Novelist Maggie O’Farrell: ‘Children don’t just need butterflies and rainbows’

The Hamnet author talks about bringing her bestselling Shakespeare novel to the screen, working with Paul Mescal, and how her speech disorder inspired her latest children’s book

‘Significant’ drop in racially minoritised characters in children’s books, report says

Share of children’s books featuring characters who fall into this category fell from 30% in 2022 to 17% in 2023, CLPE survey finds

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

A sensational sleigh ride; joyous poetry; amazing animals; a sinister seaside town; a deadly forest; a thrilling heist and more

Readers reply: Why are nursery rhymes and fairytales so dark?

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts

Celebrities need to stop writing children’s books: they’re woefully underqualified

As Jamie Oliver has found out to his cost, write what you know or you could end up with a flop and an international PR disaster, says Arwa Mahdawi

Why are nursery rhymes and fairytales so dark?

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts

Konnie Huq launches free climate crisis ebook for UK primary schools

Children for Change contains stories, poems, and illustrations from more than 80 collaborators including Jamie Oliver, Mary Portas, David Baddiel and Adam Kay

‘It’s quite galling’: children’s authors frustrated by rise in celebrity-penned titles

Keira Knightley is latest star to publish a children’s book, but some say trend pushes aside genuine writers and makes it harder to find great children’s fiction

‘Could do better’ – Worst Witch author’s school reports just like Mildred’s

The family of the late Jill Murphy share the comments from unimpressed teachers that inspired her classic children’s series

As a middle-aged man, I would’ve saved loads on therapy if I’d read Baby-Sitters Club books as a kid

Boys weren’t exposed to emotionally intelligent characters in the books marketed to us. I won’t let my son be a victim of the same social taboo

Children’s and teens roundup – the best new chapter books

From young werewolves’ adventures with vampires to hard-up funeral crashers and the late Jeremy Strong’s wonderful final tale

Publishing’s ‘Super Thursday’ includes books by Boris Johnson, Stanley Tucci and Kate Mosse

A total of 1,900 titles are being published today, including a Rebus from Ian Rankin, memoir from Miranda Hart and children’s fiction by AF Steadman

Majority of UK children’s books with Black main characters written by white authors, study finds

Report finds that books with main characters from minority ethnicities or who are disabled or neurodivergent are written by those who do not share the protagonist’s identity

Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller look back: ‘We were really cross with each other, slamming the door and saying: That’s it’

The comedy double act on playing it cool, bombing at Edinburgh, and how their friendship endured after they branched out on their own

Northern Lights by Philip Pullman audiobook review – a mesmerising reading by Ruth Wilson

The actor narrates the first book in the author’s beloved His Dark Materials trilogy, giving a richly textured performance