Askews Childrens Newsletter Summer 2023

Childrens Newsletter Summer 2023 Welcome! Welcome to our summer newsletter! As always, inside you’ll find some of the best new and recent junior and teenage titles featured alongside some author Q&As and blogs written especially for libraries! Don’t forget about our social media channels for news about books, publishers and libraries. Find us at @askewsholts on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube where we also have author readings, interviews and book trailers! Win! This month we have four great giveaways! Frances Lincoln celebrate the 100th UCLan have five tote bags with copies Little People, Big Dreams title by giving of The storm child and The wind child away five books to two lucky winners. by Gabriela Houston. Hachette Children’s Books recently Finally, Barrington Stoke are supported Mental Health Awareness Week celebrating the new title Jodie by Hilary and have given us three pairs of important McKay with six books and prints to win. titles related to children’s mental health. To enter each prize draw, please email [email protected] with the subject : Win:Storm child Win:Big dreams Win:Mental health Win:Hilary McKay You can enter each draw once on separate emails. Please include a delivery address in case you win and confirmation that you are happy for your details to be passed to the publisher to send out your prize. Entries close Friday 4th August at 9am.





Q&A with Louise Gooding Wonderfully wired brains by Louise Gooding 9780241568613 (DK) An informative and inclusive children's guide to neurodiversity for those not in the know and to inspire children who are neurodivergent. Our brains are unique in the way they function, work, and think. Neurodiversity is still a relatively 'new' concept that can be tricky to understand, but this book is here to help! Wonderfully Wired Brains teaches children aged 7-9 all about the awesome abilities that neurodiverse individuals have, introduces them to advocates who are challenging neurodiversity stereotypes, and most importantly gives them a safe space to feel accepted. What inspired you to write Wonderfully Wired Brains? I was diagnosed as neurodivergent as an adult soon after my own children received their own diagnosis. I kept picking up books to try and find easy ways to discuss what being neurodivergent meant and discovered there were no books out there aimed at children and the books I was picking up aimed at adults were, at least for me, not very neurodivergent-friendly to read. I wanted something that could break down the subject into easily digestible facts and address that neurodiversity wasn’t just a ‘new thing’ either after being very abruptly told that ‘everyone seems to be ND nowadays’. It was a topic I wanted to understand first and foremost myself, but I knew I couldn't be the only one out there wanting something that dived into this topic in a fun and friendly way. How difficult was it to take such a complex subject matter and make it accessible for 7-9 year olds? I think as I am a highly excitable person, every time I discover a new fact or piece of information, I would get very animated and find myself blurting out ‘did you know’ facts to anyone in my general vicinity. If I’m honest, I am often put off by overly technical lingo, it’s a bit too much for me and my own wonderfully wired brain, and I find it rather inaccessible. Why should complex subjects be, well, so complex? Why weren’t they being broken down so everyone could have access and the ability to start to really understand the basics? Who’s your neurodiverse hero and why? I have many people I admire, so choosing one is SUPER hard. I am going to shout out Judy Singer though because she is the one that started the neurodiversity movement and coined the term neurodiverse. She worked so hard to bring neurodiversity understanding, acceptance and awareness to light and continues to do so today. She often doesn’t get the spotlight she deserves and is a wonderful advocate, campaigner and supporter of the neurodiverse community. We need people like Judy to help raise awareness and continue to educate others on neurodiverse issues. What’s your favourite brain fact? I got very excited to learn that leeches have 32 brains. 32! What on earth are they doing with 32 brains? Can you imagine what we could do with 32 brains, I mean the one we have is pretty epic, but think of the possibilities! Instagram & Twitter @onceuponalouise For free Wonderfully wired brains bookmarks, please email [email protected]

More About What You Can Win The storm child by Gabriela Houston (UCLan) 9781915235534 The epic conclusion in The Wind Child duology. Who would you become to save someone you love? Mara, the granddaughter of the God of Winter Winds, had her human soul ripped out for defying the laws of gods and men… A year on, she and her shape-shifting friend Torniv are on the run from Koschei the Deathless, who will stop at nothing to destroy them. The two friends will have to face their past and decide how far they’re willing to go to keep each other safe. And in the world of Slavic monsters and gods, there is always a price to pay... Jodie by Hilary McKay (Barrington Stoke) 9781800902206 How would you describe the story of Jodie? Jodie is very much a ghost story, with a modern real-life background. It’s about a school trip to a remote place amongst people that, for Jodie, are all of them almost strangers. It takes place over two days and nights, but the history of the haunting of that place is much older than Jodie. What inspired you to write a ghost story for Barrington Stoke? Ghost stories aren’t usually very long, and Barrington Stoke books in general aren’t chunky, so a ghost story fits them well. I love writing ghost stories myself – they have all the elements I like, such as a strong central character that the reader can identify with. The setting is also important – it has to be described well enough for the reader to be able to visualise themself in that place. I like creating fast, tight stories, and I really love a bit of eerie-other-worldness, so a ghost story seemed just right for me. How important was Jodie’s backstory when informing your writing? Jodie’s background really mattered to the shaping of this story. It defined her as a very lonely person who has lost her trust in other people. The past has made life very hard for Jodie, and she has become so sensitised to her surroundings that she notices every glance and sound, far more than most people do. Also, because she has become so solitary, she really does need to escape the crowds to decompress and relax a little, and it’s her seeking out these quiet places that brings her into contact with the lost world that haunts the salt marshes. Jodie seems very lonely and isolated at the beginning of the book. How do you view her as a character? Outwardly, Jodie is distrustful, alarmed, wrapped up in her own problems and angry. She’s made these characteristics into a protective shell because she’s been so hurt. Underneath is a very different person: caring and funny and brave and kind. She’s quite complex, very hard to get to know. Well worth getting to know though, if you can manage it. The landscape of the salt marshes plays an integral role within the story. Do you take inspiration from your surroundings when working on a new idea? Yes, I do. I think landscape can almost become a silent character. I love salt marshes – I’ve used them before in storytelling. They are such strange spaces, neither land nor sea, always changing. You can’t doze off on a salt marsh the way you can in a wood – you’d soon find yourself in trouble. And everything is a little more intense in a place like that – the sounds and the wind, and the emptiness. The ending of Jodie is very hopeful and full of friendship. Do you prefer to give your readers a happy ending? No, not always, sometimes my characters have to tough it out, as people do in real life. However, this time I’ve given Jodie a happy ending, although not a perfect ending. Her brother is still in prison, her parents still grieving for him, they are still very short of money. She isn’t going back to an easy life, but she is going back with friends. I think that will make all the difference. Twitter @hilary_mckay

Q&A with Pari Thomson Greenwild : The world behind the door 9781035015733 (Macmillan) Can you tell us a bit about Greenwild: The World Behind the Door? Greenwild is the story of a girl called Daisy Thistledown who escapes from boarding school to search for her missing mother – and finds a hidden silver door that leads her into a secret, magical world called the Greenwild. Here, Daisy finds new friends and grand adventure and a group of magical people called Botanists, who risk their lives to protect the natural world. The only thing is, the Greenwild is under threat – and it’s up to Daisy to save it. Could you tell us about some of the botanical wonders that Daisy encounters in the Greenwild? The Greenwild is full of all the magical plants that once existed in our world but have long since died out, from mandrakes to talking trees. But it is also home to many plants you might not have heard of. These include lilypaddles (giant lily pad boats), larder trees (which take root in kitchen counters and can grow anything you like), chocolate trees (you water them with milk) – and maybe, if you look hard enough, the mythical whishogg – a pomegranate whose seeds can grant wishes. . . What inspired you to write Greenwild: The World Behind the Door? I’m lucky enough to live near Kew Gardens, one of the most amazing botanical gardens in the world. I was inspired by the bizarre and wonderful plants you can find there, from giant lily pads and hairy pink bananas to carnivorous flytraps. At the same time, I’ve always wanted to write about the magic of nature and the ways we can be healed and comforted by green spaces. Even a little patch of greenness can be magic, whether it’s a window-box of wildflowers or a sunflower in a pavement crack. Twitter @parithomson

Q&A with Natasha Devon Clicks : How to be your best self online 9781529066630 (Macmillan) Could you tell us a bit about Clicks? Clicks is a manual for teenagers on navigating the online world. It includes everything from avoiding becoming addicted to your phone or tablet, to how to spot fake news, to what to do if you find yourself at the centre of a pile-on (which is where you are being targeted with abuse by several accounts). I interviewed some of the world’s leading experts to contribute to the content, but ultimately I hope it’s an accessible and fun read, as well as being educational. What drew you to write a book about navigating the online world? I visit an average of three schools per week, delivering talks and conducting research on mental health and related issues. In the focus groups I held with teenagers, they told me they felt some of the messaging from adults on this topic was too intent on demonising social media and telling them to stay off it altogether. It kind of reminded me of the sex education I had at school. It was all ‘the best thing to do is abstain’ and we thought ‘okay, but most of us probably will have sex at some stage so how do we look after our physical and emotional safety when we do?’. That’s exactly what Clicks is – engaging with what actually happens online and giving tips on how to protect yourself from some of the dangers. What do you hope young readers will take away from reading the book? I want them to see themselves as curators of an art gallery. If you had limited wall space, you wouldn’t choose to fill it with the first bits of junk you saw. Social media can be a wonderful tool for connection and learning, if you are discerning. I hope they’ll gain the knowledge they need to filter out what is irrelevant or harmful and create an online wallpaper which helps them be the best version of themselves. Twitter & Instagram @_natashadevon

Fox & Son Tailers by Paddy Donnelly 9781788494410 (O’Brien) FOX & SONS - Makers of the finest traditional tails for all animals and every occasion! Rory’s dad, Fox, is a tailer. The BEST in the business! Animals come from all over to have their tails made by him. Rory helps his dad in the shop and one of his jobs is measuring the customers for the tails - which isn't always easy! But Rory is bored of making the same old tails. He has his own amazing ideas ... ‘A beautiful story with a heart-warming ending ... and with foxes! I love it.’ - Chris Haughton Paddy Donnelly is an Irish author & illustrator living in Belgium. He grew up on the north coast of Ireland, surrounded by mythical stories of giants, magical creatures and shape-shifting animals - all set in a stunning landscape from another time. All of this prompted his love for nature, animals, the sea and storytelling. He creates his illustrations digitally, but loves working with a textured, painterly approach. He wishes Pluto was still a planet. Twitter @paddydonnelly / Instagram @paddy Mildred the gallery cat by Jono Ganz 9781849768719 (Tate Publishing) With clever nods to some of the world's greatest art, this delightful children's book is an instant classic, inspired by Tate Modern's beloved former resident cat. In a grand gallery, in a little basket, there lay a very sleepy cat named Mildred. Everyone thought she was the laziest cat in the world, but sometimes, in the dead of night . . . she snuck into the empty gallery. Join Mildred as she explores art that makes her happy, hungry, and even introspective. With so many inspirations, can she find a way to become an artist herself? “Working at the Tate Modern, each morning I’d be greeted by the sight of Mildred, either lying splayed out in the middle of the staff reception or perching on someone’s moped in the car park. When the gallery closed during the 2020 lockdown, I began to imagine Mildred roaming around the vast rooms, richly populated with a diverse array of artworks. I started drawing famous artworks reimagined through the eyes of a cat, and this made me think of how we often experience art in a very personal way. I wanted to emphasise that anyone can be creative, and art is for everyone!” With timeless appeal, Mildred's adventures are sure to delight young readers, and black and white cat fans of all ages. Jono Ganz is a former Tate Shop employee, who now draws and writes in his home in London, which he shares with his partner, cat and a 19th century weaving loom. He likes folklore, wonky shapes and the music of ABBA. Twitter & Instagram @jonoganz

Q&A with Jason Korsner A zoo in my shoe by Jason Korsner (Graffeg) 9781802584073 What inspired you to write A Zoo in my Shoe? It’s based on a format I first came up with for my last book, I Like To Put Food In My Welly. That was inspired by a breakfast conversation with my then 4 year old son, during which I got my words mixed up. He was spreading butter on the table. “Butter doesn’t go on the table,” I advised him. “Butter goes on your bed,” I clarified, looking down a the bread on his plate. We both laughed and realised that we could have a lot of fun, getting our words mixed up. Why did you decide to base the rhymes in a zoo and how did you choose the animals to feature? A lot of children’s books feature animals – and a lot of children love the zoo. We grow up surrounded by images of animals and we think we know them well. A book like mine, that plays around with the world as we know it, gives us the chance to play with what we think we know about animals. Playing with what we think is going to be familiar provides more opportunities to subvert expectations. It’s because we know so much about animals that we can have so much fun by having them do things we don’t expect. Quite a lot of research actually went into this, believe it or not?! I didn’t just randomly pick animals and get them to do things. They needed to start out in the right habitats, for example, or the following pages wouldn’t be as funny. I wanted to use mostly animals that people know well – elephants, giraffes, tigers – as the more familiar people are with the characters, the funnier it is when they do something unfamiliar. How did you decide the different rhyming lines and then their mixed-up versions? I generally took one of two approaches. Sometimes I’d come up with a set of three rhyming words and then work out perfectly normal situations that I could use each one for that would give rise to humour once they’re mixed up. Take as an example, pill, bill and hill. “When I’m sick, I swallow a pill. After a meal, I pay the bill. The goat sleeps half way up the hill.” The idea of swallowing a hill or paying a pill or sleeping on a bill are clearly ridiculous, but because they’re the right part of speech, they still work grammatically, even if semantically they’re nonsense. It was also important to make sure that each sentence scanned well with its partners – if one was short, the others had to be short – if one was long, the others had to be long. They didn’t need to be the same number of syllables, as when reading out aloud, you can pause for a beat to make things fit – and this books is very much meant to be read out aloud. Using this approach, the first set of sentences really have to sound right – penguins do slide on ice, tigers do sleep on ridges. The other approach was to come up with a well-known phrase – like a leopard changing its spots – and find words that would be fun to switch in with that. In this book, we see the leopard changing yachts and cots. You’ll note that I didn’t try to rhyme many of the animals themselves. That gave me a lot more freedom, as there aren’t that many rhymes for giraffe or chimpanzee – but I was still able to get them in the book. So sometimes I started with the phrase and found words to fit it – other times I came up with the set of rhyming words first and had to work backwards to make the sentences fit the formulaic fun. Another consideration was that I find you can often have more fun with words of two syllables – I think it maybe just sounds more unlikely that you’re going to find rhymes, so it sounds funnier when you do. I particularly enjoyed rhyming flippers, kippers and slippers. Do you think humour is an important part of children’s writing and why? Humour is hugely important for books aimed at children. Children like having fun and if you want them to enjoy learning numeracy and literacy skills, why not make them fun too. For younger readers, books usually can – and should – be fun. We all want to do things that we know we’ll enjoy – that we know will make us laugh – and if we want children to enjoy reading, giving something that’s going to make them laugh has got to be a pretty good starting point. It’s probably not a surprise that some of the most successful children’s writers around at the moment come from the world of comedy – my son is enjoying books by David Walliams, David Baddiel and Stephen Mangan at the moment. Once you get children laughing, you’ve got them hooked and they’ll stay with you, eagerly anticipating the next laugh. And that’s one of the things about A Zoo In My Shoe; you can anticipate the next funny line – but even when you can see them coming, they arrive so thick and fast that you’ll still be laughing at one when the next arrives. It’ll make you want to keep reading – not just this book, but any book. Twitter @jasonkbooks / Instagram @jasonkorsner

Libraries blog by SF Said Tyger, by SF Said 9781788452915 (David Fickling Books) I love libraries. As a writer, I owe them a debt I can never repay. You see, I write in my local public libraries, so my books would not exist without them. As a kind of love letter to libraries, my new book Tyger contains an Underground Library: a magical place where Underground Librarians hold the secrets of the world. That library is perhaps the warmest and most welcoming space in the book, and those librarians are among its most heroic characters. Although Tyger is set in an alternate world, these things are very much based on my own experience. I really do believe that libraries are wonderful and magical spaces, and that librarians do vital and irreplaceable work, often against overwhelming odds. I sometimes see commentators who have not visited a library in decades claiming that no-one uses libraries any more. As someone who uses libraries regularly, and witnesses all the incredible work they do, I can assure you that millions and millions of us still use and depend on and love our libraries. There are so many different reasons why people use libraries. As a children's author, I can't help particularly noticing the work of the children's libraries. Every day, I see parents and carers bringing their children to the library. Sometimes they come for story-times or sing-alongs; sometimes for author visits, reading challenges, or the many other activities the librarians organise for them. But most of all, they come to find books, because they know that in the library, children will be able to make a free choice from a brilliant selection of books, all of which are free to read and borrow, with expert help on hand. Children's librarians have such a wealth of unique experience and knowledge. They inspire, empower and enable children to find the books that will make them readers; the ones that will help them gain all the lifelong benefits of reading for pleasure and literacy. The librarians provide these services to the public at no charge, because we decided some time ago that it was essential to our society for everyone to have this kind of free access to books and information. Libraries are central to literacy, liberty, and democracy itself. They are among the most important things that governments can provide. Indeed, the public right for these services to be funded by government is enshrined in law. However, all the library cuts and closures we've witnessed since 2010 have worked against this. These cuts have been a direct attack on literacy, liberty and democracy. I'd like to encourage everyone out there who cares about these things to write to their local councils, councillors and MPs. Tell them how important your library services are to you, especially your children's library services and the librarians who deliver them. Make sure they know that you do not want them to be cut, but to be supported and rebuilt as an urgent priority. Libraries and librarians have done so much for us all. Now it's time for us to stand up for them. I would not like to imagine a world without them. Twitter & Instagram @whatsfsaid

Important jobs series 97801398250- -864/-888/-901 / -925 (Raintree) Hospitals, film sets, zoos and airports are busy places. Who are the people that keep them running? Featuring Doctors, nurses and appointment bookers; special effects artists, writers and animal trainers; vets and groundskeepers; security officer and baggage handlers. There are jobs out there for everyone and all of them are important! My brilliant plan to fix everything by Ben Davis 9780702315787 (Scholastic) This summer, 12-year-old Alex is taking over his dad’s postal delivery job. What could go wrong? In order to get his family back together, Alex comes up with a brilliant plan: if Dad finally writes the novel he’s always talked about, he’ll be happier again and his parents will fall back in love. Dad just needs to get away from work for a while to do it. Alex tricks his dad into thinking he’s been selected for a creative sabbatical, and starts to do the postal deliveries himself. But it’s harder than Alex had ever realized, and there are the bullies who throw his letters in the canal, an overly suspicious boss, and a lot of angry dogs to avoid. He finds unexpected help in Willow, a girl on the canal who offers to share the work … but has a dark secret that might derail everything. As Alex’s ruse starts to fall apart, he needs his dad more than ever. Meanwhile, his dad comes to understand that the thing he needs most isn’t publishing a novel … it’s Alex. Instagram @bendavisauthor / Twitter @bendavis_86 Isabella & Blodwen by Rachael Smith 9781838224189 (Cast Iron Books) Sixteen year-old Isabella has been granted early admission to the prestigious University of Oxford. Academically gifted, but severely lacking in social skills, she finds navigating the hallowed halls a trial she can't study her way out of. Mixing with older students, and struggling to find her place, she sets her heart on the coveted summer internship with her hero, Professor MacLeod. While wondering how to get the letter of recommendation she needs to be considered, she accidentally drops an exhibit from a museum she's visiting in her bag and Blodwen, the Witch from the Bottle enters her life! Aimed at a young adult audience, and exploring themes of friendship, growing up, and finding your place in the world, 'Isabella & Blodwen' is a graphic novel story that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt alone and that the world is against them. Instagram @flimsykitten / Twitter @rachael_

Q&A Simon Philip Wanna see a penguin? By Simon Philip 9780192783561 (OUP) We spoke to Simon Philip, author of Wanna See a Penguin?, about his inspiration behind his latest picture book and if he had ever been on a wild penguin chase… Tell us a little bit Wanna See a Penguin? I can’t quite remember exactly where the idea for Wanna See a Penguin? came from, but I think it was prompted by the title popping into my head. And what prompted that may have been reading It Wasn’t Me, one of the books in Oliver Jeffers’s series about The Hueys. In it, one of the characters asks the others, ‘Want to see a dead fly?’ – a (brilliant) question I’d not encountered in a picture book before, but one which got the creative cogs in my head whirring, I think. Creativity seems to work in unpredictable and mysterious ways! Once I had that title in my mind, I knew what I wanted to do with it, and the idea of a seemingly confident animal-spotting expert who’s actually not so expert came pretty quickly. I thought that would be a good vehicle for humour, as well as for the ‘it’s-behind-you’-type joke that runs throughout. Why penguins, exactly? Well, for a start, they’re cute and quite comical creatures that make great characters – and they also happen to be black and white, along with many other animals… What is your favourite spread in the book and why? It’s difficult to pick a favourite as I love Ian’s artwork on all the spreads, but if I absolutely have to choose one, then I’ll go with the spread with the panda eating a sandwich on a bench at the bus stop. Why? Because it shows a panda eating a sandwich on a bench at a bus stop! What a sentence that is. Have you ever been on a penguin chase like the two friends in the story?What did you find? I haven’t – mainly because I actually AM a penguin expert, so never have ANY trouble spotting them because I know exactly what penguins looks like. They’re black and white, distinctive, have stripes and four legs… Sorry, what?! What do you mean that’s NOT a penguin? It’s a zebra? Oh… Do you have any fun penguin facts you learned during the writing process? I discovered that a group of penguins in water is called a raft, but a group of penguins on land is called a waddle – which is a very apt collective noun, I’d say! Which animal do you like the most? The duck-billed platypus – because it’s venomous, and I don’t want to get on the wrong side of it! Do you have any tips for aspiring young writers? Read, read, read! That’s probably the number one tip that every author will dish out, because it’s the best way to become a better writer. Alongside that, write, write, write! But try to enjoy the process and have fun along the way – and don’t worry about making mistakes, as they are an inevitable and crucial part of writing! Good luck! Twitter & Instagram @siphilipstories

Blog by Phil Earle Until the road ends by Phil Earle 9781839133169 (Andersen Press) I feel very lucky. To be published for starters, but also to be published now for twelve years. It’s not something I take for granted. Pretty much every writer worries (usually at 3.37AM) that this book will probably be their last: that their publisher will grow tired of them and move on to a new, vibrant (probably younger), writer. I definitely felt like I was drinking in the last chance saloon when I wrote When The Sky Falls. Writing had become difficult, painful. I’d not written a word in two years and at many points, didn’t think this would change. So it’s fair to say that this book brought me back. In fact, what happened floored me. Still does if I’m honest. People said lovely things about what I’d written. I’d blush, and if they said it to me in person, I’d stare at the floor and blush, just in case they were actually talking to someone behind me. Booksellers put piles of the book on their tables or shelves, some made window displays, and once I stopped rubbing my eyes I absolutely loved their kindness. One of the most overwhelming and game-changing things though happened not in bookshops, but in classrooms: teachers started reading it, and once they’d done that, they started reading it to their classes. World War II has long been a staple of the curriculum, with classics like Michelle Magorian’s Goodnight Mr Tom the go-to novel to support their teachings. Quite right too. It’s a magnificent read. Dark, but incredibly powerful. I started receiving tweets and emails from educators, telling me they’d jettisoned Mr Tom for Joseph and Adonis – cue more blushing. But the messages kept coming, as did the most phenomenal photos and videos: classes re-enacting key scenes, re-writing chapters from Adonis’ point of view. It was over-whelming and wonderful. To be clear, I didn’t write the book so it could be studied. I haven’t met a creative yet who works like that. I’m sure some students have discovered themes or symbols in the book that weren’t conscious to me when I wrote them, but that’s fine. What I LOVE about it being used in classes, is the fact that it is being read aloud to students. It reminds me instantly of how I LOVED being read to in class. It was a golden half hour in our day. We were read Stig of the Dump and The Machine Gunners, but the one I remember most clearly, some forty years on, is Anne Holm’s I Am David. I remember the excitement, the horror, the tears at the devastating ending. The possibility of young readers having similar memories to this when they are adults is overwhelming to me, and something I truly cherish. So thank you teachers, and librarians, indeed anyone who has read this book aloud. It’s a special thing you’re doing. Please don’t ever stop. Twitter & Instagram @philearle

My Bollywood dream by Avani Dwivedi 9781529505146 (Walker Books) Bollywood movies are made of dreams and adventures, and I long to discover them all… It’s Friday night and, on the bustling streets of Mumbai, a little girl and her family head to the cinema. As they travel, the girl captures the sights and sounds of the city with her camera, and imagines a movie unfolding before her eyes. And when they reach the screening, the room is electric – it’s time to dance! Inspired by the author's own childhood memories, Bollywood brings people together in this heartfelt and joyful debut from a brand-new talent. Instagram @ivanidwivedii Sh!t bag by Xena Knox 9781444972054 (Hodder Children’s) Sh!t bag is a dark humour, disability-positive YA novel about a feisty, sporty, sixteen-year-old girl called Freya who wakes up in hospital with a poo bag (ileostomy bag) and has to learn to live with it and her new nickname Sh!t Bag. Xena's first novel came from her experiences juggling bowel surgeries and life-with-an-ostomy, while studying and ‘dating’ after school and through university, due to acute Ulcerative Colitis. And while most would look back on this time as something to forget, Xena regards it in a positive light. “Despite not currently having an ostomy, I feel really strongly about advocating for the positive elements they bring to someone who's been living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's or Colitis). So many people explain that it saved their life. But from my perspective they can save your 'lifestyle' too. They're not just a last resort – they can be something that a young person will actively choose to have because it gives them freedoms. Speaking from the 'other side', I feel I can champion them in a slightly different way than if I currently had one. They’re life-saving, life enhancing and liberating. I know my title has a swear word in it but the fact swear words are viewed as taboo, base, unpleasant, undesirable, distasteful and unwanted reflects exactly how ostomies are perceived by the world at large. I think it's time to openly discuss what everyone's afraid of whether that's unpleasant words that reflect the gritty reality of life or whether that's talking about the elements of our lives that those words so perfectly, and emotively, describe. It's time to openly and humorously discuss the last taboo of poo (bags) while representing teens living with such things as being attractive and desirable.” Instagram & Twitter @xenaknox

Q&A with Mo O’Hara Honey’s hive by Mo O’Hara 9781839133282 (Andersen press) Can you tell us a bit about your new book Honey’s Hive? Honey’s Hive is a book about bee-lieving in yourself (sorry, there might be several bee puns in these answers). Honey is a young bee that doesn’t seem to fit into any of the worker bee roles in her hive. She wants to migrate like birds or do acrobatics like squirrels. She wants adventure and basically thinks bee-ing a bee is boooooring. She doesn’t appreciate how important her hive and her family are to her until the hive is in danger. And Honey discovers she might have the skills to save the day, but can she be the bee she needs to be? What kind of research did you do to write the story and did you learn anything about bees that really surprised you? I absolutely LOVE doing research for stories. It’s such an exciting time in the creation of a book. All the information you find out really informs what the characters do, where they live and even who they are. For Honey’s Hive I read books about bees and articles in nature magazines. I looked up a lot online and I watched hours of YouTube videos about bees. Then I was lucky enough to get to go to an apiary, which is a place with lots of bee hives. I went to Bee Urban in South London, an organisation that raises bees, promotes bee awareness and helps the local community too (which is a very bee thing to do actually). The beekeeper there showed me around some of their hives and I got to help feed some bees. They were fed fondant (like that thick solid cake icing you get on cakes sometimes). Apparently, the bees love it. My favourite new bee fact is that scientists now think that bees might be right antennaed or left antennaed in the same way that people are right or left-handed. Isn’t that cool? What do you hope readers will take from reading about Honey’s adventures and her community? Firstly, I hope that readers will laugh. It’s meant to be a fun read, so I hope that there are plenty of giggles along the way. Secondly, I know that lots of kids like facts, so I packed in lots of cool bee facts into each of the books. Thirdly, I hope they take away the importance of friendship. Honey’s friends (bee friends and Fred the flat fly) all make her a better bee-ing (sorry more puns). And she makes them better too. Lastly, and very importantly, I hope that they take away a positive awareness of bees and start to look out for them in their local neighbourhoods. Maybe they’ll be inspired to plant some wildflowers in a window box or put a bee house in their garden? Honey’s Hive is packed with stunning illustrations by Aya Kakeda – what is it like to have an illustrator bring your characters to life after you’ve written them? Oh My Buzzness, Aya’s illustrations are just beyond brilliant. It is so wonderful to see the illustrations come to life. The way she has done each of the characters is so special, but I LOVE the hexagonal hive world that she has made. Her art is just amazing. And finally, what’s the best thing about being a children’s author? My favourite thing about being a children’s author is going out to libraries, schools, bookshops and festivals and meeting the kids in person and (hopefully) making them laugh. I used to be an actor so I still crave the buzz (sorry more puns) I get from performing. Plus, writing can be a very solitary job. You sit at your desk writing away and just hoping that kids will connect with the characters you make up and the worlds you create. The pay off is to see the kids reading and drawing and writing, and knowing that your books inspired that. It’s the best buzz ever. Instagram @mo_ohara_ / Twitter @mo_ohara

A letter from Caryl Lewis The magician’s daughter by Caryl Lewis 9781529078169 (Macmillan) Instagram @caryllewis2

Pride Month special Grandad’s pride by Harry Woodgate 9781839132667 (Andersen Press) The highly-anticipated sequel to Waterstones Prize-winning Grandad's Camper celebrates the power of community and the importance of LGBTQIA+ history. Milly can't wait to spend a summer at Grandad's cottage by the sea, and is even more excited when she discovers Grandad and Gramps’ Pride flag in the attic. Grandad insists he's too old to go to the London celebrations, especially now Gramps isn’t around any more, but Milly has an idea to get the local community together and bring Pride to Grandad… Harry (they/them) is an award-winning illustrator from St Albans. Their debut picture book Grandad’s Camper won the Waterstones Children’s Book Award and was an ALA Stonewall Honor Book. It was inspired by their university dissertation, which revealed a lack of representation for older LGBT characters in children’s books. When they’re not creating amazing books, they love writing music, cycling, baking, and exploring independent coffee shops and bookstores. Instagram @harrywoodgateart /Twitter @harryewoodgate Just like everyone else by Sarah Hagger-Holt 9781801315784 (Usborne) A commercial coming-of-age story for tweens exploring identity, family and self-acceptance, from award-winning author Sarah Hagger-Holt. Thirteen-year-old Aidan can't breathe in his crowded family home. Running is his only respite from four loud sisters and involved, touchy-feely parents. Then his mum makes an announcement: she's having another baby. Only, this time it's not for her; she will be a surrogate for gay couple Justin and Atif. Aidan is incensed. As if his family wasn't embarrassing - or big - enough already. But he's also scared. Aidan thinks he might be gay, and he's really struggling to accept this possibility. What if being around Justin and Atif means that he has to come out before he's ready? If only he were just like everyone else. Instagram & Twitter @sarahhaggerholt Isabella & Blodwen by Rachael Smith 9781838224189 (Cast Iron Books) From the New York Times bestselling co-author of Five Feet Apart and She Gets the Girl comes a fresh and inventive sapphic romantic comedy. What if you found a once-in-a-lifetime love…just not in your lifetime? Seventeen-year-old Audrey Cameron has lost her spark. After an embarrassing run-in with her ex-boyfriend, she’s told that she needs to get back out there and take risks. What she doesn't expect is to be transported to Regency England! Lucy Sinclair has her own problems – stifled by her father and trying to avoid an unwanted marriage proposal – when Audrey lands into her life, claiming to be from two hundred years in the future, it's a welcome distraction. While the girls try to understand what’s happening and how to send Audrey home, their sparks make a comeback in a most unexpected way - instead of falling for their suitors and the happily-ever-afters everyone expects of them, they fall for each other. Can their love story survive impossible circumstances? Instagram @rachaellippincott / Twitter @rchllipp

A story about learning to swim by Emily Joof I will swim next time by Emily Joof 9781782508298 (Floris Books) I grew up by the sea. A short stroll and you could feel the salt air settle on your lips. I can count on my fingers the number of times I went in the water to bathe. I never learnt to swim. I was happy to love the water from afar. Many years later, I had a daughter of my own and she was born with the fear of water rooted in her. Despite my determination not to pass on my hesitation, she inherited it nevertheless. The first time she sat by the sea with me, I encouraged and coaxed. I did my best to get her to at least dip in her little toes, but she looked at me and said; ‘Mama it’s too loud.’ The crashing waves in The Gambia, mighty to one so small, sounded terrifying to tiny ears. So, I held her close, and we let the moment pass. Through the years, every summer, and most autumns we would visit lakes, streams, paddling pools. She would watch, she would think, and let me know it wasn’t time. We carried on like this until she was 5 and I signed her up for swimming classes. Armed with her closest friends, she finally went in! Victory! She played and she learnt techniques carefully. She moved around the water, making sure not a single drop touched her face. Water on her face still meant total panic and chaos but she was in the water and that in itself was a beauty. One summer, in the warm Swedish Gotland sun, I watched her play in the pool. Her rubber ring and armbands, snorkel and goggles, she splashed around having the time of her life. Then she stood up, took it all off and she hopped back in. She swam under water for half a length and came up for air. In that moment, I felt crushing fear and elation within the same breath. She swam. She still swims now, under water, somehow finding comfort beneath the big blue. I wrote her story of courage, persistence and time. Taking the time to face what you fear until it becomes one with you. That little story is this book. My favourite moment is when the child finally, bravely takes a little hop. There is such beauty in finding faith and strength in oneself. I would love this book to encourage discussions about fear and new experiences. How time and positive reinforcement can offer tools for parenting. But also, discussions about swimming and accessing this essential skill. Many minority communities never learn to swim and are hesitant to approach the water. There are historical and cultural reason for this, but also socio-economic ones and I would love to shine a light on that. Instagram @mbife_books / Twitter @emilyjoof

Adrian recommends! One picture book, Junior Fiction, Teenage Fiction and Junior Non-Fiction book which should be in every library! If I had a crocodile by Gabby Dawnay 9780500653050 (Thames & Hudson) There's more to a crocodile than its scaly skin and scary teeth - they stay cool under pressure (in part because they can't sweat) and on a rainy day, they love nothing more than a fast game of Snap! This book is packed with humour and rollicking rhymes that young children readily catch on to. Its bold, graphic illustrations are stylish and packed with quirky details for children to spot. It winds down to a satisfying end where the little girl drifts off to sleep, making it perfect for bedtime routines. Instagram @gabdaw38 / Twitter @gabbydawnay Friends and traitors by Helen Peters 9781788004640 (Nosy Crow) When Sidney Dashworth's school is evacuated to a huge stately home in the countryside, she thinks she's going to spend the war being very bored. At least her brother must be having fun, flying his Spitfire all over France! But soon Sidney and a housemaid called Nancy discover that the Earl is up to no good. He has secret night time meetings with mysterious men from the government, is hiding something sinister on his land and is connected to the bombing of a munitions factory. At first it's all terribly thrilling, investigating by creeping about at night and finding secret passageways, but soon everything takes a deadly turn. Sidney's brother goes missing over France and the war hits home with a terrible reality. The Earl and his evil plotters must be stopped, or nothing will ever be the same again. Twitter @farmgirlwriter Straight expectations by Calum McSwiggan 9780241551141 (Penguin) Seventeen-year-old Max has always been out, proud and just a little spoiled. Frustrated by the lack of romantic options in his small-town high school, during an argument with his lifelong best friend Dean, Max lashes out and says he wishes he had never been born gay. Max gets more than he bargained for when he wakes up to find his wish has come true - not only have his feelings for boys vanished, but so has Dean. With his school life turned upside down and his relationship with his family in tatters, Max sets out on a journey of rediscovery to find a way back to the life he took for granted, and the romance he thought he'd never have. Instagram & Twitter @calummcswiggan Questions I am asked about the Holocaust by Hedi Fried 9781914484995 (Scribe) A young readers’ edition of the bestselling book from Auschwitz survivor Hédi Fried that answers lasting questions about the Holocaust. Hédi Fried was nineteen when the Nazis arrested her family and transported them to Auschwitz. While there, apart from enduring the daily horrors at the concentration camp, she and her sister were forced into hard labour before being released at the end of the war. After settling in Sweden, Hédi devoted her life to educating young people about the Holocaust. In her 90s, she decided to take the most common questions, and her answers, and turn them into a book so that children all over the world could understand what had happened. Posters for this book are available directly from Scribe Publications by emailing [email protected]

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