What a delight to hear a selection of poems from 'Five Little Friends: A Collection of Finger Rhymes' live, from shortlisted poet by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Fiona Woodcock, Walker Books- A huge congratulations to all of our shortlisted poets! 🎉

#KidLitUK

Books for Keeps, the children's books review journal@booksforkeeps.bsky.social · 21h ago

Wainwright Prize 2026 shortlists announced! ‘Each of the categories reflects the remarkable breadth of stories & ideas explored through environmental literature. With the natural world in crisis ... we need these books, now more than ever.’ Ambassador, Henry Bird booksforkeeps.co.uk/wainwright-p...

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay. Picture of a snake charmer by Olivier Tallec from his picturebook Red Snake, Blue Snake. Blue Snake, in the corner (with hat, and frightened expression), is making his escape. The charmer echoes the drawings of Saul Steinberg. Gecko Press 6 August. @geckopress.bsky.social

Poetry By Heart is loved by teachers for its many benefits plus the sheer #poetry joy it brings into schools. For 2026 –2027 there's a different funding model and a new set of options to support schools to take part. Find out more & ask us about available grants poetrybyheart.org.uk/about/our-of...

Our NEW Book of the Week BLOOD OF GODS AND GIRLS by K.L. Kaine @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social. This fiery feminist fantasy finds opportunities for humour amongst the polemic and action and offers readers lots to enjoy as well as to think about. #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/blood...

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Aldy C Aguirre from What Makes a Family: Celebrating the Filipino Day of the Dead. Written by Eric Ruiz Roxas. Handmade scene with observed figures in a graveyard, & a sense of community & light, made from soft, blended watercolour. Lantana 4 Aug. @lantanapub.bsky.social

The longlists for the seventh Diverse Book Awards have been announced, with organisers hoping that these ‘outstanding books’ will be seen as essential reading. Explore the lists in full and cast your vote in the Readers' Choice Award ⬇️#KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/60808-2/

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Alison Jay from her board book Tree and Me, with text by Ruth Huddleston. About 2 children who plant magic acorns that grow into huge oak trees in a year. Jay combines airy, decorative elegance with the naivety of folk art. Old Barn Books 6 Aug. @oldbarnbooks.bsky.social

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Sophie Bass, from How The Rivermaid Grew Her Tail and Other West African & Caribbean Myths, told by Jessica Wilson. For a Yoruba tale about loneliness, the colours & patterns of a teeming underwater scene nod to folk art. Words & Pictures 6 Aug. @quarto-kids.bsky.social

Great piece by @darrenchetty.bsky.social addressing The Queen’s Christmas Present initiative and the selected book Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell 📚📜 booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/on-r...

NEW #BfK article: @darrenchetty.bsky.social discusses the controversy around ‘The Queen’s Christmas Present’, an announcement has not been met with universal approval. #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/on-r...

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Viviane Schwarz. Part spread illustrating ‘The Song of the Slow’ a poem by Kate Wakeling from her collection The Flying Machine of Dreams. Lively drawing, bold outlines & digital techniques. Otter-Barry Books 6 August. @otterbarrybooks.bsky.social @vivschwarz.bsky.social

Tony Bradman's top tip for writing an exciting book: ‘Write a good story, & don’t put any boring bits in.’ He’s certainly applied that rule to his new series, TALES OF THE COBB STREET COMMANDOS, which is BfK Book of the Week #KidLitUK @faberchildrens.bsky.social booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/tales...

📣MFL, EAL, English teachers!Bring creative translation into the classroom with @stephenspender.bsky.social Translate into English ANY poem from ANY language or a Polish poem for the Polish Spotlight. Free entry UK & Irish schools, for pupils of all ages www.stephen-spender.org/stephen-spender-prize/

The cross-party Education Committee report 'Reading for Pleasure’ is out. Recommendations: 📚automatic enrolment in a library at birth 📚funded library in every secondary school 📚revisions to the GCSE English curriculum 📚a National Decade of Reading booksforkeeps.co.uk/joy-must-lea...

Reviewed Mac Barnett’s MAKE BELIEVE on @booksforkeeps.bsky.social booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/make-...

🥳What a brilliantly busy time we’ve had! The winner of the @branfordboaseaward.bsky.social ➡️ Alsi Jensen author Shalini Vallepur editor @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social - announced in a very busy @theclpe.bsky.social Library (thanks @primarylibrarian.bsky.social for 🪭!) #KidLitUK #BookSky

🥳Then we were at the @nationaltheatre.org.uk to see the winner of the @theclpe.bsky.social #CLiPPA Award: ⚡️John Agard for The Poetry World of John Agard (Ill. @shirleyhottier.bsky.social) @otterbarrybooks.bsky.social #KidLitUK #BookSky (📸 @darrenchetty.bsky.social @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social)

2) go to menu or tab & select Choose A Bookshop 3) find/choose us 😃 4) go about your usual book buying business from this brilliant ethical alternative to ama*on AND 10% will go to a pool shared amongst the indie bookshop sector 30% will go to us! 🥳HURRAH!

1/2 Hello Letterboxers! If you love what we do & want to support our work & *don’t need* to buy children’s books..there is another way! You can support our #notforprofit #workerscoop by buying ANY (yes any) book from @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social Here’s how it works: 1) Head on over to bookshop.org

IT’s THE DAY!!!!!! The new @booksforkeeps.bsky.social is out in the world. That’s all your coffee/lunch breaks covered - with bookish joy!

Books for Keeps, the children's books review journal@booksforkeeps.bsky.social · 3w ago

Our NEW issue is here #BfK279 with interviews, features and children's book reviews. Includes Tom Palmer, Patrice Lawrence, John Agard, Britta Teckentrup, Melinda Salisbury, Letterbox Library recommends, new Beyond the Secret Garden & more! All free to read. #KidLit #summerreading😎 bit.ly/3TjoNU0

Our NEW issue is here #BfK279 with interviews, features and children's book reviews. Includes Tom Palmer, Patrice Lawrence, John Agard, Britta Teckentrup, Melinda Salisbury, Letterbox Library recommends, new Beyond the Secret Garden & more! All free to read. #KidLit #summerreading😎 bit.ly/3TjoNU0

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Liz Brizzi, from Milo and Twig, a story told by an injured bird about a boy who nurses him better and then sets him free. Post Wave 16 July. The nostalgic style (using digitised drawing) turns an old-fashioned street into a satisfying pattern. @postwavebooks.bsky.social

Here's hoping the whole of England will be over the moon tonight #worldcup Meanwhile, why not explore Speech Balloon by Imtiaz Dharker @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/speech...

"It’s an amazing age to write for, & one that deserves far more attention." We love it when our BOOK OF THE WEEK features include a bonus interview! Thank you Alex Milway for answering our questions on CAPTAIN SUNSHINE @piccadilly-press.bsky.social #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/capta...

Congratulations to John Agard, just announced winner of the #CLiPPA26 for THE POETRY WORLD OF JOHN AGARD, illustrated by Shirley Hottier published by Otter-Barry Books🎉 Playful, serious poetry and an unprecedented third win👏@theclpe.bsky.social #KidLit booksforkeeps.co.uk/extraordinar...

Congratulations to author Asli Jensen & editor Shalini Vallepur, winners of this year's #BranfordBoaseAward given to the year’s outstanding debut novel for young people with LOVE ON SIGHT, a nuanced, tender, contemporary romance. @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social booksforkeeps.co.uk/asli-jensen-...

Congratulations to Patrice Lawrence, just announced as the new Waterstones Children's Laureate. She pledges to ‘champion the power of books to make us feel like we belong and stories as a tool for bringing people together.’ #KidLitUK #BookSky @booktrust.org.uk booksforkeeps.co.uk/patrice-lawr...

Thank you @paperboundmag.bsky.social and @katherinewoodfine.bsky.social for this insight into the books on the Branford Boase Award shortlist. Winner announced 7.30pm 8 July. Have you got a favourite? #KidLitUK #BookSky paperboundmag.com/2026/07/06/k...

Katherine Woodfine on judging the Branford Boase Award 2026

Katherine Woodfine shares insights on the judging process for this year’s 2026 Branford Boase Award.

paperboundmag.com

Such a brilliant day! A celebration of #poetry and the joy of learning poems by heart. So many wonderful poetry performances ❤️

Poetry By Heart@poetrybyheart.bsky.social · 4w ago

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Shakespeare's Globe on 6 July to celebrate the finalists in this year's natoinal poetry speaking competition. Congratulations to everyone who took part and learned a poem by heart ❤️ #poetry #edusky Not taken part before? Register now! poetrybyheart.org.uk