Down The Rabbit Hole

Welcome first-timers and seasoned listeners alike! Today we are talking all about the wonder of debuts in children's literature, and finding out what's so special about an author's first piece of published work. Caroline Carpenter and Sam Sedgman are joined by two very special guests: Struan Murray, author of Orphans of the Tide, and his editor at Puffin, Ben Horslen. Struan and Ben join us fresh...

Pack your bags and climb aboard this very special bonus edition of Down the Rabbit Hole all about travelling the world by book. Sam Sedgman is joined by special guests Rumena Aktar and Katherine Woodfine (yes, she's back!) to share our favourite children's stories set in other countries, and discuss the joys and perils of writing and reading books set in foreign countries. Plus, we share which boo...

In today's episode, presenters Hannah Love and Caroline Carpenter are joined by author Elle McNicoll and Harry Woodgate to discuss the presentation of grief in children's books, and why children's books can be a perfect refuge in difficult time. Buy all the books mentioned in today's episode from our new shelf on Bookshop.org - https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/downtherabbithole Follow us on Twitter @D...

Listen up! Today's show is all about the magic of audiobooks. Sam Sedgman and Caroline Carpenter are joined by two special guests: Laura Marlow, an Editor in Audio at Penguin, and Jot Davies, an award-winning audiobook actor and voice artist. Together they share memories of their favourite childhood books on tape, discuss where the modern audiobook industry is headed, and recommend some new modern...

Charlie Morris and Hannah Love celebrate the start of Pride month by exploring the rainbow of recent children's books that put LGBTQ+ families and youth at the heart of the story.  Joining us on our parade of must-read books are Jodie Lancet-Grant: debut picture book author of The Pirate Mums , L.D. Lapinski: author of magical middle grade adventure series The Strangeworlds Travel Agency , an...

Caroline Carpenter and Charlie Morris celebrate Earth Day by reaching for their binoculars and exploring the thriving world of children's books about nature and the environment. Joining us on our ramble through the library shelves are Lauren James: YA author and founder of the Climate Fiction Writers' League, and Dr Jess French: qualified vet, TV presenter and non-fiction author of children's book...

Hannah Love and Sam Sedgman are joined by authors Steven Lenton and Michelle Harrison to tackle the greatest question of our lifetime: which are better, cats or dogs? Hear the fur fly as we share some of our favourite canines and felines from children's literature past and present, debating which is funnier, cuter, more adventurous and more loyal. Plus, we each share a book that's making us happy...

New presenters Sam, Caroline, Charlie and Hannah offer some alternatives to recommend instead of the same old dependable children’s classics, with some of our favourite picks in different genres from the last 20 years. Plus, we each share a book that’s making us happy this month, and find time to address some of the most pressing questions in children’s literature: "were Goosebumps actually scary?...

For a special handover episode, Katherine chats to the new team who'll be taking over Down the Rabbit Hole - Caroline Carpenter, Charlie Morris, Hannah Love and Sam Sedgman - including finding out all about their favourite children's books

We discuss festive favourites and the best new books of 2020 with special guest author and screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce, who joins us to celebrate the many ways that children's books help us to celebrate small pleasures and find the magic in ordinary things

Special guests Alexandra Sheppard and Simon James Green join Katherine and Louise to talk about funny books for older readers, including some joyful and hilarious reading recommendations to cheer up even the gloomiest day

Authors Pamela Butchart and Michelle Robinson join Katherine and Louise to talk about the children's books that make them laugh - and why funny books matter.

Katherine and Louise chat to young adult author Taran Matharu about his 'Summoner' and 'Contender' series - and his journey from NaNoWriMo and Wattpad to New York Times bestseller.

Katherine is joined by two fellow middle grade mystery authors - Robin Stevens and Sharna Jackson - to discuss writing detective series. This month's episode celebrates the publication of the final Murder Most Unladylike book, Death Sets Sail, as well as High Rise Mystery winning the young fiction category of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize.

To celebrate his CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal win for Tales from the Inner City, Jack interviews acclaimed artist, writer and film-maker Shaun Tan

We celebrated Independent Bookshop Week 2020 by chatting to three independent booksellers - Katie Clapham of Storytellers Inc, Steven Pryse of Pickled Pepper Books, and Fleur Sinclair of Sevenoaks Bookshop - to hear about their experiences of bookselling during lockdown, plus their top children's and teen book recommendations

Waterstones Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell joins us to talk about creativity and the magic of reading - plus find out about our exciting competition for young writers

New York Times bestselling author Holly Jackson joins the gang to talk about all things murder mystery - including an insight into her writing process and new book Good Girl, Bad Blood

In this special bumper episode, Imogen interviews award-winning artist Levi Pinfold about his extraordinary books and exquisite work on Harry Potter; and Jack talks to picture book creators Kes Gray and Jim Field about their wildly brilliant Oi! partnership.

To discuss this month's crop of new children's books, Katherine and Jack are joined in the studio by two special guests - Costa Children's Book Award winner Jasbinder Bilan and her editor Kesia Lupo, who is also a young adult author.

For January's show, Louise and Jack are joined by two children's publishing insiders - Pari Thomson and Charlie Morris - to look back at some of the best books of 2019, as well as some of those you can look forward to in 2020. Plus an insight into what it's like working in the world of children's books.

Louise and Jack are joined in the studio by YA Book Prize 2019 winner Sara Barnard to review three new books for children and young people.

For Halloween, Louise, Jack and Imogen are joined by special guests AF Harrold and Emma Yarlett to discuss a trio of books about dead things, ghosts and shadows...

In this month's episode, Melissa is back in the host's chair, to discuss three new children's books with Louise and special guest author Sibeal Pounder.

Louise and Jack discuss three new children's books with this month's special guest, award-winning author-illustrator (and designer of the Down the Rabbit Hole logo!) Rebecca Cobb.