Lit-Picking

Award-winning football fiction author Tom Palmer gets grilled by a bundle of supersonic energy known as Foxy about the first book in his Roy of the Rovers series, Scouted . Has Tom given the '70s comic strip striker a worthy reboot? Or should he have left Roy on the bench? Find out if Foxy thinks Roy's story is a book you should pick. Get your own copy of the book and support school libraries! Buy...

The Society for Children's Book Writers & Illustrators' regional co-ordinator for Britain gets grilled by two 11-year-olds from St Andrew's Primary School about her fantasy adventure, The Serpent of Eridor! Has Alison's colourful cast of magical but sarcastic characters managed to charm these young readers? Or should she have included more hippopotamusses? (Hippopotami? ... Hippos!) Find out i...

Our very own host gets grilled by 13-year-old Adela from St Francis College about his Costa-shortlisted action-adventure, Orphan Monster Spy . Has Matt produced an inspiring main character who skillfully navigates a thrilling plot? Or did he take too much of a risk pitting her against Nazis? Find out if Adela thinks Sarah's story is a book you should pick. Get your own copy of the book and support...

Camilla Chester gets grilled by two Year 5 girls from Etching Hill Primary Academy about her award-winning book for children, Call Me Lion . Does Camilla's story win over young readers as much as it does award judges? Or should she walk the dogs a little longer before putting her ideas into words? Find out if Esme and Felicity think Leo's story is a book you should pick. Get your own copy of the b...

David Barker gets grilled by two Year 6 girls from Thomas A Becket Primary School about his first book for children, Pax and the Missing Head . Does David's dystopia draw in young readers? Or should he have stuck to writing for adults? Find out if Esme and Charlotte think Pax is a book you should pick. Get your own copy of the book and support school libraries! Buy it from lovereading4kids.co.uk ,...

Debut author Antonia Maxwell gets grilled by 10-year-old Arrany (with additional questions supplied by Henry on her first ever published children's book, Terra Electrica: The Guardians of the North . Has Antonia got the amount of mask magic right for her first appearance in bookshops? Or should she have included more turkeys? Find out if Arrany thinks Terra Electrica is a book you should pick. Get...

Claire Fayers gets grilled by 9-year-old Jan on her latest novel (but first sci-fi story), Tapper Watson and the Quest for the Nemo Machine . Was Claire right to delve into sci-fi? Or should she have stuck with Welsh myths? Find out if Jan thinks Tapper Watson is a book you should pick. Get your own copy of the book and support school libraries! Buy it from lovereading4kids.co.uk , and 25% of your...

Welcome to Lit-Picking – a weekly podcast in which authors get grilled by the people who really matter: You , the reader. Discover your next favourite Children's or Young Adult book by listening to young readers asking the trickiest questions to guests such as award-winning writer Camilla Chester, debut novelist Antonia Maxwell, or series author Tom Palmer. Season 1 also features sci-fi/fantasy au...