Books: children & YA

There were 131 entries for the 2018 Costa Children’s Book Award and here are the four books that made the shortlist.

For Noel Streatfeild fans a collection of nine short stories originally written for annuals, magazines and radio during the 1940s to 60s. These Christmas Stories will enchant readers toady as much as when they were first published, writes Anne Coates.

Diary of a Brilliant Kid Top Secret Guide to Awesomeness by Andy Cope, Gavin Oattes and Will Hussey has had Harriet chuckling, write Anne Coates.

Stories for Kids who Dare to be Different by Ben Brooks illustrated by Quinton Winter and reviewed by Anne Coates.

With fabulous illustrations by Chris Mould, The Truth Pixie by Matt Haig is a captivating tale for younger readers, published by Canongate. 

Three delightful picture books from HarperCollins: Three Little Monkeys by Quentin Blake and Emma Chichester Clark; Seuss-Isms! The Wisdom of Dr. Seuss; and What was I Scared of? by Dr. Seuss reviewed by Anne Coates.

If your children loved Clarice Bean as well as Charlie and Lola, they will adore Lauren Child's latest laugh out loud book: Hubert Horatio How to Raise your Grown-ups from HarperCollins Children's Books, writes Anne Coates.

Jenny Mowat was unsure how her son would react to Mini Rabbit Not Lost by author/illustrator John Bond, she need not have worried – cake carries the day!

Ruby Red Shoes Goes to London is the third in the Ruby Red Shoes series by Kate Knapp and published by Macmillan Children's Books. So what did red-shoe-loving London resident Anne Coates make of it?

Inspired by the phenomenally successful Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, this box of 50 beautifully designed postcards celebrate some of those remarkable women featured in the book. Anne Coates adored them.

Illustrated by Cornelia Li, Glow in the Dark: Voyage Through Space by Katy Flint is the perfect introduction to the planets in our solar system, writes Anne Coates.

Jenny Sneyd reviews Cyril and Pat by Emily Gravett and published by Two Hoots. A great introduction to the complexities of friendship for preschoolers.

Launched by Photobox, My First Photo Book capture memories that your children will also want to look at time and again, writes Jenny Sneyd.

Makes for mini folks: 25 projects for the little people in your life by Lisa Stickley, reviewed by Christine Mayle

Lonely Planet Paris – 24 hours and 250 photos in one city photographed by River Thomson with captions written by Nicola Williams.

To celebrate Children's Art Week, we have teamed up with Wide Eyed Editions to offer readers the chance to win copies of their new Art Masterclass series: Vincent Van Gogh and Wassily Kandisky. And we took a sneak peek to see what was on offer. 

Published by HarperCollins Children's Books, The World's Worst Children 3 completes the David Walliams trilogy of short stories. Harriet and Anne Coates review. 

Lonely Planet Kids First Words Italian illustrated by Andy Mansfield and Sebastian Iwohn is reviewed by Harriet and Anne Coates.