Author Archives: Samantha Thomas
7 Things I Learned from writing “Generation Hope”
- Nov
- 25
- Posted by Samantha Thomas
- Posted in Uncategorized
- Comments Off on 7 Things I Learned from writing “Generation Hope”

by Kimberlie Hamilton I wrote Generation Hope (Scholastic) as a call to arms for young activists. It covers all sorts of timely issues – including climate change, mental health, animal welfare, pollution and homelessness – and features dozens of change-agents around the world, ranging in age from 7 to 19 years old. I learn a […]
read moreDarwin’s Rival
- Nov
- 23
- Posted by Samantha Thomas
- Posted in Uncategorized
- Comments Off on Darwin’s Rival

NNFN coordinator, Chris Routh recently had the opportunity to interview non-fiction author Christiane Dorion about her latest book Darwin’s Rival: Alfred Russel Wallace and the Search for Evolution illustrated by Harry Tennant and published by Walker Books. Can you tell us about yourself and how you came to be a writer of books for children? […]
read more100 Things to Know About Saving the Planet
- Nov
- 20
- Posted by Samantha Thomas
- Posted in Uncategorized
- Comments Off on 100 Things to Know About Saving the Planet

How could plastic-eating bacteria help reduce waste? Could we generate all the power we need from the sun and wind? Would building a giant sunshade in space stop the world from overheating? Don’t worry if you don’t know the answers, the Usborne Fact Force are the go-to people to ask for top tips on saving […]
read moreOf Course, I’m Biased
- Nov
- 18
- Posted by Samantha Thomas
- Posted in Uncategorized
- Comments Off on Of Course, I’m Biased

by Steve Cole Here’s a confession. I rarely read contemporary fiction. As a professional novel editor as well as a writer, it’s an instinct to make changes in the margin as I go – which is as frustrating as it is pointless. So, my reading material tends to be nonfiction. Not a studying of dry facts, […]
read moreThe Tale of a Toothbrush
- Nov
- 16
- Posted by Samantha Thomas
- Posted in Uncategorized
- Comments Off on The Tale of a Toothbrush

by M.G.Leonard One of this year’s National Non-Fiction November competitions is inspired by The Tale of a Toothbrush: A Story of Plastic in Our Oceans written by M G Leonard and illustrated by Daniel Rieley. NNFN’s coordinator, Chris Routh, was given the opportunity to ask the book’s creators a few questions about its inspiration, development […]
read moreJudging the 2020 School Library Association Information Book Award
- Nov
- 13
- Posted by Samantha Thomas
- Posted in Uncategorized
- Comments Off on Judging the 2020 School Library Association Information Book Award

Charlotte Taylor-Smith is the senior librarian at Colston’s School in Bristol. This year she joined the panel of judges for the SLA Information Book Award and accepted our invitation to write about her experience to coincide with the announcement of the award winners. As I recommend books for all ages from 3 years old to […]
read moreThe Magic of Reality
- Nov
- 11
- Posted by Samantha Thomas
- Posted in Uncategorized
- Comments Off on The Magic of Reality

Non-fiction author and publisher Christopher Lloyd explains why non-fiction matters today more than ever Over the last 15 years I must have given more than 1,000 lectures in different schools and I can’t tell you the number of times the librarian or teacher who has kindly invited me has told me, with gleeful smile, that […]
read moreThe Importance of Trees and Sustainable Publishing
- Nov
- 09
- Posted by Samantha Thomas
- Posted in Uncategorized
- Comments Off on The Importance of Trees and Sustainable Publishing

In this bumper double-sized blog, we hear from author Jess French about her latest book and editor Georgia Amson-Bradshaw of Ivy Kids (The Quarto Group), which is due to be relaunched as a ‘sustainable imprint’ in 2021 Our world is entirely reliant on trees. Without trees, the systems that keep the world working as it […]
read moreThe Shark Life
- Nov
- 05
- Posted by Samantha Thomas
- Posted in Uncategorized
- Comments Off on The Shark Life

Marine biologist, Jillian Morris, explains her passion for sharks and the work of Sharks4Kids, a nonprofit education company she runs with her husband Duncan Brake. Their book Shark Super Powers was published by UCLAN earlier this year. The Shark Life “Do you ever get scared?” This is something I get asked all the time when […]
read moreLast – Nicola Davies
- Nov
- 03
- Posted by Samantha Thomas
- Posted in Uncategorized
- Comments Off on Last – Nicola Davies

Nicola Davies explains what inspired her to write Last: The Story of a White Rhino published by Tiny Owl earlier this year and why she decided that she had to illustrate the story herself. Late one night back in 2018 I watched a documentary about a rhino. He had been named Sudan when he was […]
read more