Children's books

As a child, I cavorted in Oxford colleges, rode atop armoured bears and swanned off to Svalbard to witness the majesty of the northern lights - all while remaining within the walls of an Edwardian terrace in Cardiff.  Read more

There was a spat the other week about a children's book, Equal to Everything: Judge Brenda and the Supreme Court, which is about an encounter between a little girl called Ama and the nation's pin-up, Brenda Hale. The book's author is the Guardian columnist Afua Hirsch. It's written in vague rhyming couplets with the worst illustrations I've ever seen in a book for children.

Describe your current job in one sentence.

I am the managing director and a founder of Nosy Crow, an independent, multi-award-winning publisher for children aged 0-12.

My library's Summer Reading Challenge takes place from 1 June to 31 August and requires you to read ten books, or for ten hours. When I first learnt of the challenge back in May, and found out that even babies and toddlers could participate in the challenge, I knew that I would sign up my daughter for it.  Read more

The creator of the classic children's books The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Mog the Forgetful Cat, Judith Kerr, who has died aged 95, was unusual in being equally successful as a writer and an illustrator.  Read more