Looking North: The Children's Books North Directory

Looking North: 

An indispensable directory of Children's Books North members

We are delighted to be launching our Directory of Members, which lists published children’s authors, illustrators and publishing professionals based in the North East, North West, Yorkshire and Scotland. 

Tilda Johnson said: ‘The Directory is a key resource in our aim to connect the children’s book professionals living in our regions, to promote our members' work, and to champion the importance of regional diversity in children’s books and the publishing industry.’

Members are listed along with their details, short bios and recent covers, enabling booksellers, librarians, schools, festivals, literacy organisations, agents and publishers to easily get in touch. The Directory is also a valuable resource for authors and illustrators looking to connect with other creatives working in their region and to forge new networks.

Our plan is to update the Directory annually, as the network grows. It will be supported and shared by partners, including BookTrust, Creative UK, Madeleine Lindley, Manchester City of Literature, National Literacy Trust, New Writing North, Publishing Scotland, Read Manchester, SYP North, The Reading Agency and Youth Libraries Group.

'The Directory is such a great initiative to connect the North’s brilliant children’s writing community with each other and with those that want to work with them or to stock their books. Such a great line-up of talent. Children’s books are thriving in the North!' 

Claire Malcolm, New Writing North

'As a charity that prides itself on place-based working, having a directory that connects us to local, regional voices in children's books is incredibly helpful. Connecting our Literacy Hubs with a network of authors, poets, illustrators, editors and agents who reflect and represent the communities we work with is vital to our work.'

Marykate McGrath, National Literacy Trust

 

You can download a PDF of Looking North: Children's Books North Directory of Members here.

Read on for further details about our supporters and partners:

BookTrust is the UK's largest children’s reading charity. We reach millions of children every year, especially those most in need, supporting them to develop a lifelong love of reading, because reading transforms lives. By encouraging families to share stories from the earliest possible age and championing the wider benefits of reading, we’re making reading fun and accessible, so the next generation of readers is broader than ever.

Creative UK champions, connects, supports and invests in creative people and businesses. We’re a group of diverse and inclusive professionals who believe in the power of the creative industries to change lives, placing creativity at the heart of the UK’s culture, economy and education system.

Our goal is simple: to cultivate a world where creativity is championed, valued, and fundamentally nurtured.

Creative UK unites the creative industries and generates opportunities for innovation to thrive by investing in people and their ideas. We are here for those who dare to imagine: imagine a fairer, more prosperous world, achieved through the power of creativity.

For 35 years Madeleine Lindley Ltd has been passionate about bringing schools and teachers the best books for children. They love to help develop that love of reading and know that giving teachers access to high-quality books is key to achieving that.

From their Book Centre, where you can browse thousands(!) of books, puppets and more, they work hard on orders for schools in the UK and worldwide. Whether that's a bespoke selection, topic books or brand-new titles, Madeleine Lindley use their expert knowledge. Selections are always inclusive, so that every child feels represented by the books they read.

Giving children the chance to meet a real-life author is important, so Madeleine Lindley are proud to take inspiring creators into schools for events and more; and also enjoy working with educational consultants, as well as helping our community.

Manchester was successful in its bid to join UNESCO’s worldwide Creative Cities network as a City of Literature in 2017. Joining 41 other Cities of Literature, a consortium including Manchester City Council, the Universities, Manchester Literature Festival plus a range of the city’s writers, publishers and literary organisations has formed to represent the designation. 

Manchester City of Literature is now an independent charity that manages the UNESCO designation on behalf of over thirty partner organisations. Our vision is to create an innovative, distinctive, equitable, globally connected city of reading and writing. We want Manchester to be a city where diverse voices are celebrated, creative talent and industries are nurtured and where literary activity changes lives.

The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity dedicated to raising literacy levels across the UK. We work in partnership with publishers, authors, illustrators, poets and storytellers to deliver our work in schools, libraries, prisons, and communities. In the North we currently have dedicated Hub areas in: Blackpool, Bradford, Doncaster, Scotland (Dundee), Manchester, Middlesbrough, North East (Newcastle, Gateshead, Redcar, Stockton), and North Yorkshire Coast (Scarborough, Whitby, Filey).

New Writing North is the development agency for creative writing and reading. Based in Newcastle upon Tyne since 1996, it is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. The organisation works in partnership with regional and national partners to produce a range of literary and performance activities including flagship projects such as the Northern Writers’ Awards, Young Writers, the Gordon Burn Prize and Durham Book Festival. 

As a producer of new work, New Writing North commissions a wide range of writing from topical essays and publications to award-winning dance theatre productions, short films, live literature and broadcast projects. New Writing North’s extensive and award-winning Young Writers programme develops the creativity and skills of young people. Work in schools with children and their teachers is complemented by a large and diverse out-of-school programme that is open to all, with a special focus on areas with fewer opportunities. 

As a promoter and producer of festivals and literary events and through its partnerships with schools, libraries, universities and prisons, New Writing North engages audiences with enriching and creative reading experiences.

Publishing Scotland is the network, trade and development body for the book publishing sector in Scotland. We act as the voice and network for publishing, to develop and promote the work of companies, organisations and individuals in the industry, and to co-ordinate joint initiatives and partnership. We are a member association and a charity. 

 

Read Manchester is led in partnership with Manchester City Council and engages local families with books and stories, and inspires them to make reading a priority in their everyday lives.

Read Manchester works with children and young people across all areas as they reach each milestone in their education, helping to end the vicious cycle of illiteracy.

The SYP North is a committee made up of those working in the publishing industry, publishing hopefuls, and students who are all dedicated to championing the ever-growing Northern publishing landscape. Covering Manchester to Newcastle, they are passionate about making publishing more inclusive to those outside of London. There has been a surge of activity and focus on the industry here over the past few years and SYP North have developed loyal working relationships with the region's best publishing houses, universities and literature festivals to inspire and support young and aspiring publishers. Along with an annual mentorship scheme, they host both online and in-person events, discussing contemporary debates in the publishing industry and celebrating the thriving literature of the North.

The Reading Agency is a UK charity with a mission to empower people of all ages to read. Evidence shows that reading improves health and wellbeing, life chances and social connections. The Reading Agency champions access to the proven power of reading by providing activities for all ages. Working with public libraries, prisons, hospitals and other community settings, we reach over two million people a year. But with a UK population of over 67 million that's not nearly enough. We want to get more people fired up about reading because everything changes when you read.

 

Get in touch today to find out more about what we do and to help us on our mission.

www.readingagency.org.uk

@readingagency

The Youth Libraries Group is an active, vibrant special interest group of CILIP for library professionals across the UK with an interest in services for children and young people.  Our network supports the delivery of quality and innovative library offers for children and young people.  We provide specialist expertise on issues relating to reading and library services for children, and create opportunities for networking.  We promote excellence in children's literature and manage the prestigious Yoto Carnegies Medals.