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CHERUB: The Recruit by Robert Muchamore was published 20 years ago this month by Hodder Children's Books, with a cover and logo designed by David McDougall. This was the start of a long-running series which has sold over 17 million copies worldwide and continues to find new readers today.

Journalist Tom Beasley marks the anniversary with a piece in today's Guardian. "Robert Muchamore’s series of novels about young undercover intelligence operatives with troubled lives shook up the sanitised world of early noughties YA literature".

In an interview for BBC Four documentary The Return of the Hero (2007), Robert discussed the appeal of the books and how he built the series into a bestseller.

#robert muchamore #CHERUB #hodder children's #hachette #fiction #the guardian #video #Youtube #clare pearson literary agent

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Mary Murphy's eagerly-awaited first novel is out now. A Sarah Odedina Book from Pushkin Children's designed by Jet Purdie, The Minute Minders is written and fully illustrated by Mary Murphy.

"The world that Murphy creates is captivating. The Minute Minders is a treat for all ages." ― Patricia Forde, Laureate na nÓg "A fresh take on the 'tiny person' theme with a beautiful empathetic message!" ― Harriet Muncaster, author of the Isadora Moon series “The Minute Minders by Mary Murphy is a funny, sweet fantasy adventure about fidders, tiny people who help humans. Illustrated by Murphy throughout, it’s perfect for age 8+. (Or to read aloud to 7+)” — Sarah Webb "A book with heart and humour and a bit of jeopardy, served up with a light touch and a wink." ― A.F. Harrold

"A timeless classic in the making and so full of heart." — NetGalley reviewer

"A delightful tale full of many messages and themes which would lend itself to being a class story time book. I can't wait to buy my own copy to share with my class as I'm certain they'll enjoy it as much as I did." — NetGalley reviewer

"Now that I have finished this book, I am not just going to leave it on the shelf but will keep reading it over and over again." — Books Up North review by Emaan, aged 7

"‘The Minute Minders’ is a completely captivating, thoroughly enjoyable read, full of warmth and humour ... Stevie is a wonderful character … Her relationship with her father is beautifully captured … Mary Murphy’s world building is brilliant." ― Through the Bookshelf

"Mary Murphy's first chapter book for older readers is a delightful story ... Readers will be transported into a magical world that closely resembles ours ... Highlighting the importance of friendship, this story shows how a little bit of kindness and care can go a long way and how the actions we take, even if just for a minute, can make a world of difference." — Inis Magazine (Children's Books Ireland) review by Elanur Eroglu Williams

"The Minute Minders is a wonderful middle-grade debut novel. A heartwarming and captivating story which is full of adventure, fantasy and empathy. I love the hidden messages throughout about never giving up which will not only support younger readers but educate them as well ... about checking in on people, supporting them and making small changes to improve our mental-wellbeing which is something we could all do with doing even from a young age. The illustrations are just stunning and really help to bring this fabulous story to life. ... The Minute Minders is a perfect book for upper primary libraries and classrooms and is a great match for fans of books by Cressida Cowell, RJ Palacio and Andy Shepherd." — Emma Suffield, blogger, Waterstones Senior Bookseller and SLA School Librarian of the Year 2018

"With soft pencil illustrations throughout, Murphy’s first longer book for older readers has the cosy feel of a new classic." ― The Irish Examiner

"The Minute Minders, a richly imaginative tale from Mary Murphy, takes the ‘little person’ framework and imbues it with new life. ... Some children’s books prove especially hard acts to follow. Any story about tiny people secretly interacting with human beings, for example, is fated to draw comparisons with Mary Norton’s beloved series The Borrowers (1952), which told the story of a family of such people who live clandestinely in the walls and floor of an old English house. ("Borrowers don’t steal… except from human beings.") The Minute Minders, an enchanting debut novel by Mary Murphy, is also about tiny people – and it is to Murphy’s great credit that it doesn’t feel borrowed at all." ― The Telegraph; review by Emily Bearn, 17th January 2024

"This is the first book in a series, told through Stevie's frank and funny voice." — The Week Junior; Book of the Week review, 27th January 2024

"In the tradition of Borrowers, Minpins and flits, fidders are tiny people who live alongside humans. But fidders are there expressly to help, putting thoughts into heads to nudge people in directions that will make them happy, fulfil their dreams, save their lives. They can also communicate with cats and dogs, and they have various jobs: some reveal truth, some inspire creativity, and “minute minders” have one minute to solve problems. Stevie is a ten-year-old fidder who lives with her dad, and gets him into trouble by breaking the rules of interactions with humans, which leads to tasks on which their livelihood and dream holiday depend. These include helping two lonely children to find each other and deal with a bully. This delightful book has empathy, sweet pictures, a virtuoso meta ending, and a good deal of wise advice." — The Sunday Times best books for children 2024; Children's Book of the Week review by Nicolette Jones, 28th January

#mary murphy #the minute minders #fiction #book illustration #pushkin press #pushkin children's #reviews #an chomhairle ealaíon #the irish examiner #children's books ireland #the telegraph #the sunday times #the week junior #clare pearson literary agent

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Lizzie & Lucky: The Mystery of the Lost Chicken by Megan Rix, illustrated by Tim Budgen (Puffin), is on the shortlist of the inaugural Inclusive Books for Children Awards, announced today! The winners in each of three age categories will be announced at a ceremony at the Barbican Centre in London on 28th February.

Megan Rix introduces her shortlisted title in British sign language in this video:

#megan rix #fiction #puffin #penguin random house #inclusive books for children #british sign language #book awards #clare pearson literary agent #Youtube #video

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Author-illustrator Mary Murphy has two very different books out this month. The first, published today, is I Love You (Happy Yak / Quarto), with artwork from the book gracing the cover of Inis magazine's January 2024 issue.

“Here is a simply gorgeous and gorgeously simple book that celebrates all the things that make life worthwhile. … An endearing pair of pandas express their affection by comparing their feelings for one another to those elicited by all the other things they love. We see all that is important to them, and we are never in doubt of how important they are to one another. ... The intricacies that compose an ordinary day are applauded. This book feels joyous and genuine, and its brilliant ‘small things’ are placed at the centre of the story, highlighting how they are in fact big things for small people, and should really be considered huge for all of us. … The last line brought a tear to my eye. … A remarkably lyrical and profound book, certain to delight young readers and warm the hearts of older ones. I will be buying this for new babies from now on.” — Children’s Books Ireland review by Ciara O’Hara of I Love You by Mary Murphy; Inis magazine Issue 70

More soon on Mary Murphy's middle grade novel The Minute Minders, due from Pushkin Children's Books on 18th January.

#mary murphy #discover Irish children's books #children's books ireland #book illustration #picture books #quarto #happy yak #clare pearson literary agent

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Radha beautifully translates young fiction title Lizzie & Lucky: the Mystery of the Missing Puppies (Puffin) into British Sign Language. Championed by deaf author Megan Rix, herself a BSL user, this video was made by the Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD) with support from the Arts Council. 

The fourth book in the Lizzie & Lucky series is published today by Puffin, with illustrations by Tim Budgen. 

Also celebrating its launch today is the new Inclusive Books for Children (IBC) website (as reported in The Guardian). The first Lizzie & Lucky title has been selected as a Top Pick, featuring in two Top 10 booklists.

#megan rix #puffin #fiction #penguin random house #video #clare pearson literary agent

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Michael Catchpool’s latest picture book is a Booktrust pick for November 2022.

‘Funny and charming, this book is simply super!’ is Booktrust’s verdict on SuperJoe Does NOT Say Sorry by Michael Catchpool, illustrated by Emma Proctor (Lantana).

The book is a companion volume to SuperJoe Does NOT Do Cuddles, read here by Michael Catchpool for the Lantana book club.

Watch a clip of actor and musician Tom Moutchi’s new reading for the Tata Storytime programme.

#michael catchpool #lantana #picture books #tata storytime #video #clare pearson literary agent

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Valerie Bloom’s Stars with Flaming Tails illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max (Otter-Barry Books), has won the CLiPPA, the UK’s leading award for published poetry for children.

Poet Philip Gross, chair of the judges, said: “Stars with Flaming Tails is like a passport to the whole world, and beyond. This is poetry that can go anywhere, from the personal to the planetary, the surreal to the scientific, with its invitation to us all to look, and to laugh, to listen to our feelings, and to think. And meanwhile, almost without noticing it, we’re being handed the keys to the craft of writing for ourselves.”

Louise Johns-Shepherd, CLPE chief executive, said: “Valerie’s inspiring collection invites children to engage with poetry in so many different ways and speaks beautifully to all realms of human experience. It deserves to be in every book corner and library in the land.“

Stars with Flaming Tails was previously selected for EmpathyLab’s Read for Empathy Collection 2022, and longlisted for the UKLA Award. On publication last year it was selected by Imogen Russell Williams as a Guardian Book of the Month. 

Click here to watch the CLiPPA Poetry Show and award ceremony at the Southbank Centre, with performances from children whose schools took part in the CLPE Shadowing Scheme, as well as performances from event host Michael Rosen and the shortlisted poets Kate Wakeling, Laura Mucha, Matt Goodfellow, Liz Brownlee, Manjeet Mann and Valerie Bloom.

Click here for a teaching resource and for video and audio clips from the Stars with Flaming Tails launch event in 2021, hosted by Manchester Poetry Library.

#valerie bloom #poetry #otter-barry books #video #clpe #the bookseller #the guardian #book of the month #book launch #clare pearson literary agent

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Megan Rix and Valerie Bloom feature in Booktrust’s Great Books Guide 2021, both in the 6-7 years category.

#megan rix #fiction #puffin #valerie bloom #poetry #otter-barry books #books of the year #book award #clare pearson literary agent

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Published by Puffin, with black and white illustrations throughout by Tim Budgen, a new series starring Deaf protagonist Lizzie and her Dalmatian pup Lucky is inspired by Megan Rix’s experience of living with partial deafness since childhood.

“Nothing stops me. Ever”: How Megan Rix was inspired to create a Deaf heroine – Booktrust

Puffin to publish animal detective series for younger readers by Megan Rix – The Bookseller

#megan rix #puffin #fiction #penguin random house #the bookseller #booktrust #clare pearson literary agent

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Robert Muchamore’s Robin Hood is a Guardian Book of the Month, a Booktrust pick for ‘Books we love in May 2020′ and a featured title in The Times Literary Supplement’s ‘Lockdown reading for anxious children’.

#robert muchamore #robert muchamore's robin hood #hot key books #fiction #the guardian #booktrust #TLS #book of the month #clare pearson literary agent

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Robert Muchamore has transplanted Robin Hood to the 2020s (The Bookseller), with a live-launch of the first book in his new series on YouTube.

Praised for delivering thrills and laughs while retaining an ethical debate at its core, Robin Hood: Hacking, Heists and Flaming Arrows (Hot Key Books) is The Times Children’s Book of the Week, and has already attracted excellent reviews.

“Muchamore writes with tremendous energy and his dialogue flies as fast as Robin’s arrows ... A new series that strikes the bullseye.” – Alex O’Connell in The Times.

“Muchamore’s thrilling Cherub spy stories have entranced a generation of teens and now he’s launching an equally robust contemporary adventure series based on the Robin Hood legend. The town of Locksley, riven by unemployment and poverty, is run by wealthy criminal gang boss Guy Gisborne and his sidekick, Sheriff Marjorie. When Robin’s dad is fitted up by Gisborne and arrested, 12-year-old Robin flees to Sherwood Forest armed only with his rare combination of skills: computer hacking and brilliant archery. He’s rescued by a band of refugees and rebels, led by Marion, who have built a forest counter-culture. They plot revenge and the action, flying with the pace of a speeding arrow. This is classic Muchamore: witty characters, clever twists and high-tech gadgetry. This scores a bullseye.” – Sally Morris in the Daily Mail.

The book is available in eBook and Audiobook editions, and to order online in paperback from retailers including Hive, Amazon, and Waterstones whose verdict is, “Thrilling and imaginative, Robin Hood is Muchamore at his finest.”

In a Q&A to mark the launch, Robert says: “Stories are hard wired into our brains. We even make them up in dreams as we sleep. For kids, fictional worlds are a sandbox where they get to explore what is right and what might be possible.” 

Read the full interview on the World Book Day website.

#robert muchamore #robert muchamore's robin hood #hot key books #fiction #the bookseller #the daily mail #book of the week #the times #video #book launch #clare pearson literary agent

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Mary Murphy rounds off the final day of the Children’s Books Ireland International Conference 2019 in Dublin, speaking on the conference theme of ‘Belonging’, and unveiling two forthcoming picture books.

#mary murphy #book illustration #picture books #children's books ireland #walker books #otter-barry books #clare pearson literary agent

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Guidance by Valerie Bloom MBE, from the CLPE poetry treasure trove.

#valerie bloom #poetry #video #clpe #bloomsbury #clare pearson

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Robert Muchamore’s Arctic Zoo is Children’s Book of the Week in The Times. Alex O’Connell calls Arctic Zoo ‘an addictive new stand-alone story for teenagers that interrogates gay rights, political activism, the wealth divide and the mental health system … Muchamore, with pacing and finesse, ensures we are absorbed in two worlds that have nods to each other without being twinned tenuously.’

In Happiful Magazine, Bonnie Evie Gifford calls the book ‘A perfectly paced thriller ... written from a place of experience and compassion’.

#robert muchamore #the times #book of the week #happiful #hot key books #fiction #clare pearson literary agent

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Lovely feature article on Mary Murphy in Inis Magazine’s July edition, written by Mags Walsh.

“It is the completeness and certainty of her work that makes her one of Ireland’s best picture book makers. Readers big and small feel held by her stories in the same way a child feels held by a parent. There are no sudden drops or big swerves but there is a steady and confident unfolding. You want to take the journey she creates repeatedly because it is so solid in its construction and so perfect in its execution that you’d rather be nowhere else but dancing with her books.”

Mary will be the closing speaker at the Children’s Books Ireland International Conference 2019 in September.

#mary murphy #inis magazine #interview #picture books #book illustration #children's books ireland #walker books #otter-barry books #clare pearson literary agent

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The Time Travel Diaries by Caroline Lawrence is Nicolette Jones’ Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Week.

To celebrate the launch, Caroline will be doing family sessions at The London Mithraeum and a livestream event at the Museum of London.

The Time Travel Diaries is also one of Books for Keeps magazine’s Books of the Year 2019. Read the five-star BfK review, or watch Waterstones bookseller Rhiannon Tripp’s YouTube review.

#caroline lawrence #piccadilly press #fiction #book of the week #books of the year #starred review #book launch #the times #books for keeps #museum of london #waterstones #video #clare pearson literary agent

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Caroline Lawrence shares her revelations about ‘writing on the right side of the brain’, along with tricks, tropes, and insights about story structure gleaned from Hollywood screenwriters and filmmakers. Out on 22nd August, with black and white illustrations by Linzie Hunter, this book is aimed at storytellers of any age – adults as well as children – and promises to be a great resource for teachers.

#caroline lawrence #cover reveal #piccadilly press #non-fiction #clare pearson literary agent