The Guardian Children's Books podcast

Latest Episodes:

Cecelia Ahern: ‘public shaming moved me to write Flawed’ - Guardian children's books podcast Apr 29, 2016

Show notes

Cecelia Ahern explains how she was moved to write her first YA novel, Flawed, by her dismay at society’s increasingly finger-pointing culture. Guardian children’s books site members Harriet, Amy and Rebecca grill her on the book, which is set in a powerfully realised society in which perfection is valued above humanity

Jacqueline Wilson for Guardian children's books podcast: 'This is a story competition about your imagination' Apr 07, 2016

Show notes

Jacqueline Wilson speaks to Michelle Pauli as she launches her creative writing competition for 7 – 12 year olds, where the prize is to have the winning story published in one of her books! Here she gives you tips about getting started, inventing characters and what the judges will be looking for Find out more about the competition and enter here! Plus check out the first chapter of Jacqueline Wilson’s newest book, Rent a Bridesmaid

Gavriel Savit: 'I’ve never known the end of a chapter in my life' - children's books podcast Mar 15, 2016

Show notes

Harrowing second world war tale Anna and the Swallow Man has taken teen readers by storm. Teen site members Lottie is Dottie and Ayesha got to ask the author about the mythologisation of the Holocaust, deep and dark things, stories without end and the meaning of life Also read Remembering the people of the Holocaust

Women in fantasy – the children's books podcast Feb 26, 2016

Show notes

Get a fascinating insight into the world of teen/YA fantasy in this podcast with four amazing fantasy authors. Samantha Shannon, Sally Green, Lucy Saxon and Alwyn Hamilton talk world building, feminism, sex and why we need to stop comparing all female characters to Katniss Everdeen – however wonderful she is! Enter our signed fantasy books giveaway!

Guardian children's books podcast with Owen Jones: 'there's a craving for an alternative to how things are run' Dec 16, 2015

Show notes

Political commentator Owen Jones is grilled by teen site members CaraErica, Patrick and TheBookAddictedGirl on the writers who inspired his democratic socialist politics, the advice he’d give his 16-year-old self, and how young people should get involved in politics – and why… The Establishment is our current Teen book club read – find out what else is happening here

Jeff Kinney: 'the joke always comes first' – children's books podcast Dec 11, 2015

Show notes

Find out what Jeff Kinney’s favourite Diary of a Wimpy Kid book is, why he really did wrap himself in toilet paper in Middle School and how he ALWAYS has writer’s block in this fabulous interview by the Eye Boggling Blurbs book group Win signed copies of the complete set of 10 Diary of a Wimpy Kid books

Guardian children's books podcast with Sandi Toksvig: 'children disappear in history' Nov 19, 2015

Show notes

Sandi Toksvig reads from and talks about her latest book, A Slice of the Moon, an action-packed story of one family's journey across the world as they leave behind their home in Ireland during the potato famine and travel to America

Children's books podcast: Eoin Colfer and Oliver Jeffers on their picture book, Imaginary Fred Nov 11, 2015

Show notes

Eoin Colfer, author of the bestselling Artemis Fowl novels, and award-winning picture book creator Oliver Jeffers have paired up to create a book about imaginary friends, Imaginary Fred. Find out how they met by chance, collaborated across continents by skype, and, of course, whether they have their own imaginary friends Buy Imaginary Fred at the Guardian bookshop

Celebrate Poetry Day with Joseph Coelho - children's books podcast Oct 08, 2015

Show notes

Prepare to be thrilled as Joseph Coelho performs poems from his prize-winning collection, Werewolf Club Rules, and offers his suggestions for your own poetry writing

Annabel Pitcher: 'we don't have to aspire for more, more, more to be happy' - children's books podcast Sep 30, 2015

Show notes

The author of My Sister Lives on The Mantelpiece talks to site member The Dormouse about her new book, Silence is Goldfish, which she wrote for all the limelight-avoiding introverts out there