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letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
Letterbox Library
@letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
1.4K followers 310 following 410 posts
Est. 1983. Not-for-profit children’s booksellers celebrating equality, inclusion & diversity. Schools/EY supplier. Co-runs Little Rebels Award. Workers’ Cooperative. www.letterboxlibrary.com
#kidlituk #ukkidlit
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letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
Letterbox Library @letterboxlibrary.bsky.social · Oct 7
ICYMI
CONGRATULATIONS to the first ever double prize winner of The Little Rebels Award for Radical Children’s Fiction @sarahhaggerholt.bsky.social
littlerebsprize.bsky.social Little Rebels Award @littlerebsprize.bsky.social · Oct 1
🥳🎉CONGRATULATIONS🎉🥳

We are delighted to announce that the Winner of the 2025 Little Rebels Award for Radical Children’s Fiction is @sarahhaggerholt.bsky.social for The Fights That Make Us, published by Usborne.

Congratulations, Sarah! Our first ever double champion!!
#KidLitUK
Photo right hand corner of author Sarah Hagger-Holt. Under which is written the title of her book “The Fights That Make Us” and then “WINNER”. Left side is the book cover and, above that, a confetti shower.
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
“Surely, the argument isn’t that inclusive books are a publishing trend?”

We blogged!

Ahead of tomorrow’s publication of the 8th @theclpe.bsky.social #ReflectingRealities Report, check out our most recent blog (6min read) :

www.letterboxlibrary.com/post/before-...
#KidLitUK
A visual asset which reads “surely trends are for genres not for representation”. Followed by the blog’s title: “Before & After Reflecting Realities- some thoughts”
November 13, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Letterbox Library
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
Last week’s launch of @storymix.bsky.social The Other Father Christmas at Moon Lane Books truly had it all- from mince pies right through to a reading from the real Father Christmas aka Curtis Merriman.

Congrats to Jasmine Richards Priscilla Mante & @sha-hab.bsky.social
#KidLitUK

What a…
Photo of authors Priscilla Mante and Jasmine Richards. Both stand, smiling. Jasmine holds a hand bell & wears a Santa hat and is in a long red dress. Priscilla holds a copy of The Other Father Christmas and wears a knee length black/white dress & knee length boots. Surrounding is a bookshop. A back screen shows images from the book. Photo. A man dressed in deep dark red Father Christmas outfit reads from an iPad.
November 11, 2025 at 1:36 PM
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
“Brand-new tween slice-of-life series” from Tolá Okogwu out next May!
#KidLitUK

www.penguin.co.uk/books/470029...
Bim Blake’s Hot Takes: My Pencil Case Doesn’t Define Me
From the bestselling author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun comes the first in a brand-new tween slice-of-life series. Relatable, humorous and highly illustrated, Bím Blake's Hot Takes is perfect...
www.penguin.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 7:41 AM
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
“The plot is sublime, spiralling out into the city’s nooks and crannies, intricate, but always firmly anchored by Lawrence’s soulful characters.”
@lawrencepatrice.bsky.social
The final Elemental Detectives is out! Perfect MG for history geeks&dragon-seekers.
www.letterboxlibrary.com/product-page...
THE CASE OF THE DREAMING DRAGON | Letterbox Library
by Patrice Lawrence We’ve waited ever so long. But the wait was so worth it. The Elemental Detectives, Marisee Blackwell and Robert Strong, are back on the case in the conclusion to Patrice Lawrence’s...
www.letterboxlibrary.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:38 AM
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
🐉Need more dragons in your life? Patrice-Lawrence-fashioned dragons? ..

⭐️Sign up to our newsletter⭐️

We’re celebrating the conclusion to The Elemental Detectives trilogy with a tidy bundle offer…

Newsletter out tomorrow!
@lawrencepatrice.bsky.social
www.letterboxlibrary.com/subscribers
#KidLitUK
November 11, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Reposted by Letterbox Library
joelillington.bsky.social
Today I’m painting a window for Wild Journey at @rshipbshop.bsky.social in Salisbury! Hiding inside from a very rainy day! ☔️☔️ @edpr.bsky.social @zephyrbooks.bsky.social @amdassu.bsky.social updates to come as I go 🐦
November 10, 2025 at 10:44 AM
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
Last week’s launch of @storymix.bsky.social The Other Father Christmas at Moon Lane Books truly had it all- from mince pies right through to a reading from the real Father Christmas aka Curtis Merriman.

Congrats to Jasmine Richards Priscilla Mante & @sha-hab.bsky.social
#KidLitUK

What a…
Photo of authors Priscilla Mante and Jasmine Richards. Both stand, smiling. Jasmine holds a hand bell & wears a Santa hat and is in a long red dress. Priscilla holds a copy of The Other Father Christmas and wears a knee length black/white dress & knee length boots. Surrounding is a bookshop. A back screen shows images from the book. Photo. A man dressed in deep dark red Father Christmas outfit reads from an iPad.
November 11, 2025 at 1:36 PM
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
We’re launching our brand new, first ever, newsletter next week!

Expect:
⭐️special offers from us & our partners ( @theclpe.bsky.social with this 1st issue) ⭐️regular book selection tips and a whole lot more.

⚡️SIGN UP to receive:
letterboxlibrary.com/subscribers
#KidLitUK
a cat peeking out from behind a wall with the words see you soon written below it
Alt: a cat peeking out from behind a wall with the words see you soon written below it
media.tenor.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:16 PM
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
“It is soulful, sumptuous and striking” (Ama Badu).

@unembarrassable.bsky.social is the winner of Faber's FAB Prize with YA verse novel, Bad Queer.
@faberbooks.bsky.social
#FABPrize
#KidLitUK

www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/article...
Faber signs YA verse novel Bad Queer
Author Gayathiri Kamalakanthan is the winner of Faber's FAB Prize
www.bookbrunch.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Reposted by Letterbox Library
vivschwarz.bsky.social
I've heard from some primary school teachers that they're printing their own zines so that the kids have a distraction free object to work through, like worksheets but with pages, and I'm loving it.
November 6, 2025 at 10:04 AM
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
We’re so sorry to hear about the closure of Knights Of.

Set up in 2017,named 2022 Children’s Publisher of the Year,we will sorely miss the “small but mighty” micro-publisher who brought us so many gifts,including the brilliant voice of Elle McNicoll.
#KidLitUK

www.thebookseller.com/news/indepen...
Independent children's publisher Knights Of set to close
Award-winning inclusive children’s publisher Knights Of is set to close, The Bookseller understands, with accountancy firm Hart Shaw instructed to place the company in liquidation, pending a vote of t...
www.thebookseller.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:10 PM
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
It’s time to get excited about the end of year @booksforkeeps.bsky.social issue with its roundups & gift guides.

*And* we get to do a little summary of highlights in UK publishing’s lgbtq+ representations. The highs. The lows.

📻Stay tuned booksforkeeps.co.uk

#KidLitUK
#UKKidLit
Books For Keeps – The Children's Book Magazine Online
booksforkeeps.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Reposted by Letterbox Library
ylglondon.bsky.social
IBBY UK Conference 2025 @ibbyuk.bsky.social
WHOSE HISTORY?
The conference will explore what stories do we tell children about the past and whose lives are considered to be important?
8 Nov 2025 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Open Ealing Arts Centre, W5 2TD
Book tickets at www.tickettailor.com/events/ibbyu...
October 31, 2025 at 11:41 AM
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
Wednesday’s magical launch for @amdassu.bsky.social & @joelillington.bsky.social’s Wild Journey. MG chapter book connecting the lives of 5 children embarking on their own personal journeys.
Pics on Insta
2 gorgeous smiles⬇️
Our review: letterboxlibrary.com/product-page/w…
@zephyrbooks.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 2:01 PM
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
🎅🏿The Other Father Christmas is out in 2 DAYS & it’s gorgeous & if you’re following us on Insta you’ll know how IMPORTANT😉 we think this bucketful of seasonal cheer is (see grid)

@storymix.bsky.social
Jasmine Richards & Priscilla Mante & Shahab Shamshirsaz
@bouncemarketing.bsky.social
#KidLitUK
storymix.bsky.social storymix.bsky.social @storymix.bsky.social · Jul 5
So we did it! The Other Father Christmas has been fully funded on Kickstarter. This means we will definitely be doing the hardback edition in November. Thanks to everyone who pledged and shared! Still time to make late pledges www.kickstarter.com/projects/982...
November 4, 2025 at 1:55 PM
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
…which is my cue to remind you that our current Featured Illustrator is the most excellent @creativedy.bsky.social
#UKKidLit
#KidLitUK
Section of website called “Featured Illustrator”. Goes on to show 5 titles illustrated by Diane Ewen: Keep Smiling I ❤️Me! Hey You! Coming to England Is That Your Mama? All link through to reviews/To Buy buttons on website.
October 30, 2025 at 2:01 PM
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
And if you scroll down our home page like so….⬇️ then you’ll see an invitation to sign up to our newsletter.

Hopefully getting the first one out into the world next month. Get clickety-clicking!
#KidLitUK
#UKKidLit
October 30, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Reposted by Letterbox Library
gitaralleigh.bsky.social
#kidlituk #ukkidlit
Streaming and in person tickets still available!!!
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social Letterbox Library @letterboxlibrary.bsky.social · 16d
Interrogating the tellers of history.

@ibbyuk.bsky.social conf. Saturday 8thNov

🤩starry lineup!🤩
Incl.:
Farrah Serroukh @theclpe.bsky.social
@gitaralleigh.bsky.social
@balirai.bsky.social
@ksandsoconnor.bsky.social
@michaelrosenyes.bsky.social
@darrenchetty.bsky.social
@chrishaughton.bsky.social
ibbyuk.bsky.social IBBY UK @ibbyuk.bsky.social · 18d
📚 What stories do we tell children about the past?
📚 From whose point of view are these stories told?
📚 Whose lives are considered important — and whose are forgotten?
📚 What are historical “facts,” and who gets to interpret them?

We’ll explore these questions at our conference on November 8th!
October 28, 2025 at 9:46 AM
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
A whole month of top notch recommended reads from @clairelinney.bsky.social during #BlackHistoryMonthUK
Go read/follow/enjoy!
#KidLitUK
clairelinney.bsky.social Claire Linney Author @clairelinney.bsky.social · Oct 5
I was going to post a Black book every day this month and here we are on the 5th and I’m only just starting….its been a WEEK! But let’s go. The brilliant 10 Children who changed the world by Paterson Joseph. A wonderful way to bring Black British history to life for kids 9+
10 children who changed the world by Paterson Joseph and in the background the Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho.
October 28, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Reposted by Letterbox Library
lighthousebks.bsky.social
Edinburgh’s Radical Book Fair is NEXT WEEK!

As well as a jam-packed program - over 20 events! - we’re filling Assembly Roxy with BOOKS, community, and publisher stalls.

📚 Stalls feature over 70 publishers & 50 writers speaking - a treasure trove of bookish delights awaits!📚
October 27, 2025 at 5:48 PM
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
1/2 The hazards of representation through animal characters…

“So much for sidestepping human problems. Animal characters don’t just reflect our biases; they often deepen them.” By @mellymeldubs.bsky.social in @booksforkeeps.bsky.social

booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/anim...
#KidLitUK
Animal characters: check your bias – Books For Keeps
booksforkeeps.co.uk
October 28, 2025 at 9:45 AM
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
Interrogating the tellers of history.

@ibbyuk.bsky.social conf. Saturday 8thNov

🤩starry lineup!🤩
Incl.:
Farrah Serroukh @theclpe.bsky.social
@gitaralleigh.bsky.social
@balirai.bsky.social
@ksandsoconnor.bsky.social
@michaelrosenyes.bsky.social
@darrenchetty.bsky.social
@chrishaughton.bsky.social
ibbyuk.bsky.social IBBY UK @ibbyuk.bsky.social · 18d
📚 What stories do we tell children about the past?
📚 From whose point of view are these stories told?
📚 Whose lives are considered important — and whose are forgotten?
📚 What are historical “facts,” and who gets to interpret them?

We’ll explore these questions at our conference on November 8th!
October 28, 2025 at 9:42 AM
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
Handsome-looking new middle grade from @sufiyaahmed.bsky.social set in 19th century London’s East End.
@andersenpress.bsky.social
🙂
#KidLitUK
thebookseller.com The Bookseller @thebookseller.com · 29d
Andersen Press has acquired award-winning author Sufiya Ahmed’s “fast-paced and thrilling” middle-grade adventure, Escape from the Child Snatchers, scheduled for publication on 29th January 2026 👇 #BookSky
Andersen Press snatches Sufiya Ahmed’s 'thrilling' middle-grade adventure
ebx.sh
October 23, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Reposted by Letterbox Library
otterbarrybooks.bsky.social
Happy Publication Day to Ming The Panda! 🐼

A true story of courage and hope from World War II and the London Blitz, with London Zoo’s first
panda at the centre.

Congratulations to Jake Hope and Yu Rong 🤩

#MingthePanda #bookpublication #publicationday #kidsbooks @bouncesalesandmarketing
October 16, 2025 at 8:12 AM
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
Feb 2025 Virginia:
“DoDEA instructed educators and staff to review school collections and remove ‘books potentially related to gender ideology or discriminatory equity ideology topics.’”

Oct 2025:
Judge orders that books are restored ⬇️

#BannedBooks

www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Virginia District Judge Orders DoDEA to Restore School Books
U.S. District Court Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles, of the Eastern District of Virginia, granted a preliminary injunction on October 20 in a censorship case, E.K. v. DoDEA, ordering five schools to ret...
www.publishersweekly.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:06 PM