New picture book love: The Café at the Edge of the Woods.

Gently rhyme, gloriously gothic illustrations, and a story that mixes fine food with an ogre and an odd green waiter.

I really love how it doesn’t talk down to children - words like truffle, miso paste and fondue just there to be enjoyed 📚💚

Don’t you just love Pooh?

I only recently learned that this quote, so often attributed to him, is actually from poet Erin Hanson.

What it captures for me though is one of the reasons I love picture books - how they can help children begin to see their own brilliance and potential. 💭📚

#PictureBooks #ReadingWithKids

My 7-year-old daughter got two new Little People, Big Dreams books for Christmas - Coco Chanel and Simone Biles.

Reading them last night made me think about how many of the inspiring people in this series had challenging starts in life.

A quietly powerful message for kids. 💭

Just started Unnatural Causes by Dr Richard Shepherd. Not my usual pick (I’m a fiction girl), but a friend insisted!

Shepherd reflects on a career of 23,000+ autopsies - not just the science, but the emotional cost of working so closely with death.

Curious to see how it unfolds #Reading #BookTalk

I love webinars hearing about success stories as I love to feel inspired! Also loves those about the latest developments in the industry from those in the know!

I’ve recently been writing a picture book with a stick insect main character 🌿

Research highlights:
baby stick insects are called nymphs,
some spray a stinky mist when scared,
and they’ve been around since the dinosaurs.

Lots of story inspo - plus some cute stick insect drawings with the kids 😂

Love ❤️ seeing my little girl pick this up after I found it. Fills my heart with joy!

Found this book at the back of the shelf - a favourite with me and the kids.
Quentin Blake at his funniest and warmest. Love the Parisian setting and everything else about it!
“They looked at her with their big round eyes and said nothing.”
Understated. Mischievous. A joy. 🐒📚

Following writing communities like #12x12 reminds me there are others in the same boat which is a great help. My routine is to listen to Ella Fitzgerald, cosy hoodie on, and just write for 30 minutes uninterrupted and see what flows! There are no bad ideas at this stage!

My Goodreads year-in-books surprised me. I don’t think of myself as a historical fiction reader… and yet.
Kristin Hannah was a huge discovery for me this year, and The Island of Missing Trees stayed in my head long after I finished it.
Apparently my definition of “historical” needs expanding.

Does anyone else remember Katy Laura and the Dream Boat?
It was one of my childhood faves - lyrical, dreamy, full of moonlight and quiet magic.

Writing children’s books lately has made me think a lot about why certain stories linger.

What picture books have stayed with you? #picturebooks

Hi, I’m Kate 👋
I work in comms, love to read, and have a soft spot for children’s books - especially picture books.

I’ll mostly be sharing what I’m reading (solo + with my kids, 7 & 11), and occasionally muttering about writing my own. 📚✨