, comes Empathy: Books to mark Empathy Day 2021
- Bookbuzz: Behind the Scenes
- Eight books to inspire hope for older children, chosen by Jewell Parker Rhodes
- Honouring refugee stories in Refugee Week and beyond
- How to be a birdwatcher, by M. G. Leonard
- How to get children engaged with their school library
- How we picked the 100 best children's books
- Imagine a world without libraries: Jake Alexander on why we need to fight for these magical places
- Six incredible illustrated chapter books for 7-9 year olds
- So what's normal? Why we need to challenge stereotypes and celebrate ALL our differences
- The Pirate Mums: Making a more inclusive world through picture books
- Water, wind, earth and fire: The four elements in children's books
- 'We hope readers will have compassion and empathy': Ming and Wah Chen on telling true stories of refugees
- What to Read After... Dear Zoo
- You are a Champion: How Marcus Rashford and Carl Anka are helping children to dream big
-
March
- "Keep hopeful!": Smriti Halls says goodbye as Writer in Residence
- "Libraries changed my life": Author Kelly Yang on the mysterious power of reading
- "We are capable of extraordinary things": Abi Elphinstone on Everdark's fearless dyslexic heroine
- 8 spellbinding books about the ocean, chosen by Helen Scales
- Big ideas and the great outdoors: Discover the 2021 Kate Greenaway Medal shortlist
- Bringing Life to Books: Smriti Halls on celebrating South Asian and dual heritage families
- Seven books to sail the seven seas
- Seven swashbuckling pirate stories, chosen by Sally Garland
- Shades of Scarlet: Anne Fine on talking to children about separation and divorce
- The hunt for words: Author Zillah Bethell on the magic of storytelling
- The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: Onjali Q Raúf shares her top reading recommendations
- What To Read After... Richard Scarry
- Who's your local hero? Onjali Q. Rauf wants you to share your stories
-
May
- "Families come in all shapes and sizes!": Why we need to see diverse families represented in children's books
- "Felix was gifted to me": Kacen Callender shares how their experiences of exploring gender identity inspired their latest novel
- 7 football books that are about even more than the beautiful game
- BookTrust Writer in Residence Onjali Q. Raúf's eight books to feed the soul this World Hunger Day
- Creating the perfect school library space
- Eight children's books tackling big themes
- How do you explain a concept like racism and white privilege to young readers?
- How the safe space of books can help children understand big world issues
- How to bring your school library to life with child-focused and creative ideas by Andy Young
- Inspiring happiness and hope: Books to mark National Children’s Day
- Rose Robbins: Why Striving to be Normal is a Waste of Time
- Say hello to the Life-Savers! Test your knowledge of our incredible frontline staff with this quiz
- Seven brilliant books featuring different cultures
- What to Read After... Holly Webb
-
November
- "Becoming Violet": Writing about grief and belonging in my picture book
- "There is something incredibly special about a polar bear": The Last Bear author Hannah Gold on the incredible beasts that inspired her book
- 10 top books featuring talking animals
- 14 wonderful wintry tales, chosen by The Very Merry Murder Club authors
- 'He lights up the world with his words and his love': Top authors and illustrators on John Agard's Lifetime Achievement Award win
- How books help you imagine a limitless future: Dapo Adeola on representation, reading and his favourite picture books
- How Michael Rosen's COVID recovery inspired an unusual book about a walking stick
- How new book Superheroes aims to inspire a new generation - plus, read Stormzy's introduction!
- Invented By Animals: Jaw-dropping facts that everyone should know
- Six ways to help toddlers progress from board books to picture books
- The extraordinary true story of my family’s escape from Nazi Germany that haunts my debut children’s book
- Top five kids' books about fantastical faerie lands
- 'We are all creatures of language': Lifetime Achievement Award winner John Agard on his incredible life and career
- We're Going To Find The Monster! Q&A with Dapo Adeola
- What did the Stone Age ever do for us? Well... quite a lot actually!
- What To Read After... I Am A Tiger
- Women’s football: an historical factsheet for football mad girls (and boys)
-
October
- "Adventures are for everyone": Lenny Henry talks about his new book, The Boy With Wings, and the importance of children seeing themselves in books
- "How can we ensure that children don't feel excluded?": Steve Antony on helping children see themselves in books
- 9 spooky but funny stories to help you giggle through Halloween
- Best stories for children about Vikings and their Norse world
- Celebrating Libraries Week with BookTrust Storytime
- 'I sometimes wished I could be one thing properly': Michael Mann on growing up half-Indian, half-Yorkshire and the beauty of the "in-between"
- Join Writer in Residence Dapo Adeola's writers' clinics
- Myths and legends: Read the very best children books that draw on folklore
- Seven spooky stories for Halloween
- The magic of reading aloud: 5 top tips for sharing books with children
- The Wall: How compassion and curiosity can help children overcome fear of the unknown
- We need to talk to young children about racism – and here's the reason why
- What the animal kingdom can teach us about raising children
- What To Read After... Meg and Mog
-
September
- 10 beautiful books about birds for children
- 5 fantastic fictional foxes, chosen by Grimwood author Nadia Shireen
- 6 perfect author and illustrator dream teams, chosen by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre
- Growing up and starting secondary school: Some personal tips for young people and parents
- 'Habits of noticing': Three ways to watch the seasons change with your child
- How to be your child’s first science teacher
- Numberblocks and Alphablocks creator Joe Elliot on how to make early learning magical and joyful
- Reading around the world for World Kid Lit Month
- Seven historical fiction books to transport you back to the past, chosen by Emma Carroll
- We Have A Dream: Author and activist Dr Mya-Rose Craig on the young people changing the world
- What makes an inspiring school library? Top tips from Promote Your School
- What to Read After… Look Up!
- What to Read After… The Moomins
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April
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2013
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Writer in Residence at BookTrust: Patrice Lawrence
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Previous Writers in Residence for BookTrust
- BookTrust Writer in Residence Cerrie Burnell
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- Nadia Shireen: former BookTrust Writer in Residence
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- Nicola Davies: former BookTrust Writer in Residence
- Onjali Q. Raúf: former BookTrust Writer in Residence
- Rashmi Sirdeshpande: former BookTrust Writer in Residence
- Read about our former Writer-Illustrator in Residence, Ed Vere
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Waterstones Children's Laureate for 2024-26
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- Meet Children's Laureate 2009-2011 Anthony Browne
- Meet Children's Laureate 2011-2013 Julia Donaldson
- Meet Children's Laureate 2013-2015 Malorie Blackman
- Meet Children's Laureate 2015-2017 Chris Riddell
- Meet Children's Laureate 2017-2019 Lauren Child
- Meet Children's Laureate Sir Michael Morpurgo
- Meet the first Children's Laureate Quentin Blake
- Poetry Prompts
- Waterstones Children's Laureate events
- Waterstones Children's Laureate for 2019-21
- Waterstones Children's Laureate supporters
- Waterstones Children's Laureate: Resources for schools
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Awards and prizes