My 2018 Edinburgh Book Festival Favourites
I’ve got a special book post to share with you today – tickets for this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival, the world’s largest public celebration of books, go on sale next week! The Festival itself takes place from the 11th to 27th August this year. The programme is already out, and includes over 200 events for children, families and young people, so I’ve put together a video to share some of my favourite authors and illustrators from the programme with you. Obviously, if you can’t make it to the Festival, you can still check out my recommendations since you don’t need to be in Edinburgh to read any of these books – perhaps you’ll even discover some great summer reads for your family! I’ve included both picture books and chapter books, so there should be something for all ages.
Just a short disclaimer up front: I currently actually work for the Book Festival, but all the opinions and recommendations in the video are entirely my own. It’s completely unrelated to my work, it’s just me as a book lover having gone through the publicly available programme and picked out my favourites. And all the books I’m showing you are ones that I’ve either bought myself or borrowed from the library. So, now that we’ve got that out the way, let’s crack on with some books!
If you enjoyed the video, I’d be really grateful if you would subscribe to my channel. Thanks!
List of Picture Books:
- The ‘Oi!’ series, by Kes Gray & Jim Field: Oi! Frog, Oi! Dog, Oi! Cat, Oi! Goat, Oi! Duck-billed Platypus (released 6 September 2018)
- Steve Antony: Please Mr Panda, I’ll Wait Mr Panda, Thank You Mr Panda, Goodnight Mr Panda (released 23 August 2018), Unplugged
- Ed Vere: Mr Big, How to Be a Lion (released 28 June 2018)
- David Litchfield: The Bear and the Piano, The Bear, the Piano, the Dog and the Fiddle (released 6 September 2018)
- Rachel Bright & Jim Field: The Squirrels Who Squabbled, The Lion Inside
- Jarvis: Alan’s Big Scary Teeth, Mrs Mole I’m Home, Tropical Terry
- Judith Kerr: The Tiger Who Came to Tea
List of Chapter Books:
- Sophy Henn: Bad Nana
- The ‘Flying Fergus Series’ by Chris Hoy, Joanna Nadin & Clare Elsom: The Best Birthday Bike (Book 1), The Great Cycle Challenge (Book 2), The Big Biscuit Bike Off (Book 3), The Championship Cheats (Book 4), The Winning Team (Book 5), The Cycle Search and Rescue (Book 6), The Wreck-it Race (Book 7), Trouble on the Track (Book 8)
- Julian Clary & David Roberts: The Bolds, The Bolds to the Rescue, The Bolds in Trouble
- Alex T Smith: Mr Penguin: Mr Penguin and the Lost Treasure, Mr Penguin and the Fortress of Secrets
- Guy Bass & Lee Robinson: Spynosaur, Spynosaur in The Spy’s the Limit, Spynosaur in No More Mr Nice Spy
- David Walliams: Mr Stink, Bad Dad
- Terry Deary & Martin Brown Horrible Histories (lots of titles!)
Please note that all the book links in this post are Amazon affiliate links. That means if you buy any books via these links, I receive a small percentage – at no extra cost to you! – which helps to keep this blog running
Talya
Wow what a brilliant programme for children! Such a fantastic way of nurturing their love of reading – some fab picks here!
Lauren - Dilan and Me
Oh we have been looking for some new books so this is great to read! We have Oi Frog so will look out for the other ones in that series. I really wasn’t a fan of Please Mr Panda – controversial I know!! Never heard of a few of these so I’ll check them out.
Angela Milnes
okay I love the Oi books too and David Walliams. You have a great list here. We would love to visit Scotland sometime and an international book festival sounds fabulous!
Amy - All about a Mummy
I’ve been recommended the Julian Clary books so many times I must give them a try!
Joanne
I just love books so this sounds right up my street. I am also trying to introduce my 11 month old son to books so will have to check out some of the kids books mentioned.
Wendy
How have I never heard of the Edinburgh book festival?! It sounds wonderful. My boy loves the book The Lion Inside and he is a big fan of the David Williams picture books, not quite old enough for chapter books yet xx
Kate
Great post and loving the contemporary recommendations via you tube link up. This is a real treat for children and parents with a massive Edinburgh book festival.
Mudpie Fridays
I has no idea that there was a book festival on as well as fringe. What a great idea and it sounds like there is something for everyone and every age x