Minnow and the Bear by Ben Blathwayt – review

SuperBen and SuperEva: 'You don't know what will happen the first time you read it'

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome – review

Theo WolfTiger 'My favourite character is Nancy Blackett, Captain of the Amazon, because she is the most adventurous'

Mister Creecher by Chris Priestley – review

ilovepercyjacksonbooks Full of secrets and suspense, Mister Creecher is the perfect book for people who enjoy quests, friendship and surprises'

Divided City by Theresa Breslin – review

DragoneseJonny: This book is amazing. Once you start to read it, it drags you in, like dust into a vacuum cleaner'

Is Enid Blyton back in fashion?

'Both Enid Blyton and JK Rowling have proved that if children find a book, series or author they love, they'll read – regardless of what their parents think about it'

Morris Gleitzman’s tips for writing a very good (and possibly prize-winning) short story

The fabulously funny author of books including Two Weeks With the Queen, Misery Guts and the trilogy Once, Then and Now, gives his top tips for writing short storiesRead Saving Ms Fosdyke, a short story by Morris Gleitzman

Jarvis Cocker reads from The Hueys – video

Listen to Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker reading from Oliver Jeffers's new picture book, The Hueys in the New Jumper, then download your very own Huey to customise. Send in your Hueys and we'll feature them in a special Hueys gallery

How Maurice Sendak helped me stage his operas

Months before his death, the children's author met director Netia Jones to discuss opera versions of his famous stories. She relives an extraordinary year

Can you suggest any moving house books for a worried seven-year-old?

'There are a great many positive stories about moving house, especially if the house has something very special about it like being very old, harbouring a secret or having a wonderful horse/dog/cat next door!'

See YOUR character written into a Horrid Henry book and drawn by Tony Ross!

We've got a brilliant prize on offer to one Horrid Henry fan - invent a new character and see him or her appear in a Horrid Henry book

Has the diamond jubilee increased the number of ‘royal’ books?

'Books like these are a very useful way to convey something of the optimism of the moment as well as picking out snippets of information about events'

Operation Diamond: can you crack the code?

Helen Moss, author of the Adventure Island series of books, is kicking off a competition, Operation Diamond, here on the Guardian children's books site. She explains how a real life treasure trove inspired the mystery behind the first book in the series, and sets the first question in her blog-and-clue trail

Alfie Gives a Hand by Shirley Hughes – review

Damyanti & Bryn: 'This edition also comes with a read along CD so Bryn is able to enjoy the story on his own too'

Jack and the Baked Beanstalk by Colin Stimpson – review

Damyanti & Bryn: 'Bryn was tickled by the nice giant but would have preferred him to be eating people and grinding bones to make his bread'