Catholic church bans visit by gay author to London school
Simon James Green had been due to appear at John Fisher boys’ school in Purley, but the archdiocese of Southwark said the event could not be permitted
Fiction for older children reviews – magic and morality, beyond Marvel
Norse gods get a fresh incarnation from Louie Stowell and the multiverse offers up a moral dilemma in Ross Welford’s latest
‘My baby brother threw up on my jacket’: readers’ World Book Day costume stories
From a failed attempt to dress as Hermione Granger to a Hungry Caterpillar who truly committed to the role, parents and former students on the mad dash to put together a literary outfit
Shirley Hughes obituary
Prolific author and illustrator whose affectionate image of childhood has been instantly recognisable for more than 60 years
Shirley Hughes, children’s author and illustrator, dies aged 94
Beloved English author and artists behind more than 60 books, including Dogger and the Alfie series, was voted the most popular Kate Greenaway winner in 50 years
The Guardian view on Jan Pieńkowski: funny, frightening, brilliant
Editorial: The artist understood that children can be scared by books – safely
Jan Pieńkowski obituary
Illustrator and creator of the Meg and Mog children’s books, who also used pop-up and paper cut-outs to thrilling effect
On my radar: Akala’s cultural highlights
The rapper, presenter and author on the album he’s listening to a lot, Idris Elba’s mean side, and the enduring power of Tupac
The week in audio: Siege; Archive on 4: Wonderlands; Backlisted; Headwaters; Absolute Radio Natalie
A new Radio 4 thriller electrified; Frank Cottrell-Boyce made a compelling case for children’s books; and a charming listener got to run her own station for the day
Marcus Rashford to publish ‘inspirational guide’ You Can Do It
England footballer’s follow-up to bestselling debut You Are a Champion is aimed at children aged between 10 and 14
‘Nothing short of revelatory’: the 10 best CBeebies’ Bedtime Stories – ranked
Reese Witherspoon is about to become the latest A-lister to read a kids’ book at bedtime, but she’s got stiff competition. From Tom Hardy to Dolly Parton, here’s who to beat
Malorie Blackman on seeing her sci-fi novel about a pig heart transplant come true
When the children’s author wrote Pig Heart Boy in the late 1990s about a boy who has revolutionary surgery she knew that it might be possible one day
Donna Barba Higuera wins top US children’s book award for The Last Cuentista
This year’s Newbery medal goes to story of the only girl who can remember the Earth after it is destroyed by a comet
Jacqueline Wilson is a perfect pick to reinvent Enid Blyton’s Faraway Tree
I was spellbound by these stories as a girl, and they have gone on to enchant my children. Who better to renew the magic for a fresh generation?
2022 in books: highlights for the year ahead
New writing from Ali Smith, Marlon James, Elena Ferrante and Jarvis Cocker – a taste of good things to come