70 brilliant books for the summer
From dynamite debuts to must-read memoirs and magical children’s fiction, here’s our selection of this year’s hottest holiday reads. Plus leading authors share their favourites
‘Pleasure and invigoration’: Diana Evans wins UK’s Jhalak prose prize
Awards for prose, children’s writing and poetry, for writers of colour in UK and Ireland, come with £1,000
The Guardian view on the UK’s first centre for illustration: visual literacy, and the sheer joy of images, matter
Editorial: A national institution for this overlooked artform shows it is finally getting the recognition it deserves
‘Nothing is too much for a child’: the Norwegian books for kids tackling taboo topics from IVF to incest
In the Nordic country, books covering subjects such as childbirth and sex have become bestsellers among younger readers – and an export hit. Behind their success lies a unique philosophy of childhood learning
‘I am very serious about being silly’: children’s illustrators on the art of storytelling
From The Twits to the Gruffalo… Quentin Blake, Cressida Cowell, Axel Sheffler, Lauren Child and more reveal how they bring children’s books to life
‘My body is fat, not wrong’: how body neutrality – not positivity – helped me shed a lifetime of shame
If I’d been taught this way of thinking as a child, I can’t begin to imagine how much easier things could have been
Children and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels
A bunny who loves to bake, illustrated poems about amazing animals and a YA verse novel of dancefloor salvation
University of Queensland Press cancels children’s book over illustrator’s post on ‘Zionist framing’ of Bondi attack
Authors including Evelyn Araluen and Melissa Lucashenko say they won’t work with publisher after it dumps Jazz Money’s book illustrated by Matt Chun, who called Bondi victims ‘affluent beneficiaries of imperialism’
‘Every time I write, I doubt myself’: Michael Rosen at 80 on deep grief, self-belief and chocolate cake
The children’s author answers questions from readers, friends and writers on losing his son Eddie, surviving Covid, who he’d invite to his perfect birthday dinner and where he goes for inspiration
Pooh in pencil: sketches for original Winnie-the-Pooh book shared for first time
E H Shepard drawings go on display for book’s centenary, showing how he brought AA Milne’s character to life
From Peepo! to Middlemarch: 25 books to read before you turn 25
An unmissable book for every year of your early life – with recommendations from Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Rosen, Katherine Rundell and more
Children and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels
Musical inspiration from Corinne Bailey Rae; danger in a magical academy; the adventures of an otter pup; a YA queer gothic fantasy, and more
Sleep Tight, Disgusting Blob wins Waterstones children’s book prize
Huw Aaron’s tale of a green blob reading to its child takes overall prize, while Janeen Hayat wins in the young readers category and SF Williamson in the older readers
London book fair roundup: Idris Elba’s thriller deal, the rise of romcom, and fights against censorship
The actor led the starry book deals, while publishers assessed whether US-style bans are spreading to the UK
The Guardian view on 25 years of Malorie Blackman’s Noughts & Crosses: a love story that changed an industry
Editorial: Publishing has failed to deliver on its promises after Black Lives Matter. True diversity requires a lasting shift