Children’s author Simon James Green: ‘I just wanted to show LGBT+ kids that it’s not all doom and gloom’
The gay writer who was banned from visiting a London school discusses why young LGBT+ people need representation more than ever
‘Life is short, so you have to get on with it’: AF Steadman on unicorns, leaving law and her record-breaking book deal
Eight years after her vision of a mythical beast, the author is about to publish the first novel in the Skandar Smith trilogy. She talks about childhood and taking a chance on a dream career
Oxford University Press pulps ‘no longer appropriate’ Biff, Chip and Kipper book
The Blue Eye, which features ‘scary’ people in street market, has been withdrawn from sale after complaints
Patricia MacLachlan obituary
US writer of brief but intense accounts of family life for children whose best-known work was Sarah, Plain and Tall
David McKee obituary
Creator of Elmer the Patchwork Elephant and Mr Benn, who wrote and illustrated children’s classics
Elmer and Mr Benn author David McKee dies at 87
Author and illustrator of the children’s books including Elmer, Mr Benn and Not Now, Bernard has died following a short illness
Hannah Gold’s The Last Bear wins Waterstones children’s book prize
‘Triumphant debut’ with environmental theme, illustrated by Levi Pinfold, is awarded £5,000 prize by the chain’s booksellers
Children’s and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels
Dressing up, finding solace during conflict, a monster underfoot and more, plus the best new YA novels
‘It just exploded’: The Bad Guys author on writing ‘Tarantino for kids’ – and selling millions
Aaron Blabey decided to improve the boring books his son was bringing home: now his bestseller series is a starry Hollywood animation
Carnegie medal shortlist spotlights real-life stories of friendship in challenging times
The UK’s most prestigious children’s books prize and its sister award for illustration the Kate Greenaway medal highlight books that can help young readers
Ukrainian children’s book to be published in UK as charity fundraiser
Author Larysa Denysenko wrote introduction to Maya and Her Friends while sheltering from missiles in Kyiv
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