Recent Articles in Books: children & YA

Albert, Upside Down by Ian Brown and Eoin Clarke
May 10, 2021

Albert, Upside Down by Ian Brown and Eoin Clarke – a charming, delightfully illustrated children’s book, reviewed Christine Mayle.

Oscar’s Book Prize 2021 Shortlist
Apr 14, 2021

Now in its eighth year, Oscar’s Book Prize celebrates the best in storytelling for under-fives, crowning the UK’s best picture book. The prize was created to remember Oscar Ashton, who was three-and-a-half when he died from an undetected heart condition in 2012.

Curls by Ruth Forman and Geneva Bowers
Feb 5, 2021

Curls written by Ruth Forman and illustrated Geneva Bowers is an affirming board book for those with black hair, reviewed by Anne Coates.

Blended by Sharon M. Draper
Dec 14, 2020

Sharon M. Draper's beautifully written novel, Blended about an eleven-year-old's struggle to be herself not what or how other people see her. Review by Anne Coates.

Reaching for the Moon by Katherine Johnson
Dec 7, 2020

Reaching for the Moon is the inspirational autobiography of NASA Mathematician, Katherine Johnson. Review by Anne Coates. 

Future Friend by David Baddiel
Dec 3, 2020

Future Friend is David Baddiel's first foray into writing science fiction and it's a brilliant entry into the genre with fabulous illustrations by Steven Lenton writes Anne Coates.

Draw With Rob At Christmas by Rob Biddulph
Nov 24, 2020

Published by HarperCollins, Draw With Rob At Christmas by Rob Biddulph is perfect for the run up to the festive season, writes Anne Coates.

A Girl's Guide to Being Fearless
Nov 18, 2020

A Girl's Guide to Being Fearless subtitled How To Find Your Brave by Suzie Lavington and Dr Andy Cope who guide girls to find their best selves and the publication date falls during Anti-Bullying Week 2020 (16 to 20 November), and 'The Chapter About Bullying' is dedicated to providing strategies for overcoming this. Anne Coates reviews.

Ejected by Dawn Pape
Nov 6, 2020

The climate crisis is everyone’s crisis and we need to work together to solve it. Ejected by Dawn Pape is a novel for teenagers and young adults that shows how, with the will and wisdom to do it, we can. We are all accountable for the damage being done, but we can also all help to fix it.

Lockdown Life
Oct 29, 2020

When lockdown put an end to award-winning children's author Christina Gabbitas' planned events and visits to schools, she felt she needed to organise something positive. Using her connections from her charity Children’s Literature Festivals, she set up a competition for children and their teachers to submit poems about life during the pandemic. Lockdown Life is the result.

Two Beautiful Picture Books from HarperCollins
Oct 21, 2020

HarperCollins Children's Books consistently publish brilliant books for all ages. Here Anne Coates reviews What We'll Build by Oliver Jeffers and The Snowflake by Benji Davies.

The Shadow Moth by Francesca Gibbons
Oct 8, 2020

The Shadow Moth is the first book in the A Clock of Stars trilogy written by Francesca Gibbons and illustrated by Chris Riddell. Anne Coates was captivated.