The Federation of Children’s Book Groups Blog
Damien Ike and the Fallen House of Draven by Dee Benson and David Arlo
Author Dee Benson shares some enticing insights into this book and it is entirely likely that our audience will want to know more about Damien Ike and will search for this story. It is a powerful guest blog! Damien Ike and the Fallen House of Draven by Dee Benson and David Arlo How writing […]
Banishing Back to School Scaries by Rob Harrell
We are thrilled to welcome Rob Harrell to the blog today to chat about the “back to school scaries”! We know what they feel like and it’s good to reassure students they are normal and to give them some ideas to help them cope! Heading back to school can be a tricky time for […]
Small Stories of Great Artists by Laurence Anholt
Small Stories of Great Artists by Laurence Anholt My old mum was an English teacher. One of her favourite poems was Pied Beauty by Gerard Manley Hopkins, which is about the dappled quality of nature, and the dappled quality of our lives. The last two years have been extraordinarily dappled for my family – we […]
Zac and Jac by Cathy Jenkins
Author Cathy Jenkins is new to our blog and she has written a guest blog about her book, Zac and Jac. Dealing with the heavy subject matter of racism, she explores why this is a theme in her story. Almost without exception, the first thing that anyone asks me when I tell them that […]
Wolfstongue by Sam Thompson
We hosted Sam Thompson when Wolfstongue was first published so it was a delight to welcome him back for the final book in the trilogy. Its a fascinating glimpse into how one adventure became a trilogy. I didn’t mean to write a trilogy. When I finished my novel Wolfstongue, I was sure it was a one-off: […]
The Enchantment of Girlhood Friendship in The Miraculous Sweetmakers by Natasha Hastingss by Natasha
Natasha Hastings has written a brilliant blog for us about girlhood friendships, as they appear in her books and in her own life. The Enchantment of Girlhood Friendship in The Miraculous Sweetmakers While writing my magical-historical Middle Grade trilogy, The Miraculous Sweetmakers, I wanted the joy of girlhood friendship to form its heartbeat. I believe […]
Fia and the Last Snow Deer by Eilish Fisher
Verse novels have become very popular recently and we have a guest blog from verse writer, Eilish Fisher. Answering several questions set by her publisher, we get a bit of insight into her novel. What is it about writing in verse that particularly appeals to you as an author? I love the way poetry lets […]
Dance Just Like So by Annemarie Anang and Natelle Quek
We have a lovely Q&A between author Annemarie Anang, and illustrator, Natelle Quek. As you read you will find some brilliant insights into their work. Author Annemarie Anang and illustrator Natelle Quek first collaborated on a picture book, I Am Nefertiti, in 2022. This year, I Am Nefertiti was featured in the Summer Reading […]
Ayo’s Adventure across the African Diaspora by Ain Heath Drew
We were curious to ask author, Ain Heath Drew about Ayo’s Adventure Across the African Diaspora and the inspirations and research into this beautiful book. Read our Q&A below! Tell us about Ayo, the adventures, and where the idea initially came from. Ayo goes on an adventure through the African Diaspora, learning about just a […]
The Secret of Golden Island by Natasha Farrant
Those of us with a passion for books and reading for pleasure will take solace in the blog from Natasha Farrant. We need to promote reading for pleasure more than ever- we couldn’t agree more. Usually, when I write posts around publication of a new book, I want to be upbeat -confident, enthusiastic. But at […]
The Importance of Writing Eco-Adventures by Hannah Gold
Hannah Gold writes powerful eco- adventures for middle grade readers. Winning awards and capturing imaginations, she recently wrote a lovely blog for us about writing eco-adventures. The Importance of Writing Eco-Adventures Hannah Gold My first book, The Last Bear, was never intended to be an eco-adventure. As an animal lover, my initial aim was to […]
Pizza Pete and the Missing Magic by Carrie Sellon
Carrie Sellon’s debut middle grade novel, Pizza Pete and the Perilous Potions (2023) was a Times Children’s Book of the Week, won the InspiREAD Book Awards (shorter book category), was longlisted for the SPARK Book Award, and is currently shortlisted for The Week Junior Book Awards. This September Pizza Pete is back in his second […]
The Skeleton in the Cupboard by Lilija Berzinska
Featuring a community of strange creatures who live along the Livonian coast, in the north of Latvia, these interconnected stories follow the anxieties and existential crises of the creatures, gently satirising their preoccupations and suggesting solutions with empathy and wisdom. These are tales with shades of Tove Jansson’s Moomins and The Summer Book, as well […]
Klaus Flugge Winner- Guest Blog
Congratulations to Kate Winter for winning the Klaus Flugge Prize 2024. We have a wonderful guest blog from Kate to celebrate The Fossil Hunter! Following in the Footsteps of a Fossil Hunter by Kate Winter As an author and illustrator, I always try to find a way to inhabit the characters in my books […]
Celebrating SAIL Fest – the new South Asian Children’s Illustration and Literature Festival
Discover more about the inaugural SAIL Fest that took place recently at The British Library. Celebrating SAIL Fest – the new South Asian Children’s Illustration and Literature Festival by co-founder, Sinéad Gosai SAIL Festival is the exciting new South Asian illustration and literature festival that’s dedicated to celebrating, connecting and empowering South Asian children’s […]
Anticipation by Neil Taylor
AI is certainly no longer a hype but something that both intrigues and concerns the world. Author, Neil Taylor offers some insight into AI as it features in his novel, Anticipation. Myth Busting AI My name is Neil Taylor, and I recently wrote a fictional novel called Anticipation in which Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays […]
Calm by SJ Baker
This is a brilliant guest blog from author S.J. Baker about dystopian fiction for teens. There is certainly a large appetite for this type of book! The power and popularity of dystopian fiction among young adult readers. “You write well,” said the literary agent in response to my submission, “but YA dystopias are a crowded […]
The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow
Matt Goodfellow’s verse novel The Final Year (Otter-Barry Books) is one of the books of the year, winning its category in the Children’s Book Award as well as this year’s CLiPPA, CLPE Children’s Poetry Award. The Final Year draws on Matt’s experience as a primary school teacher but in this special article, he explains that […]
