Books: children & YA

Oscar’s Book Prize, the £5,000 literary award recognising excellence in books for children under five, has revealed its 2019 shortlist. Now in its sixth year, the award saw 117 entries, with submissions from across the country, from publishers new and old. 

Illustrated by Luciano Lozano, Brilliant Ideas from Wonderful Women by Aitziber Lopez is perfect for inspiring young minds, writes Anne Coates.

Work it, Girl by Caroline Moss and Sinem Erkas is a new series of biographies for aspiring future girl bosses: the first two explore the lives of media mogul, Oprah Winfrey and one of the most celebrated authors J. K. Rowling. Anne Coates 

With brilliant illustrations from Nila Aye, Katie Haworth's Fearless Mirabelle is a charming tale celebrating being different, writes Anne Coates.

Illustrated by Valpuri Kerttula, The Everyday Journeys of Ordinary Things by Libby Deutsch is the perfect fact book for children who ask "how", writes Anne Coates.

Introducing the new My Big Wimmelbooks series – board books to delight very young children from Workman Publishing. Anne Coates loves them.

Published by Thames & Hudson, Harold Snipperpot's Best Disaster Ever by Beatrice Alemagna is a fabulous book designed to be enjoyed over and again, writes Anne Coates.

There were 131 entries for the 2018 Costa Children’s Book Award and here are the four books that made the shortlist.

For Noel Streatfeild fans a collection of nine short stories originally written for annuals, magazines and radio during the 1940s to 60s. These Christmas Stories will enchant readers toady as much as when they were first published, writes Anne Coates.

Diary of a Brilliant Kid Top Secret Guide to Awesomeness by Andy Cope, Gavin Oattes and Will Hussey has had Harriet chuckling, write Anne Coates.

Stories for Kids who Dare to be Different by Ben Brooks illustrated by Quinton Winter and reviewed by Anne Coates.

With fabulous illustrations by Chris Mould, The Truth Pixie by Matt Haig is a captivating tale for younger readers, published by Canongate. 

Three delightful picture books from HarperCollins: Three Little Monkeys by Quentin Blake and Emma Chichester Clark; Seuss-Isms! The Wisdom of Dr. Seuss; and What was I Scared of? by Dr. Seuss reviewed by Anne Coates.

If your children loved Clarice Bean as well as Charlie and Lola, they will adore Lauren Child's latest laugh out loud book: Hubert Horatio How to Raise your Grown-ups from HarperCollins Children's Books, writes Anne Coates.

Jenny Mowat was unsure how her son would react to Mini Rabbit Not Lost by author/illustrator John Bond, she need not have worried – cake carries the day!

Ruby Red Shoes Goes to London is the third in the Ruby Red Shoes series by Kate Knapp and published by Macmillan Children's Books. So what did red-shoe-loving London resident Anne Coates make of it?

Inspired by the phenomenally successful Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, this box of 50 beautifully designed postcards celebrate some of those remarkable women featured in the book. Anne Coates adored them.

Illustrated by Cornelia Li, Glow in the Dark: Voyage Through Space by Katy Flint is the perfect introduction to the planets in our solar system, writes Anne Coates.