Which books can help me understand what it’s like to be bombed?

As our politicians decide whether to bomb Syria, the Book Doctor picks out books that help us understand what it’s like to be threatened by bombs, from Robert Westall’s The Machine Gunners to Joe Sacco’s Palestine

Inkspell by Cornelia Funke – review

RooReviews: ‘They have many adventures that are scary’

How to cope with writer’s block

Author Angie Sage doesn’t really believe in writer’s block except as a roundabout way of admitting you’ve run out of ideas. Here are her top tips on how to get started again!

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke – review

Rooreviews: ‘it draws me in so much that I just felt like I was in the book’

‘All grown-ups were once children’: the 15 top Le Petit Prince quotes

Our favourite lines from the eternal question mark that is Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince, one of France’s most famous and well-loved books

Read the Short Story Week young writer competition 2015-winning The Promise

To celebrate Short Story Week, we have the winning entry to the National Short Story Week young writer competition. Here is The Promise by Amber Lahdelma

Why I love Jacqueline Wilson and you should join the Guardian children’s books site!

Site member Writer-on-wheels AKA Chloe got to attend the launch of Jacqueline Wilson’s latest Hetty Feather adventure, Little Stars. Here’s what happened – plus learn how to draw Diamond from Hetty Feather with Nick Sharratt

Why it’s time for the red fox to have some good PR

Foxes have been the baddies of children’s stories since at least Ancient Greek times. But how much of the myth is based on fact? Inbali Iserles writes in defence of the fox in literature and beyond

Expelliarmus! Harry Potter Book Night 2016 theme announced

The theme of Harry Potter Book Night 2016 is announced as A Night of Spells

How to write a book – top tips for National Novel Writing Month

Welcome to NaNoWriMo! MG Leonard (who wrote her first book Beetle Boy in six months, one hour a day) has tips on how to do it. And it starts with writing EVERY SINGLE DAY

How much do you know about RL Stine’s Goosebumps? – quiz

The Master of Fright brought us tales of terror with his Goosebumps series, just made into a film starring Jack Black. But what do you know about the books? Test yourself – if you dare…

Why the Battle of Agincourt is still important today

Outnumbered and outmanoeuvred, when Henry V won the Battle of Agincourt it was a famous victory in the Hundred Years War between the English and the French. And it was all because of the humble longbow. Now, on the 600th anniversary of the Battle, Linda Davies explains how it her new book, Longbow Girl, plus shares some fun facts about the longbow that we bet you never knew!

Have you entered our Young Critics competition yet? Last chance!

Calling all children and teens! You have eight days left to send us your reviews of one of our eight amazing longlisted books – so what are you waiting for?

Clive James: ‘My granddaughter returned with a wand, which induces a sudden coma’

Clive James on the magic that really matters

What should I read next?

When the weather outside is frightful, it’s the perfect time to cosy up with a good read. If you’re looking for the best books to keep you warm on these cool autumn nights, our site members have the perfect picks for you…

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