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 an 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 curated lists: the best kids’ books of 2024 and the best teen books of 2024. Her other editor’s picks can be found here.

Interviews by Tuva Kahrs

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.

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”).