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The Federation of Children’s Book Groups Blog
Finding Our Harmony: Writing Stories that Bring Us Together By Dr Monika Singh Gangotra
At a time where public discourse often resembles a deafening clash of competing voices, a vibrant new picture book arrives with a timely message about finding harmony amidst the noise. Harmony House by immigrant author, Monika Singh Gangotra (author of Sunflower Sisters), explores what happens when individual expression collides with community living, offering young readers […]
The Story Behind the Story by Sarah Ann Juckes
Welcome to today’s blog where Sarah Ann Juckes shares some insight into her book, Robin. The Story Behind the Story by Sarah Ann Juckes It’s one of the most frequently asked questions I get as a children’s author – “where do you get your ideas?” It’s also one of my favourite questions to answer, […]
An interview with author Francesco Bedini and illustrator Stefano Tambellini, creators of My Cat is Called Odin
We have a brilliant blog today where readers will gain some insight into My Cat is Called Odin by Francesco Bedini and Stefano Tambellini. An interview with author Francesco Bedini and illustrator Stefano Tambellini, creators of My Cat is Called Odin For fans of Loki, Warrior Cats and Percy Jackson comes a new action-packed, […]
About Time by Alom Shaha and Rebecca Struthers
We welcome co-authors Alom Shaha and Rebecca Struthers to the blog in an interview style format! Gain some insight into their work on About Time. Rebecca – What inspired you to write the book? Education has always been very important to me, although I’d only taught at a university level before writing this book. We […]
A Tree for Everyone by Kathy Urban
We welcome Kathy Urban to the blog today sharing her opinion on Why Play Matters! It may help you to remember your own fond memories of playing as a child. Why Play Matters: Play is messy — and that’s a good thing By Kathy Urban I must have been about eight years […]
Storymix Books by Jasmine Richards
We have a fantastic blog today from Jasmine Richards, founder of Storymix and Storymix Books. How it started! This year has been full of milestones for me, including becoming a trustee at the National Literacy Trust at a pivotal time as we prepare for the National Year of Reading 2026. It is also […]
Can Comic-Strips Help to Engage Young Readers with History and Biography by Marcia Williams
Can Comic-Strips Help to Engage Young Readers with History and Biography I have always been fascinated by comic-strips, and their balance between words and pictures. Maybe it has something to do with my brother being allowed a weekly comic when we were younger, but not me. I’m not sure why this was, but […]
Lionborn by Sharique Zea
On the blog today, we have a Q&A with Sharique Zea, author of Lionborn! The great questions and answers may inspire you to pick up a copy of this book. Q&A with Sharique Zea, author of Lionborn Lionborn is the story of 12-year-old Fionn who discovers he has the powerful magical gifts of […]
National Non-Fiction November Competition Details
This year for National Non-Fiction November our theme is Past Puzzles and Timeless Treasures! Our booklist features curious objects, books about historical places, people, and artefacts. We have lots of activities that you can be doing to celebrate non-fiction with children – do take a look at the activity booklet on the National Non-Fiction November […]
The Fossil Keeper’s Treasure by Amy Atwater
Welcome to another National Non-Fiction November blog post. Today Amy Atwater tells us more about her book and the inspiration behind it! The Fossil Keeper’s Treasure Amy Atwater Every scientist starts out as a curious kid. My book, The Fossil Keeper’s Treasure, is an ode to all the children out there who are inspired […]
The Merry Christmas Murders by Alexandra Benedict
We welcome Alexandra Benedict to the blog today answering a few of our questions about her debut middle grade mystery, The Merry Christmas Murders. Was it challenging to move from writing adult mystery to middle grade? I was really aware when I started writing this book that I’d have to think even more […]
Owl King by Bex Hogan
We welcome Owl King author, Bex Hogan to the blog today sharing insights into fairytales and how they inspired her writing. Once upon a time, fairy tales weren’t for children. They were dark and terrifying, filled with content that would make modern day parents’ toes curl. They were told to reflect grim realities, stories shared […]
Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature by Caroline Brewer
Caroline Brewer, author and illustrator of Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature explains why she wrote Harriet’s biography using poetry! I wrote Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature in poems because Harriet herself was/is poetry. When I think of Harriet, I think imagery. I think of word association and sound. Her life, like poetry, bursts with rhetorical […]
Luna Grace by Julie Sykes
We recently sent a few questions to Julie Sykes about her new series, Luna Grace! Check out her answers below! Where did you get the idea for this new series? I love the idea of having moving magic and I really wanted to create a book with a character that could move things by thinking […]
The Horse Dreamer by Holly Surplice
We have a beautiful blog from Holly Surplice, author of The Horse Dreamer, about her story and characters. The Horse Dreamer first appeared in a sketchbook over a decade ago. My youngest was just one at the time and I just knew I didn’t have the brain capacity then to write the story I […]
Time Lions and the Chrono-Loop by Krystal Sutherland
“Time Lions began with an accident”, what a great first line to our blog today. Author Krystal Sutherland shares how the book and concept, Time Lions, came about! Time Lions began with an accident. I (Krystal) was researching something for another book. I went to search for “Ancient Greeks” on Google, but I made a […]
Squirrel and Bird by Laura Baker
We have a lovely blog today from Laura Baker, author of Squirrel and Bird. She shares some inspiration behind the book with us! WE ARE MORE THAN LABELS: THE INSPIRATION BEHIND SQUIRREL AND BIRD Have you or any of your children/pupils ever been labelled as ‘the quiet one’? ‘The loud one’? Maybe even ‘the cheeky one’? Does that limit how other people see you, […]
The Snowman Code by Simon Stephenson
Simon Stephenson shares his inspiration behind writing books for children. The Snowman Code is now available in paperback ahead of the Christmas season. What Inspired Me to Write Children’s Books The Snowman Code is my first book for young readers. It tells the story of the unusual friendship that develops between Blessing, a […]