Desi Girl Speaking by A.S. Hussain

Author A.S. Hussain writes a rousing call to action guest blog around mental health and poses the question, Are you Ready to Speak Up?   Are You Ready To Speak Up? by A.S. Hussain Mental health, today more than ever, is a growing topic with strides being made to break the silence and stigma surrounding […]

Magicalia by Jennifer Bell

What do Pokemon, Astronomy and Poetry have in common? Jennifer Bell will explain in her guest blog for us today!   One of the questions I get asked the most by readers is: where do your ideas come from? I always say they can come from anywhere, but they don’t just fall into my lap; […]

A Poet Who Tells Stories by Nadine Aisha Jassat

Verse Novels are becoming more popular with readers of all ages. Nadine Aisha Jassat, author/poet of The Hidden Story of Estie Noor, writes about being a poet who tells stories.  If you haven’t read a verse novel, then do try one! A Poet Who Tells Stories by Nadine Aisha Jassat I often introduce myself as […]

A Helping Hand with your Literacy Year by Literacy Hive

We always love working with partners around reading and encouraging a love of books. Literacy Hive has written a blog that just may help parents, teachers and librarians to make the most of every day! A Helping Hand with your Literacy Year Despite the overwhelming evidence of the long-term benefits of being a keen reader […]

Bringing Back Kay-Kay by Dev Kothari

We welcome Dev Kothari to the blog today to share some insights into her book, Bringing Back Kay-Kay and sibling relationships! Celebrating sibling relationships by Dev Kothari Some of my most vivid childhood memories involve my older brother. We squabbled all the time. Got on each other’s nerves constantly. He found me annoying. I found […]

When the Wild Calls by Nicola Penfold

We welcome Nicola Penfold to the blog today, sharing insights into writing a sequel! On writing a sequel by Nicola Penfold, author of When the Wild Calls. When the Wild Calls is out now and is the sequel to my debut novel Where the World Turns Wild from 2000. The first book has been doing […]

Pink Trucks by Sam Clarke

Sam Clarke is a debut author with Five Quills. He talks to us about the inspiration behind his first picture book, Pink Trucks, which gently challenges gender stereotypes in a fun, rhythmical story.    “We HATE pink!” shouted my 6-year-old son and his friend as they ran, laughing, to the school gates. I turned, wide-eyed, to […]

Libraries are bigger on the inside by Manon Steffan Ros

We are sharing a beautiful guest blog from award winning author, Manon Steffan Ros- a celebration of awards and libraries!   Libraries are Bigger on the Inside I remember the book. The colours on the cover were muted, and there was a beautiful drawing of two girls sitting atop a pile of clothes, one looking […]

Champ by Reza Dalvand

Champ is a newly translated picture book from talented Iranian author and illustrator duo, Payam Ebrahimi and Reza Dalvand. A powerful and honest story of continuing to be yourself, despite the pressure to conform Champ was originally published in Iran, and is a book for those around the world who have resisted and continue to […]

Betty Steady and the Toad Witch by Nicky Smith-Dale

Sometimes silly and funny books are just what children need to read! Young readers will be thrilled to meet Betty Steady as well as Linda and Greg! Check out Nicky Smith-Dale’s guest blog today! Where did the idea for Betty Steady come from? Betty Steady came from the silliest recesses of my brain. Set in […]