Letterbox Library

“Celebrating the diverse voices in poetry for children is important because..all children can find a voice that speaks to them&..discover that poetry is their personal gateway into the power of their own words” ( #CLiPPA Judge Nicola Davies)

Phoebe Demeger @theclpe.bsky.social ‘s Poetry Award Prize

A wonderful win.

Dean Atta’s verse transformed in to a cinematic treasure-

And you can catch it on @channel4news.bsky.social

Pets & Tigers! Nikhil and Jay are back!

Lovely. @otterbarrybooks.bsky.social have signed two more in Chitra Soundar’s Nikhil and Jay early reader series. Illustrated by @soofiya.bsky.social

#KidLitUK
www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/article...

Instagram Reel cover page. Pink-orange-yellow gradient background. Cover image of book, Our Dance. Above reads, “family breakdown, steps to recovery and child contact centres”.

And to hear our huge affection for @circleyuen.bsky.social ‘s Our Dance, head over to our Insta grid!

From 🐻bears
to 👶🏼babies
via 🐧birds…

How fabulous. Look at this dazzling spread of Longlistees for the #KlausFluggePrize 2026.

#KidLitUK

In the latest issue of @booksforkeeps.bsky.social

booksforkeeps.co.uk/issue/bfk-27...

“100% of authors said they felt well prepared..to deliver events..had grown in confidence in managing the practical business elements..&shared that they had seen an increase in book sales”

@bexlibrarian.bsky.social on Year 1 of GLL Literary Foundation #KidLitUK
booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/one-...

Hachette Children’s to publish two new illustrated editions of Benjamin Zephaniah books Hachette Children’s Group is set to publish two new illustrated editions of books by the late poet, author and performer Benjamin Zephaniah.

“This is his voice, passed to the children, so his playful spirit may live on in them." (Qian Zephaniah)

Hachette Children to publish two new illustrated books of Benjamin Zephaniah’s work.

www.thebookseller.com/rights/hache...
#KidLitUK

😍Just look at this gorgeous collection of picture books highlighted through the 2026 Empathy Lab Collection:

#KidLitUK

The February edition of our newly launched newsletter is out!

🌼Updates on our popular school/early years book packs.
🌼Tips on selecting inclusive books.
🌼Diary round up: where the Letterbox elves have been.
🌼Unique offers

Feel you’re missing out? 😄: www.letterboxlibrary.com/subscribers
#KidLitUK

Reposting with correct link!

Bookshop.org purple asset Their logo and Logos of Booktrust and Booktrust Scotland in a line at top 4 open books in red purple yellow and green ‘fly’ in purple sky. Sky has 3 white cloud. One has a purple heart on it; one has purple cat on it; larger one has purple planet earth emerging from it. Purple rocket to left. Text reads “10% of Bookshop.org children’s book sales go to BookTrust and Scottish BookTrust in February 2026” Below this text: National Year of Reading 2026 logo

💜Love indie bookshops?
💜Love literacy charities?

Checking you got the memo:
#ReadItForward

Buy ANY children's book IN FEB. @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social
AND
10% will go to @booktrust.org.uk @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social

Start with our shop front! ➡️ uk.bookshop.org/shop/letterb...
#KidLitUK

Letterbox Library Bookshop UK Since 1983, Letterbox Library has been a leading children's bookseller and education supplier, bringing teachers, librarians and parents the best in inclusive children's books. By “inclusive”, we mean...

So sorry! Here it is again: uk.bookshop.org/shop/letterb...

The #LittleRebelsAward award is run by @letterboxlibrary.bsky.social and @housmansbookshop.bsky.social on behalf of the Alliance of Radical Booksellers 🙂

🪧✊🏽📣Dear fans of social justice children’s books:

You likely heard that the #LittleRebelsAward for Radical Children’s Fiction is on ⏸️/seeking funding.

The smallest thing you can do to offer support is to follow the award at @littlerebsprize.bsky.social
+ Insta

Thank you!

#KidLitUK

The award which “seeks to celebrate authors who go above & beyond to champion literacy & to support children, young ppl or adults to develop their literacy skills & to build a lifelong love for reading”

🤩 @maisiechanwrites.bsky.social 🤩 Nathanael Lessore
🤩 @laurahallain.bsky.social on the list! 🙂

The judges for the CLiPPA (CLPE Poetry Award) 2026 have been announced! Chaired by Nicola Davies, the panel includes Colette Hiller, Jake Hope, Lisa Mead and Anjali Patel. CLiPPA 2026 starts here – follow for shortlist and Shadowing Scheme news. #CLiPPA2026

Alex’s daughter (woman of colour) stands smiling, holding up gold plated scissors having just cut a red ribbon. She wears black trousers and a multicoloured long shawl. Her hair is pinned on top. Behind her is the entrance to a library room full of shelves. Above the entrance is a sign, done in the style of a UK road sign. It reads, ”Alex Wheatle Reading Room SW2”

“The first thought that comes to my mind when I see ‘Alex Wheatle Reading Room’…it feels like he’s accomplished his goal, that he’s got more people reading of all ages…his legacy continues and lives on.”

.. @darrenchetty.bsky.social , @mariesadulak.bsky.social , Sandra Agard, Nadifa Mohamed.

🌟the opening of the new Alex Wheatle Reading Room

🌟the launch of a new Black Interest Core Collection
Both at Brixton Library.

Officially cutting the ribbon to the Reading Room, Alex’s daughter said:

1/3 Thanks to Brixton Library for a fabulous tribute to The Brixton Bard, Alex Wheatle, last week.

See lambeth_libraries and our insta accounts for the full celebration!

Highlights included:
🌟readings of Alex’s work by Nathanael Lessore, Ken Wilson Max, Ramzee, @emilydrabs.bsky.social …
#KidLitUK

New, monthly inclusive reading lists featuring stories from different independent children’s book publishers.

We 💜love💜 this new initiative from @lantanapub.bsky.social supporting the indie publishing sector- the ‘quieter’ voices who deserve megaphoning!
#KidLitUK

The longlists for the 2026 Carnegie Medals have been announced. 19 books are on the Illustration Medal longlist, including 17 illustrators longlisted for the very first time. Which would you choose for the shortlist? @CarnegieMedals #Carnegies2026

booksforkeeps.co.uk/carnegie-med...

They're here: the longlists for the #Carnegies2026. 19 books are on the longlist for the Carnegie Medal for Writing, including 5 past winners. Is your favourite here? Which of these books would you choose for the shortlist? @CarnegieMedals #booksky
booksforkeeps.co.uk/carnegie-med...

“Every decision, from brush choice to colour was guided by the emotional tone of the story.”

Artist Alea Marley in the latest @booksforkeeps.bsky.social on illustrating Auntie’s Bangles by Dean Atta.
@hachettechildrens.bsky.social

booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/wind...
#KidLitUK

📣📣📣Fans of the Little Rebels Award for Radical Children’s Fiction📣📣📣

The award organisers, ourselves & @housmansbookshop.bsky.social , are pressing PAUSE this year.

For updates please follow at @littlerebsprize.bsky.social
#KidLitUK

A bookshop sign with an owl and 'Owl Bookshop' written at the top. Below reads, 'BOOK LAUNCH'. Below that is the book cover for The Big Green. Shows two children of colour wearing sun hats, stood in a desert and against a bright blue sky, using a watering can to water some new plants/seedlings.

Author Ken Wilson-Max, a man of colour with a beard, in a bookshop setting. He reads from his book, The Big Green. His head is lowered towards the open book and he raises his right hand (captured as blurred motion).

Last week saw the launch of The Big Green by Ken Wilson-Max, published @otterbarrybooks.bsky.social

A wonderful evening for a special book. See how we captured the evening on our Insta reel. AND read our review (& support a not-for-profit!) here: www.letterboxlibrary.com/product-page...
#KidLitUK

Teacher Sabrina Sulliman on pervasive testing impacting on reading for pleasure:
“I think that every test they put in just reaffirms for children that reading is a test”

And author Sita Brahmachari likewise remarked on “an education system, which is absolutely set on goals and on testing.”

The Reading Crisis - Why children aren't reading and what we can do about it - Part 2 Podcast Episode · Mostly Book Talk · 23/01/2026 · 32m

The Reading Crisis Episode 2 @mostlybooktalk.bsky.social

Takeaways for me included:
@darrenchetty.bsky.social reflecting on the use of phonics when he was a primary teacher: “a lot of emphasis went on the capacity to decode, but not to make meaning.”
#KidLitUK
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...

Patrice Lawrence Podcast Episode · The Island of Brilliant! · 01/02/2025 · 56m

“She should have just kept walking on that moor.”

@lawrencepatrice.bsky.social talks to the Island of Brillianters re: Jane Eyre rewriting, Crosstown Doughnuts & harnessing rage.

@nadiashireen.bsky.social @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social
#KidLitUK

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

2/2 … enthusiastically passed around playgrounds and friendship groups.”
Bea Carvalho, Head of Books, @waterstones.bsky.social