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The Federation of Children’s Book Groups Blog
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 […]
Eau so wonderful by Dr Sai Pathmanathan
Join Dr Sai Pathmanathan below as she discusses the importance of water in cooking and celebrates her new cooking book for children ‘Chews Your Own Tasty Adventure!’ Eau so wonderful! Water is important for life on Earth. Every single cell in our body contains water, and it’s vital for so much, from keeping our body […]
NNFN Competition Details
As part of the NNFN celebrations, the FCBG holds a competition to encourage young readers to get involved. This year, we have partnered with Otter-Barry books, taking inspiration from their book, ‘Sea Change: Save the Ocean’, edited by Tobias Hickey of the International Centre for the Picture Book in Society at Worcester University. This is […]
Fact books- No robot thinkers here by Moira Butterfield
Today, we are delighted to welcome Moira Butterfield, author of many non-fiction titles, including ‘The Secret Life…’ series to the FCBG blog. Facts books – No robot thinkers here! Moira Butterfield, author of The Secret Life…series Is a fact book just that – a straight and possibly somewhat predictable setting out of factual material […]
Welcome to National Non-Fiction November 2023
Welcome to National Non-Fiction November 2023 To kick off this year’s celebrations, last year’s NNFN co-ordinator, Chris Routh takes a look at what’s in store this November! National Non-Fiction November is one of FCBG’s three annual initiatives that offer a range of opportunities to engage young readers in reading for pleasure & personal interest. This […]
Q&A with Derek Landy, Author of Skulduggery Pleasant
We have a cracking end to Spooky Season with a Q&A with author Derek Landy! Skulduggery Pleasant is a widely popular series and now has its first graphic novel to read! Check out our Q&A below and have a safe and happy Halloween. HOW HAVE YOU FOUND THE SHIFT BFROM WRITING BOOKS TO GRAPHIC NOVELS? […]
Isn’t it marvellous when things go wrong by Jack Meggitt-Phillips
Jack Meggitt-Phillips is the internationally bestselling author of the monstrously funny The Beast and the Bethany books. The latest book in the series, The Beast and the Bethany: Child of the Beast is out now. Here, Jack talks us through how he sources ideas for his books . . . Isn’t it marvellous when things […]
The Reluctant Vampire Queen Bites Back by Jo Simmons
We have a brilliant guest blog from author Jo Simmons about her spooky books, The Reluctant Vampire Queen and The Reluctant Vampire Queen Bites Back. My recent teen books, The Reluctant Vampire Queen and The Reluctant Vampire Queen Bites Back, published in 2022 and 2023, sit firmly in spooky territory. I mean, obviously! They feature […]
Rayleigh Mann in the Company of Monsters by Ciannon Smart
Spooky Season continues with a new title sure to thrill and chill! Check out our guest blog from Ciannon Smart, author of Rayleigh Mann in the Company of Monsters. Something Spooky this way comes . . . It might be a relief to learn that I wasn’t always fond of monsters. When I was a […]
The Train of Dark Wonders by Alex Bell
Spooky Season continues today with a guest blog from Alex Bell, author of The Train of Dark Wonders, an exciting and spooky story! One of the things I enjoyed most about books when I was a child was the tightknit friendships you often found between the main characters. Not only did they go on incredible […]
Q&A with Lisi Harrison
Welcome to Spooky Season on the FCBG Blog! For the rest of the month we are featuring titles that are sure to scare, thrill and chill! We kick off Spooky Season with a Q&A with author Lisi Harrison about her new series, Graveyard Girls. Where did the idea come from to develop a slightly […]
Inclusive Books for Children- Meet the Judges
The judges of the inaugural Inclusive Books for Children Award were announced this morning! Read on for further details! JUDGES REVEALED FOR INAUGURAL INCLUSIVE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AWARDS, WITH A TOTAL PRIZE FUND OF £30,000 FOR BEST BOOKS DEMONSTRATING INCLUSIVITY New charity, Inclusive Books for Children (IBC) announces an illustrious judging panel for its inaugural […]
Best Friends Forever by Lisa Williamson
I wrote the first draft of Best Friends Forever (back then known by its working title ‘Sugar Dirt’) with no real sense of what it was, or whom exactly it was for. It was Autumn 2021 and having struggled to make any real headway with the Young Adult project I’d been working on throughout […]