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⚔️March: Battle of The Books

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Happy Wednesday!

The original plan was to post on Fridays… but as with most things in parent life, flexibility is key.

Alongside all the reading content, I want this blog to include bits and bobs about the reality of parenting too. The blog is here to make at least one thing (books and reading with kids) a bit easier to navigate, but let’s be honest, if I’m not talking about the everyday chaos along the way, it wouldn’t feel very real or helpful. And somewhere in the middle of the usual juggle, getting the blog out on Fridays started to feel like just one thing too many to get ready for the weekend … though it seemed like a sensible plan at the time.

Full transparency: my executive function skills (or lack thereof!) are still very much a work in progress. Between parenthood, work, and running a household, sometimes a ball gets dropped…
Prime example… for the second time* this academic year, I’ve sent the kids in own clothes on a very much not own clothes day. Character building, right? And honestly, can Friday 26th Feb just count as a practice run for Friday 26th March? #WinningAtParenting 🤪😵‍💫

(*first time eldest headed to school in Roald Dahl RAF costume for trip to museum…a day early🤦‍♀️)

But enough about my parenting chaos. And let’s focus on one of the best month’s in the calendar (IMHO). Because World Book Day and International Women’s Day of course!
And what better way to celebrate than with an incredible Battle of the Books featuring double-award-winning author and West End actress Emma Swan.

Cruiseship Kid: Kidnap At Sea by Emma Swan out NOW!
Publisher: Usborne
photo credit: PG Wells Bookshop

Emma has portrayed influential pioneering women on stage, including Elizabeth I and Anne Boleyn, in Birmingham Stage Company’s Horrible Histories theatre shows. Her latest book Cruise Ship Kid: Kidnap At Sea is fresh out this month (published 12th March) and is the 2nd in Emma’s diary style comedy-crime adventures.
If that’s not a fantastic way to celebrate both WBD and IWD, then I don’t know what is!

I have two sons, and we often have open discussions about “then vs now.” Even compared with when I was in primary school, they can’t believe that girls didn’t play football and boys didn’t play netball!

Recently we were looking through a list of the “World’s Best Footballers” and my youngest innocently asked, “Where are the girl footballer’s on this list?”

There’s still a long way to go, but in children’s literature it’s wonderful to see more female authors and representation.

Women have been writing for over 4,000 years, yet in the UK women have only been widely recognised as authors for under 200 years.

That said, I firmly believe that until ALL women are equal, no woman is equal. But it’s a start.

And now for the epic book battle…with the twist!
This week, to celebrate World Book Day, the Harley Family face award winning author Emma Swan.

…and their beautiful 5th child Tuxedo 😍 🐈‍⬛


Team Harley Family
Chosen Book: Horrible Histories: Cruel Kings and Mean Queens by Terry Deary Publisher: Scholastic
Contenders:
Mum: Victoria Age: ANCIENT (according to the kids!)
Most memorable recent read: Circe by Madeline Miller

Circe by Madeline Miller (for Grown-Ups) Publisher: Bloomsbury

(Editor: on a personal note, THANK YOU Victoria for this suggestion. I’ve picked it up and CAN’T PUT IT DOWN – very addictive reading!!)
Hobbies: Walking in Nature, Travelling (when Victoria gets the chance!)

Kids:
Annabel: 12yo
Hobbies: Collecting signed books, digital animation, music, Lego and world flags.
Annabel’s current personal record is identifying all 195 in 3 min and 15 seconds!

Edward: 9yo
Hobbies: Reading The Phoenix Comics, performing arts -LAMDA, music, collecting Legami eraseable pens (he currently has 24 unique character pens!), playing Roblox

Clement: 7yo
Hobbies: playing football, watching football (Editor: ARSENAL?!…..as a Bees supporter trying to stay neutral…in the words of TikTok….”we listen but we don’t judge”), creating Lego models, gaming

Harley Family interests: Reading
Fun facts: They also have an older brother Tom, 24 and a 1 year old tuxedo cat called Quincy (the 5th child!) both of whom they love very much. (Editor: thank you for the gorgeous photo of Quincy. One look at Quincy’s gorgeous little face and your football team choice has been mitigated and forgiven.)



TEAM AUTHOR : Emma Swan
Chosen book: Dragonflare by Jamie Hammond published by Usborne
Age: Younger than all the oceans
Fun Fact: Emma grew up on cruise ships, which was the inspiration behind her books! er parents worked onboard and like her protagonist, Silver, she spent a lot of her childhood being ‘ship-schooled,’ while travelling the globe. Read more HERE!

LET THE BATTLE COMMENCE!

Dragonflare by Jamie Hammond Publisher: Usborne

In one sentence what is the book about?
Annabel: Horrible Histories, Cruel Kings and Mean Queens is about the lives of all the English monarchs, and world events during their reigns.
Edward: All the kings and the queens up to Queen Elizabeth II and the facts about what happened during their reigns of England and Scotland.
Clement: It tells you how long their reigns were and what they did to become famous during their reign. 

Emma Swan: Dragonflare is the exciting new adventure from Jamie Hammond (author of Grumpfort.) It comes out in May this year but I was very lucky to receive a proof copy in the post. In this hilarious quest, the main character Flynn, gets kidnapped by a dragon to compete in the Wingrider Trials. This story is interactive and the reader has to help Flynn with his mission. Solve the puzzles to save dragonkind… what could be better?

Harley family, choose three feelings to describe HH Cruel Kings and Mean Queens: 
Annabel: fascinating!
Edward: interesting!
Clement: amusing (Editor: I can agree with totally agree with this! Our house has been known to laugh our heads off…no no NOT in an Anne Boleyn way!)

Emma, What’s the best thing about Dragonflare?
Dragonflare is full of heroes and heart, Jamie Hammond packs adventure into every sentence. In the labyrinth of the Wingrider trials we also meet some extremely memorable monsters. From Granshees to Grizzlifawns this book is GRROAR-some!

Back over to the Harley Family! What makes makes HH Kings and Queens the perfect read?
Annabel: As well as being funny, it’s filled with lots of interesting facts about history- not only in Britain, but outside too.
Edward: It had lots of facts about the kings and queens of England that I wanted to know because I’m very interested in history.
Clement: It’s a topic I like and it has funny illustrations!

Mum, Victoria… what would you say to a grown up thinking about getting this book for their child?Victoria: As per all the Horrible Histories, it engages children in history by presenting it in an accessible and VERY amusing way!

And Emma, if you were the movie director who would you cast as the main role for Dragonflare and why? 
Emma: Ooh I don’t know! Maybe Tom Holland or Ncuti Gatwa. It has to be someone who would be good at dragonriding and solving puzzles! 
(Editor: Great choices!!! This could be a question for all readers… Grown ups & Kids ask each other… who would you choose for your current reads or favourite stories?)

Harley Family...What is your favourite scene in HH Kings & Queens?

Annabel: Learning that Queen Victoria, during her life of 81 years, never learned to speak English perfectly. Like her ancestors she learnt German as her first language. 
Edward: Elizabeth I and the Spanish armadas that happened under her reign- I didn’t know there was more than one (there were 2!). And there was also an English armada in revenge!
Clement: Henry VIII…he’s interesting because he had 6 wives and they met some quite gory ends!

Emma, Dragonflare isn’t out until May, so many people haven’t had the chance to read it (yet!!). But here’s your chance to convince voters why they should absolutely vote for your chosen book… using ice cream as an analogy!
Emma: Dragonflare would be a tower of ice creams on a crunchy wafer cone. I would pile chocolate, strawberry and mint on top of each other. This is because this book offers a little bit of everything, a great adventure, a lot of laughs and a brilliant message about friendship. Make sure you pick up your copy of Dragonflare when it comes out in May! (Editor: Sounds like a delicious read!)

The Harley family finds themselves stranded on a desert island… and they’re stuck with one of the characters from the book. Who is it, and how do you all pass the time?
Annabel: George VI… because he enjoyed hunting and could kill a hare running at full speed so that would be helpful for survival! (Editor: A Royal version Bear Grylls? GENIUS!)
Edward: Elizabeth II and we would play with her corgis!
Clement: Mary Queen of Scots, I would talk to her about her relatives, as I’m from England it would be fascinating to know about people from another country. 

Well that concludes March’s ⚔️Battle of The Books!
Dear readers…consider your vote carefully.
Based on the answers of our valiant contenders, do you vote for the very popular much loved Horrible Histories Cruel Kings and Mean Queens by Terry Deary?
OR do you take a step into the unknown with a new flame… Jamie Hammond’s soaring new adventure Dragonflare?
Only YOU can decide! Votes close Tuesday 24th March 2026 5pm



Dragonflare by Jamie Hammond,
Publisher: Usborne OUT 7th May 2026
Cruise Ship Kid: Kidnap At Sea by Emma Swan Publisher: Usborne OUT NOW!









🌈Your Words!

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Over the last couple of months it’s been such a joy sharing stories from our young writers. A huge thank you to everyone who entered!

This month we didn’t receive any entries and in full honesty, even my own kids wouldn’t have managed it either.
Between school assessments, a round or 5 of lergy (anyone else??) and the usual busyness of family life, it’s been pretty full on here.
And I can imagine the same for others.

This blog exists to make things easier for parents and guardians, not add more to the dreaded and ever growing to-do lists. The blog is still quite new, so thank you for coming along on the journey as it grows and develops.
It’s led to exciting ideas and projects (watch this space!) and people have offered so many kind words of support 🙏

🌈Your Words! will still of course be focused on children’s creativity.
Going forward, we’ll run writing competitions during the school holidays (starting with the Summer Holidays), but children are always welcome to send in their stories just for fun. It honestly makes my heart utterly FILLED TO THE BRIM with joy to see what incredible story telling talent the future holds!

I’ll also continue using this feature’s space for storytelling Top Tips from brilliant authors and illustrators. They have been truly inspirational and something I not only share with my own kids… but keep in my when I’m writing my own stories!

📝Author’s Top Tips!

Uju Asika, Instagram: @babesabouttown

This month, I’m BURSTING WITH EXCITEMENT to introduce this month’s Top Tips guru, Uju Asika.
Uju is a British-Nigerian author, multi-award-nominated Babes About Town🔗 blogger, speaker and creative consultant. And that’s not all! She’s a former journalist and has written for The Guardian, Time Out and Salon.com. Her poetry appears in select literary anthologies and also as a screen writer and script editor.
Uju’s books include adult reads Raising Boys Who Do Better (publisher: DK), Bringing Up Race (publisher: Yellow Kite) and her gorgeous, uplifting debut children’s book A World For Me And You (illustrator: Jennie Poh, Publisher: Wren & Rook).
This should truly be in every home and school. Imagine a world where everyone looks identical, all food tastes the same and we all speak the same language. DULL! This joyful picture book gives children the tools to imagine their world as a vast library with room on the shelves for everybody’s story. Just the thought of this brings happy tears to my eyes as I’m writing this blog. Yes it could be my age & hormones, but I think it’s more than that. In a world that recently seems topsy turvy on so many levels, a book of hope and joy that inspires future generations to be better is EXACTLY what we need.
Uju lives with her husband and two footie-mad boys.

And these are her top story creating tips…

Every writer needs a voice. But how do you find your own?
What is a “writer’s voice”? It’s the words you put on a page that sound like the words in your head (not what anyone thinks you’re “supposed” to have said). It’s how you joke with your friends, what makes you laugh or cry or snort, the way you say potato, whether you speak fast or slow. It’s the books you read and the stories you love and the songs that make you hum and how you sometimes talk just like your mum. In other words, it’s everything that makes you sound like YOU.

Your voice is important.
Don’t let anybody hush you when you have something to say. We all need other stories to make our worlds feel bigger. Your story can make all the difference to someone who reads it. Even the smallest voice can speak loudly on the page. So use your voice and if you have a story in you (everybody has a story in them), don’t forget to WRITE IT DOWN (or record it).

Imagine your story!
Writing stories uses IMAGINATION. Imagination comes from what you see, mostly in your mind’s eye. In fact, writing is like drawing or painting what you see, using letters instead of crayons or brushes. With just 26 letters of the alphabet, you can draw a whole universe. Isn’t that magical? What stories can you draw today?

Stuck for ideas?
Take your brain for a walk. Get outside and see what you can notice. Ask yourself, What If? You see a dog chasing a ball. What if the ball chased it back? Let your imagination run free, like a puppy without a leash. And remember, every good story has a twist in its tail.

A 5 word challenge
Think of a name, a bird, a piece of clothing, a flower, a favourite food. Now see if you can write a story using all 5 words. Try this as a challenge with a friend. See how differently your stories turn out? Even with the same ingredients, nobody can cook your story just like you.

Thank you Uju for your beautiful words and tips!

Next week keep your eyes peeled for our epic ⚔️BATTLE OF THE BOOKS! this time featuring author of The Cruise Ship Kid Emma Swan!

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🏺✨Our Story!

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This is going out a little later than planned. It was the first week back after half term, so of course one of the kids was ill (the eldest) off his food, sleeping past 6.30am for one of the first times in his life, and home for most of the week. To add to the hectic chaos, I somehow convinced myself it was dress-down day and sent them in wearing football kits. My husband took them in and phoned me… cue a frantic scramble to pull together actual uniforms and dash them into school.

Should I be more organised? Probably. But I’m choosing to file this under “character building for the children” and something we’ll laugh about in years to come.

Lessons From a Default Parent by Lou Beckett published by DK Books

This week I’ve been listening to Lou Beckett’s new book Lessons From a Default Parent published by DK Books , and I honestly can’t sing praises highly enough. It’s incredibly relatable, genuinely funny, and perfectly captured every feeling I had during that failed non-non-uniform-day dash this morning.

One parent who truly gets it …and with whom I’ve exchanged many WhatsApp messages about the chaos of parenting (including the occasional request to borrow cups of sugar, except replace “sugar” with tonic or ice for Friday gins!) is my lovely friend Louise Tripp. Huge thanks to her for taking time out of her hectic grown-up life to take part in this month’s Our Story Q&A.

This week, Louise, a family solicitor, and her youngest daughter Helena (10) talk about books, Greek myths and how reading fits into family life.

Other members in the Tripp household include Dad Guy, who is a fan of car and Formula 1 magazines, (which fits in brilliantly with the National Year of Reading 2026, #GoAllIn ethos of reading what you love!) and big Sister Sylvie (13)

Sylvie (13) prefers audiobooks (Editor: reminder to do a separate posts on the brilliance of audiobooks!). Recently, she has been listening to a lot of YA, including The Hunger Games, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and, most recently, the Caraval series. Sylvie is also currently reading Percy Jackson and was interested to hear what it is about the books that has Helena so hooked.

Helena is firmly in her Percy Jackson era (as is my own son!), which makes this a nice example of a families reading for pleasure, together. When Helena’s not reading Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan published by Puffin (UK) she’s usually got a Lottie Brooks book by Katie Kirby published by Puffin (UK) on the go.

Louise, What was your favourite book growing up and have you read it to your own children?

L: This was such a hard question because I kept remembering more and more books that I loved as a child. Some that I loved and have read with them are Meg and Mog when they were really little, then when they were a bit older, The Faraway Tree books, lots of Roald Dahl and The Secret Garden. Some other of my childhood favourites that I’ve now remembered about that I think they’d love are Charlotte’s Web, The Wheel on the School (Editor: will be looking this one up!) and Charlotte Sometimes.  

And if you could relive one story time memory with your children, which would it be?
L: Oh, another hard question! I think the first time I read the first Harry Potter to each of them. Although they’ve both moved on from that series now, they were both totally hooked by the magic and now they both love the fantasy genre. The audiobook read by Stephen Fry is also superb and brought them comfort and helped them go to sleep every night for years

A children’s book character babysits one evening, who would it be and why? (and for all of us nosy inquisitive grown-ups … where would you go?)
L: Hmm, if I’m being mean maybe I’d say Miss Trunchbull from Matilda because she’d keep them in line! 😁

Helena: Could you at least not choose Miss Honey?!

L: Maybe. Anyway, if I’m being nice, other than Miss Honey, I’d say Sally Jackson (Percy’s mum) because Helena would be over the moon with this and I feel like given all the stressful situations she handled with Percy, she’d be able to take care of anything that happened while I was out. 
And where would I go? Guy and I would probably go for dinner and then to the theatre, a concert or a comedy show. (Editor: sounds like the perfect night out!!)

Helena, what’s your favourite book right now and why?
H: My favourite books are the Percy Jackson series, but I couldn’t narrow it down to just one book. These books are about a young demi-God, who is a child of Poseidon (Greek God of the Sea) and a mortal. He goes on quests with his friends and tries to avoid getting killed in very nasty ways (if you know, you know). I enjoy this book series because I love fantasy and adventure narratives, it includes my interest (mum says obsession!) with Greek mythology and it feels like the characters are real people and they actually have a personality, not just generic characters. I also like how it highlights the positive aspects of being neurodivergent. Percy is dyslexic, his brain is hardwired to read Ancient Greek, and he has ADHD because he has strong battle reflexes. 

And which children’s book character comes to life in your world. Who is it and where would you take them for the day?
H: After being heavily debated, I picked Tyson (Percy’s cyclops brother) over Grover (Percy’s satyr mate) – sorry Grover!  I would take Tyson to the beach as he is a child of Poseidon and if we could, we would ride hippocampi, a creature Tyson loves, to a beach café.

Louise: What would you have at the café?

H: Fish and chips!  

What’s your favourite memory of reading with your grown-up? H: it’s really hard because there’s so many but one that comes to mind was when I asked Dad to read and he made one up, which became a classic in our house, called Monkey Goes to the Shop. (Publishers, call us! 😉) I always read at bedtime with Mum or Dad. One day Mum said I should read a book called Percy Jackson. We started reading it together and we’ve never stopped!

Which story best captures something special about your family? H: I think we should choose Peepo by Janet and Allan Ahlberg published by Puffin, because it’s a story we’ve all read together since me and Sylvie were young. We’ve loved it ever since.

L: I agree, it’s such a lovely story and I have such happy memories of us having cuddles before bed while reading this. (Editor: What a beautiful choice! 🥹)

Thank you so much to the Tripp family for sharing their story world with us!
Inspired by their love of Greek Myths, here are a few suggestions that will satisfy any Philhellene (fan of Greek culture & history)

Who Let The Gods Out? By Maz Evans published by Usbourne (I’m OBSESSED with this series and still haven’t finished the last book as don’t want it to be over 😂🫣 and check out the stage production at Polka Theatre🔗 )
Greek Myths Folktales and Legends by Vicki Psarias-Broadbent and illustrated by Paula Zorite, published by Scholastic. Such a beautiful collection of tales. We have a copy at home and have given to schools. And I know that our young Greek Mythology expert Helena has a copy and said she loves it!
Hercules: The Diary of a (Sort of) Hero by Tom Vaughan and illustrations by David O’Connell, published by Scholastic. Great for fans of Diary of A Wimpy Kid and Louie Stowell’s Loki (Loki is another absolute MUST READ!)
Aesop’s Fables by Caroline Lawrence illustrations and illustrations by Robert Ingpen, published by Welbeck Editions. Caroline very kindly gave my son a copy and it’s beautiful. I devoured Aesops Fables as a child and Caroline’s book brought so many memories back – (plus a few stories I didn’t know!)

For YA & adult:



Medusa: The Girl Behind The Myth by Jessie Burton published by Bloomsbury YA. A retelling of the Greek myth that reframes Medusa as a vulnerable teenager exiled to a lonely island. So many people have recommend this to me. I loved Jessie’s The Miniaturist so this is very high up on my To Be Read list!
Circe by Madeline Miller published by Bloomsbury (thanks to Victoria, mum from next month’s Battle of the Books’ family, for the suggestion!) It reimagines the life of the sorceress from Homer’s Odyssey. Again, only heard good things about this so am very excited to be reading it next!

That rounds up this week’s Our Story!

Thanks for reading and please do check out March’s challenge. It closes soon! March’s Your Words! Challenge 🔗 children can be in with a chance of winning £10 book voucher!



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📖Storyteller!

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It’s half term here in UK and writing this from my mobile phone in distracted environments so apologies in advance for any typos/formatting!

It’s been a wet and rainy month but thankfully we have a lot to keep us distracted including suspense who will win Battle of The Books (see below!) and a beautiful Q&A with our Storyteller of the month Sophie Anderson.

And if you want something to keep your own young storytellers busy – check out March’s Your Story! Challenge HERE🔗!

This year is the National Year of Reading, and I decided to set myself a goal: read more non-fiction. (For the grown-ups only: I’m currently reading The Minds of Billy Milligan by Daniel Keyes, published by Orion Publishing Group. It’s utterly gripping. Lots of trigger warnings, but I’d still highly recommend it.)

Yesterday evening, I was midread and my eldest excitedly asked,

“Mum, have you read A Series of Unfortunate Events yet? It’s SO good!”

I admitted I hadn’t.

I told him I’d love to. Just as soon as I finished my current book… and the ever growing to be read pile waiting to be reviewed.🫣

His face fell.

And that’s when it hit me.

We’re always encouraging our children to read what we suggest. We hand them books we loved, books we think they should read, books we think are good for them, books we remember reading ourselves. But how often do we turn that around? How often do we say, “Alright then…what do you recommend?”

So I’ve set myself a new challenge…read their suggestions. No matter what. I’ve agreed with him for every chapter of my own choice, I’ll read a chapter of their choices (admittedly as a one book at a time woman it will take a bit of getting used to!)

Because the truth is, I adore children’s books. I don’t believe they’re only for children. They are for EVERYONE. There’s a kind of freedom in them that you don’t always find in adult fiction. The imagination is boundless, the possibilities feel infinite, and even though they’re written by adults, children’s books aren’t tangled up in the same limits and conformity we gradually wrap around ourselves as we grow older.

Maybe it’s time we let them lead the way for a while.

What children’s books can you recommend?

⚔️📖 Talking of grown ups reading children’s books..at last it’s time for the Battle of the Books reveal!

Mum Shetal with daughters Shreyana and Seraina

Mum and illustrator Shetal and her daughters Shreyana and Seraina went head-to-head-to-head with their favourite reads: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens, and That’s Not My Name by Anoosha Syed.

And the winner is… Murder Most Unladylike! Congratulations, Shreyana! 🎉

Winner: Murder Most Unladylike chosen by Shreyana!

Keep an eye out next month as Cruise Ship Kid author Emma Swan and another family go head-to-head for the chance to see their book choices reign supreme!

Sophie Anderson – Storyteller of The Month!

And now let me introduce Sophie Anderson to our Storyteller of the Month spot! The first time I picked up the first of her stories based on Slavic folktales: The House With Chicken Legs published by Usbourne Publishing I kid you not …a shiver went down my spine. Years later, my boys were hooked on the audible version too. My uni dissertation was based on Russian folklore, so I have a particular interest but even without this, as a mum these books and tales are magical and hold the infinite imagination and wonder of children’s books mentioned earlier in my blog. All of Sophie’s books …The House With Chicken Legs, The Girl Who Speaks Bear, The Castle of Tangled Magic, The Thief Who Sang Storms and The Snow Girl are as enchanting and captivating as their titles suggest.

The collection so far.
published by Usbourne Publishing

Personally I can’t wait for the latest The House With Chicken Legs Runs Away to come out (9th April 2026!🥳)

📝 Fun facts about Sophie:

🐚 Sophie grew up by the seaside, loved collecting shells and fossils, and dreamed of being a mermaid.

🤿 At university she learned how to scuba dive, and dived lots of ancient shipwrecks in Scotland.

🐓 Sophie is the proud owner of three chickens called Henrietta, Chewbacca, and Maracca. (Editors note: LOVE THIS!)

👋 Welcome Sophie! What are some of your earliest story or reading memories that shaped your imagination as a child?

My grandmother used to tell me Slavic fairy tales while sat at her piano, so that she could play a dramatic soundtrack for them.

Winter often brings a special kind of magic to reading. Who were your favourite kid lit winter book characters when you were younger and do you have new favourites now? Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson was a favourite childhood read, which features the most wintry of characters, the Groke. A recent favourite is The Other Father Christmas written by Serena Holly and illustrated by Shahab Shamshirsaz. It’s so much fun!

Who or what encouraged you when you first starting out as a writer? I came to writing quite late and I think what encouraged me most was discovering a much more diverse range of voices in children’s literature than I had experienced as a child. David Almond’s working-class voice in Skellig and Salman Rushdie’s lyrical, whimsical Haroun and the Sea of Stories, although very different, both made me feel that there might be a place for my voice and my kind of writing.

What was the moment that made you realise storytelling wasn’t just something you loved, but a permanent and meaningful part of your life? My writing has always felt meaningful on a personal level, but it grew into something more when The House with Chicken Legs published. I had been writing, on and off, for around ten years in my spare time, but had never considered that I might make a career out of it. The House with Chicken Legs changed that. My writing moved from being something I did occasionally around the edges of the day, to being this huge part of my life, and a full-time job. 

The Snow Girl, (recently re-released in paperback by Usbourne) weaves in beautifully with your Slavic folk-inspired storytelling. What memories from the book do you hope will stay with the readers after they have stepped into Tasha and Alyana’s magical world? I hope readers find something memorable and meaningful to them. I think one of the best things about fiction is that it connects with different people in different…(and often very personal)…ways. If, when a reader finishes the story, they are happy that they read it and feel that Tasha’s and Alyana’s world has brought a little magic into their lives, then I will be thrilled!

Without giving too much of the book away, what was your favourite part of writing The Snow Girl? I’ve always loved writing animal characters, and there are a few in The Snow Girl. I also love writing magic and of course the snow girl herself, Alyana, has some wonderful winter magic to play with. 

February is a month for love, and The Snow Girl is full of it in many different ways. What does love mean to you in her world? Love is definitely a verb in The Snow Girl, shown through the caring actions of friends, family and community.

And just for fun!

If you could take one tiny bit of Alyana’s magic in to your own world, what would it be and why?

There is so much of her magic I would like to play with! If I can only pick one, then making snowflakes dance into pictures that tell a story.

Where in our world would Tasha and Alyana most love to dance in the snow?

Karelia, in NW Russia. It’s such a beautiful place filled with magic! (Editor quickly Googles “Karelia” …and WOW! 😍)

🌟STAR READER QUESTION FROM JAMIE, AGED 8

How long does it usually take you to write a book and what do you do if you run out of ideas for characters? Which character is most like you? (Brilliant questions Jamie!)

From start to finish (including lots of drafts), around 18 months to two years. If I run out of ideas a good walk often helps, or refilling my creative well by immersing myself in other people’s works of art. I am most like Tasha in The Snow Girl I think… at heart I am very shy.

What beautiful answers Sophie! Thank you so much for taking part! And of course to our 🌟Star Reader Jamie for his fab questions.


The House With Chicken Legs Runs Away – Coming April 9, 2026.
Published by Usborne Publishing.

For Sophie’s latest events CLICK HERE 🔗

Next week…Our Story! Family Q&A plus some gorgeous book reviews – Thanks as ever for reading!

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⚔️Feb: Battle of The Books!⚔️

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Welcome to February’s Battle of the Books… And what an exciting edition!
It started out as Mum Shetal’s classic read vs Shreyana’s fab middle grade murder mystery. BUT it’s turned into a full family showdown! Younger sister Seraina wanted a piece of the action too with her latest picture book read. And in the Kids’ Storyworld spirit of stories are for everyone….CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! But how will this story end? Read through the Battle and then YOU decide!

Grown Up Contender: Shetal Bhayani
Current Favourite Adult Reads: Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett and Quick Silver by Callie Hart
Age: Colours on an artists palette (ie. use your imagination!)
Occupation: Fabulous artist, illustrator, writer …and that’s not all! Shetal is a magnificant Mum to daughters Shreyana and Seraina
Special Skills: creative fabulousness, book devourer and great storyteller!

Book Pick: The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exuperv Publisher: Wordsworth Classics

Kid Contender 1: Sheryana
Age: 11
Hobbies: choosing favourite books with mum

Book Pick: Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens Publisher: Corgi Childrens

Kid Contender 2: Seraina
Age: 6
Hobbies: Art and joining Mum and Sheryana in brilliant book reads!

And now for the BATTLE ROUNDS!

✨ROUND 1:
What’s your book about?

Shetal: The Little Prince is about a pilot who meets a small prince from another planet. The prince teaches him (and us) how to see the world properly again.

Shreyana: Murder Most Unladylike is about two girls, Hazel and Daisy. They start a Detective Agency to solve the mystery of their murdered Science teacher.

Seraina: My book is That’s Not My Name. It’s a picture book about a girl named Mirha. She is excited to start school, but no one pronounces her name correctly!

✨ROUND 2
Why should children (and grown ups!) read your book? What’s the best thing about it?

Shetal: Because it’s a simple story on the surface, but underneath it reminds us not to forget what matters… kindness, curiosity, and caring for the people (and planets) we love.

Shreyana: The best thing about this book is when Hazel and Daisy keep eliminating names to see who murdered Miss Bell. (Editor: Oooooh! LOVE a good mystery!!!)

Seraina: The best thing about this book is she makes friends.

✨ROUND 3:
Mum, what’s your favourite scene in the book and why?
Shetal: The meeting with the fox, because it explains friendship and love in a way that’s gentle, funny, and so true it sneaks up on you.

Kids, if your book were a snack, what snack would it be?
Shreyana: If this Murder Most Ladylike were a snack, it would be a sweet (and I mean really sweet) and tasty pastry because when they talk about pastries in the book, it makes my mouth water so much!

Seraina: If That’s Not My Name were a snack, it would be a pancake because I love them and so does Mirha.
(Editor: It’s nearly lunchtime and these books are making me hungry!!)

✨Round 4:
Parent/kid life would be a little dull without the chaos that we’ve become accustomed to so with that in mind…

Mum, this one’s for you:
You’re stuck in a chaotic children’s party (Soft play hell, sugar highs, lost socks…you know the kind!)
One of the characters is with you for the day.
Who are they, and how do they help restore order…or make it more fun?!
Shetal: The Little Prince himself…He’d ask calm curious questions, remind everone what’s actually important and somehow turn the chaos into a quiet adventure where even the adults feel a bit better!

🎨And Kids:
In the school art room, a pot of glue tips over and sticks the teacher to the chair!
Which character from your book appears and do they:
a) Help free the teacher
or
b) take advantage of the chaos for a laugh?
How?

Shreyana: Daisy would appear but sty hidden to take advantage of chaos for a laugh!
Seraina: Hayden would take advantage of the chaos and run to the playground!

(Editor’s note to art teachers everywhere: HIDE THE GLUE POTS!!!)

✨ROUND 5
Mum, convince the voters using only 3 sound effects to choose your book. No words.
Shetal: Whoosh, giggle, hmmmmmm

Kids, what 3 emotions would describe your book and encourage voters to pick yours?
Sheryana: Curious, anxious, excited!
Seraina: Happy, upset, proud!

Now, dear voters, it’s over to you!
What a brilliant battle! Whose pages have peaked your interest? Which book is worthy of your vote?
Vote for your favourite book & keep your eyes peeled for next week’s feature when the winner will be revealed!

***VOTING CLOSED***


From Book Battle to Book Snap!
Need some reads to keep you going over half term? Here are some quick reading recommendations for busy grown and kids! Inspired by Shreyana’s mystery book choice…

Picture Book: Rhyme Crime Jon Burger-man Publisher: OUP Oxford
Book Snap For: Kids who love rhyming, word play and funny reads!

Middle Grade: Lockett & Wilde: The Ghosts of the Manor by Lucy Strange
Book Snap For: Fans of Lemony Snicket’s Unfortunate Events, humour and spooky mysteries. Fab on audible too!

Kids Non-Fiction: How To Be A Detective and other crime fighting jobs
by DC Alexandra Beever & Sol Linero Publisher: Nosy Crow
Book Snap For: Inquisitive children who want to know how it’s done and love a game of I spy!


And one for the grown ups …literally cannot recommend this enough. It would actually be criminal not to read Everyone I’ve suggested the series to has come back raving about it and begging to know when the next one is out. (there’s currently 2 in the series):
Over My Dead Body by Maz Evans
Book Snap For: Fans of Thursday Murder Club, and fantastically funny murder mysteries. Great on audible too.

Coming up next week….Magical Storyteller of the Month Sophie Andersonn shares insights and imagination to her beautiful world of The Snow Girl and Battle of the Books reveal!

Bored during half term? Then enter March Your Words Challenge!

March’s Your Words! Challenge: Your Words – Your Way!

Up for the next challenge? Our March’s Your Words! challenge is up to you! Your words…your way!
Open to children aged 5–11 in the UK, they can write or record a poem or story, or draw a comic strip story or poem
Written/spoken: Max 350 words
Comic Strip: Max 4 panels

It must be imaginative, original, your own words/pictures
Prompts to help (but all completely optional!):
Something weird happening at school/football/gym club
Your art turns to life
A mini made up autobiography or biography of someone you know

One Star Kids’ Storyworld Storyteller will be chosen to receive a £10 National Book Tokens voucher!

Ready to share your story? We can’t wait to read your entries and see how you interpret the theme!

Send your entries to: kidsstoryworld.abc@gmail.com
Deadline: Sunday, March 2nd 2026 (UK)

Terms & Conditions:

  • Only children aged 5–11 living in the UK can enter.
  • Entries must be submitted with parent/guardian permission.
  • The voucher is not redeemable for cash.
  • The Kids’ Storyworld decision is final.









🌈Your Words!

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Welcome to February’s Your Words!

Normally, I’d start by giving you a paragraph, with a sneak peek at what’s coming up (Sarah Surgey’s fabulous storytelling tips, an incredible entry for February’s Your Words! Challenge, and of course, announcing March’s exciting competition!) But today, I want to take a moment to address something big. Something that’s been on my mind. A lot.

THE NATIONAL YEAR OF READING 2026 – Go All In 🔗

It’s a huge campaign. Monumental, really. Everyone in the Children’s Literature industry is talking about it, and for good reason. This campaign is doing so much work with charities and promoting all the joys of reading for pleasure. It has the support of a fantastic line up of children’s authors like Nadia Shireen (Grimwood series…Brilliantly funny!) and Rob Biddulph, (author of howlingly hilarious and adventurous The Last Wolf …out now!) as well as high-profile ambassadors such as Joe Wicks, Leah Williamson, Richard Osmond and Stephen Fry. All of them are very rightly proud to champion #GoAllIn2026 campaign.
And The National Year of Reading kicked off at Arsenal Stadium on January 13th (as a Brentford fan, I still say don’t let that put you off!😜)

But here’s the thing parents and guardians don’t seem to know about it.

In fact, I’ve asked a different parent almost every day since December if they’ve heard of the National Year of Reading. And so far, not a single one has. Not even the most avid readers. Not even up until yesterday.

But why?

I have a few theories (though none of them are scientifically proven!).

First, there’s the echo chamber of social media. If you take a look at the posts around this campaign, you’ll often see that the people sharing and commenting are already part of the conversation…the ones who are passionate about reading, the authors and illustrators behind the books, and the ones already promoting literacy.

Then, there’s the reality of being a parent. Parents often rush through mainstream bookstores or supermarkets, trying to grab something familiar before rushing home for dinner or heading off to the next school pick up/activity/work meeting. We make quick decisions, reaching for the books we recognise, the ones we grew up with, the ones that don’t take another atom of our already depleted energy in that hectic moment.

Let’s face it, when we’ve got tired, grumpy kids trailing behind us, or a toddler in the middle of a meltdown between the aisles of The Gruffalo and Dog Man, the choices are made in a rush. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Those are great books! But it also means that other books and authors often get overlooked.

Another reason, in my experience, is that many parents feel overwhelmed when it comes to finding new books. I get asked for recommendations all the time. I love it! My phone is full of messages from parents asking what their children might enjoy or advice on how to get their kids reading, and I happily send them recommendations. I’ve even set up WhatsApp book groups for my kids’ classes to share ideas. There’s definitely a demand for new reading suggestions. It’s not that parents aren’t interested. It’s that they need information that’s easy to access and digest because let’s face it… it’s one less thing we have to juggle!

If you’re in the Kidlit industry, take a moment and ask yourself: Where did you first hear about the National Year of Reading? If you weren’t already immersed in the world of children’s literature, would you have come across it?

Echo chambers like this aren’t unusual in any industry, and thankfully, we have The National Year of Reading as an opportunity to raise awareness and break out of them. As people in the children’s literature world, we have a fundemental responsibility to ensure that parents and guardians…(who are already juggling a million things) know what’s out there. There’s currently not so much out there in the media highlighting children’s authors (who by the way should be regarded as the rockstars that they are!) So it’s up to us to make it easy for parents and guardians to discover new, exciting books for their kids.

And to all those parents and guardians out there, how can we help?
What has been your experience so far? What would make it easier for you to find great books for your children and to make reading itself accessible? We’d love to hear from you!

📝Author’s Top Tips!


And talking of discovering new books, meet Sarah Surgey, author of The Pythagarous Puzzle, the first in The Subject Society series, (illustrations: Larisa Ivankovic Publisher: Tiny Tree Books out 5th March 2026) and emotional literacy books such as Jumping Hurdles (illustrations: Nathasha Gunathilake Publisher: HB Publishing House) and Greener Grass (Illustrations: Dannii Summerfield Publisher: Brilliant Monsters).
Sarah is also co-director of the children’s literature festival in Bristol, Storytale🔗and her author events are both engaging and fun. The perfect author for National Story Telling Week’s🔗Author Top Tips!

When your story feels a little stuck … try looking somewhere different.
Step outside with one of your grown-ups and let the outside help you begin.

Where are you standing?
A busy street, a quiet park, a playground, a shop on the corner?
Write it down because you’ve just found your setting!

Now listen.
What can you hear? Footsteps, birds singing, cars rushing by, people chatting?
Maybe someone is laughing, maybe someone is in a hurry.
These sounds and conversations can become part of your dialogue.

Look closely.
What is happening around you?
Children walking to school, cafés opening their doors, people waiting for the bus, dogs pulling on their leads?
These moments are full of action which can move your story forward.

Let your surroundings help you decide what kind of story it wants to be.
Is it calm or busy? Funny or thoughtful?

When you’re ready… head back to the page and start writing or recording your story. Play with your words. Use what you see, hear, and feel.

Thank you Sarah for these fantastic tips… Loads of food for thought!

💗February Challenge: L-O-V-E, Mission: in 100-250 words Children had to write or record a story or poem starting with L and finishing with E with reference to love (could be romantic, hobby, pet, minecraft…free rein!)

And now the moment you’ve been waiting for…the result of February’s Your Words! writing challenge.
This month’s FABULOUS entry and winner of the £10 National Book Token Voucher is Urvi, aged 10.
I shared the first line of her story on Instagram earlier in the week and it knocked our kidlit socks off!
It’s stories like Urvi’s that can give us all so much hope for the future of literature.
Quirky, imaginative and a killer first line…. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did!

How the Fork and the Spoon fell in love by Urvi, aged 10

​Love ran down the road tonight, causing the clouds to turn pink. With love on the road our story may begin. One day, a beautiful spoon awoke and got ready for work but she didn’t notice the pink clouds up in the sky. However one boy, called Fork, saw these clouds but when he told his parents the pink somehow wasn’t in the clouds instead it was raining perfume.

​Anyhow Fork and Spoon came out of their house and walked to work. This is where the love bit comes in. It was love at first sight. But whenever Fork proposed and gave her an engagement ring the Spoon had always said no. 

A few months later, the Spoon tried to propose to the Fork but the Fork said that she had to chase him. 

Right after the chase, the Fork said yes and then they started getting ready for their marriage and they all lived happily ever after in their rented home.

Thank you so much Urvi for sharing your brilliant imagination and words!

March’s Your Words! Challenge: Your Words – Your Way!

Up for the next challenge? Our March’s Your Words! challenge is up to you! Your words…your way!
Open to children aged 5–11 in the UK, they can write or record a poem or story, or draw a comic strip story or poem
Written/spoken: Max 350 words
Comic Strip: Max 4 panels

It must be imaginative, original, your own words/pictures
Prompts to help (but all completely optional!):
Something weird happening at school/football/gym club
Your art turns to life
A mini made up autobiography or biography of someone you know

One Star Kids’ Storyworld Storyteller will be chosen to receive a £10 National Book Tokens voucher!

Ready to share your story? We can’t wait to read your entries and see how you interpret the theme!

Send your entries to: kidsstoryworld.abc@gmail.com
Deadline: Sunday, March 2nd 2026 (UK)

Terms & Conditions:

  • Only children aged 5–11 living in the UK can enter.
  • Entries must be submitted with parent/guardian permission.
  • The voucher is not redeemable for cash.
  • The Kids’ Storyworld decision is final.

As always stay tuned!

…Next week we’re featuring the Illustrator mum Shetal and family in Battle of the Books!

⚔️Battle of The Books!⚔️

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Welcome to our first ever Battle of the Books!
Jess and Lily from Sheffield take on their mum Sarah.
But who will win ALL THE GLORY AND GLOATING RIGHTS?
We Need YOU to decide! Vote for your favourite and help crown the ultimate champion!

Results revealed in next week’s blog…


⚔️ Grown up contender: Sarah
Current Favourite adult read: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig publisher: Canongate Books
Age: None of your beeswax! 🐝
Occupation: Awesome Mum to Jess, Lily and Charlie
Recently started as head of fundraising for Grow Uk who help 16 – 24 year olds engage in nature based activities to boost skills, confidence and horizons.
Special Skills: Multitasking wizard, expert book chooser, infectious giggler extraordinaire!

Book pick: Zog by Julia Donaldson publisher: Alison Green Books

What is Zog about?
This is a great book about a dragon who tries his best . He ends up getting it wrong regularly but meets  wonderfully helpful people along the way. I think it’s a book about ambition, friendship and trying your best, even when things are tricky or hard.
Zog always gives 100% and I love him for it!

What makes this book impossible to put down?
It’s a short book with a catchy rhythm of words. You are really rooting for Zog as he goes through school and you want him to do well. The illustrations are beautiful too. There is a follow up booked called Zog and the flying doctors which is brilliant, and all about girl power! 

You’re trapped in an escape room with one of the characters for the day. Who is it and what
qualities do they have to help you on the way to freedom?
Definitely Pearl…she is fantastic in a crisis she is knowledgeable,  calm under pressure and very determined too. She is a problem solver and seemingly always has what is needed to help. She would definitely be able to escape!

Convince the voters using only three adjectives. Why should your book win? 🏆
Fun, inspirational and beautiful!


⚔️ Kid Contenders: Jess and Lily
Parents: Mum, Sarah (their contender!) and Dad, Paul (who loves sci-fi books!)
Siblings: Big brother Charlie, who likes reading biking magazines
Current Favourite Reads: Jess and Lily are starting to explore the world of chapter books
Age: 10 (only just! Happy double digit birthday ladies!!! 🎂)
Likes: Random day trips, playing with friends and Eurocamp holidays

Book Pick: Diary of A Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney publisher: Puffin

What is the book about?
It is about a boy called Greg and what he gets up to with his family. It’s really funny.

What made you want to read this book?
We saw it at school and lots of our friends had read the first book and some of the extra books in the series, so we thought we would give it a try!

You need help from one of the characters to complete a secret mission.
What is the mission? Who do you pick to join you and why?
Our mission would be to rescue an elf and Manny would be the best character to help because he is tiny and can fit in small spaces to smuggle the elf back to the north pole! And get back home without anyone noticing him. He could give the elf a piggy back if he needed it!

If this book were an animal, what would it be and why?
Diary of A Wimpy Kid would be a zebra because the story is all over the place like the stripes on the zebra 🦓

Convince the voters using only three adjectives. Why should your book win? 🏆
Funny, interesting and weird!

So now, dear voters it’s over to YOU! 🗳️
Pick your favourite book, cast your vote in the comments, and find out next week who takes the glory! 🎉
Only your votes will decide! 👀

***VOTING HAS CLOSED***


From Book Battle to Book Snap!
While you’re deciding which book takes the crown, we’ve got some extra reading inspiration for the family! Book Snaps are fun, fast book recommendations for busy grown ups and kids!

Picture book: Tyrannosaurus Veg by Smriti Prasadam-Halls, illustrated by Katherine Manolessou
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Book Snap For: Kids who love dinosaurs, playful rhyming books, laughs… and perhaps a little encouragement to eat their veggies!

Middle Grade: Crooks and Nannies: A N.A.U.G.H.T.Y. beginning…by Chris McGuire, illustrated by Martin Baines, published by Candy Bar Books
Book Snap For: Readers who enjoy slimy silliness, mischief and giggles. Perfect for those who love Diary of A Wimpy Kid

Kids Non-Fiction: The Big Book of Nature Artby Yuval Zommer published by Thames and Hudson ltd
Book Snap For: Anyone who loves nature, wildlife and making art and crafts from what they find outside. (On a side note…speaking from personal experience it makes a gorgeous gift too!🎁)

And by popular request we’ll be including one each week for the grown ups too!
(Contender Sarah’s suggestion!)
Midnight Library by Matt Haig published by Canongate Books
Book Snap For: Adults who love “what if” adventures, reflective tales and hopeful reads that lift the spirit

Next Week…

🥳Battle of The Books results reveal and our first Storyteller! feature with a very popular author/illustrator.
But can you work out who they are with these 3 clues? 🧐
⚽ This author/illustrator could have been a semi-pro footballer at 18! But the world of art won instead.
🐶 They have a dog called Ringo
👑 And they once showed a REAL QUEEN how to draw her crown!

⏰Plus a reminder: February’s You Words! Story Challenge deadline is coming up soon. Details and how to enter are HERE.
We can’t wait to see what you create! ✨

🌈Your Words!

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Thanks for reading Kids’ Storyworld’s first post!

In Your Words! this week, we’re celebrating our January New Beginnings winners, sharing a top storytelling tip from author Karl Newson, and giving you all the details for February’s exciting challenge. So keep reading to get inspired and take part!

While the rest of the blog is about encouraging reading for pleasure together, each month, Your Words! will celebrate children’s stories and their wonderful imagination.

Children can write or tell their story aloud. ✒️💬
The goal is simple… to enjoy storytelling, spark ideas, and champion their creativity.

Our first Your Words! challenge got off to a mega flying start. The theme was New Beginnings, and children were invited to get creative by sending in a poem or short story of 100 words or less.

And for the record the entrants did a cracking job! Each entry was different, full of personality and truly blew me away.

📚🤓Click here to read Jan’s brilliant entries!

✨Star Storyteller!✨ Peony (6) – In Your Dreams A moving poem with vivid imagery and a reflective take on new dreams.

Ella (8) – Mia’s First Day of School A happy story capturing the excitement and overcoming nerves of a first day at school.

Chloe (8) – That Dream Celebrating simple joys and fresh starts, this beautiful poem looks forward with curiosity and wonder.

Maya (11) – New Dawn A stunning, thoughtful poem about fresh starts and discovering new possibilities.

It was tough deciding but Star Storyteller goes to Peony (6). Her poem really resonated and I could feel the warmth of the sun as I was reading it!

We originally planned to award three book vouchers, but after reading all the entries, we’re sure you’ll agree that every child deserved one. In the end, all four received a £10 National Book Token.

📝Author’s Top Tip!

Karl Newson, author of I Am a Tiger, Just Be You! and I Really Really Need A Wee! knows a thing or two (or a hundred!) about storytelling. Thank you Karl for this month’s top storytelling tip!

“Look for ideas where you usually don’t. 👀
Perhaps you’ll see a dragon cloud 🐉 soaring in the sky, or a little bug 🐞 who seems to be in a hurry, or a squirrel 🐿️ bounding off to work in a nearby tree.

Once you’ve found an idea, listen to it! What is it saying? Is it quiet or loud, fast or slow, funny or sad, perfect for school or better for bedtimes?

Now you are ready to write it down. ✍️
Don’t worry about the End just yet. You’ll know it is the end when your idea has said all it wanted to say… perhaps that dragon cloud has disappeared back into the sky? 🐉☁️
Perhaps that little bug got where it was going? 🐞
Perhaps that squirrel went back home after work and ate a big nut for dinner? 🌰

The most important thing to do is have fun making it. Make it yours! 📖⭐”

Thanks Karl! These are great ways for children to unlock ideas and bring their stories or poems to life.

February Your Words! Challenge: “Love”❤️

Up for the next challenge? Our February Your Words! challenge is all about Love! Open to children aged 5–11 in the UK, they can write or record a story or poem between 100 and 250 words — it’s completely up to them how they share it.

Here’s the fun twist: the first word must start with “L” and the last word must finish with “E”. One Star Kids’ Storyworld Storyteller will be chosen to receive a £10 National Book Tokens voucher!

Ready to share your story? We can’t wait to read your entries and see how you interpret the theme!

Send your entries to: kidsstoryworld.abc@gmail.com
Deadline: Sunday, February 1st 2026 (UK)

Terms & Conditions:

  • Only children aged 5–11 living in the UK can enter.
  • Entries must be submitted with parent/guardian permission.
  • The voucher is not redeemable for cash.
  • The Kids’ Storyworld decision is final.

Thanks for reading our first feature and stay tuned!

…Next week we’re featuring the Herrett family in Battle of the Books! Jess and Lilly take on their mum, Sarah! 📖✨