My inspiration: Jeremy Strong on Spike Milligan

The author of My Dad's Got an Alligator and The Hundred Mile an Hour Dog explains why author and script-writer Spike Milligan is to blame for everything silly in his books!

The Year of the Rat by Clare Furniss review – a teenager’s battle with grief

A young girl's life is turned upside down by the sudden death of her mother and arrival of a hated half-sister. By Mary Hoffman

Julia Donaldson: a licence to stare

The former children's laureate and Gruffalo author is a huge fan of the National Portrait Gallery, with its glimpses into people's true characters. So when she was immortalised in paint, she made sure all her creations came too

Brazil – quiz

How much do you know about the host country of the World Cup 2014? Have a go at our riotous Rio quiz to find out!

Eric Hill obituary

Author and illustrator of the bestselling Where's Spot?, the lift-the-flap picture book about a lovable puppy

Spot the Dog creator Eric Hill dies aged 86

Author of multimillion-selling books for pre-school children said of his puppy hero, 'I love the character, he's my buddy'

The Fault in Our Stars movie: will it meet your expectations?

Fans of John Green's book talk about their hopes and fears for the film version of TFIOS… will it be a cheesy flop or as perfect as the novel?

Where a book is read can be as powerfully-charged as where it’s set

Imogen Russell Williams: For me, it's childhood holidays in the sun I remember when I revisit the chilly climes of Tolkien. What are your unlikely associations?

Reading Rainbow’s LeVar Burton launches campaign to revive TV series

The beloved children's television series, which ran from 1983-2006, may be coming back, with over $50,000 already raised of $1m target

Why VC Andrews’ gothic melodramas will never lose their dark appeal

As Lifetime airs its TV adaptation of Petals on the Wind, the sequel to Flowers in the Attic, Lizzy Goodman examines why these extreme YA stories continue to fascinate and appall

It’s not just outdoor play that’s gone – so has a whole genre of children’s fiction

Jonathan Calder: Bill Oddie and Chris Packham have called for kids to play outside. The spirit of adventure should return to books, too

On my radar: Louisa Young’s cultural highlights

The novelist and biographer talks to Leah Harper about a top-class novel about dancers, the genius of musicians and the hysterical delights of Gogglebox

Let’s move to Crowborough and Ashdown Forest, East Sussex

The home of Winnie-the-pooh is still remarkably unspoilt and commutable to the capital, says Tom Dyckhoff. Pooh sticks, anyone?

Sarra Manning: in defence of difficult girls

I love to write about teenage girls in all their stroppy, sweet, bitchy, gobby, shy, pain in the arse, multi-faceted glory - and here's why