The Federation of Children’s Book Groups Blog
Bhorta Bhorta Baby by Jumana Rahman
Author Jumana Rahman talks about creating her new baby board book, Bhorta Bhorta Baby! Send the DM! What’s the worst that could happen? The worst possible situation. I’ll be rejected, but I’ll learn. What’s the best possible situation? I could have a publisher take on my little story and give it a life of its […]
Festive Booklist
We have a delightfully festive book list for you to download and share with your friends and family to mark the start of Advent and all the amazing festivals that take place in December! Tis the Season
CLPE’s Reflecting Realities Report
There will be many people involved in the world of children’s literature avidly reading the latest CLPE Reflecting Realities report. Published today, it highlights the upward trend in inclusive and representative books for children. Check out the full press release below and the link to the full report. Annual CLPE Reflecting Realities survey shows sustained […]
A Drop in the Ocean by Jacqui Bailey
Jacqui Bailey, author of ‘A Drop in the Ocean’, published by Bloomsbury Education share her thoughts on why non-fiction is so important for children- and such a joy to write! Most of my working life has been spent editing and writing children’s non-fiction books and it’s been both lots of fun and a challenge. The […]
Who Makes an Ocean by Sally Nicholls
Today, author, Sally Nicholls explains how she came to write a book about the ocean. Who Makes an Ocean? I never intended to write a picture book about the ocean. I never really intended to write my previous nature book, Who Makes a Forest? either. I was asked to write a story to […]
The Magic of Storytelling and Ponds by Rachel Lawston
Rachel Lawston, author of ‘Daisy and Jack’s Perfect Pond’, published by Pikku Publishing, shares her thoughts on ‘The Magic of Storytelling and Ponds’ with us. For me, the best way to learn is through the power of storytelling. I love non-fiction in many forms, but narrative non-fiction has always been the best way to connect […]
An Interview with H2O
AN INTERVIEW WITH H2O Recently Zoe and Water, stars of the book Hey, Water! by Antoinette Portis, sat down together to talk. Zoe: I’ve heard your formal name is H-two-oh. Is that some kind of code? Water: H2O is my scientific name. It tells you which elements (the building blocks of matter on earth) […]
Information Book Award 2023
Information Book Award 2023 by Margaret Pemberton Whilst this month has been a celebration of National Non-Fiction November, which is supported by FCBG, it has also been the month in which we announce the winners of this year’s Information Book Award. The Awards were set up in 2011 by the SLA, as a result […]
Water is Magic by Will Millard
Today, Will Millard, author of ‘In the Rockpool’ and ‘In the Pond’ by Magic Cat Publishing, tells us why he believes water is magic! I can remember when I realised that water is magic. I was only five years old when I dug a small hole in my back garden and sunk a washing-up bowl […]
Starting small and thinking big by Mary Auld
In today’s guest blog, Mary Auld the author of new information picture book series about life cycles Start Small, Think Big published by Mama Makes Books, has written about the inspiration for writing information books and the Arctic Tern which is the star of the first title in the series, Small, Speckled Egg. Ever since […]
Who’s Afraid of the Light by Anna McGregor
What lurks at the deepest, darkest depths of the ocean? This is something which fascinates many, including author, Anna McGregor, who introduces young readers to the wonders of the ocean’s ‘midnight zone’ in her book, ‘Who’s Afraid of the Light?’. As sunlight is rapidly absorbed as it travels through water, colours are quickly lost, leaving […]
Everything you know about Sharks is Wrong by Dr Nick Crumpton and Gavin Scott
Today, we are joined by author, Dr Nick Crumpton and illustrator, Gavin Scott, who are the team behind ‘Everything You Know About Sharks is Wrong’. Dr Nick Crumpton No matter where you look in the animal kingdom, every species has amazing stories to tell. Not actual narratives, but astonishing adaptations, evolutionary histories, and behavioural curiosities. […]
NNFN Conference
Saturday 11th November dawned bright and beautiful, if a little chilly, as we made our way to Sidcot School, ready to welcome all the delegates for our one day non-fiction conference. Months of wondering, worrying and preparing – and the day had finally arrived! National Non-Fiction November is the perfect time to celebrate all things […]
Saving the Okavango Delta by Catherine Barr
Author of over 30 books to date, Catherine Barr explains why she chose to focus on the Okavango Delta as habitat for the latest book in her ‘Let’s Save…’ series, The Okavango Delta in Botswana, Southern Africa is one of the world’s most spectacular wetlands. Every year, as floodwaters flow in from the faraway Angolan […]
Learning through Infographics by Andrew Pettie
Our guest post today is from author, Andrew Pettie, who reflects on how using infographics engages readers. Learning through infographics By Andrew Pettie Did you know that around 70 per cent of the way our brain perceives the world is visual? Or that people can identify a picture of a familiar object in just […]
Planet Earth or Planet Water by Ben Martynoga
Ben Martynoga joins us today to consider the importance of water to life on earth. Planet Earth or Planet Water? You drink it, shower in it, cook in it, flush it down the toilet. You only notice it when you’re thirsty, or getting soaked by an unexpected downpour. Water: you probably take it for […]
Sharks! Sharks! Sharks! by Susan Martineau
In today’s post for National Non-Fiction November 2023, author, Susan Martineau, shares her fascination with sharks and why she was delighted to be asked to write a book all about them! SHARKS! SHARKS! SHARKS! “That’s a mermaid’s purse,” said my grandpa when I showed him the funny-looking, dried-up pod that I’d just found tangled in […]
The Importance of High Quality Non-Fiction Books by OUP
National Non-Fiction November is all about celebrating the importance and diversity of information books available to children. In today’s post by Emily Lawrence, Development Editor in the OUP Home Learning division, and Sam Armstrong, Head of Home Learning, explain why it is important to offer high quality non-fiction books to our young readers. We know […]
