explore | Grilled Cheese

@hejparry.bsky.social Oct 15, 2026, 6:12 PM

Every Wednesday (erm Thursday!), I will post a children’s book I’ve enjoyed.

If you’ve read it too, or you want to share another book, join in!

Kòkú Àkànbí: The Heart of Midnight, by Maria Motúnráyò Àdébísí, illus by Simone Douglas.

Alt text for why I like it.

#ukkidlit #kidlituk #middlegrade

Photograph of my hand holding a copy of Kòkú Àkànbí: The Heart of Midnight, by Maria Motúnráyò Àdébísí, illustrated by Simone Douglas, against a red wall. The cover illustration shows a boy in a hoodie, half black and half red, holding out his hand while behind him a hyena runs past. Twisting around the edges are shadowy black hands.
Well this was a delight! After accidentally unleashing a demon on a school trip, Kòkú is sent off to his birthplace, the Yoruba land of Olori, which he hasn’t set foot in since his mother died.
Good news! Olori is full of magic!
Bad news! Night has been almost entirely banished, so plants and animals are dying.
Soon Kòkú is on a quest to restore darkness. With warrior Móremí and shapeshifter Òșóòsí, he faces ancient monsters, while fleeing assassins and struggling to control his own shadowy powers.
It’s not often that a fantasy adventure is funny as well as exciting, Kòkú’s deadpan narrative made me, a curmudgeon, lol repeatedly. I loved the voices of Motúnráyò Àdébísí’s characters, so lively and full of personality, Kòkú’s gradual discovery of himself, and the use of Yoruban mythology. It's original and fun and just brilliantly done. One of those books you want to press into people's hands.
I can’t remember which wise person recommended it to me, but thank you! Now, I recommend it wholeheartedly to you.

@scoobiesue2.bsky.social Oct 15, 2026, 5:44 PM

Today's review...'Something in the Darkness' @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social illustrated by Matt Schu @postwavebooks.bsky.social
Love this one! #KidLitUK
www.throughthebookshelf.com/reviews/something-in-the-darkness

@hejparry.bsky.social Oct 15, 2026, 4:10 PM

Astonished in the nicest possible way to find A Scrap of Moss & Magick is the critic's choice of the week for children's books!

Thank you very much Emily Bearn for your kind words!

#ukkidlit #kidlituk

@jacquisydney.bsky.social Oct 15, 2026, 2:44 PM

Love me a story set in Tudor times and I’m thrilled to have been sent a copy of Time Travel Twins: The Tudor Execution by Josh Lacey, illustrated by Garry Parsons.

Out 19/11 for 8+ readers, enormous thanks go to Jade @andersenpress.bsky.social

#KidlitUK #UKKidlit

The book held in front of a bush. The cover shows a girl in dark red Tudor dress sitting in a small boat in front of a bridge over the Thames covered in buildings on the left and a boy in Tudor clothes holding an axe in front of the Tower of London on the right.

@jacquisydney.bsky.social Oct 15, 2026, 2:37 PM

Out now for 5+ readers, chapter book Jolly Monster Town: The Treasure Hunt by Rong Rong looks like huge fun 😀

Huge thanks go to Sîan @nosycrow.bsky.social

#KidlitUK #UKKidlit

The book held in front of a bush. The yellow cover shows lots of brightly coloured monsters having fun.

@gitaralleigh.bsky.social Oct 15, 2026, 8:54 AM

#ukkidlt #kidlituk @ibbyuk.bsky.social #defendingfreedom

@kitbutlermagster.bsky.social Oct 15, 2026, 6:11 AM

PRE- ORDERS AVAILABLE!🚨
You can pre-order your copy of Magster's new adventure- Magster and the Mardi Gras Graveyard direct from the Troubador bookshop or sites like:
Bookshop.org.UK
Foyles
Waterstones
Check out snippets from an early review by @jacquisydney.bsky.social below.

#ukkidlit #kidlituk

@studionib.bsky.social Oct 14, 2026, 9:31 PM

Day 14 of #inktober2026, and the prompt word is LADY.
Something different tonight - a character from a recent as-yet-unpublished picture book dummy. There is a story with this!
#Inktober #Inktober_LADY #kidlitART #kidlitUK

@scoobiesue2.bsky.social Oct 14, 2026, 5:57 PM

Today's review...'The Animal Queendom: A Celebration of Nature’s Fearless Females' by Catherine Blackledge, illustrated by Kasia Bogdanska @nosycrow.bsky.social
Absolutely fascinating! #KidLitUK
www.throughthebookshelf.com/reviews/the-animal-queendom

@jacquisydney.bsky.social Oct 14, 2026, 3:00 PM

Very excited to have been sent a copy of The Girl Who Raced the World: Journey into the Jungle by Nat Harrison 🌍

Out 22/10 for 9+ readers, enormous thanks go to Hiromi @piccadilly-press.bsky.social

#KidlitUK #UKKidlit

The book, held in front of a bush in my garden. The cover shows a girl wearing a green shirt-sleeved jacket and brown trousers tucked into knee-high boots standing next to a dog in jungle on the bank of a large body of water holding a hat.

@jacquisydney.bsky.social Oct 14, 2026, 2:53 PM

Constellations: Stories in the Stars by Anne Jankéliowitch, illustrated by Sarah Andreacchio, looks like a wonderful read for budding astronomers 🌟

Out now for 8+ readers, huge thanks go to @antswilkinson.bsky.social @barefootbooks.bsky.social

#KidlitUK #UKKidlit

The book lying on my lawn. The black cover shows various pictures of constellations printed over the things they are said to resemble (eg a dragon or bear).

@lawrenceschimel.bsky.social Oct 14, 2026, 2:24 PM

#kidlituk #ukkidlit

@fleurhitchcock.bsky.social Oct 14, 2026, 2:06 PM

#ukkidlit #kidlituk

@letterboxlibrary.bsky.social Oct 14, 2026, 12:35 PM

Catching up with these #MostlyBookTalk NYR episodes!

Recommending to you all this convo with Andrew McC from @engmediacentre.bsky.social discussing shifts in English teaching, their unique CPD course &their own publications,including short story anthologies pitched perfectly to secondary.
#KidLitUK

@joshuaseigal.bsky.social Oct 14, 2026, 11:55 AM

I've just added THREE BRAND NEW POEMS to my website - see if you can find them! Read those poems, along with many others, for FREE: www.joshuaseigal.co.uk Do please share! #EduSky #KidLit #KidLitUK #PoetryCommunity

@gitaralleigh.bsky.social Oct 14, 2026, 8:58 AM

Please do join @ibbyuk.bsky.social to hear amazing David Roberts author/ illustrator of 'We Are Your Children' our opening keynote! Copies will be available from bookseller @letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
Tickets: www.tickettailor.com/events/ibbyu... #ukkidlit #kidlituk #lgbtq+kids #defendingfreedom

David Roberts KEYNOTE GRAPHIC IBBY conference.

@gitaralleigh.bsky.social Oct 14, 2026, 8:24 AM

#ukkidlit #kidlituk

@studionib.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 7:03 PM

Day 13 of #inktober2026, and the prompt word is FLIMSY.
#Inktober #Inktober_FLIMSY #kidlitART #kidlitUK

@kitbutlermagster.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 4:46 PM

🚨NEW MAGSTER STOCKIST🚨
A pleasure to announce that the brand new independent bookshop THE BOOK BURROW, in the beautiful town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, is carrying both current Magster books.

Do pop in if you are in the area. A lovely little shop, with a big range of titles.

#ukkidlit #kidlituk

@scoobiesue2.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 4:44 PM

Today's review...'Hank Goes Ho Ho Honk' by Maudie Powell-Tuck, illustrated by Duncan Beedie @littletigeruk.bsky.social
Another fab story about Hank, everyone’s favourite obnoxious goose! #KidLitUK
www.throughthebookshelf.com/reviews/hank-goes-ho-ho-honk