Cressida Cowell: ‘Books are better than films at teaching children creativity and intelligence’

The new children’s laureate and How to Train Your Dragon author talks about how to get kids reading and why we need the space to make mistakes

How to Train Your Dragon author Cressida Cowell named new children’s laureate

The author and illustrator comes to role with ‘giant to-do list’, which includes making school libraries a legal requirement, and more time for creativity

From Greta Thunberg to Sally Morgan: 10 books to help kids come to grips with climate crisis

Introducing younger readers to environmental emergency is a daunting task. Guardian Australia’s new kids’ books columnist Amelia Lush is here to help

The Longest Night of Charlie Noon by Christopher Edge review – into the woods

Time plays tricks in an original and suspenseful tale for 8- to 12-year-olds that explores black holes and quantum physics

Children’s and teens roundup: the best new picture books and novels

A mysterious suitcase, secret dragons, a breathtaking acrobatic heist and more

Carnegie medal goes to first writer of colour in its 83-year history

Dominican-American Elizabeth Acevedo wins prestigious children’s award for The Poet X, while Jackie Morris takes illustration prize for The Lost Words

Torn apart: the vicious war over young adult books

Authors who write about marginalised communities are facing abuse, boycotts and even death threats. What is cancel culture doing to young adult fiction?

‘Highly concerning’: picture books bias worsens as female characters stay silent

Guardian research shows that the top 100 illustrated children’s books last year showed growing marginalisation of female and minority ethnic characters

My Little Pony brings lesbians to Equestria – just in time for pride week

Australian conservative commentator Lyle Shelton has taken a stand against tiny cartoon pony same-sex couple – but news is welcomed by most

‘Ghosts shaped my life’: out-of-print children’s classic to be resurrected

The macabre guide counts Reece Shearsmith and Nick Frost among its diehard fans. What’s so creepy about a 1970s children’s book?

Growing up, I was mortified by my allergies and eczema. I wish I knew I wasn’t alone

Allayne Webster has lived with the conditions since age five. Her new book, Sensitive, is for kids like her – and the people around them

Carole Cadwalladr inspires Nordic heroine of new young adult novel

Book tells story of young journalist investigating a murder who uncovers a data scandal at a secretive London agency

Old school, new pupils: modernising Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers

A black character appears in one of four new stories designed to renew the appeal of Blyton’s boarding school for 21st-century readers

Sheila Hollins: ‘People with learning disabilities must be put at the centre of their care’

The crossbench peer used pictures to communicate with her learning disabled son - and the experience led to a pioneering organisation to help people with communication issues

Children’s picture book reviews round-up – to the moon and back

Imaginations rove from the wonders of space to the world of a pea