Interviewer

Tuva Kahrs, Children's Editor
Tuva is children’s editor of Five Books. Originally from Norway, she is now based in Scotland. She graduated from Oxford University where she specialised in classical Japanese poetry, and has a Master’s from the London School of Economics. She worked in international relations in Beijing and at energy research institute in Seoul before turning her attention to something much more important: children’s books. As well as interviews with authors and experts, she keeps an eye on new books coming out to bring you carefully compiled lists: the best kids’ books of 2023 and the best teen books of 2023. Her other editor’s picks can be found here.
Interviews by Tuva Kahrs
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1
One Chance Dance
by Efua Traoré -
2
Vita and the Gladiator
by Ally Sherrick -
3
Glow: The Wild Wonders of Bioluminescence
Jennifer N. R. Smith, Dr. Edith Widder (consultant) -
4
The Way of Dog
Zana Fraillon, Sean Buckingham (illustrator) -
5
The Kingdom over the Sea
Zohra Nabi, Tom Clohosy Cole (illustrator)
The Best Kids’ Books of 2023, recommended by Our Children's Editor
The Best Kids’ Books of 2023, recommended by Our Children's Editor
Every year Tuva Kahrs, our children’s editor, keeps an eye out for the best kids’ books as they’re published, picking out books that are good enough to meet her rigorous standards. Here are the books, a mixture of novels and nonfiction, that have made her 2023 list (so far).
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1
Persepolis
by Marjane Satrapi -
2
The Legend of Sally Jones
Jakob Wegelius, translated by Peter Graves -
3
Mysteries of the Quantum Universe
Thibault Damour, Mathieu Burniat, translated by Sarah-Louise Raillard -
4
Kariba
by Daniel Clarke, Daniel Snaddon & James Clarke -
5
Northern Lights - The Graphic Novel: Volume One
Philip Pullman, adapted by Stéphane Melchior, illustrated by Clément Oubrerie, translated by Annie Eaton
The Best Graphic Novels for 10-12 Year Olds, recommended by Harald
The Best Graphic Novels for 10-12 Year Olds, recommended by Harald
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.
The Best Historical Fiction for 8-12 Year Olds, recommended by Catherine Johnson
There is some fabulous historical fiction out there for 8-12 year olds, some of it old, some of it new. British novelist Catherine Johnson, author of a number of historical novels for kids and young adults, recommends some of the best—from short stories to epics and from straight historical novels to those with a strong dose of fantasy and magic.
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1
Polonius the Pit Pony
Richard O'Neill, Feronia Parker Thomas (illustrator) -
2
The Lost Homework
Richard O'Neill, Kirsti Beautyman (illustrator) -
3
The Can Caravan
Richard O'Neill, Cindy Kang (illustrator) -
4
The Show Must Go On
Richard O'Neill, Michelle Russell, Mitch Miller (illustrator) -
5
A Different Kind of Freedom: A Romani Story
by Richard O'Neill
Traveller Books for Kids, recommended by Richard O'Neill
Traveller Books for Kids, recommended by Richard O'Neill
A storyteller from a nomadic Romani family, Richard O’Neill has been telling stories since he was a child. Here, he talks us through five books he’s written for kids. He emphasizes the importance for children of seeing themselves reflected in books, as well as the need for authentic writing about Gypsy and Traveller communities.
The Best Science Fiction Books for 8-12 Year Olds, recommended by Dan Smith
There needs to be a lot more sci-fi for kids, especially if it’s got a good dose of horror, argues Dan Smith, author of the sci-fi mystery series Crooked Oak. He recommends five works of science fiction for 8 to 12 year olds, from books written more than half a century ago to more recent jewels.
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1
Winning Chess Strategy (for Kids)
Jeff Coakley, Antoine Duff (illustrator) -
2
Steps Method chess workbooks
by Rob Brunia and Cor van Wijgerden -
3
Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess
Bobby Fischer, Stuart Margulies, Donn Mosenfelder -
4
Chess for Tigers
Simon Webb, Edward McLachlan (illustrator) -
5
The Chess Player's Bible
James Eade, Al Lawrence, Carol & John Woodcock (illustrators)
Best Chess Books for Beginners, recommended by Andrew Green
Best Chess Books for Beginners, recommended by Andrew Green
Chess is one of the most enduringly popular games in the world, transcending language barriers and teaching valuable life skills. Chess teacher and master Andrew Green recommends books (plus a few websites) to help beginners of all ages learn the game.
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1
A Is for Oboe: The Orchestra's Alphabet
by Lera Auerbach, Marilyn Nelson, Paul Hoppe (illustrator) & Thomas Quasthoff (narrator) -
2
A Different Pond
by Bao Phi & Thi Bui (illustrator) -
3
The Last Mapmaker
by Christina Soontornvat & Sura Siu (narrator) -
4
What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix
Tasha Suri, narrated by Becca Hirani and Alex Williams -
5
All My Rage
Sabaa Tahir, narrated by Deepti Gupta, Kamran R. Khan and Kausar Mohammed
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2022, recommended by Emily Connelly
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2022, recommended by Emily Connelly
As audiobooks for kids continue to grow in popularity, AudioFile’s Emily Connelly explains some of the reasons why, and talks us through her pick of the five best audiobooks for kids and teens of 2022.
Best Horror Novels for 9-12 Year Olds, recommended by Jennifer Killick
Adults sometimes worry that horror novels are too scary for children, but children’s author Jennifer Killick is a fan. Here she picks out five fantastic horror books for 9-12 year olds and explains that in addition to the sheer fun of reading a thriller, horror books can help kids develop courage and often appeal to reluctant readers.
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1
How Was That Built? The Stories Behind Awesome Structures
Roma Agrawal, Katie Hickey (illustrator) -
2
Microbe Wars: Humanity's Biggest Battles with the World's Smallest Life-Forms
by Gill Arbuthnott & Marianna Madriz (illustrator) -
3
Fourteen Wolves: A Rewilding Story
by Catherine Barr & Jenni Desmond (illustrator) -
4
Fantastically Great Women Scientists and their Stories
by Kate Pankhurst -
5
If the World Were 100 People
Jackie McCann, Aaron Cushley (illustrator) -
6
Beetles for Breakfast and Other Weird and Wonderful Ways to Save the Planet
Madeleine Finlay, Jisu Choi (illustrator)
Best Science Books for Children: the 2022 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Alan Wilson
Best Science Books for Children: the 2022 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Alan Wilson
The Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize celebrates books that stimulate children’s curiosity and enthusiasm to explore, innovate and debate. Alan Wilson, Chair of this year’s judging panel, talks us through the six outstanding science books for kids that made the 2022 shortlist.
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1
Philosophy: A Visual Encyclopedia
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2
Children's Book of Philosophy: An Introduction to the World's Great Thinkers and Their Big Ideas
Sarah Tomley & Marcus Weeks -
3
Big Thinkers and Big Ideas: An Introduction to Eastern and Western Philosophy for Kids
by Sharon Kaye & Tara Sunil Thomas (illustrator) -
4
Big Ideas for Young Thinkers: 20 Questions about Life and the Universe
Jamia Wilson & Andrea Pippins (illustrator) -
5
Think about It! Philosophy for Kids: Key Ideas Clearly Explained
Alex Woolf, Daniel O'Brien, Olivia Daisy Coles (illustrator)
The Best Philosophy Books for 8-13 Year Olds, recommended by Zara
The Best Philosophy Books for 8-13 Year Olds, recommended by Zara
Zara, age 12, is an avid reader of philosophy books. Here she shares her favourite picks, and gives adults some tips on selecting the best books to get kids interested in philosophy.
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1
Library Lion
Michelle Knudsen, Kevin Hawkes (illustrator) -
2
Write to Me
Cynthia Grady, Amiko Hirao (illustrator) -
3
Tomás and the Library Lady
by Pat Mora & Raul Colón (illustrator) -
4
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
William Joyce, Joe Bluhm (illustrator) -
5
The Lonely Book
Kate Bernheimer, Chris Sheban (illustrator)
The Best Books about Libraries for 4-8 Year Olds, recommended by Bahram Rahman
The Best Books about Libraries for 4-8 Year Olds, recommended by Bahram Rahman
Libraries provide a space for children to read for pleasure and discover the transformative power of books. Children’s author Bahram Rahman shares his favourite picture books about libraries for children age 4-8, and explains why book-recommending algorithms cannot replace librarians.
The Best Finance Books for Teens and Young Adults, recommended by Darren Collins
Financial literacy is an essential life skill, but it is not routinely taught at school and not everybody has good role models to look to for financial behaviour. Reading can certainly help. Finance teacher Darren Collins recommends his top books for teens and young adults to learn the fundamentals for making sound personal finance decisions in life.
The Best Ocean Novels for 10-14 Year Olds, recommended by Helen Scales
Marine biologist Helen Scales reflects on the power of stories to bring all kinds of readers into the ocean realm. She recommends books for children and young adults, and explains why her selection focuses on novels for readers age 10-14.
Best Verse Novels for 8-12 Year Olds, recommended by Alison King
Verse fiction gets to the heart of a story without much text, the immediacy of the characters and the storyline making it instantly appealing to readers, including reluctant ones. Here, school librarian Alison King explains why everyone should read verse novels, and recommends her top picks for 8-12 year olds.
Great Teen Reads from Ireland’s Great Reads Awards, recommended by Breege O'Brien
Every year teenagers in Ireland show their enthusiasm for reading quality young adult fiction by voting for their favourite new Irish and international novels. Great Reads Award panellist Breege O’Brien highlights her top teen reads from recent years’ shortlists.
The Best Baby Books, recommended by Barbara Band
Barbara Band, librarian and former President of the UK’s Library and Information Association, explains why reading aloud for babies is not only a great bonding experience but also an important part of early childhood development. She shares some tips on reading with babies and introduces her top baby book recommendations.
The Best LGBT Novels for Young Adults, recommended by Cassie Kemp
Good books for teens and young adults are often about identity and figuring out who you are. Novels with LGBTQ+ characters are some of the best examples of (fictional) young people learning to be themselves while navigating the world. Here, librarian Cassie Kemp shares her top picks of LGBT novels for teens and young adults.
The best books on Fashion for Kids, recommended by Eunice Olumide
Model, actress, presenter and author Eunice Olumide shares her pick of the best books for children about fashion and the values that underpin her career in the fashion industry.
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1
Battle Angel Alita
by Yukito Kishiro -
2
The Promised Neverland
Kaiu Shirai, Posuka Demizu (illustrator) -
3
The Count of Monte Cristo
Alexandre Dumas, adapted by Crystal S. Chan, illustrated by Nokman Poon -
4
Pokémon Adventures (Red and Blue)
Hidenori Kusaka, Mato (illustrator) -
5
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
by Koyoharu Gotouge
Best Manga for Children and Teens, recommended by Oscar
Best Manga for Children and Teens, recommended by Oscar
Long associated with Japanese popular culture, manga are now found in translation across the world. In North America, this dynamic form of visual narration is overtaking comics and graphic novels in popularity. Oscar, age 13, recommends his favourite manga for children and teenagers.
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1
Who's Hiding in the Jungle?
by Katharine McEwen -
2
Wild Lives: 50 Extraordinary Animals that Made History
by Ben Lerwill & Sarah Walsh (illustrator) -
3
Look and Say What You See at the Seaside
by Sebastien Braun -
4
South African Animals
Lindiwe Mabuza, Alan Baker (illustrator) -
5
The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids: 500 Wild Facts!
by Ginjer Clarke
The best books on Wild Animals for Kids, recommended by Margaret Darawanda
The best books on Wild Animals for Kids, recommended by Margaret Darawanda
Children tend to be fascinated with animals, and wild animals particularly capture the imagination. Margaret Darawanda, an Akashinga ranger in the Lower Zambezi Valley, talks us through her pick of books for kids about animals in the wild.
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1
We Are Still Here: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know
Traci Sorell, Frané Lessac (illustrator) -
2
Stuntboy, In the Meantime
Jason Reynolds, Raúl the Third (illustrator), Guy Lockard (narrator) -
3
Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood
Kwame Mbalia (editor), Amir Abdullah & Taj Leahy (narrators) -
4
Redemptor
Jordan Ifueko, narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt -
5
Firekeeper's Daughter
Angeline Boulley, narrated by Isabella Star LaBlanc
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2021, recommended by Emily Connelly
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2021, recommended by Emily Connelly
Audiobooks are a wonderful way for children and teenagers to access stories, whether by themselves or as a shared listening experience. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talks us through her selection of five of the best audiobooks for children and teenagers in 2021.
The Scariest Books for Kids, recommended by Jack Meggitt-Phillips
Scary children's books give kids the pleasure of immersing themselves in an exciting page-turner, and are an excellent way to get reluctant readers to read novels. As long as you pay attention to individual children's sensibilities, it shouldn't be hard to find books that give them thrills rather than nightmares. Children's author Jack Meggitt-Phillips talks us through his favourite scary books for kids.
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1
Under the Stars: Astrophysics for Everyone
by Lisa Harvey-Smith & Mel Matthews (illustrator) -
2
I Ate Sunshine for Breakfast
by Michael Holland & Philip Giordano (illustrator) -
3
Agent Asha: Mission Shark Bytes
by Sophie Deen & Anjan Sarkar (illustrator) -
4
Inventors: Incredible Stories of the World's Most Ingenious Inventions
by Robert Winston & Jessamy Hawke (illustrator) -
5
I am a book. I am a portal to the universe.
by Stefanie Posavec & Miriam Quick (illustrator) -
6
100 Things to Know about Saving the Planet
Best Science Books for Children: the 2021 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Katharine Cashman
Best Science Books for Children: the 2021 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Katharine Cashman
In selecting the best science books for children, the judges of the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize identify books that are scientifically accurate as well as accessible and engaging. Katharine Cashman, Professor of Volcanology at Bristol University and Chair of this year’s judging panel, talks us through the six wonderful books that made the 2021 shortlist.
Best West African Fantasy Books for Teenagers, recommended by Efua Traoré
Fantasy inspired by West Africa is taking the literary scene for teens and young adults by storm. These books have strong world-building and all the usual fantasy ingredients. At the same time, drawing on rich seams of mythology and magical traditions such as juju, they bring something entirely fresh to the genre. Author Efua Traoré talks us through her pick of West African fantasy novels for teenagers.
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1
Kay’s Anatomy: A Complete (and Completely Disgusting) Guide to the Human Body
by Adam Kay & Henry Paker (Illustrator) -
2
Look inside Your Body
by Louie Stowell, Kate Leake (Illustrator) -
3
Body
by Stephanie Babin, Ilaria Falorsi (Illustrator) -
4
Pirate Pete's Potty
by Andrea Pinnington & Melanie Williamson (Illustrator) -
5
Anatomy for Babies
by Jonathan Litton & Thomas Elliott (Illustrator)
Best Human Body Books for Kids, recommended by Sonia Joseph
Best Human Body Books for Kids, recommended by Sonia Joseph
An understanding of the human body can help children nurture both physical and mental health, as well as build knowledge and vocabulary about this fascinating topic. Paediatrician Sonia Joseph talks us through her pick of five books about the human body for kids, with something for every age from baby board books to middle grade non-fiction.
Best Books for Preschool Kids, recommended by Janice Stewart-Yates
With travel restricted in much of the world due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, it is more important than ever to open children’s minds through books. Janice Stewart-Yates, a passionate Montessori educator, shares her recommendations for books that bring the world to children. These are some of her favourite picks for preschool classroom story time, as well as for reading with her own daughter.
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1
Sleep Tight Very Hungry Caterpillar
by world of Eric Carle -
2
Families, Families, Families!
by Max Lang (illustrator) & Suzanne Lang -
3
How to Be a Lion
by Ed Vere -
4
Look Up!
by Dapo Adeola (illustrator) & Nathan Bryon -
5
You Choose Your Dreams: originally published as Just Imagine
by Nick Sharratt (illustrator) & Pippa Goodhart
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – Inspiring a Lifelong Love of Reading, recommended by Marion Gillooly
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – Inspiring a Lifelong Love of Reading, recommended by Marion Gillooly
Dolly Parton is an iconic singer and songwriter, but many children around the world know her as their librarian. Through the Imagination Library she nurtures a love of books in young children. Marion Gillooly, Executive Director, The Dollywood Foundation UK, talks us through the background of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and highlights five of her favourite books in the catalogue (which she admits was really hard: “all the books are my favourites”).
The Best Classics Books for Children, recommended by Annelise Gray
Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire continue to fascinate children and provide fertile ground for historical novels that resonate with today’s readers. Author and classicist Annelise Gray talks us through some of her favourite books for children set in the ancient Mediterranean world and Roman Britain.