Lucy Farfort
Lucy is a freelance illustrator based in Newcastle. Of mixed Caribbean/English heritage, Lucy is passionate about the need for more diversity in children’s publishing. Lucy's illustrations are created using a mix of traditional and digital media – generally watercolour paintings, enhanced with PhotoShop brushes and found textures.
Kate Alizadeh
Kate is a freelance illustrator and hand-letterer, with a BA (Hons) in Illustration from Falmouth University.
Zoë Ellison
Zoë is an illustrator and picture book maker from the UK, with a recent masters degree in Children’s Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art.
Tara Vidisha Ghose
Tara is a writer, maker and digital marketing consultant with experience in working with the arts, gender, LGBTQI+ issues and Japanese pop culture in India and in the UK.
Roshi Rouzbehani
Roshi is an Iranian freelance illustrator based in London, graduating from the University of Hertfordshire with a BA (Hons) in Illustration.
Karin Celestine
Karin an artist and author/illustrator, currently live in Monmouth, Wales, who creates needle felted animals of charm and character, including the stars of her own delightful stop-motion animations and her series of children’s books published with Graffeg. Karin also runs popular needle felting workshops, inspiring others to find their creative spirit.
Catherine Lindow
Catherine studied painting at Glasgow School of Art, before working as a theatre designer. Then for a few years while bringing up a family Catherine worked mainly to commission and for exhibitions. Inspired by the landscapes and townscapes, Catherine likes to explore how particular paints can behave on beautiful paper.
Toni Kohm
Penelope O'Neill
Penelope is an illustrator based in South Yorkshire. Her main interests are in narrative illustration and children's books; and she draws inspiration from nature, fairytales and myths. Her work often uses bright colours and has a surreal quality to it.
Katherine Soutar-Caddick
Katherine is an illustrator specialising in storytelling and folklore themes. Working for the History press and individual storytellers, Katherine brings to life characters and themes from the rich oral tradition from all over the world.
Olivia Holden
Olivia is an illustrator currently based in Lancashire. She grew up in a tiny village on the Fylde Coast and studied Fine Art, Textiles and English Literature. She has worked professionally with a variety of publishers across the globe on childrens books, prints and publications.
Tonka Uzu
Tonka Uzu (aka Antoaneta Ouzounova) is a Bulgarian-raised, Italian-educated illustrator based in Cambridge, UK. She holds a Ba Hons in History and Theory of Art from the University of Bologna, Italy and MA in Children's book illustration from ARU, Cambridge School of Art. Her picture books Olga e Olaf and Olga e Olaf in spiaggia were published in Italy in 2014 and 2020, the latter becoming finalist in the national “Nati per Leggere” award. Tonka's work as artist and illustrator has been recognized and exhibited internationally. She is interested in storytelling, drawing, illustration, art education, multilingual families, collaborative and autobiographical creativity.
Angela McAllister
Angela is the author of over 80 books for children and teens. Her books have won several awards, including the Red House Book Award for Yuck! That's Not a Monster! and the Stockport and Portsmouth Awards for My Mum has X-Ray Vision.
Gill Lewis
Before becoming an author, Gill was a vet, where she explored the wilds of Africa to the frozen lands of the Arctic… Rediscovering children’s books with her own children inspired Gill to come up with her own stories! Angela loves to visit schools to talk about her work and hopefully inspire other budding writers and storytellers! Her books include Sky Hawk, White Dolphin, Moon Bear and Scarlet Ibis, which have all been translated into many languages.
Beverley Naidoo
Carnegie winner Beverley Naidoo grew up in South Africa under apartheid. After leaving the University of Witwatersrand, she was detained without trial and later went into exile in Britain where she studied at the University of York, worked as a teacher, education adviser and writer. Her first children’s book, Journey to Jo’burg, was banned in South Africa until 1991 but it was an eye-opener for thousands of readers worldwide. Beverley’s latest book, with Tiny Owl, is Cinderella of the Nile.
Rachael Davis
Rachael loves to share her favourite picture books on her blog Picture Book Perfect. Rachael is also an author, and is passionate about children’s books that showcase diversity and emotional wellbeing.
Hookable Books
Hookable Books is a resource, primarily for parents, where books are recommended for tricky themes, such as bereavement, self-esteem and anxiety, including practical tips and questions they can use to open up these conversations with their children. #forbooksthathook
The Library Mouse Tales
This blog is all about the book adventures of a 9 year old boy from North West England . Over the Summer he has read a lots of books from many genres that he would like to share with you. Hopefully you will discover some new stories to enjoy or maybe just be reminded of some old favourites!
Reading Pebbles
Melissa Jordan's blog Reading Pebbles is a celebration of children's books and outdoor fun with kids!
My Shelves Are Full
Erin's blog My Shelves are Full features posts and reviews from the world of children's literature.
Books for Keeps
Books for Keeps is the UK’s leading, independent children’s book magazine. It was launched in 1980 and ever since has been reviewing hundreds of new children’s books each year and publishing articles on every aspect of writing for children. There are over 12,500 reviews on our new website and more than 2,000 articles including interviews with the top children’s authors and illustrators.
Authors Aloud UK
Authors Aloud UK arrange for authors, illustrators, poets and storytellers to visit schools and libraries in the UK and overseas to enthuse children about books and reading. We also organise author tours and events for publishers.
Lovemybooks
Created by a team of literacy specialists, including Sue McGonigle, Lovemybooks combines carefully chosen books with activities and resources designed to help parents and young children enjoy sharing books together. In addition to suggestions for reading, talking and writing, there are ideas for play, art and other creative activities to fire children’s imagination and extend their enjoyment of the stories.
Give a Book
Give a Book works in a practical and targeted way, project by project, to help spread the pleasure of reading. Our main beneficiaries are schools with high levels of deprivation, prisons and community organisations. We work with some wonderful charities and organisations on our projects, including Learn to Love to Read, Doorstep Library, Ellie’s Friends, Safe Ground, and many more.
Books For Topics
The BooksForTopics website was launched in 2015 as a means of helping primary school staff to find high-quality books that are appropriate to use in a primary school setting. It is the creation of Alison Leach, an experienced primary teacher and English lead who knows that it is not always easy to source the right books to use in the classroom amid the time pressures of teaching.
VIP Reading
VIP Reading promotes independent reading for children and schools by utilising beautifully made resources and innovative quizzes. Onjali Rauf, the brilliant author of The Boy at the Back of the Class, has supported VIP Reading from the very beginning and is a very active patron of the company.
Seven Stories
Seven Stories is the National Centre for Children's Books 00 based in Newcastle - working with children's book to create playful and profound experiences for children and young people.
Tales on Moon Lane
The gorgeous Tales on Moon Lane is a dedicated children’s bookshop with staff who just love kids books. The store runs regular events, including immersive story time and phonics sessions, which are interactive and multi-sensory – so little readers will soak them up! Sitting in the heart of Herne Hill, the shop is bright, fun and instantly welcoming - they even have a storytelling cabin, the perfect place to get lost in any new finds.
Edinburgh International Book Festival
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is a registered charity, a not-for profit organisation. Today it produces and stages over 900 author events, covering a huge range of topics, offering thought-provoking entertainment and inspiration for adults, children, schools and communities.
Suzanne Bhargava
Suzanne is an International Baccalaureate PYP Librarian and Vice-Chair of YLG London.
Jo Bowers
Jo is a Principal Lecturer in Primary Education at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Jo is passionate about children's literature and is the Welsh representative for The UKLA Education Board of English.
Karen Goulding
Karen Goulding is an experienced educator with over thirty years’ experience in a variety of educational roles.
Philippa Francis
K. M. Lockwood is a writing name of Philippa R. Francis. Previously a primary school teacher, she later gained an MA in Creative Writing at West Dean College. There she enjoyed nurturing new writers in her role as Graduate Editorial Assistant, and went on to pass her Golden Egg Editors Course with Merit. Now she edits on a freelance basis.
Twitter: @lockwoodwriter
Corinne Gotch
Susan McCabe
Clare Ward-Smith
Jon Miseldine
Amy Slack
Laura Baxter
