This Saturday 6th May 2023 is the coronation of King Charles III. My eldest daughter and her friends at school can’t stop talking about it. I have been amazed by the wonderful children’s books that have been published in time for the coronation. Here are my top picks!
My Ten Top Picks for 2022!
2022 seems to have gone by in a flash. As a family we have discovered so many new and wonderful children’s books that have been published this year. From twisted tales to inclusive and empowering reads. It was a tricky decision but here are our ten top picks of 2022!
Ten Fantastic Children’s Books on Family Life
I am delighted to share a special feature on children’s books on “families”. Every family is unique. The ten illustrated (fiction and non-fiction) books in this post cover: new siblings, adjusting to divorce, family relocation separation anxiety, adoption, different family structures and multi-cultural families.
Where Are All The Instruments? West Africa by Nathan Holder & Charity Russell ~ Author Interview
I am delighted to be rounding off Black History Month 2022 with a fabulous interview with Nathan Holder, the author of Where Are All The Instruments? West Africa, illustrated by Charity Russell. The best-selling music educational series Why Books encourage kids to ask questions, learning about music alongside diverse characters and a diverse range of musical styles. The latest book in the series is launching in November and introduces young children to many traditional instruments from West Africa!
Brilliant Books Celebrating Black Culture
To celebrate Black History Month, I want to share six fabulous books for children published in 2022 that celebrate Black culture in one way or another, from our hair to history and the power of names.
A Wild Child’s Book of Birds by Dara McAnulty & Barry Falls ~ #BlogTour #GuesPost
It’s my stop on the blog tour for A Wild Child's Book of Birds by naturalist Dara McAnulty and award-winning illustrator Barry Falls. I’m delighted to be sharing a guest post from Barry about his favourite bird in the book and his illustration process.
A Mind Like Mine ~ Publication Day!
A Mind Like Mine is a gorgeously illustrated book is a stigma-busting collection of biographies of some of the great people from history who have lived with mental health conditions.
Every Bunny is a Yoga Bunny by Emily Ann Davison and Deborah Allwright ~ #GuestPost #BlogTour
It's my stop of the blog tour for Every Bunny is a Yoga Bunny by Emily Ann Davison and Deborah Allwright and I’m delighted to be sharing a guest post by Emily on the benefits of yoga for children.
Fabulous February Reads
For a short month, February has seen a whole heap of fabulous children’s books published. This month’s roundup includes some of our favourites new illustrated books across fiction and non-fiction.
Joyful January Reads
Children’s publishing has started 2022 with a bang! There have been some incredible books published this year already and my January round-up features some of our favourites, as well as a few books from 2021 that we read over the festive break. It includes my first top pick of 2022!
My Top Picks of 2021! ~ #ChildrensBooks ~ @AndersenPress @FarshoreBooks @QuartoKids @PuffinBooks @simonkids_UK @harryewoodgate @ClareHelenWelsh @laurabarrettuk @RachelCIp @Laura_A_Hughes @DapsDraws @LarryHayesAuthr @Doonkris @auralewis
For my final feature of 2021, I want to look back at my top picks of the year. There have been so many incredible children’s books published in 2021.
Our Favourite 2021 Books Featuring Black Children ~ #RepresentationMatter ~ @FaberChildrens @PuffinBooks @MacmillanKidsUK @FarshoreBooks @lantanapub @AndersenPress @QuartoKids
I have reviewed lots of wonderful, inclusive books and I want to finish off the year by recommending 12 more outstanding picture books featuring characters of colour and/or about racism
How Does Chocolate Taste on Everest? by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe & Aaron Cushley ~ #BlogTour #AuthorInterview ~ @Leisa_Stewart @CushnDoodle @wrenandrookbook
Does Chocolate Taste on Everest? Speaking directly to the reader, Leisa and Aaron take us on a captivating expedition of the world’s most extreme places through sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. I’m thrilled to be sharing an interview with the author as well as a first look at this spectacular non-fiction book.
Magical Books Perfect for Christmas Gifts ~ #Reviews ~ @QuartoKids @MacmillanKidsUK @NickSharratt1 @jessicasroux
Christmas is a magical time of year and so it seems only fitting to have a feature post on some truly magical illustrated fiction and traditional fairy tales.
Celebrating Difference, Overcoming Adversity and Perseverance ~ #Reviews ~ @TomPercivalsays @KidsBloomsbury @cerrieburnell @QuartoKids @Stricolo @MrSteveAntony @OtterBarryBooks
Three wonderful, illustrated books celebrate difference, overcoming adversity and perseverance.
How Winston Came Home for Christmas by Alex T Smith ~ #AdventBook #Review ~ @Alex_T_Smith @MacmillanKidsUK
Alex T Smith has created ingenious, creative advent calendars in the form of exquisite, illustrated books that will become a part of the family Christmas traditions for years to come.
November Non-Fiction Round-up ~ @QuartoKids @PavilionBooks @KidsWelbeck @BusterBooks @templarbooks @FlyingEyeBooks @LKPChildrens @LittleTigerUK
It’s National Non-Fiction November! There is so much diversity in non-fiction in format, subject and style, creating books to suit all childrens’ interests and reading levels. Here are ten 2021 non-fiction books we love. From the glowing ocean to inventions by animals and facts about every day of the year!
Scissorella: The Paper Princess by Clare Helen Welsh and Laura Barrett ~ #GuestPost #Review ~ @ClareHelenWelsh @laurabarrettuk @AndersenPress
Scissorella is one of the most spectacular re-imagined fairy tales we’ve ever read, blending the magical world of Cinderella with a real-life female inspiration: German film director Lotte Reiniger. It is one of my top picks for 2021.
The Queen on our Corner by Lucy Christopher and Nia Tudor ~ #PictureBook #Review ~ @LucyCAuthor @NiaTudor @lantanapub
This stunning picture book is about the power of community spirit. Told in first person, through the eyes of a little girl of colour, this is the story of a woman who lives on a street corner with her dog. My daughter was hooked from the very first spread where we first meet the little girl walking along with her mum. She is the only one who can see the woman who lives on an abandoned plot for who she really is… A warrior queen!
Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon ~ #Review ~ @alokvmenon @WorkshopBooks @ashlukadraws
I am a huge fan of Alok. Their podcasts, talks and Instagram are full of joy, inspiration and powerful messages on mental health and LGBTQ+ issues. In Beyond the Gender Binary, Alok gives an honest and heartfelt insight into life as a gender-nonconforming transfeminine person of colour. They eloquently explain what the gender binary is and what it means to be gender fluid.