Children’s and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels
A tender-hearted knight; a malodorous mutt; a very mean goose; the last dragon on earth; enemies-to-lovers romance and more
February 2020
Picture books for children – reviews
Flora and fauna loom large as authors incorporate issues around the climate crisis
November 2019
Meet Simone Lia, cartoonist and champion of the humble worm
The Observer’s comic-strip artist on her new children’s book and her obsession with invertebrates
October 2019
How I fell in love with ...
Most people avoid ugly animals. I'm obsessed with them
Sami Bayly
Growing up in rural Australia, I found joy in the weird creatures around me – and finding out why they had evolved that way. Now I’ve illustrated a whole children’s book about them
January 2019
Robert Macfarlane: how The Lost Words became songs to save the countryside
It has comforted the downtrodden, inspired Britain’s schoolchildren and even been sprayed as graffiti. Now, the book has shifted shape again – into music
December 2018
Further reading
Love, hate and hypocrisy: the best books about animals and humans
Author Aminatta Forna recommends a canine history by Konrad Lorenz, and Karen Joy Fowler’s novel about a family that raises a chimp, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves
August 2017
Children's book of the week
This Zoo Is Not for You by Ross Collins review – an irresistible pleasure
This beautifully illustrated tale of a put-upon platypus is given extra bite by the author’s mischievous sense of humour
July 2017
Children's book reviews round-up
Picture books for children reviews – from old hats to new homes
Neil Gaiman’s pearl-eyed princess and a magical tale of moving house are among the best illustrated reads for kids this summer
April 2017
Children's book reviews round-up
Picture books for children reviews – penguins, pythons and presidents
This year’s Easter treats swap chocolate eggs for philosophy, and fluffy chicks for JFK, but are no less touching or hilarious for it
November 2016
Children's book reviews round-up
Picture books for children reviews – something to chirp about
A classic song leaps from the page while a baby bunny throws a monster tantrum… the pick of the titles for younger readers
July 2016
Children's book reviews round-up
Fiction for older children reviews – half-dead and dead funny
Horrid Henry author Francesca Simon fleshes out her teenage queen of hell, while Frank Cottrell Boyce’s screwball comedy has depth
Children's book roundup
Children’s picture book reviews – when tired animals are the dream ticket
Flooding causes problems for a tidy badger, a dog leads a book thief to the library and it’s bedtime for bears…
Children's books
Animal Farm by George Orwell - review
Pirate Bones: ‘This book is set in a future when animals are much cleverer than now and the pigs start a revolution’
June 2016
Children's books
Top 10 great foxes in children’s books
Children's books
Top 10 tigers in children's books
Children's books
Zoo Boy by Sophie Thompson – review
Children's books
Time Travelling With a Hamster by Ross Welford – review
