Tuva Kahrs,

From The Lord of the Rings to A Game of Thrones and Marvel’s Thor, the Old Norse myths still resonate. Oxford academic Carolyne Larrington introduces her favourite Norse mythology books, and explains how the powerful old stories increasingly inspire modern retellings.

A long road trip is the perfect opportunity for children and adults to listen to a good story together. Children’s audiobook expert Emily Connelly, Associate Editor at AudioFile magazine, brings you her selection of the best audiobooks for a family road trip.

The Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize recognises the best science books for under 14s. Professor Dorothy Bishop, psychologist and chair of the 2024 judging panel, introduces the wonderful titles on this year’s shortlist and explains why she thinks they will inspire children to become scientists.

In recent years there has been a steady flow of JRR Tolkien books published posthumously. If you liked The Lord of the Rings and are wondering what to read next, 16 year old Valentin guides you through some of his other favourite books set in the vast world that Tolkien created.

From the USA to Germany to China, audiobooks are growing in popularity, especially with young people. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talks us through her selection of the five best audiobooks for children and teens in 2023.

What makes a picture book book stand out? Ella Beech, the artist who has just completed a beautiful new edition of The Night Before Christmas for the Folio Society, talks us through some of her favourite illustrated books for kids.

Thrillers for teens have to be fast paced, exciting and entertaining, argues Kathryn Foxfield, author of YA thriller Good Girls Die First. She recommends some of her favourite teen thrillers, from books published this year to classics of the genre.

The judges of the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize look for books that explain high quality science in an engaging and accessible way. Neuroscientist Usha Goswami, chair of the 2023 judging panel, explains why it is important to get children excited about science via books, and introduces us to the fabulous titles that made this year’s shortlist.

At its core, every young adult book is about figuring out who you are and what your place in the world is, argues Elizabeth Wein, author of numerous books for children and young adults. She introduces the concept of ‘third culture kids’—children who are at home both everywhere and nowhere.

Even as kids become old enough to read books without pictures, reading a graphic novel is a great way to relax or get a grasp of a complex subject (like quantum physics). 11 year old Harald, an avid reader, recommends some of the best ones he’s read that other kids his age might also enjoy.