For this edition of our ‘Meet the Creator’ series, we spoke to Chitra and Poonam about their favourite moments in the book, their creative processes, and their advice for aspiring writers and illustrators.

This month's booklist for our indies project for the National Year of Reading is a love letter to mothers and grandmothers in all their forms — the ones who stay up listening to our worries at ten o'clock at night, who teach us to grow things, who stitch themselves into the very fabric of who we are.

This month, our indies booklist for the National Year of Reading is showcasing 6 children’s books from indie publishers that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face. What would you do if you were Prime Minister? Why does my grandma wear mismatched socks? Who’s hogging the loo and is there an alien in the school library? Find out the answers (or more mysteries?) in these imaginative and funny stories.

Sensitivity reading has become an important part of conversations around inclusive publishing. At its simplest, it involves drawing on lived experience and cultural knowledge to help ensure that stories engaging with particular identities or histories are portrayed with depth and accuracy.

In this interview, Oboh shares the creative process behind creating Freedom Braids, gives us a tour of his workspace, and reflects on his growth as an illustrator. Finally, Oboh leaves with us a poignant final message about what history and representation mean to Black creatives and Black children.

For this second booklist of our indies project for the National Year of Reading, we are delighted to collaborate again with our fellow indie publishers to share empowering stories about women and girls. How do girls learn, connect, create, grieve, and fight? What does it mean to be a woman in this world building relationships, homes, and dreams? We hope the stories here provide some answers to these questions.