Children’s Books North Network

The @books_north gang back together! ❤️📚❤️📚❤️📚 Great to catch up with my good pals Tilda Johnson and Liz Scott

It’s almost time for another year of Durham Book Festival, and to tide you over until the full programme is released in August, we’ve got five events open for booking right now! All happening @GalaDurham and livestreamed. Find out more and book tickets: newwritingnorth.com/durham-book-fe…

CBNN’s Bookshop of the Month for July is Serenity Booksellers, based in Romiley with a second location in Stockport, who tell us about their Book of the Month, The Blockbusters! By Frank Cottrell-Boyce. Link in bio for full interview 📚

🥳 New members announcement 🥳 We’re delighted to announce four new members to CBNN, please join us in welcoming Hannah Tolson, Nazli Brennan, Natasha Holmes, and Jim Taylor! We’re so excited to have you all on board 📚

In this week’s Northern Highlight, we speak with Stuart. He is the founder of Rockpool Children’s Books, and develops diverse and well-designed children’s books in all formats and for all ages. Link in bio for full interview 📚

Welcoming our new Blogger Isobel Dixon to the CBNN committee! Isobel is completing her MA in Publishing. She volunteers with SYP North and writes her own blog. Since becoming an auntie and godmother, Isobel’s love for children’s books has increased 📚

Welcoming our new Designer Abby Haddad to the CBNN committee! Abby is a freelance children’s book designer with a background in novelty publishing. Formerly at Campbell Books, she has worked on a range of titles for young readers 📚

Welcoming our new Prize Champion Katie Siddall to the CBNN committee! Katie was a 2024 CBNN mentee and has a strong passion for breaking into children’s publishing 📚

The CBNN Prize is in partnership with New Writing North and is funded by Arts Council England and Manchester Metropolitan University. We are hosting illustration roadshows at Grimm & Co, The Reader and Durham Book Festival, and the award ceremony will be held at Seven Stories 📚

This week we interview publishing professional Beatrice Cross, who has just joined CBNN as the new Co-Lead alongside Emma Layfield. Based in Stockport, Bea is a freelance publicist. Link in bio for the full interview 📚

Come and join us after @NYALitFest on Saturday 19th July! There will be welcome drinks provided and a chance to meet other Children’s Books North Network members, to talk all things publishing! We look forward to seeing you there 🥳📚

Time's ticking! ⏰ Just over 4 weeks left until the big day! Have you snagged your tickets yet, or are you still living on the edge? 🎟️ lancashire.ac.uk/events/listing…

“NEWS! We are delighted to announce our new CBNN co-lead Beatrice Cross who’ll be leading the network forwards with @emmalayfield2 After 12 years working in-house in London, most recently as Publicity Director at Bloomsbury Children’s Books, Bea has recently moved back to the NW.

Thank you to @NewWritingNorth for featuring my debut #kidlit book in their latest Northern Bookshelf newsletter!! #northernauthors @TinyTreeBooks @books_north

Preparations are under to way to make props for book events with my picture book, Mabel And Flower Spell. I have been booked by libraries across York And am looking forward to introducing my gardening witch. @TinyTreeBooks @books_north

“The CBNN Ptize will help make a less London-centric literary ecosystem.” New children’s book prize focused on Northern picture book creatives. For unpublished residents in North of England. Subs open this November 🙂

We're delighted to introduce the judges for the CBNN Prize! Illustrators Lydia Monks and Dapo Adeola, Ness Woods (Orange Beak Studio co-founder) and @emmalayfield2 Children’s Books North Network Director) who are all based in the North. #CBNNPrize

Mabel isn't like other witches, she's a gardening witch that gets into trouble with spells. Meet her in her first adventure, now available on pre-order. @TinyTreeBooks @books_north #kidslit #picturebook #gardening

The Northern Powerhouse Focus is here! Featuring: • Interviews with @ihussainwriter, Sarah Hall, @MWCravenUK & The Poetry Business by me, @Laurenrbrown95, @greengirlbella_ & @timrelf • Comment pieces from @commapress & @bradford2025 • News from @books_north & @LJRossAuthor

So delighted to finally announce the @books_north Prize in partnership with @NewWritingNorth A big thanks to @thebookseller for covering it in their Northern Powerhouse edition out today! 📚