‘Toxic’ beats ‘gammon’ and ‘cakeism’ to win Oxford Dictionaries’ word of 2018
Toxic best captures ‘the ethos, mood and preoccupations’ of the year, according to the dictionary
Morris Gleitzman, beloved children’s author, meets his new editors – children
‘It’s hard to select the stories because all of them are so good,’ says a primary student editor of Early Harvest magazine
From Madonna’s Sex to Lady Chatterley: inside the Bodleian’s explicit book club
Created at the height of Victorian prudishness, the Bodleian Library’s Phi collection was designed to protect young minds from ‘immoral’ books. More than a century later, they’re going on display for the first time
Jeff Kinney: ‘Let children read anything; I’ll never say no to a book’
The author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series says that in an age of little empathy, it is vital to engage reluctant readers
I can see Odysseus lashed to the mast of this ship, struggling to resist the Sirens’ song
The eerily beautiful wreck discovered in the Black Sea takes us right back to Homer’s Greece
Stephen King sells film rights for story to Welsh teenagers for $1
Horror writer lets Blaenau Gwent Film Academy make version of Stationary Bike
Jumpin’ jets, a woman! Call to update children’s books with female academics
Dr Frankenstinker, Professor Branestawm … How can little girls become academics when all the role models are men?
Dear Damian Hinds, What’s so difficult about giving every child a library ticket?
Yet another report has shown children who read for pleasure are at an advantage. Yet many children still don’t have books
Children’s authors welcome Ofsted’s move to lighten stress on testing
Writers including Frank Cottrell Boyce and Piers Torday cheer announcement that the schools inspectorate will now reward a broader style of education
Can the language of the Vikings fight off the invasion of English?
Icelandic has retained its literary vigour since the Sagas, but TV and tourism are a growing threat
Novel news: world’s biggest bookworms revealed in study
Researchers reveal having more books at home when growing up, even if you don’t necessarily read more, improves educational outcomes
GCSE textbook condemned for racist Caribbean stereotypes
Outcry over ‘sweeping generalisations’ in Hodder Education sociology book
Nicholas Faith obituary
Journalist and scourge of the establishment who tempered his criticism when writing about the wine trade
George Parfitt obituary
Other lives: Literary scholar, teacher and poet with a special interest in the 17th century
Nobel laureate urges Nigeria’s youth to stand for election and oust ‘old fogies’
Wole Soyinka bemoans attacks on girls’ education and calls on young people to mobilise politically in run-up to February poll