Category Archives: Kids

07/03/2025 · 15:21

Felix has a double problem

Eleven-year-old Felix Twain’s life revolves around TWO. He skips every second step when he takes the stairs, he taps door handles twice and positions objects in pairs. The problem has become so bad that Felix, who suffers from autism and OCD, is on the verge of being expelled. The principal has had enough of trying to run the school around his pupil’s very specific rules.

Then Charlie Pye arrives and turns Felix world upside down. She’s grown up with very few rules – of which two wasn’t a part. She eats cereal for lunch, calls a boat home, and has a very loose interpretation of school uniform. The question is, can Felix ever learn to be wrong when he is so obsessed with being right.

This is a new edition of a bestselling title by Sally Harris and illustrated by Maria Serrano, which includes a whole new section on how to make a comic. Compiled by the husband and wife team behind Quickdraw Stories, it shows how readers can easily learn how to create their own version – like Felix Twain and Charlie Pye do in the story!

Double Felix is for 7+ and published by Wacky Bee Books

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Filed under Kids, Writing for Kids

25/08/2021 · 20:07

Sad end to ‘The Worst Witch’

Saddened to hear of the recent death, at the age of 72, of Jill Murphy, author of The Worst Witch books.

First published in 1974, the series reached its eighth instalment in 2018. The books were adapted for TV in the 80s and later for the stage. She also wrote the wonderful books, The Large Family, about Mrs Large (an elephant of course) and her offspring. My peronal favourite is Five Minute’s Peace, where Mrs Large attempts a hot, foamy bubble bath and takes her breakfast and a newspaper. Away from her boisterous children she relaxes, but her plan is short-lived.

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Filed under Kids, Readers

25/04/2013 · 22:47

LBF 2013 – Worth the wait

A little late reporting this, but just some brief comments on a great London Book Fair. Fascinating to see the digital section continuing to eat up more and more floor space. PEN, as usual, hosted a great range of interviews, but sometimes difficult to hear with the Russians opposite trying to shout down the speaker for their own benefit.

Always a delight to talk to Louise Jordan of the Writers’ Advice Centre for Children’s Books. She’s a mine of information & comment. Always keen to meet new people so well worth potential writers checking her website www.writersadvice.co.uk This has nothing to do with the never-ending bowl of chocolates she had on her stand!

Can there be a market for all the books on display in the Children’s Zone. Judging by visitor interest and the packed talks in the Children’s Innovation Theatre, certainly.

Swedish Made

It’s always interesting to talk with overseas publishers – in this case Fill and Tell AB over from their offices in Sweden. Stand manager Katrine Konar introduced me to Låba – a wonderful little character who endeared himself to me straight away.

These little interactive books, featuring Fredrik Einvall’s illustrations, were magic. Perhaps a distributor over here will find him quirky enough to take on board. Let’s hope their visit to LBF 2013 was worthwhile and we see them all back again next year.

Booki Reader

Watch out for this 8″ touch-screen e-reader aimed at 2 to 6 year olds. It should be hitting the marketplace in September. Shaped like a bear it includes voice recording and comes with 30 titles pre-installed. It’s Android based with 8Gb of flash memory check out www.bookiworld.com

Cup Cake Mania

Our insatiable appetite for cup cakes brought eager visitors to Make Believe Ideas stand who were promoting Camilla the Cupcake Fairy as well as an enchanting Mouston Abbey book . Their spring catalogue features some amazing sticker books complete with carrying handles!

LBF 2013 D755 a