Child's Play (International)

Photo of Let's Play author and winner Alex Strick at IBC Awards evening, holding her winning tactile book with bright colour illustration of smiling toddler and lots of toys.

⭐️Buzzing from our #IBCawards2026 WIN!
Thank you @ibc-reads.bsky.social Congrats to all!

⭐️Baby & Toddler WINNER
LET’S PLAY by @alexstrick.bsky.social illustrated by Sarah Dellow & Annie Kubler
www.childs-play.com/products/978...
#nationalyearofreading2026 #bookswithusallin #wendyslegacy #goallin2026

Lots of brilliant new books to enjoy this springtime!

From building bridges to signing favourite rhymes together to getting and growing outdoors, it's all here! www.childs-play.com #kidlituk #goallin2026 #nationalyearofreading2026

light orange background, four book titles, with bright colourful fun illustrations of children enjoying seasonal garden activities, from planting and clearing and making bug hotels, with bugs and birds and flowers in the pictures too.

🐝🌼🌱 NEW! ERROL’S SEASONS by Gillian Hibbs

Errol’s back! Celebrating SPRING, SUMMER, AUTUMN, WINTER with friends, the children enjoy garden biodiversity all year round!

Budding gardeners will adore reading together and planning their own activities!

More: www.childs-play.com #kidlituk #goallin

purple background for read it forward campaign, book cover illustraton in greens and blues with a cascade of water with trees, rocks, grasses, and three children discovering nature and water

💦Looking for a book to make a splash on #WorldWaterDay?

Celebrate water’s many forms, playful, industrious, life-giving.
WATER SONGS @nuance.bsky.social powerful, joyful poems with a strong environmental message, beautifully illustrated by @samrudddesign.bsky.social uk.bookshop.org/p/books/wate...

3 days left to buy books and feel properly 💞good💞 and purposeful about your book buying choices😄

@bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social
#ReadItForward

Congratulations to this year's IBC Awards, winners, the best UK-published inclusive children’s books (ages 1 - 9). This year also sees brand new @ibc-reads.bsky.social Children’s Choice Awards - congratulations to the winners of those too & to the judges! 🏅
booksforkeeps.co.uk/ibc-awards-2...

ICYMI the winners of the @ibc-reads.bsky.social Awards were announced last night. Congratulations to all the winners and the shortlisted authors and illustrators #booksky #kidlituk

✨ Another successful year for the #IBCawards2026 ✨
In the National Year of Reading, we’re reminded that when books reflect children’s lives, connection follows.

Every shortlisted title mattered. Every winner mattered. Every book moved the needle. 📚🏆

Congratulations to all our award winners 💛

orange background with awards logo. book cover illustration shows toddler smiling, with colourful toys – building blocks, car, blue bunny, yellow duck, and red ball with yellow dots.

⭐️LET’S PLAY #IBCawards2026 WINNER @ibc-reads.bsky.social

Congrats @alexstrick.bsky.social your passion for all children to be included in & able to access books is one after our own hearts; & Annie Kubler & Sarah Dellow, the heart and soul of many Child’s Play books. www.instagram.com/p/DVOekf9CFzt

🏆 The #IBCawards2026 Baby & Toddler WINNER is…

Let’s Play 🧸 Written by Alex Strick | Illustrated by Annie Kubler and Sarah Dellow | Published by Child’s Play

Congratulations! 🌟

Presenting the #IBCawards2026 WINNERS! ✨📚

🏆 Let’s Play | Alex Strick, Annie Kubler & Sarah Dellow | Pub. by Child’s Play

🏆 The Beautiful Layers of Me | Sophia Payne & Ruchi Mhasane | Pub. by Walker Books

🏆 Supa Nova | Chanté Timothy | Pub. by Nosy Crow

Pink background, one book cover illustration has orange background with five toddlers dressed in dinosaur playsuits dancing and having fun. The other green book has two toddlers sleeping in bunny playsuits.

New SIGN AND RHYME books out now!
🦕FIVE ENORMOUS DINOSAURS & SLEEPING BUNNIES🐰

Everyone can join in signing, music, movements and actions, bringing favourite nursery rhymes to life!

Illustrated by Annie Kubler & Sarah Dellow: www.childs-play.com/collections/... #nationalyearofreading #goallin #BSL

⭐️ Registration for the Empathy Day Festival is now open! ⭐️
Sign up today for the Empathy Day Festival 2026, 4 - 11 June. We know how busy you are! By registering you'll receive early access to FREE resources, author and illustrator digital content, activities, and more, one month before the festival

new book out now text in blue, background yellow. Book cover illustration shows two locations with children either side of a river joined by the title in the shape of a bridge.

⭐ NEW BOOK! We know you've been waiting for this!

THE STORY BRIDGE by Richard O’Neill, illustrated by Raquel Martín is out now!

Reach out and make connections with the power of stories 📚

More www.childs-play.com/products/978... #nationalyearofreading #goallin #kidlit #travellerstales #empathy

Love horses? Want to know know more? #YearoftheFireHorse

#GoAllIn on an fantastic journey with Jill Newton
AROUND THE WORLD ON 80 HORSES
& meet 80 unique breeds + fascinating facts & figures!

#ReadItForward buy @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social & 10% to @booktrust.org.uk @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social

book held in front of bookshelves, cover illustration with green background shows toddler with chef's hat and apron tossing a pancake

Book held up open with inside illustration of two toddlers making pancakse wearing aprons and shaking sugar.

Sweet or savoury? Thick and fluffy, or thin and crispy?
What little pancake will you be popping today? 🥞

🥞 POP A LITTLE PANCAKE illustrated by Annie Kubler & Sarah Dellow www.childs-play.com/products/978...
#pancakeday #bookswithusallin #childsplaybooks

📚 Spotlighting the 2026 Read for Empathy collection: Emotions (primary)

⭐ The Hideysaurus @rachelbrightbooks & @chatterton1
⭐ Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim @kobinacommeh & @barah.ilustra
⭐ When I Am Kind IG: @childsplaybooks BS: @childs-play.co.uk @paulabowles_illustrator

Pink background, with green book cover with illustration of three children, holding plants and gardening tools surrounded by colourful flowers and plants framing the book cover.

Sun's out, let's #GoAllIn 🌱📚

Reading books nurtures young gardeners.
ERROL'S GARDEN by Gillian Hibbs inspires green fingers at home and school, and shows there are more places to grow than gardens!
#readitforward uk.bookshop.org/p/books/erro...
#nationalyearofreading2026 @literacy-trust.bsky.social

Lovely to see LITTLE HOME BIRD by Jo Empson in @storysnug.com's 'This is My Place' Children's Mental Health Week booklist about 'finding and creating homes and spaces where you can feel a sense of belonging' 🕊️

#ChildrensMentalHealthWeek @place2becharity.bsky.social

Purple background with lilac cloud shapes in three corners. Red Read It Forward text. Book cover illustration has white background and cute green little monster smiling.

When I feel LOVED... the world feels brighter ❤️📚

Buy books @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social & they'll donate 10% to @booktrust.org.uk @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social

Share a love of reading #ReadItForward: uk.bookshop.org/p/books/when... @paulabowlesdraws.bsky.social #nationalyearofreading2026 #goallin

shortlist graphic in orange on left and book cover illustration on right with smiling baby and toys, building blocks, plush rabbit, spotty ball, car, duck

LET’S PLAY on @ibc-reads.bsky.social Inclusive Books for Children Awards Baby & Toddler shortlist!

@alexstrick.bsky.social's brilliant touch-and-feel book illustrated by Annie Kubler & Sarah Dellow is for absolutely everyone!

Great list, congrats all! #IBCawards2026 #wendyslegacy @booktrust.org.uk

This year, IBC is launching the Children’s Choice Awards — a shadowing scheme where children read, judge, and vote on shortlisted books. ⭐

Because when children help choose the books, reading becomes something that belongs to them — not something they have to do. 💛📖

Ooh! Four of our books in @ibc-reads.bsky.social's wonderful winter 2026 top 10 diverse books for age 1-3! Thank you!

Blooming lovely to see ERROL'S GARDEN by Gillian Hibbs here! 🌱
What a top idea for a booklist theme @ibc-reads.bsky.social 📚

book cover illustration with light pink background, trees in green and pink, with a blue guest house the main picture, with Valentine and daughter Elsie at the front door to welcome guests

❤️📚 Besotted with #ReadItForward ❤️📚

Buy VALENTINE'S GUEST HOUSE by Sam Sharland from @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social & they will donate 10% to @booktrust.org.uk @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social

Share a love of reading on #ValentinesDay: uk.bookshop.org/shop/childsp... #NationalYearofReading2026 #GoAllIn

photo of illustrator Rahana Dariah with her book

We’re devastated our friend Rahana Dariah has passed away.
Rahana illustrated groundbreaking book Kende! Kende! Kende! and working with her was a joy. She was sweet and kind, her illustrations colorful and uplifting.
Her mission to bring love, understanding, and humanity shines on. We will miss her.

Read it forward poster by Bookshop.org, books flying on a purple background.

📣 READ IT FORWARD! 📣

10% of ALL children’s book sales through Bookshop.org UK go to reading charities @booktrust.org.uk and @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social in February 2026, and EVERY sale supports independent bookshops 📚https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/read-it-forward-with-bookshop-org

Book cover illustration with lime green long-eared little monster with gentle smile, holding a brown plant pot with a shoot growing with two leaves. White book cover background. Background of post is Empathy Lab colours in dark blue, with light blue pink and orange in edge blocks around and stars in same colours on the dark blue.

A joy to be in @empathylabuk.bsky.social's 2026 #ReadforEmpathy Primary Collection with WHEN I AM KIND illustrated by @paulabowlesdraws.bsky.social and to celebrate their 10th anniversary!

#ReaditForward and buy from @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social
Link in our bio! #GoAllIn #NationalYearofReading2026

Child's Play is proud to support #readitforward2026 🙌📚

Buy ANY children's book in February (ours too!) & @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social will donate 10% to @booktrust.org.uk @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social & you'll be supporting indie bookshops with every purchase 💛

#goallin #nationalyearofreading2026

⭐️ The 2026 Read for Empathy collection launches TOMORROW! ⭐️
We have an EMPATHY-TASTIC array of books ready for you to discover.

Dive deeper with our FREE learning webinar on 12 Feb, 4pm. Explore the books on the collection and how you can use them at home, school or in your community setting.