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
Siana Bangura is a writer, producer and poet whose work spans books, theatre and community-led arts projects. She founded the Black British feminist platform No Fly on the WALL and has produced creative and cultural initiatives with organisations across the UK.
Her debut poetry collection, Elephant, was published in 2016 and is listed by retailers and libraries with ISBN 9780993513107. In theatre, she wrote Swim, Aunty, Swim!, developed with the Belgrade Theatre in 2024. Bangura’s professional roles have included producing for English Touring Theatre and contributing to sector programmes as a facilitator and creative practitioner.
Her writing and production work have been profiled by media and arts organisations, and her portfolio includes editorial, spoken-word and documentary projects focused on contemporary social themes.
Elephant was published in 2016 (ISBN 9780993513107).
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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Our latest reading national curriculum year group recommended reading lists:
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