Children's fiction

In 2022, over 4 million books were released via traditional publishers and via self-publishing. According to author Sam Subity, less than .02% of those published were middle-grade books. Middle-grade book sales were down 16% in the same year. According to Publisher's Weekly, however, there was an overall increase in sales of Young Adult novels.

When you are next visiting a bookstore, and find your way to the children's section, you might be forgiven for thinking that there is no longer such a thing as a children's author. Instead, you will be ambushed by piles of books blazoned with the names of actors, singers, comedians, DJs and people who generously exhibit themselves on social media.

Almost a third (30%) of the children's books published in the UK last year featured a racially minoritised character, reflecting an unprecedented and "remarkable" longterm rise in representation, according to a new report from the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE).

I make books about books, and every year hundreds of people commission me to make custom art prints for them or their loved ones, of the spines of the books that changed their lives and made them who they are today. And as a result, I've read quite a lot of books-for people of all ages-and spent a lot of time researching which books people love most.

The Children's market is heading for its second biggest full year in value terms, dipping just 2.4% on the same period in 2022. At 41.9 million books sold for £255.8m up to 9th September, 2023 looks set to become only the second year to bring in over £400m, after 2022 surpassed the milestone to become the biggest full year for value of all time.