Children's writing

Daniel Nayeri, publisher of Odd Dot, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, wrote an entire book on his daily train commute. He wrote another while waiting at a bus stop.

As an award-winning children's poet, Joshua Seigal uses poetry to inspire confidence and ​creativity in schools, so he is an enthusiastic supporter of poetry on the curriculum: ‘I think poetry's hugely important for the development of children's literacy - it gives them freedom to explore a whole toolbox of writing techniques and it's instrumental in exploring identity and self-expression, whic  Read more

A few years ago, I was surprised to open a newspaper and read that the head teacher of a London public school had decided to ban my books from his library. He described the adventures of Alex Rider, which have sold around 20  million- copies worldwide, in terms so derogatory that I have no mind to repeat them. Suffice it to say that the article quite put me off my cornflakes.  Read more

It was mostly sunny throughout the seventh edition of the China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair (CCBF), which concluded its three-day run on November 17. The mood of the exhibitors and visitors was equally sunny and positive. And the same could be said for event co-organizer BolognaFiere, which was back for its second outing with a more ambitious (and successful) agenda.

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