Entries by FCBG blog

My sister is a treasure by Tracy Darnton

Picture books are ideal gifts for growing families.  We recently asked author Tracy Darnton a few questions about her books and writing. My Sister is a Treasure by Tracy Darnton   My sister is a treasure is delightful and heart-warming- perfect for families with a new baby. What was the inspiration for this book? Thank […]

Spirit Warriors by Ashley Thorpe

Author Ashley Thorpe shares some insights into Spirit Warriors and it is fascinating!   My second book Spirit Warriors is a supernatural fantasy adventure, which takes place in an alternate Jamaica full of magic and mystery. I grew up with highly-entertaining folk stories from the Caribbean islands, often featuring characters like the trickster Anansi. But […]

Lila Mackay is very misunderstood by Gill Sims

We have a funny blog today from author Gill Sims, one that many parents will relate to! ‘You only have eighteen precious summers with your children, so make the most of them’. We’ve all seen variations on the quote about only having eighteen summers with our children, and we’ve all felt the guilt about what […]

Hangry by Kathyrn Wanless

Ever wondered what inspires authors to write picture books? Our blog today welcomes Kathyrn Wanless chatting about Hangry and how this book came to be!   INSPIRATION FOR HANGRY – Kathryn Wanless Three years ago, I graduated from the wonderful MA Children’s Book Illustration course at Cambridge School of Art. It was a fantastic experience […]

The Klaus Flugge Prize – interviews with this year’s shortlisted illustrators

The Klaus Flugge Prize – interviews with this year’s shortlisted illustrators This is the tenth year of the Klaus Flugge Prize. It was established in 2016 to honour Klaus Flugge, founder of Andersen Press and a leading light in the world of children’s publishing and illustration. The £5,000 prize is awarded to the most promising […]

On the Edge by Nicola Garrard

‘If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.’ Martin Luther King. In this post, Nicola Garrard, teacher and author of On the Edge, argues there is nothing better than a children’s book to build empathy, prompt nuanced discussion and equip decision-makers of the future. I write a book when I […]

A Visit to The Story Arcade by Louisa Farrow

Recently, The Story Museum in Oxford launched a new interactive exhibition called The Story Arcade.  FCBG member, Louisa Farrow, went along to the launch party to discover more. She shares her thoughts below. The Story Arcade Is there a parent out there who hasn’t worried about their child’s gaming? That worry pushes us into a […]

Cringe Club by Emily-Jane Clark

Cringe Club is a book written as a series of text messages between three special friends as they suffer through the trials of starting secondary school! Author, Emily-Jane Clark, shares some insights into this book!   Adding reluctant readers to Cringe Club by Emily-Jane Clark WITH reading for pleasure among children at an all-time low, […]

Tiger, Don’t Worry by Daishu Ma

We were lucky enough to send some questions to creator of Tiger, Don’t Worry, Daishu Ma. The book and answers are just lovely.   The relationship between Tiger and Mei is beautiful – what do you hope readers will take from reading their adventures? The beauty of a friendship is that your friend doesn’t have […]

The Unlikely Diary of Prince Kal the Alien by Ross Welford

It’s great to welcome Ross Welford to the blog sharing his thoughts on his tenth book published for children!     The Unlikely Diary Of Prince Kal The Alien is my tenth book in as many years. (It sounds a lot but plenty of authors are more productive.) My first, Time Travelling With A Hamster, […]