Happy World Book Day, everyone!
Today is all about inspiring children to see reading differently, because reading for fun seriously improves lives.
Thanks for joining the fun!
#WorldBookDay
I love these – they're all so playful, inventive and silly:
Norman Lindsay – The Magic Pudding
James Thurber – The Wonderful 0
Norman Juster – The Phantom Tollbooth
Geoffrey Willans – Molesworth
#KidsBooksFriday #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit
A pile of books by Russell Hoban
Today would be Russell Hoban's 101st birthday. A great novelist, a great children's author, and a great picture book writer – and always completely and utterly unique. One of my favourites.
#Books #fantasy #russellhoban #UKKidlit #childrensbooks
I haven't read them, unfortunately – I've always meant to, but never quite got round to it! They sound wonderful
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
Judith Kerr's When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, about her escape from Nazi Germany, is fantastic
#KidsBooksFriday
#KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit
Reminded again of this; Ursula K Le Guin’s acceptance speech. For all writers who see their work as art in its widest sense, as something that adds to and improves the quality of life for everyone: a rallying cry. youtu.be/TW0VhpETLeE
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg
Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kastner
Agaton Sax and the Diamond Thieves by Nils-Olof Frankzen
Some classics:
E. L. Konigsburg – From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler
Erich Kästner – Emil and the Detectives
Nils-Olof Franzén – Agaton Sax
#KidLitUK #KidLit #UKKidLit
Just saw that one of my favourite bookshops, Bristol’s wonderful Heron Books, included The Feathered Book in their Favourite Kids Books of 2025! Thank you so much!
#UKKidlit #childrensbooks #BookBloggers #books #bookshops
@everywithwords.bsky.social
Book cover for Question Everything: An Investigator’s Toolkit by Susan Martineau and Vicky Barker
Book cover for The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill
Book cover for Drawn to Change the World by Emma Reynolds et al.
Book cover for Reek by Alastair Chisholm and George Caltsoudas
We’re only just started the year and already things feel even more grim than they already were.
So for #KidsBooksFriday this week, what books can we put in the hands of kids to encourage them question, challenge and think for themselves?
#KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit
Thank you Tanja! That's so lovely to hear
Author Umberto Eco sitting at a chair in front of bookshelves.
On this day in 1932 Umberto Eco was born.
He was a professor of the Middle Ages and Semiotics. Eco is best known for writing novels such as 'The Name of the Rose' and 'Foucault's Pendulum'.
#OnThisDay #Books #UmbertoEco #TheNameOfTheRose #BookSky
A huge thank you to Mary Rees at @bookcraic.bsky.social
for including The Feathered Book in her 25 Favourite Middle Grade Books of 2025!
#UKKidlit #childrensbooks #BookBloggers #books
@everywithwords.bsky.social
Me too! A wonderful book
A photo of Joan Aiken staring at the camera
I just learned that Joan Aiken, one of my favourite writers, passed away on this day in 2004. Beautifully written, her books are packed with verve, wit and adventure, and are always entertaining, always rewarding. One of the great children's authors
#childrensbooks #UKKidLit @lizzaaiken.bsky.social
Remembering Joan Aiken and the stories about her haunted house...some of them she wrote herself...
joanaiken.wordpress.com/2026/01/03/r...
Thanks Veronica! That's very kind
Signed labels stuck to the ceiling with pens at Mr B's Emporium
While at Bath's @mrbsemporium.bsky.social, I got to sign a label, which was then stuck to the ceiling with a pen – a tradition they have for visiting writers.
#UKKidlit #childrensbooks #BookBloggers #bookshops
An unkempt and hairy writer looking awkward as he holds up a copy of his book at Mr B's Emporium in Bath
Popped into Bath's lovely @mrbsemporium.bsky.social before Christmas and was delighted to find they had a copy of The Feathered Book.
Mr B's Emporium is one of my favourite bookshops and very highly recommended.
#UKKidlit #childrensbooks #BookBloggers #bookshops
A massive thank you to @vonprice.bsky.social for including The Feathered Book in her 25 for 2025 round up!
#UKKidlit #childrensbooks #BookBloggers
@everywithwords.bsky.social
Piles of The Feathered Book on a table
Thank you so much to my old primary school Cotham Gardens for having me in to talk about writing, being a writer, and The Feathered Book! It was wonderful to be back
An extract about The Feathered Book from an article, 'Children's books for Christmas', in The Irish Times
Thank you to The Irish Times for including The Feathered Book in their Children's Books for Christmas article!
"A gripping whodunnit … there is word pleasure in abundance in this atmospheric debut."
#UKKidlit #childrensbooks #BookBloggers
@irishtimes.com @everywithwords.bsky.social
The cover of Tulku by Peter Dickinson, showing an old city on a mountain
The cover of The Kin by Peter Dickinson, showing a huge eagle, a sunrise, and a group of people watching a volcano erupt in the distance
The cover of The Tears of the Salamander by Peter Dickinson, showing a salamander whose tail morphs into an erupting volcano
The cover of The Poison Oracle by Peter Dickinson, showing a yellow monkey covering its eyes and a shadow of a figure holding a knife
I just realised that Peter Dickinson died ten years ago yesterday. It was also his birthday. He was an absolutely wonderful (and very underrated) children's writer, and also author of some great detective books.
#booksky #UKKidlit #childrensbooks #BookBloggers #DetectiveFiction #Mystery
An extract about The Feathered Book from an article, 'Children's books for Christmas', in The Irish Times
Thank you to The Irish Times for including The Feathered Book in their Children's Books for Christmas article!
"A gripping whodunnit … there is word pleasure in abundance in this atmospheric debut."
#UKKidlit #childrensbooks #BookBloggers
@irishtimes.com @everywithwords.bsky.social
That's lovely! Thank you so much!
'Apart from the propulsive plot, there is word pleasure in abundance in this atmospheric debut' Thanks Sarah Keating @irishlittimes.bsky.social for Including The Feathered Book @charlienutbrown.bsky.social in your best books for Christmas!
The Feathered Book by Charlie Nutbrown. A black feather and animals in red, gold and orange
Thank you to LoveReading4Kids for including The Feathered Book in its Best Children's Books of the Year!
"A debut of the highest order"
www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/blog/the-lov...
#UKKidlit #childrensbooks #BookBloggers @everywithwords.bsky.social
Red & gold & black. Animals im orange silhouettes.
Green & Gold. Alchemical symbols.
Green & gold. Mermaid & fish.
Black, yellow & blue. Half & half of London scape & lower half of a giraffe. Not my favourite cover. Quite dark & gloomy. Check out the ninja 🥷 bin one which captures the absurdist fantasy of the book.
#KidsBooksFriday @irishkidsbooks.bsky.social #UKKidLit #Mythology #Fantasy
#Venice #MiddleGrade #Mystery #Adventure #AbseilingLibrarians #bookbloggers #librarians These are all amazing reads, but only one was read in 2025. Will have to think of more recommendations.
You’re very possibly right. In fact, the last novel he wrote that was unambiguously a children’s book was probably Elidor – and even that’s very challenging. But, because he’s still generally considered a children’s writer, it puts off adults from reading his work, which is a real pity.
The Owl Service by Alan Garner, featuring a pattern of flowers that looks like an owl's face
Alan Garner’s novels are simultaneously incredible children’s books and wonderful adult literature – challenging, weird, original and distinctive.
#KidsBooksFriday #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit
Thank you to Books for Keeps for the lovely review of The Feathered Book.
"Anyone who wants … to immerse themselves in a deceptively cosy world, will very much enjoy Nutbrown’s imagination."
booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/the-f....
#UKKidlit #childrensbooks #BookBloggers
