Children’s Literature News April 2026
Children’s book news for April 2026: Michael Rosen wins the Hans Christian Andersen Award, CLiPPA and UKLA shortlists arrive, and Puffin launches its new picture book list, Puffin Studio.
Cathy Reay author page
Cathy Reay biography
Cathy Reay is a disabled writer, journalist and sensitivity reader working in the UK. She writes regularly for The Guardian, i, The Independent and Glamour on disability politics, culture and entertainment.
Her first book for children aged eight and above, How to Be Disabled and Proud (or at least kinda sorta okay with it), is published by Puffin on 27 March 2025. The book offers guidance for young disabled readers and their families, including sharing advice from people with lived experience.
Cathy Reay also works as a sensitivity reader and consultant for books and film scripts featuring characters with dwarfism. She contributes to non-fiction books, and in 2023 she wrote chapters for books on disability politics and on motherhood.
She is a judge for the 2025 Inclusive Books for Children Awards and is listed as a member of the Society of Authors.
Biography writer: Joanna Nance-Phillips
Children’s literature expert and primary school teacher with 30+ years of experience running a primary school library, teaching literacy and tutoring in the UK and abroad. Articles and reviews by Joanna Nance-Phillips 
Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Spring 2025
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Spring 2025. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
Bestselling books by Cathy Reay
Browse Cathy Reay books on UK.Bookshop.orgBrowse Cathy Reay books on Waterstones.com
Disclosure: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops, or Waterstones.com.
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