The Federation of Children’s Book Groups Blog
Hoglets’ Christmas Magic by Lynette Cresswell
Christmas is on it’s way and we have been seeing plenty of Christmas stories being published this month in advance of advent, stockings and wrapped presents for young readers! Read on for a special Q&A with author Lynette Cresswell. Tell us a little about yourself. (How did you get started writing? What do you do […]
Q&A with Debut Author Mel Taylor-Bessent
Today is publication day of The Christmas Carrolls, a feel-good, heartwarming tale perfect for Christmas! Mel Taylor-Bessent, creator of Authorfy, has taken the time amidst the excitement to answer our questions! How long have you been hoping/dreaming to become a published author? I’ve loved writing since I was about eight years old. I grew up […]
The Sister Who Ate Her Brothers by Jen Campbell
The Sister Who Ate Her Brothers is a book of gruesome tales from around the world. We are so pleased that author Jen Campbell was able to write a piece for us about her book! Processed with VSCO with av8 preset I’ve always been fascinated by the history of fairy tales. You can trace some […]
CLiPPA Award and Shadowing Scheme by Charlotte Hacking
The CLiPPA – the Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award – is the only award for published poetry for children in the UK. In this blog, CLiPPA Judge and CLPE Learning Programmes Leader, Charlotte Hacking, explores why poetry is fundamental to developing children’s literacy and talks about how to engage children in a love […]
Frankenstiltskin by Joseph Coelho
Fairy Tales Gone Bad started with Zombierella and now we meet Frankenstiltskin! Joseph Coelho’s verse fairy tales are gruesome, dark and very popular with readers! Read on for a Q&A with Joseph Coelho! What inspired you to make your protagonist a taxidermist? The idea of making Bryony a taxidermist came from a desire to inject […]
World Mental Health Day
We have a special guest post from author Krina Patel-Sage, author and illustrator of My Mindful A to Zen! An inspiring book, perfect for young readers. Like most of my ideas, this one just popped into my head. The title came first and it was pretty self-explanatory. My Little (later changed to Mindful) A to […]
Unleash your Creative Monster- Q&A with Andy Jones and Olaf Falafel
This fantastic book offers readers the chance to unleash their own creative writing monsters by following along with the tools and tips offered by Andy Jones and Olaf Falafel! Check out the super video as well! Both Andy and Olaf have taken the time to answer a few questions about their book. What do you […]
National Poetry Day with Joshua Seigal
We are so pleased to host poet Joshua Seigal on National Poetry Day. Not only do we have a brilliant guest post from him, but there are also two unpublished poems as well as a glimpse into his latest collection, Yapping Away. The Power of Poetry Joshua Seigal I would like to take this opportunity […]
Q&A with Cornelia Funke
Cornelia Funke is the author of the best selling Dragon Rider series. We are pleased to share with you a recent Q&A about her latest in the series and of her other projects. Did you do any specific research for this new story in the Dragon Rider series? Yes, this book made me realize once […]
At the Height of the Moon
At the Height of the Moon is a new collection of poetry and art, themed around night and bedtime, curated by Anette Roeder, Alison Baverstock and Matt Cunningham. With such beguiling chapter headings as Twilight, Dreamland and Moonlit Menagerie the book brings together writing and art from across the ages, combining the old with the […]
The Joy of Travelling by Book by Sam Sedgman
Books are a brilliant way to travel. From our cosiest chair on a wet afternoon we can be transported to the polar ice caps, the Brazilian jungle, downtown Chicago or a Moroccan souk. This is particularly useful for children, who don’t have the same power to travel as a grown-up does. I can hop on […]
Spooky Books
We asked primary school librarian Rumena Aktar for a list of brilliant spooky reads! Check out her suggestions below! PICTURE BOOKS Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown Gustavo The Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago Grobblechops by Elizabeth Laird and Jenny Lucander Michael’s Monsters by Gus Clarke The Dark by Lemony Snickett and […]
Q&A with Gareth P. Jones
Fairytales for the Fearless is a fun, engaging series from Gareth P. Jones and Illustrated by Loretta Schauer. If you are on social media, then you will know of Gareth P. Jones and his brilliant videos and songs! Check out our Q&A with him below! Where did the inspiration for Fairytales for the Fearless come […]
Baby Teeth by Meg Grehan
Baby Teeth is a novel in verse for the Young Adult reader. Little Island Books coin Baby Teeth as, “A unique verse novel of queer love, lust, and vampires.” Read on for a guest post from award-winning author Meg Grehan. Baby Teeth was my lockdown project, it got me through the longest days. I thought […]
@FCBGAsks…Catherine Barr
Welcome to a brand new blog feature for the Federation of Children’s Book Groups. We love interacting with authors, illustrators and publishers in new ways, and so this new format was created to get to know the creatives in children’s publishing a bit better. This first @FCBGAsks features Catherine Barr, author of Let’s Save Antarctica. […]
Q&A with Ginny Myers Sain
We were pleased to ask author Ginny Myers Sain some questions about her atmospheric and thrilling, Dark and Shallow Lies. Her answers are fantastic! Can you please describe your novel in a few sentences? DARK AND SHALLOW LIES is a book that asks, “How do you keep a secret in a town full of psychics?” […]
Interview with Klaus Flugge Winner- Flavia Z. Drago
Flavia, Congratulations on winning this most prestigious award. The longlist was incredible and we can imagine the debates and discussions held over Gustavo, the Shy Ghost. A clever and brilliantly illustrated book, this is already very popular in schools and libraries. We so appreciate you taking the time to answer our questions! How did it […]
The Great Dream Robbery by Greg James and Chris Smith
The latest title from the dynamic duo of Greg James and Chris Smith is as funny as you would hope. Their blog post below is equally as funny! Scroll down and enjoy the antics! We’re often asked how we get the ideas for our stories. (We’re occasionally asked why as well, but let’s not go […]