EDDISON PEARSON LITERARY AGENCY

Making It Up As You Go Along by Patricia Forde, illustrated by Mary Murphy (Little Island), has been shortlisted for The Week Junior Book Awards 2026.

The book includes contributions from 12 brilliant Irish children's authors: Derek Landy, Eoin Colfer, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Dave Rudden, Alan Nolan, Sarah Webb, Catherine Doyle, Sheena Wilkinson, Pádraig Kenny, Jane Mitchell, Siobhán Parkinson and Sam Thompson.

Jake in the Middle (Otter-Barry Books) is a Guardian Book of the Month. It's the first book in the Maple Street series, recently launched with an event at the Children's Bookshop, Muswell Hill. Written by Michael Catchpool and illustrated by Shanarama, Jake in the Middle combines read-aloud and read-alone appeal.

"Jake lives with his bossy older sister and shoe-stealing baby brother at No 3 Maple Street, enjoying gentle, child-friendly adventures such as a trip to the city farm with his grandpa or setting up a school museum. This engaging 5+ chapter book will delight newly independent readers."― Imogen Russell Williams in The Guardian, Books of the Month: Children's and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels

"Brilliant new chapter book for early readers, with a collection of four interlinked stories set around home and school life. Delightfully illustrated by Shanarama, the antics of middle-sibling Jake and his extended Black British family are written with warmth and humour." ― The Bookseller

“In this imaginative picture book for 3+ year olds, a shape-shifting alien visits Earth and explores its wonders by becoming animals, plants ... a human child. Each transformation reveals something new about the planet’s richness and energy. Through bold illustrations and fun storytelling, young readers will marvel at Earth’s diversity and think deeply about how to care for it. It’s a warm, thoughtful introduction to nature and our place within it. Highly recommended.”

School Reading List features Let’s Be Earthlings by Mary Murphy (Otter-Barry Books) in ‘Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Autumn 2025’

Meanwhile Mary's classic board book I Kissed the Baby! (Walker Books / Candlewick Press) is one of The New York Times' 50 Great Board Books for Babies

Mary Murphy's new picture book Friends Forever is out now from Quarto's Happy Yak imprint.

Out now from the bestselling author of The Roman Mysteries, Caroline Lawrence's Pantheon is illustrated by Flora Kirk and published by Hachette UK imprint Ilex.

"If you want to have fun refreshing your knowledge on Greek gods and goddesses, try Caroline Lawrence's beautifully illustrated Pantheon." — Mary Beard

"This is a gorgeous book, full of really interesting and helpful information – and most importantly, it flags up the primary sources so you can dig deeper and learn more!" — Juliette Harrisson

"A truly stunning little volume – the perfect handbook size – and it covers so much of Ancient Greek mythology ... A triumph!" Laura Jenkinson-Brown

CHERUB: The Recruit by Robert Muchamore was published 20 years ago this month by Hodder Children's Books, with a cover and logo designed by David McDougall. This was the start of a long-running series which has sold over 17 million copies worldwide and continues to find new readers today.

Journalist Tom Beasley marks the anniversary with a piece in today's Guardian. "Robert Muchamore’s series of novels about young undercover intelligence operatives with troubled lives shook up the sanitised world of early noughties YA literature ... it felt revolutionary. ... There are fans in all corners, from young offenders institutions to Hollywood".

In a 2007 interview for BBC Four documentary The Return of the Hero, Robert discussed the appeal of CHERUB and how he built the series into a bestseller.

Lizzie & Lucky: The Mystery of the Lost Chicken by Megan Rix, illustrated by Tim Budgen (Puffin), is on the shortlist of the inaugural Inclusive Books for Children Awards. The winners in each of three age categories will be announced at a ceremony at the Barbican Centre in London on 28th February.

Megan Rix introduces her shortlisted title in British sign language in this video:

Mary Murphy's eagerly-awaited first novel is out now. A Sarah Odedina Book from Pushkin Children's designed by Jet Purdie, The Minute Minders is written and illustrated by Mary Murphy.

"The world that Murphy creates is captivating. The Minute Minders is a treat for all ages." ― Patricia Forde, Laureate na nÓg "A fresh take on the 'tiny person' theme with a beautiful empathetic message!" ― Harriet Muncaster, author of the Isadora Moon series “The Minute Minders by Mary Murphy is a funny, sweet fantasy adventure about fidders, tiny people who help humans. Illustrated by Murphy throughout, it’s perfect for age 8+. (Or to read aloud to 7+)” — Sarah Webb "A book with heart and humour and a bit of jeopardy, served up with a light touch and a wink." ― A.F. Harrold

"A timeless classic in the making and so full of heart." — NetGalley reviewer

"A delightful tale full of many messages and themes which would lend itself to being a class story time book. I can't wait to buy my own copy to share with my class as I'm certain they'll enjoy it as much as I did." — NetGalley reviewer

"Now that I have finished this book, I am not just going to leave it on the shelf but will keep reading it over and over again." — Books Up North review by Emaan, aged 7

"‘The Minute Minders’ is a completely captivating, thoroughly enjoyable read, full of warmth and humour ... Stevie is a wonderful character … Her relationship with her father is beautifully captured … Mary Murphy’s world building is brilliant." ― Through the Bookshelf

"Mary Murphy's first chapter book for older readers is a delightful story ... Readers will be transported into a magical world that closely resembles ours ... Highlighting the importance of friendship, this story shows how a little bit of kindness and care can go a long way and how the actions we take, even if just for a minute, can make a world of difference." — Inis Magazine (Children's Books Ireland) review by Elanur Eroglu Williams

"The Minute Minders is a wonderful middle-grade debut novel. A heartwarming and captivating story which is full of adventure, fantasy and empathy. I love the hidden messages throughout about never giving up which will not only support younger readers but educate them as well ... about checking in on people, supporting them and making small changes to improve our mental-wellbeing which is something we could all do with doing even from a young age. The illustrations are just stunning and really help to bring this fabulous story to life. ... The Minute Minders is a perfect book for upper primary libraries and classrooms and is a great match for fans of books by Cressida Cowell, RJ Palacio and Andy Shepherd." — Emma Suffield, Waterstones Senior Bookseller and SLA 2018 School Librarian of the Year

"With soft pencil illustrations throughout, Murphy’s first longer book for older readers has the cosy feel of a new classic." ― The Irish Examiner

"The Minute Minders, a richly imaginative tale from Mary Murphy, takes the ‘little person’ framework and imbues it with new life. ... Some children’s books prove especially hard acts to follow. Any story about tiny people secretly interacting with human beings, for example, is fated to draw comparisons with Mary Norton’s beloved series The Borrowers (1952) ... The Minute Minders, an enchanting debut novel by Mary Murphy, is also about tiny people – and it is to Murphy’s great credit that it doesn’t feel borrowed at all." ― The Telegraph; review by Emily Bearn, 17th January 2024

"The Minute Minders solve all kinds of human problems in just one minute per person per day  ... told through Stevie's frank and funny voice." — The Week Junior; Book of the Week review, 27th January 2024

"In the tradition of Borrowers, Minpins and flits, fidders are tiny people who live alongside humans. But fidders are there expressly to help, putting thoughts into heads to nudge people in directions that will make them happy, fulfil their dreams, save their lives. They can also communicate with cats and dogs, and they have various jobs: some reveal truth, some inspire creativity, and “minute minders” have one minute to solve problems. Stevie is a ten-year-old fidder who lives with her dad, and gets him into trouble by breaking the rules of interactions with humans, which leads to tasks on which their livelihood and dream holiday depend. These include helping two lonely children to find each other and deal with a bully. This delightful book has empathy, sweet pictures, a virtuoso meta ending, and a good deal of wise advice." — The Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week review by Nicolette Jones, 28th January

Author-illustrator Mary Murphy has two very different books out this month. The first, published today, is I Love You (Happy Yak / Quarto), with artwork from the book gracing the cover of Inis magazine's January 2024 issue.

“Here is a simply gorgeous and gorgeously simple book that celebrates all the things that make life worthwhile. … An endearing pair of pandas express their affection by comparing their feelings for one another to those elicited by all the other things they love. We see all that is important to them, and we are never in doubt of how important they are to one another. ... The intricacies that compose an ordinary day are applauded. This book feels joyous and genuine, and its brilliant ‘small things’ are placed at the centre of the story, highlighting how they are in fact big things for small people, and should really be considered huge for all of us. … The last line brought a tear to my eye. … A remarkably lyrical and profound book, certain to delight young readers and warm the hearts of older ones. I will be buying this for new babies from now on.” — Children’s Books Ireland review by Ciara O’Hara of I Love You by Mary Murphy; Inis magazine Issue 70

More soon on Mary Murphy's middle grade novel The Minute Minders, due from Pushkin Children's Books on 18th January.

Radha beautifully translates young fiction title Lizzie & Lucky: the Mystery of the Missing Puppies (Puffin) into British Sign Language. Championed by deaf author Megan Rix, herself a BSL user, this video was made by the Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD) with support from the Arts Council. 

Lizzie & Lucky features for a second time in the BookTrust Great Books Guide this month, and the fourth and final book in the series is published today by Puffin, with illustrations by Tim Budgen. 

Also celebrating its launch today is the new Inclusive Books for Children (IBC) website (as reported in The Guardian). The first Lizzie & Lucky title has been selected as a Top Pick, featuring in two Top 10 booklists.

Michael Catchpool’s latest picture book is a Booktrust pick for November 2022.

‘Funny and charming, this book is simply super!’ is Booktrust’s verdict on SuperJoe Does NOT Say Sorry by Michael Catchpool, illustrated by Emma Proctor (Lantana).

The book is a companion volume to SuperJoe Does NOT Do Cuddles, read here by Michael Catchpool for the Lantana book club.

Valerie Bloom’s Stars with Flaming Tails illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max (Otter-Barry Books), has won the CLiPPA, the UK’s leading award for published poetry for children.

Poet Philip Gross, chair of the judges, said: “Stars with Flaming Tails is like a passport to the whole world, and beyond. This is poetry that can go anywhere, from the personal to the planetary, the surreal to the scientific, with its invitation to us all to look, and to laugh, to listen to our feelings, and to think. And meanwhile, almost without noticing it, we’re being handed the keys to the craft of writing for ourselves.”

Louise Johns-Shepherd, CLPE chief executive, said: “Valerie’s inspiring collection invites children to engage with poetry in so many different ways and speaks beautifully to all realms of human experience. It deserves to be in every book corner and library in the land.“

Stars with Flaming Tails was previously selected for EmpathyLab’s Read for Empathy Collection 2022, and featured in the BookTrust Great Books Guide 2021. On publication last year it was a Guardian Book of the Month. 

Click here to watch the CLiPPA Poetry Show and award ceremony at the Southbank Centre, with performances from children whose schools took part in the CLPE Shadowing Scheme, as well as performances from event host Michael Rosen and the shortlisted poets Kate Wakeling, Laura Mucha, Matt Goodfellow, Liz Brownlee, Manjeet Mann and Valerie Bloom.

Read Megan Rix's article for BookTrust: “Nothing stops me. Ever”: How Megan Rix was inspired to create a Deaf heroine 

Published by Puffin, with black and white illustrations throughout by Tim Budgen, the Lizzie & Lucky series for readers aged 6+ starring Deaf protagonist Lizzie and her Dalmatian pup Lucky is inspired by Megan Rix’s experience of living with partial deafness since childhood.

Puffin to publish animal detective series for younger readers by Megan Rix – The Bookseller

Robert Muchamore’s Robin Hood is a Guardian Book of the Month, a BookTrust pick for ‘Books we love in May 2020′ and a featured title in The Times Literary Supplement’s ‘Lockdown reading for anxious children’.

"Exhilarating and unpredictable, the first adventure in this new series is sure to leave readers desperate for the next instalment." — BookTrust

Robert Muchamore has transplanted Robin Hood to the 2020s (The Bookseller), with a live-launch of the first book in his new series on YouTube.

Praised for delivering thrills and laughs while retaining an ethical debate at its core, Robin Hood: Hacking, Heists and Flaming Arrows (Hot Key Books) is The Times Children’s Book of the Week, and has already attracted excellent reviews.

“Muchamore writes with tremendous energy and his dialogue flies as fast as Robin’s arrows ... A new series that strikes the bullseye.” – Alex O’Connell in The Times.

“Muchamore’s thrilling Cherub spy stories have entranced a generation of teens and now he’s launching an equally robust contemporary adventure series based on the Robin Hood legend. The town of Locksley, riven by unemployment and poverty, is run by wealthy criminal gang boss Guy Gisborne and his sidekick, Sheriff Marjorie. When Robin’s dad is fitted up by Gisborne and arrested, 12-year-old Robin flees to Sherwood Forest armed only with his rare combination of skills: computer hacking and brilliant archery. He’s rescued by a band of refugees and rebels, led by Marion, who have built a forest counter-culture. They plot revenge and the action, flying with the pace of a speeding arrow. This is classic Muchamore: witty characters, clever twists and high-tech gadgetry. This scores a bullseye.” – Sally Morris in the Daily Mail.

The book is available in eBook and Audiobook editions, and to order online in paperback from retailers including Hive, Amazon, and Waterstones whose verdict is, “Thrilling and imaginative, Robin Hood is Muchamore at his finest.”

In a Q&A to mark the launch, Robert says: “Stories are hard wired into our brains. We even make them up in dreams as we sleep. For kids, fictional worlds are a sandbox where they get to explore what is right and what might be possible.” 

Read the Books for Keeps Q&A here.