Children’s and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels
Sleepy monsters; a wacky broken robot; a search for magical treasures and more
Bestselling Australian Bad Guys author Aaron Blabey signs eight-figure deal for seven new books
First title of series for tweens titled Game of Pets will be fantasy story to debut in 2026
Picture books for children – reviews
Laughter abounds with tales of mini beasts at bedtime, a box filled with babbling babies and an odd-couple comedy from Julia Donaldson
From The Sheep-Pig to His Dark Materials: the best audiobooks for children and teens
As research reveals children want to listen to books rather than read them, here are some of the best audiobooks to enjoy
Pig Heart Boy review – lively staging of Malorie Blackman’s stimulating novel
Winsome Pinnock adapts the story of a teenager whose heart transplant causes controversy but the comedy drowns out the issues
Children’s and teens roundup – the best new chapter books
From ecology-saving zombies to a murderous tattoo and a chilly new school for magic, the new year launches with fresh twists on familiar themes
The best children’s and YA books of 2024
From a boy on a snowy midnight adventure to a gothic family caper via a young offender inspired by poetry, our critics pick their favourite titles of the year
The Guardian view on Christmas shows: they are fairy tales for our times
From Ballet Shoes to Wicked, stories of female empowerment and friendship are triumphing on stage and screen
Australian Christmas kids’ gift guide 2024: 60 great ideas for babies, toddlers, kids and tweens
Our discerning writers and editors have searched high and low for the best (and budget-conscious) children’s Christmas presents for this holiday season
Cillian Murphy as Voldemort? Everything we know about HBO’s Harry Potter TV show
Details are beginning to emerge about the ‘decade-long’ adaptation of JK Rowling’s books – with some starry actors reportedly in negotiations
These picture books make the perfect gifts – for adults (and their inner children)
As grown-ups increasingly embrace the emotional power and visual delights of picture books, here is a list of recommendations to suit every person and occasion
‘Relax your rules, let them pick what they want’: 10 page-turners to get kids reading
A report this month revealed fewer children than ever read for pleasure. From spooky tales to choose-your-own-adventure fantasy epics, here are 10 irresistible titles
There is a moral in Jamie Oliver’s story of stereotypical folk, just not one he intended
In offending Australia’s First Nations people, the chef is at least offering a cautionary tale for other celebrity authors
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
We all have life stories, we just need to learn how to tell them
I’ve spent two months teaching memoir writing to students in years 3 to 6. They just wade right in