Children’s Literature News January 2026
Children’s book news for January 2026: festivals, awards, school publishing, comics events, national reading policy, literacy campaigns and major competitions shaping children’s and YA books across the UK.
Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Jeremy Weil is a children’s publishing entrepreneur and the co-founder of Colour Your Streets, a series of locally themed colouring books created with broadcaster Emma Barnett. Developed as a family publishing venture in 2023, the project produces neighbourhood colouring books that feature illustrated landmarks and streetscapes for children and families.
Colour Your Streets titles are stocked by UK retailers and cultural venues, and the list has expanded to cover well over one hundred towns, cities and districts. In 2025 the range included a special edition, Colour In Jewish UK, launched in partnership with Jewish Book Week and presented at festival events for family audiences. The imprint has also appeared at literary festivals with participatory drawing sessions for children.
Before establishing the list, Weil worked in product and media roles and collaborated on children’s cultural initiatives. As publisher at Colour Your Streets he oversees commissioning, production and distribution across multiple regional series, with books listed through trade and consumer channels.
Colour Your Streets received trade press coverage in 2025 highlighting the growth of the list and its community focus.
Children’s book news for January 2026: festivals, awards, school publishing, comics events, national reading policy, literacy campaigns and major competitions shaping children’s and YA books across the UK.
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Picture books for the under 5s | Books for Reception | Books for Year 1 | Books for Year 2 | Books for Year 3 | Books for Year 4 | Books for Year 5 | Books for Year 6 | Books for Year 7 | Books for Year 8 | Books for Year 9 | Books for Year 10 | Books for Year 11