‘It’s quite galling’: children’s authors frustrated by rise in celebrity-penned titles

Keira Knightley is latest star to publish a children’s book, but some say trend pushes aside genuine writers and makes it harder to find great children’s fiction“A modern classic by Keira Knightley” reads the provisional cover of the actor’s debut children’s book, I Love You Just the Same. Set to be published next October, the 80-page volume, written and illustrated by Knightley, is about a girl navigating the changing dynamics that come with the arrival of a sibling.The Pirates of the Caribbean star is the latest in a long list of celebrities to have turned to writing children’s books. McFly’s Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter have been hovering at the top of the bestseller chart since the publication last month of their latest book The Dinosaur that Pooped Halloween!. Earlier in the year, David Walliams dominated with his newest book Astrochimp. The entertainer has sold 25m copies of his children’s titles in the UK alone, according to Nielsen BookData. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2024-10-20 13:00:48 UTC ]
News tagged with: #authors frustrated #trend pushes #genuine writers #provisional cover #80-page volume #girl navigating #changing dynamics #caribbean star #long list #tom fletcher #dougie poynter #bestseller chart #pooped halloween #nielsen bookdata #nielsen #latest book

Other Publishing stories related to: '‘It’s quite galling’: children’s authors frustrated by rise in celebrity-penned titles'


Children’s authors promote tolerance following Brexit vote

As a slew of children’s books promoting empathy hit bookshelves, some kids’ authors say they feel a growing responsibility to counteract the UK’s “intolerant” political climate. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #brexit vote


Three children's authors join Sunday Times Rich List

Three children's authors have been featured on the annual Sunday Times Rich List for the first time. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


OUP races to seal murderous motoring title by Boxtrolls author

Oxford University Press has signed the “Boxtrolls” creator for an illustrated gift book about a murder of crows who build a car in order to break the world speed record for birds. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Faber signs new title by its children's publisher Thaxton

Faber has acquired new titles from Katie Blackburn, the pseudonym for Faber's children's publisher Leah Thaxton. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #faber signs


Nadiya Hussain pens festive cookbook for Hachette Children's

Hachette Children’s Group is publishing a second cookbook and storybook compilation by "Great British Bake Off" winner and author Nadiya Hussain, Nadiya's Bake Me a Festive Story, this October. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hachette children


Adventurer Alastair Humphreys pens children's book for Big Picture Press

Author adventurer Alastair Humphreys, who recently became the pioneer of "microadventures" - a movement encouraging people to seek out short local adventures - has signed a two-book deal with Big Picture Press, an imprint of Templar. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Children's Books in China 2017: A Quick Survey of Bestselling Titles in China

A survey on what is selling in the market based on sales from bricks-and-mortar operations and online portals plus a look at a dozen major publishers’ revenues have revealed some of the bestselling titles in 2016 in China. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #quick survey #bestselling titles


Children's Books in China 2017: A Gallery of Hot Titles from China

The titles Chinese publishers are bringing to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in April run the gamut from downright whimsical to outrageously adventurous. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bologna children #hot titles #book fair


Amy Krouse Rosenthal, children's author who wrote 'You May Want to Marry My Husband' essay, dies at 51

Amy Krouse Rosenthal, a popular author, filmmaker and speaker who brightened lives with her wide-eyed and generous spirit — and broke hearts when she wrote of being terminally ill and leaving behind her husband Jason — died Monday at age 51. Rosenthal had been diagnosed in 2015 with ovarian... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #popular author #ovarian cancer


Fearne Cotton pens children's book for Andersen Press

Fearne Cotton will write her first children’s book for Andersen Press which encourages toddlers to copy the characters' yoga poses. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #andersen press #fearne cotton


Australian children's author Mem Fox 'left sobbing' by US border control

Leading Australian children’s book writer Mem Fox has said she felt “physically assaulted” after being detained and questioned by border control agents at Los Angeles airport. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #australian children


Top authors to celebrate 20 years of World Book Day

Book Aid International has teamed up with 20 stars of the children’s book world to celebrate the 20th anniversary of World Book Day (WBD). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #top authors #book world #20th anniversary


BookExpo Names Children's Breakfast Authors

Savannah Guthrie, Jennifer Weiner, and Jason Reynolds are among the authors appearing at BookExpo's June 2 Children's Book & Author Breakfast. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #breakfast authors #jennifer weiner #jason reynolds #authors appearing


As celebrity books boom, professional authors are driven out of full-time work

Novelist Donal Ryan is the latest name forced to seek an income outside books, while children’s writers complain that stars from other media monopolise advancesDespite scoring three bestsellers in five years and a clutch of awards, The Spinning Heart author Donal Ryan has been forced to return... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #latest casualty #living wage #professional authors #day job #irish novelist #full-time writer


Children’s helps Sainsbury’s book sales rise 7.5%

Sainsbury’s has revealed its book sales grew 7.5% year on year in the fourth quarter of 2016, The Bookseller can reveal, with its growth in total retail sales a more modest 0.8%. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #5% year #fourth quarter


Author sued for making children's books from classic novels

A Swedish writer is being sued for infringing copyright after making children’s versions of novels such as Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #classic novels #infringing copyright


Children’s author platform Authorfy to launch

A new online platform connecting children’s authors and schools will launch this April. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Author Who Turns Classics Into Children’s Books Is Sued

The author Fredrik Colting, whose KinderGuide books are based on classic novels. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2017-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #classic novels


Children's author Babette Cole dies

Children’s author and illustrator Babette Cole has died aged 67, her publisher at Mabecron Books, Ron Johns, has confirmed. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ron johns


Authors turn out to celebrate W H Smith's Richard and Judy Book Club

Authors including Jilly Cooper, David Nicholls, Robert Harris and Rosamund Lupton turned out at a party to celebrate the success of the Richard and Judy Book Club with W H Smith. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors turn #david nicholls #robert harris