There is something reeeeeally magical about a library. It is not only a building filled with books, but a living space where stories, ideas, and people meet. To walk into a library is to step into possibility - a place where one can be both alone and surrounded, silent yet deeply connected to the thoughts of others. I luv a library. One of the most beautiful things about libraries is that they belong to everyone. A library asks for no ticket of privilege or wealth - only cu

A love of books rarely arrives fully formed; it grows slowly, like a friendship. For most children, the first encounter with reading is not solitary but shared - a parent or teacher turning pages aloud, a familiar voice bringing pictures and words to life. From those early moments of togetherness, a quiet affection for books begins to take root. Children’s first books are often colourful, rhythmic, and full of repetition. The pattern of words, the bright pictures, and the gen

OMG this is my favourite thing... There is something timeless and deeply human about the act of reading aloud to a child. It is an exchange older than books themselves - a meeting of voice, story, and imagination. In a world of glowing screens and hurried schedules, this simple act remains one of the most powerful ways to nurture both intellect and emotion. When a story is read aloud, language becomes music. The rhythm of sentences, the pattern of rhyme, the pause before a su

Few rituals of childhood are as enduring or as cherished as the bedtime story. Long after toys are tidied away and lights dimmed, the simple act of sharing a story before sleep creates a space of calm, warmth, and connection. For many, these moments form some of the earliest and happiest memories - the soft murmur of a parent’s voice, the turning of a page, the comforting predictability of familiar words. Bedtime stories mark the gentle boundary between the busyness of the da

Long before books were printed, before children learned to read, there were stories. Told by firelight, whispered at bedtime, shared on long walks or quiet afternoons, storytelling has always been one of the most natural ways for human beings to teach, to comfort, and to connect. The oral tradition is the root from which all literature grows, and for children, it remains one of the most powerful and enduring forms of learning. Storytelling is as old as humanity itself. Long b

Imagination lies at the heart of all children’s literature. It is both the spark that ignites a story and the flame that keeps it alive. A good children’s book does more than entertain; it opens a door. Through words and pictures, it invites young readers into worlds where anything is possible - where animals speak, dreams take shape, and courage can be found in the smallest of hearts. Children are natural dreamers. They live close to the border between the real and the imagi

In the world of children’s literature, words and pictures share a uniquely intimate partnership. Unlike adult books, where illustrations may be decorative or secondary, in children’s books the image is often as essential as the text - sometimes more so. Together, they weave a narrative that appeals not only to the intellect but to the senses and emotions, creating an experience that is both visual and verbal, imaginative and immediate. A picture book speaks in two languages a

Children’s book illustration has evolved remarkably over the past two centuries, reflecting not only changes in artistic style but also shifts in how society views childhood itself. From the delicate engravings of the Victorian era to the bold, expressive imagery of contemporary picture books, each generation of illustrators has reimagined how stories for the young should look - and feel. The Victorian Imagination In the nineteenth century, the notion of childhood as a distin

Illustration has always held a special place in children’s literature. Long before a child learns to read, it is the pictures that speak first - bright windows into imagined worlds, where animals talk, dreams come to life, and every page invites curiosity. The great illustrators of children’s books do more than decorate stories; they bring them to life with colour, humour, and emotion. Their work lingers in memory, shaping how generations imagine childhood itself. Beatrix Pot

Ivor the Engine is one of those gentle treasures of British children’s television - an unassuming little series that puffed its way into the nation’s heart with a soft chuff, a tootle on the whistle, and an unmistakably Welsh lilt. Created by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, the same brilliant duo behind Bagpuss and The Clangers , Ivor the Engine first appeared on television in black and white in 1959, and was later revived in glorious green and red colour in the 1970s. I

Masquerade , published in 1979 by British artist and author Kit Williams, is not just a picture book - it’s one of the most beguiling and eccentric literary phenomena Britain has ever produced. At first glance, it appears to be a beautifully illustrated children’s story about a hare named Jack on a whimsical quest to deliver a jewel to the sun. But scratch the surface (and thousands of readers certainly tried to) and you’ll find an elaborate, fiendishly complex treasure hunt

Noddy is one of those cheerful little fellas who seems to have always been part of British childhood - perched in his little red and yellow car, nodding his head enthusiastically as he tootles through Toyland. Created by Enid Blyton in 1949, Noddy is a wide-eyed, bell-hatted wooden boy with an unfailing sense of curiosity, a kind heart, and a slightly bumbling way of getting things done. For many, he represents the innocence of early childhood - a world where adventures are s

Boing boing boing... The Magic Roundabout is one of those gloriously surreal bits of British television that somehow manages to be both utterly bonkers and quietly profound. First broadcast in the UK in 1965, it quickly became a beloved teatime fixture, charming children and bemusing adults in equal measure. At its heart was a peculiar blend of whimsy, dry humour, and a cast of characters that felt like they’d wandered out of a dream and straight into the middle of a park -

The Wombles are one of Britain’s most delightfully odd and enduring creations - a band of furry, pointy-nosed creatures who live beneath Wimbledon Common, quietly tidying up after messy humans and turning our rubbish into something useful. Created by author Elisabeth Beresford in the late 1960s, the Wombles first appeared in book form before becoming truly iconic through the stop-motion BBC television series in the 1970s. With their blend of gentle humour, environmentalism, a

Rupert Bear is one of those quietly iconic characters who has become woven into the fabric of British childhood. First appearing in the pages of the Daily Express in 1920, Rupert is instantly recognisable with his checked yellow trousers, red jumper, and matching scarf - an outfit that’s never changed, even as the decades have rolled by. There’s something gently reassuring about him, like an old friend who never grows up, always ready for another adventure. Rupert was create

Jill Barklem is best known as the creator of Brambly Hedge , a series of beautifully illustrated books that have become beloved staples in many British households. Her work captures a timeless, idyllic vision of rural life - complete with harvests, snowballs, jam-making, and the sort of miniature domestic bliss that’s as comforting as a slice of fruitcake by the fire. Born in Epping in 1951, Barklem was a quiet, observant child who spent much of her time sketching and reading

Milly-Molly-Mandy is one of those reeeeeally great treasures of British children’s literature - perhaps not as flashy as some modern favourites, but full of charm, warmth, and the comforting rhythms of everyday village life. Created by Joyce Lankester Brisley in the late 1920s, the stories follow a little girl in a striped dress with a long name and a kind heart, living in a thatched cottage “in the middle of the village, in the middle of the country.” There’s something unmi

Ok, sooooo, Errol Le Cain may not be a household name like Beatrix Potter or Quentin Blake, but among those who know and love children’s illustration, he holds a place of quiet reverence. Born in Singapore in 1941 and moving to England as a child, Le Cain became one of the most distinctive illustrators of the 20th century - his work shimmering with detail, colour, and a touch of magic that feels at once otherworldly and rooted in tradition. What sets him apart is his ability

Beatrix Potter is one of those rare authors whose work feels stitched into the very fabric of British childhood. Her stories, with their quaint illustrations and gentle humour, have charmed generations. But beyond the hedgerows and bonnets of Peter Rabbit and friends lies the story of a fiercely independent woman who defied expectations and carved out a literary legacy entirely on her own terms. Born in London in 1866 to a wealthy family, Beatrix was raised in a world of Vic

Far from the Madding Crowd , Thomas Hardy’s fourth novel and the one that first brought him lasting success, is a rich, sweeping story set in the fictional county of Wessex - a place Hardy so vividly imagined that it now feels as real as any spot on the English map. Published in 1874, the novel captures the rhythms of rural life, the shifting fortunes of love, and the quiet drama of nature’s influence on human hearts. It’s a story of choices, pride, patience, and the tangled