The winner of the Book People Bedtime Story Competition is announced.

This Saturday, I'll be catching an early morning train to Beverley, for the Beverley Literature Festival, LitUp. My Snow Penguin event starts at 9.30am, in the Children's Library. See you there for stories, drawing and some penguin-themed crafty fun! More info and tickets here https://www.litup.org.uk/alison-brown

It’s hard to choose from all the brilliant independent bookshops out there, but today my three cheers go to the Seven Stories bookshop, in Newcastle Upon Tyne. It’s blessed with a few obvious advantages: being attached to a world-class collection of children’s book manuscripts and illustrations is the glaring one, but there are plenty of others. It has loads of space and light, reflecting from the Ouseburn outside through the big windows (on a good day). The neighbours includ