Interviewer

Tuva Kahrs,
Tuva is a contributing editor and Children’s Editor at Five Books. She has a degree in Oriental Studies from Oxford University, and a Master’s in international relations. As well as interviews with authors and experts, she brings you carefully curated lists, including the best new books for kids and teens of 2024. Her editor’s picks for adults are here and her Children’s Editor’s picks can be found here.
Interviews by Tuva Kahrs
The Best Wordless Picture Books, recommended by Evelyn Arizpe
Wordless picture books give the reader the power to tell the story and are immersive and enjoyable at any age, argues Evelyn Arizpe, Professor of Children’s Literature at the University of Glasgow. Here, she shares five of her favourite wordless picture book recommendations, and gives readers tips on how to explore their layers of meaning.
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1
The Real Story of Ah-Q
by Lu Xun & translated by Julia Lovell -
2
Fortress Besieged
by Qian Zhongshu & translated by Jeanne Kelly and Nathan K. Mao -
3
Red Sorghum
by Mo Yan & translated by Howard Goldblatt -
4
To Live
Yu Hua, translated by Michael Berry -
5
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
by Dai Sijie & translated by Ina Rilke
The Best 20th Century Chinese Fiction Books, recommended by Lijia Zhang
The Best 20th Century Chinese Fiction Books, recommended by Lijia Zhang
While rooted in specific Chinese contexts, these books transcend cultural boundaries and speak to universal questions about dignity, freedom, identity, and the longing to be seen, says novelist and writer Lijia Zhang. She talks us through five of the best works of fiction to come out of mainland China in the twentieth century.
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1
Whale
by Cheon Myeong-kwan & translated by Chi-Young Kim -
2
8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster
by Mirinae Lee -
3
Concerning My Daughter
by Kim Hye-jin & translated by Jamie Chang -
4
Love in the Big City
by Sang Young Park & translated by Anton Hur -
5
The Plotters
Un-Su Kim, translated by Sora Kim-Russell
Five of the Best 21st Century Korean Novels, recommended by Kim Ho-Yeon
Five of the Best 21st Century Korean Novels, recommended by Kim Ho-Yeon
From K-pop bands to webtoons, from award-winning cinema to blockbuster dramas such as Squid Game, Korean culture has taken the world by storm in recent years. But how about Korean literature? We asked Kim Ho-Yeon, author of bestselling novel The Second Chance Convenience Store, to introduce us to five unmissable 21st-century Korean novels.
The Best Norse Mythology Books, recommended by Carolyne Larrington
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.
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1
The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum
Lisa Yee, Dan Santat (illustrator), narrated by Cindy Kay -
2
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
Kwame Mbalia, narrated by Amir Abdullah -
3
Sal & Gabi Break the Universe
Carlos Hernandez, narrated by Anthony Rey Perez -
4
Osmo Unknown and the Eightpenny Woods
by Catherynne M Valente & narrated by Heath Miller -
5
Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Missing Diamonds
by Annabelle Sami, Daniela Sosa (illustrator) & narrated by Zenia Starr
The Best Audiobooks for a Family Road Trip, recommended by Emily Connelly
The Best Audiobooks for a Family Road Trip, recommended by Emily Connelly
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. See also: Road Trip Novels
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1
All Bodies Are Wonderful
by Beth Cox & Samantha Meredith (illustrator) -
2
The Expanding World of Data
Tom Jackson, Ekaterina Gorelova & Ana Seixas (illustrators) -
3
Can You Get Rainbows in Space?
Dr Sheila Kanani, Liz Kay (illustrator) -
4
Where Are You Really From?
Adam Rutherford, Adam Ming (illustrator) -
5
Engineers Making a Difference
Dr Shini Somara, Adam Allsuch Boardman & Manuel Šumberac (illustrators) -
6
Mission: Arctic — A Scientific Adventure to a Changing North Pole
Katharina Weiss-Tuider, Christian Schneider (illustrator), translated by Shelley Tanaka
Top Science Books for Children: Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2024, recommended by Dorothy Bishop
Top Science Books for Children: Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2024, recommended by Dorothy Bishop
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.
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1
The Silmarillion
J R R Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (editor) -
2
The Children of Húrin
J R R Tolkien, Alan Lee (illustrator), Christopher Tolkien (editor) -
3
Beren and Lúthien
J R R Tolkien, Alan Lee (illustrator), Christopher Tolkien (editor) -
4
The Fall of Gondolin
J R R Tolkien, Alan Lee (illustrator), Christopher Tolkien (editor) -
5
The Fall of Númenor
J R R Tolkien, Alan Lee (illustrator), Brian Sibley (editor)
If You Liked The Lord of the Rings: Other Books in Tolkien’s World, recommended by Valentin
If You Liked The Lord of the Rings: Other Books in Tolkien’s World, recommended by Valentin
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.
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1
The Skull
Jon Klassen, Fairuza Balk (narrator) -
2
Stuntboy, In-Between Time
Jason Reynolds, Raúl the Third (illustrator), Guy Lockard (narrator) -
3
Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy
by Angie Thomas & Joniece Abbott-Pratt (narrator) -
4
Ander & Santi Were Here
Jonny Garza Villa, Avi Roque (narrator) -
5
Warrior Girl Unearthed
by Angeline Boulley & Isabella Star LaBlanc (narrator)
The Best Audiobooks for Kids and Young Adults of 2023, recommended by Emily Connelly
The Best Audiobooks for Kids and Young Adults of 2023, recommended by Emily Connelly
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.
The Most Beautifully Illustrated Children’s Books, recommended by Ella Beech
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.
The Best Thrillers for Teens, recommended by Kathryn Foxfield
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.