Children’s Literature News May 2026
Children’s book news for May 2026: Reading Rights, the Children’s Booker, Michael Rosen at 80, the Klaus Flugge and Branford Boase shortlists, BookTrust winners, LitUp results and shared reading data.
Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Sarah Dellow is a UK children’s book illustrator, designer and author associated with Child’s Play. A Graphic Design graduate, she works on editorial, production and project management, and has illustrated a range of titles for babies and early readers.
Dellow is the creator–illustrator of the die-cut board-book sequence Now You See It! for Child’s Play, including Meadow, Ocean, River and Rainforest (2022). The series uses patterns and reveal pages to support early perception and discussion about habitats and wildlife.
She has also illustrated classic rhyme and action-song board books credited to Annie Kubler, issued by Child’s Play in multiple languages and editions. These include Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Down by the Station, Five Enormous Dinosaurs, Hop a Little!, If You’re Happy and You Know It, and related “Baby Rhyme Time” titles.
Further credits include illustrating the inclusive play-themed novelty book Let’s Play by Alexandra Strick for Child’s Play. Retail and library records list Dellow on numerous Child’s Play publications across board, novelty and bilingual formats.
Her published work is characterised by clear, high-contrast artwork, simple shapes and strong visual cues to aid participation, fine-motor engagement and first-language development in early years settings.
Selected titles: Now You See It! Meadow; Now You See It! Ocean; Now You See It! River; Now You See It! Rainforest (Child’s Play, 2022); Row, Row, Row Your Boat; If You’re Happy and You Know It; Hop a Little! (various editions).

Children’s book news for May 2026: Reading Rights, the Children’s Booker, Michael Rosen at 80, the Klaus Flugge and Branford Boase shortlists, BookTrust winners, LitUp results and shared reading data.
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.
Rainforest books for children with titles by Bear Grylls, Kay Barnham, Simon Chapman, Kate Messner, Lynne Cherry, Sarah Ridley, Sarah Dellow, Sally Spray, Holly Duhig, John Wood, Kathryn Jewitt, Fiametta Dogi, Mike Clark and Mari Schuh.
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