Picture books for children – reviews
From boys forging strong friendships to confused mammoths waking up in New York, these illustrated tales gently unlock young emotions
Julia Donaldson: ‘I worry some children will be unable to sing’
The bestselling author of the Gruffalo is concerned about the limits coronavirus has placed on the lives of her young fans
Children read more challenging books in lockdowns, data reveals
Report on reading habits of more than one million children also finds they read longer books, particularly during school closures
‘I’m fine with being called an activist’: Angie Thomas on her The Hate U Give prequel
Angie Thomas talks about exploring violence and black fatherhood in her latest young adult novel – and why she’s hoping it won’t be banned
Children’s books roundup – the best new picture books and novels
Spies, ships’ captains, terrific tantrums and more – plus the best new YA novels
12 of the UK’s best independent bookshops, chosen by readers
From old tales to new thinking, gardening to science fiction, our tipsters find literary nourishment – and cake, too – at these indie booksellers
Terry Pratchett’s debut turns 50: ‘At 17 he showed promise of a brilliant mind’
Written while he was a teenager, published when he was 23 and rewritten when he was 43, The Carpet People is being honoured with an anniversary edition
Children’s laureates campaign for £100m a year to fix primary school libraries
Current laureate Cressida Cowell leads demands to ringfence funds to renew ‘deteriorating’ facilities that fail to appeal to students
Young adult books roundup – review
World travel, daring dystopias and secondary school cliques frame timely YA outings
Beverly Cleary obituary
Children’s writer who drew on her experience of growing up in Portland, Oregon, for her Ramona books
Forget about irony, witty writing is all it takes to capture a child’s imagination
Timeless books by authors such as Beverly Cleary bring far more joy than those that give a knowing wink to parents, says Guardian columnist Emma Brockes
Esther’s Notebooks by Riad Sattouf review – fantastically daring
The French cartoonist’s funny, well-observed stories about the life of a young girl in Paris read like an illustrated version of the TV series Up
Captain Underpants author withdraws book over ‘passive racism’
Publisher Scholastic says it will no longer distribute The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future
Children’s books roundup – the best new picture books and novels
The dangerous beauty of sharks, sisters in 18th-century England, the biology of the brain and more - plus the best new YA novels
Raymond Antrobus: ‘Deafness is an experience, not a trauma’
The award-winning poet has written his first picture book, Can Bears Ski?, after being unable to find any children’s titles with a deaf protagonist