PREVIEWER’S PERSPECTIVE Previewer’s perspective


Quality and quantity: pandemic-hit 2020 leads to deluge of kids’ books


The impact of the Covid-19 lockdowns, which delayed the publication of a number of children’s titles, has meant the first half of 2021 is packed with quality publishing— with, encouragingly, a more diverse and inclusive outlook


Fiona Noble Children’s & YA Previews editor


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ſter a tumultuous 2020, I write this in early December, when news of the vaccine rollout fills us with hope for a world in which book lovers will


be able to freely visit bookshops and libraries, publication dates can be relied upon, and festivals, events and school visits can resume. The good news: 2021 promises to be a strong year in terms of qualit publishing. The bad news, depending on your perspective, is that the first half of the year is exceptionally busy. Tough decisions ahead for booksellers and a very competitive market for publishers, authors and illustrators. For my highlights, I’ve selected 70 titles published between February and July 2021 from publishers who uploaded their titles to the Buyer’s Guide database. My selection covers all children’s categories and aims to give you the best big titles alongside new names to watch, plus the key themes of the season. Any sales data is Nielsen Bookscan TCM, unless otherwise stated. I have focused on original publications and will continue to cover paperbacks in my monthly previews in The Bookseller. There are two big themes to look out for in 2021. Books about climate change and the environment are everywhere, from fiction like Hannah Gold’s The Last Bear and Piers Torday’s The Wild Before, to Dara McAnult’s Wild Child and Naomi Klein’s How to Change Everything. Representation continues to be a vital conversation in children’s books, and I see a notable increase in both the variet of characters and, perhaps more importantly, in the diversit of those who create them. Particularly encouraging is an increase in British authors and illustrators from Black, Asian or minorit ethnic backgrounds; Benjamin Dean (pictured) and Faridah Àbíké-Iyimede in particular are two highly recommended début authors.


I see a notable increase in both the variety of characters and, perhaps more importantly, in the diversity of those who create them


Have your say


You can find Fiona on Twitter (@fionanoblebooks), or make contact via email (fionanoble@btinternet.com)


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The Bookseller Buyer’s Guide Children’s


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