Books have always been a huge part of my life. I was fortunate to discover a love of reading from a young age and worked my way through the Mr Men, Enid Blyton, C S Lewis, Sweet Valley High and many many more! My local library was a treasure trove (and still is!) and here I found Poirot, Miss Marple, Cathy and Heathcliff and hundreds of others who opened the doors to a world of imagination.

The Book Activist has operated in many guises, and continues to develop, even as I write this (watch this space!) On the blog you’ll find book reviews, blog tours, interviews and I hope, a shared love of reading. Having been a school librarian and worked in libraries and literacy for many years, children’s books are my focus. I’ve been privileged to work with many wonderful authors, illustrators, poets and publishers to celebrate children’s books. In 2020, I was honoured to be on the judging panel for the Branford Boase Book Award and also the inaugural Children’s Sports Book Award. Choosing the winners was a challenge, but I enjoy nothing more than reading great books and then talking about them. In fact, whatever is happening in life, I find a good book can make all the difference.

A note on reviews

If you would like to send me books to review, please note I don’t review self-published, independent authors (if this is you, you’ll find support from this brilliant website). I am very happy to read and review books for children – including picture books, illustrated fiction, poetry, middle-grade fiction and YA and non-fiction.

From 2021, I will generally publish posts on Fridays and am very happy to support blog tours, author events, book awards and other book-related activities that encourage children’s reading, signposts great books for children and enables parents, carers and teachers to support the children they care for with reading for pleasure.