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The Federation of Children’s Book Groups Blog
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 […]
My Book of Classic Nursery Tales by James Mayhew
Many of us will have grown up with familiar tales and nursery rhymes. James Mayhew shares his insights into the importance of storytelling and voice but also in sharing these tales from childhood. Like so many children, I grew up with traditional folk tales, in particular the Ladybird series of “Well-Loved Tales”, and […]
Oscar Wilde’s Stories for Children, Illustrated by Lauren O’Hara
We welcome Lauren O’Hara to the blog today answering a few questions about her latest project, Oscar Wilde’s Stories for Children. It’s a fantastic collection of popular stories brought to a new generation of reader! Why did you choose this collection of stories? What appealed about Oscar Wilde? I grew up with Wilde’s […]
And the River Drags her Down by Jihyun Yun
On the blog today, we welcome Jihyun Yun sharing some insights about her book, And the River Drags her Down. Why YA needs a touch of darkness – and how writing about loss and grief helps young people confront their own emotions within the safety of fiction Last year, I attended a dinner […]
Dead Yard Seeds of Doom by P.J. Kilburn
We welcome author, P.J. Kilburn to the blog today sharing some personal insights into her book, Dead Yard Seeds of Doom. The first dead yard I remember attending was for my grandmother. I was 12 years old and in Year 7 at the time. I had probably attended ones before that age; growing […]
The Rise of Neptune by Scott Reintgen
Author Scott Reintgen shares a blog with us today about his books and how they may inspire boys aged 10-15 to pick up a book! Hoping for a Rise in Reading: The Dragonships Series and Its Complicated Audience The Rise of Neptune is out/launches worldwide this week. It is the sequel to The […]
Catching up with Emma Farrarons, Winner of the Klaus Flugge Prize
We are delighted to welcome Emma Farrarons, winner of the Klaus Flugge Prize to the blog today, answering questions about winning this prestigious award. Catching up with Emma Farrarons, winner of the Klaus Flugge Prize Emma Farrarons has just been announced winner of the 2025 Klaus Flugge Prize, awarded to the most promising and […]
The History of We by Nikkolas Smith
We welcome Nikkolas Smith to the blog today sharing answers to a few questions about The History of We, published by One World Publications. The History of We takes us all the way back to humanity’s beginnings in Africa. What inspired you to tell this story? Growing up, the textbooks I had in school […]
A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston
Recently, we sent a series of questions to poet, Brian Bilston about his new book, A Poem for Every Question. Check out his answers below! Where did the idea come from to create a book of poems around questions? If truth be told, the publisher – Farshore Books – approached me with the idea. It’s […]
The Day the Jungle-Net Broke by Marleen Lammers
The endless struggle between books and screens! Author Marleen Lammers shares some insights into how to make children’s books compete with screens. How to make children’s books compete with screens While anyone who’s ever looked after young children knows that screens can be a real blessing (we all cheat our way through some tricky moments!), […]
Nature Heroes by Lily Dyu
Today we welcome Lily Dyu to the blog sharing insights into Nature Heroes, a book featuring inspiring people making positive changes to the environment. Psychotherapist and eco-anxiety expert Caroline Hickman says that when talking to children about the climate and nature crises, it’s crucial to balance bad news with good. I often wish adults would […]
The Girl who Raced the World by Nat Harrison
Nat Harrison joins us on the blog today sharing insight into her debut novel, The Girl who Raced the World. Making Every Day an Adventure When I was growing up, every school holiday was spent packing up the car and heading in one of two directions: sixty miles to Somerset or a hundred miles […]
Brainchild by Ivor Baddiel
Ivor Baddiel joins us on the blog today sharing insight into his book, Brainchild. I have a book coming out on September 22nd, Brainchild. It’s a thriller for 10–15-year-olds, and it is co-authored by Jonny Zucker. The thing is, Jonny sadly passed away in 2016, so, I guess you’re thinking, how is this […]
The Royal Institute of Magic: Elizabeth’s Legacy by Victor Kloss
Today, we welcome Tara Kloss to the blog, sharing an introduction to her late husband, Victor Kloss’s novel, The Royal Institute of Magic: Elizabeth’s Legacy. My late husband Victor Kloss had a lifelong passion for magical fantasy and brilliant storytelling. His love for writing began in his teens, when he’d disappear for hours […]
Not Going to Plan by Tia Fisher
On today’s blog, we have Tia Fisher talking about her latest verse novel, Not Going to Plan. Standing up for what you believe in To be honest, I’m a bit scared. Soon I’ll be standing in front of hundreds of teenagers in school halls, talking about the difficult themes of my new YA […]
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire by Anna Fiteni
Debut author, Anna Fiteni, shares some insights into writing her debut novel, The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire. When writing and edition my debut novel, The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire, one of the most important aspects to consider was the use of the Welsh language. I’m not fluent so I really had to […]
Why I Write Children’s Non-Fiction by David Long
On the blog today, we welcome David Long, who provides some insight into writing non-fiction for children. Why I Write Children’s Non-Fiction Having written nearly 70 books it still seems obvious to me that, after 25 years as a journalist, I was bound to end up writing non-fiction. You never lose that urge to […]
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 […]