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The Federation of Children’s Book Groups Blog
National Share-A-Story Month Launches…
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogWelcome to the first blog of National Share-A-Story Month 2021, a special post from Diane Gaunt, Chair of the Federation of Children’s Book Groups. The Federation of Children’s Book Groups has been inspiring and encouraging the sharing of stories since its inception in 1965. In 1974 the then Vice Chair, Pat Triggs, instigated a National […]
This Can Never Not Be Real – Author Interview with Sera Milano
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogDue for publication tomorrow (29th April 2021) is Sera Milano’s debut YA title This Can Never Not Be Real, which is a gripping story centring around five characters looking to survive in the most uncertain and scariest of circumstances they could ultimately find themselves in. I recently had the opportunity to interview Sera on behalf […]
How My Work as a School Librarian Has Influenced My Writing
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogGuest post by Sue Wallman Five years ago, after the publication of my first young adult thriller, I started a new career as a school librarian. Although untrained, I brought to the role a huge enthusiasm for books and writing, and an interest in young people. In turn, my job has had an interesting influence […]
History of Cars by Elliot Kruszynski
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogHistory of Cars is a new book written and illustrated by Elliot Kruszynski and Published by Cicada Books. It is a brilliant, brightly illustrated look at the history of cars, from BC (before cars) through the age of steam and into the modern cars we use and those we may see in the future. Read […]
What does Jane Austen NOT talk about?
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogA guest post from Julia Golding, author of a new series of books featuring a young Jane Austen as a detective! Read on for a fascinating look at taboo subjects during Jane Austen’s time. What does Jane Austen NOT talk about? Shall we start a list? Sex (in Bridgerton terms), slavery, colonisation, politics, elections, human […]
Emma Shevah on writing for independent readers!
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogIn 2015, I took part in a Youth Libraries Group (SE) conference in Winchester. The keynote speaker, Julia Eccleshare, began by asking the audience comprised of librarians and participating authors to turn to each other and name the book or books that turned us from someone who read into a reader. With the others at our […]
Gemma Fowler on World Building
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogThis is a superb blog post from author Gemma Fowler on world building, and how notebooks and scribbled notes may not make it into the book but shape the characters, the setting and the story. Fantastically written blog post for a fantastically written book, City of Rust! When I was thirteen I realised that […]
The Girl in the Picture
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogA guest post from Ally Sherrick Award-winning children’s author Ally Sherrick reveals the inspiration behind her new middle grade historical adventure, ‘The Queen’s Fool’ … ‘Where do you get your ideas from?’ As you might guess, it’s probably the question authors get asked the most when they visit schools. And of course the answer is […]
FCBG Quiz with Christopher Lloyd
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogThe Federation of Children’s Book Groups has its AGM this coming weekend on the 17th of April. As a celebration, and a nod to the missed conference this year, we are pleased to be offering members a chance to take part in a brilliant quiz with the exceptional Christopher Lloyd. Read on for more information […]
Q&A with Geraldine McCaughrean
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogThe Supreme Lie is an emotional, twisting and intense book- worthy of a dozen prizes! Well thought, well written and brilliantly thrilling, this is one to savour! We were thrilled to be given the opportunity to ask author Geraldine McCaughrean a few questions! A crisis in a book with a supreme ruler running away- an […]
Writing The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogGuest post by Jonathon Stroud It’s always odd holding a new book in your hands, and looking back at the process by which you came to write it. Very rarely is it a simple, clearly identifiable journey – a broad path curving back neatly to the original idea. More often it resembles an archaeological dig […]
Why I Love Horror
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogGuest post by Amy McCaw Although I think of Mina and the Undead as more of a murder mystery than pure horror, there are horror touches and references throughout the narrative. A combination of things got me into horror. The first was my dad’s video shop. I spent a lot of time there in the […]
What Happened to You? by James Catchpole and Karen George
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogWe were thrilled to be able to read What Happened to YOU? and then pose some questions to author James Catchpole. This is a wonderful book which features Joe, a young boy with one leg, who is happily playing and attempting to answer the inevitable question, What Happened to you? by those around him. Delving […]
Featherlight
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogGuest Post by Peter Bunzl The spark of inspiration for Featherlight came one day when I was flicking through one of my old notebooks. and a few lines of an unfinished poem caught my eye: ‘I am the lighthouse keeper’s daughter, And I keep the lighthouse by the water. Keep the oil lamps burning bright, […]
Reading Science for Pleasure
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogWritten by Hannah Groves, SLA While some associate ‘reading for pleasure’ with reading fiction, school library staff are well aware that many children also enjoy an array of non-fiction and eagerly engage with books about sport, celebrities, world records and more. But what about science? How many young people do you think read science books […]
Little Troopers, An Important Charity
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogBy Louise Fetigan, founder of Little Troopers, a charity supporting children with parents serving in the British Armed Forces My name is Louise Fetigan and I am the founder of Little Troopers, a charity dedicated to supporting the thousands of UK children who have parents serving in the British Armed Forces. I set up the […]
Kaleidoscope of Creatures
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogInsight into the incredible illustrations by Greer Stothers My name is Greer Stothers, and I am an illustrator who specializes in natural science illustration. This means I’ve worked for museums and paleontologists, but also work more creatively on projects introducing children to the natural world – like Kaleidoscope of Creatures, which explains animal colourations to […]
Busy Spring by Sean Taylor and Alex Morss
/0 Comments/by FCBG blogBUSY SPRING, NATURE WAKES UP by Sean Taylor and Alex Morss, Published by Words and Pictures 16th March 2021 Has the promise of spring, with the sunlight, warmth and new life it brings, ever felt so welcome as it does this year? Spring sunshine is nature’s alarm clock, telling wildlife to wake up after winter. […]