21 March 2024
An Open Letter to World Book Day UK

As members of the writing and publishing community, we support the mission of World Book Day to promote reading for pleasure. We believe all children should have the opportunity to read for pleasure and benefit from the improved life chances it brings.

This year, children in Palestine, Sudan, Congo and numerous other places around the world can not access books at all, let alone read for pleasure.

The current silence from World Book Day UK about the plight of these children is disappointing and feels incompatible with UNESCO’s vision for World Book Day to be a worldwide celebration of books that promotes reading for all.

We are also concerned by World Book Day UK’s decision to celebrate an event at Downing Street, when the British government do not fund World Book Day, nor have they been supportive of its mission ‘to see more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a life-long habit of reading for pleasure’ - there are many children in the UK who are unable to access books as a result of government cuts to schools and libraries.

World Book Day UK is a charity that has done and is doing incredible work in promoting reading for pleasure and giving every child in the UK the opportunity to own a book of their own. We hope that World Book Day UK continues this work while raising its voice for all the oppressed children around the world who are currently unable to read for pleasure.

We call on World Book Day UK to make a statement of solidarity with these children, in the same way that it did for the children of Ukraine in 2022.

Update 27 March 2024

Next steps

I know many of us were disappointed by WBD's response yesterday.

The more optimistic hoped it might be a kind of holding statement while they consider making a statement, but many others felt it was a final response suggesting they will not.

This morning I sent this e-mail asking them to clarify:

Dear Cassie,

Thank you for your response. Would it be possible to get a little more information on this matter, for myself and the 500+ signatories?

It would be good to know if World Book Day UK are considering making a statement of solidarity or not, and if not the reasoning behind this.

As I am sure you can imagine, many people are confused and disappointed by the current stance of solidarity with some children, but not others.

Thank you in advance and best wishes,

Sophie Anderson

I will let you all know when I receive a response. In the meantime, please feel free to keep sharing the open letter, and hopefully hold on to the positive that so many of us have come together to voice our concerns.

"We need to be clear in our industry that ALL children matter. Our hearts are big enough for ALL of them." - Rashmi Sirdeshpande

Update 26 March 2024

Response from World Book Day UK

Dear Sophie,

Thank you for your email regarding the open letter to World Book Day. We appreciate you bringing it to our attention. Please be assured that World Book Day has read the letter and that our staff and Trustees are aware of it.

With all best wishes,

Cassie

Cassie Chadderton

Chief Executive, World Book Day

563
signatures
532 verified
  1. Sophie Anderson, Author, Penrith
  2. Jo Arnold, Reviewer, The Little Literary Society, Buckinghamshire
  3. Alex Mullarky, Author, Edinburgh
  4. Radiya Hafiza, Author, London
  5. Tamsin Rosewell, Illustrator, Warwick
  6. Clare Pollard, Author, London
  7. Bryony Dorrans, Teacher, Abbey School, Torquay
  8. Clara Vulliamy, author-illustrator, London
  9. Zohra Nabi, Author, London
  10. Emma Carroll, Author, Somerset
  11. Cerrie Burnell, Author, Children’s author, London
  12. Emma Reynolds, Author-Illustrator, Manchester
  13. Lauren O’Hara, Illustrator, London
  14. James Nicol, Author, Yorkshire
  15. Dara McAnulty, Author, Cambridge
  16. Alexandra Sheppard, Author, London
  17. Danielle Jawando, Author, Manchester
  18. Gita Ralleigh, Author, London
  19. Hanan Issa, Writer, Cardiff
  20. Mireille Harper, Editorial Director and Author, London
  21. Kip Alizadeh, Illustrator, Belfast
  22. Laura, Author, Bedford
  23. Vanessa Harbour, Writer/Creative Writing lecturer, Winchester
  24. Hilary Cooke, Live literature producer, Freelance, Brighton
  25. Tara Tobler, Editor, And Other Stories, Edale, Hope Valley
  26. Laura Noakes, Author, Bedford
  27. Patrice Lawrence, Writer, Hastings
  28. Celine Kiernan, Writer/illustrator, Cavan
  29. Emma Roberts, Editor & author, Cheltenham
  30. Jane Elson, Author, London
  31. Sharna Jackson, Author, Rotterdam
  32. Melinda Salisbury, Author, Hastings
  33. Karen Vaughan, Illustrator, Dublin
  34. Kieran Larwood, Writer, East Cowes
  35. Sarah Hutchings, Literature Producer, Collected Works CIC, Brighton
  36. Annaliese Avery, Author, Suffolk
  37. Nii Ayikwei Parkes, Writer, London
  38. Fiz Osborne, Entrepreneur, Creative Roots Studio, London
  39. Guy Parker-Rees, Illustrator/ author, Brighton
  40. RIKIN PAREKH, Illustrator, Wembley
  41. Raahat Kaduji, Illustrator, Oxford
  42. Chimene Suleyman, Author, London
  43. Harry Woodgate, Author and illustrator, London
  44. Leone Ross, Writer, London
  45. Melanie Ramdarshan Bold, Senior Lecturer in Children's and YA Literature, University of Glasgow, Glasgow
  46. Fen coles, Bookseller, Letterbox Library, London
  47. Raymond Antrobus, Poet, London
  48. Nikesh Shukla, Author, UK
  49. Halimah Manan, Assistant Editor
  50. Rashmi Sirdeshpande, Children’s author, Buckinghamshire
  51. Elise Dillsworth, Literary Agent, London
  52. James Mayhew, Author, James Mayhew, BUNGAY
  53. Tarsila Krüse, Author and Illustrator, Dublin
  54. David Litchfield, Illustrator/author, Bedford
  55. Helle Norup, Author, Zurich
  56. Jo Clarke, Author, Hampshire
  57. Nicola Penfold, Author, London
  58. Sam Missingham, Founder, The Empowered Author, London
  59. Nizrana Farook, Author, Watford
  60. Sunny Singh, Writer, London
  61. Penny Neville-Lee, Illustrator, Manchester
  62. Anna Terreros-Martin, Author-illustrator, Nottingham
  63. Sonia Faleiro, Writer, South Asia Speaks, London
  64. Allie Oldfield, Designer and Illustrator, London
  65. Laura Chamberlain, Children’s book designer and illustrator, Bath
  66. Karen Sands-O’Connor, Professor, Whitley Bay
  67. Lucy Coats, Author/Poet, Towcester
  68. Heidi James, Writer, Crawley
  69. Emmeline Pidgen, Author and illustrator, Preston
  70. Nadine Aisha Jassat, Author, Edinburgh
  71. Mark Bradley, Artist/Writer, Leeds
  72. Peadar Ó Guilín, Writer
  73. Rumena Aktar, Librarian, Birmingham
  74. Adam Ferner, Author, London
  75. Jess French, Author, norfolk
  76. Grace Sandford, Illustrator, Norwich
  77. Alycia Pirmohamed, Author, Edinburgh
  78. Sonny Ross, Author illustrator, Sonny Ross Illustration, Manchester
  79. M. G. Leonard, Author, Brighton
  80. Kathryn evans, Author, Self employed, Chichester
  81. Danielle Davis, Writer, Los Angeles
  82. Pádraig Kenny, Writer, Limerick, Ireland
  83. Anoosha Syed, Illustrator/author, Toronto
  84. A.F. Harrold, Poet, Reading
  85. Charlot Kristensen, Illustrator, Co. Meath
  86. Sarah Broadley, Writer, My Book Corner, Edinburgh
  87. Judith Bracher, Retired, N/A, Tamworth
  88. Shazlddn Khan, Illustrator, London
  89. Deirdre Sullivan
  90. Loll Kirby, Author / Teacher, Leamington Spa
  91. Gary Northfield, Author/illustrator, Bexleyheath
  92. Hari Conner, Author and illustrator, -, Edinburgh
  93. Kate Claxton, Author, Really Rather Wild Books, Swindon
  94. Jane, Designer, Coulsdon
  95. Darren Chetty, Writer, London
  96. Natee Himmapaan (Puttapipat), Illustrator, London
  97. Rosie Smith, Bookshop owner, Shelf Life Books and Zines, Cardiff
  98. Claire Linney, Author, London
  99. Sinéad O'Hart, Children's author
  100. Mo O’Hara, Writer, London
  101. Christabel McKinley, Literary Agent, London
  102. Reena Makwana, Illustrator, London
  103. Shabana Hussain, Children's Author/Teacher, Lancashire, UK
  104. Lauren James, Author, Coventry
  105. Dean Atta, Author, London
  106. Philip Ardagh, Author, Battle, East Sussex
  107. Sophie Williams, Teacher, Cheltenham
  108. Chris Haughton, Author, London
  109. Jim Field, Illustrator, Fontainebleau
  110. Peter Bunzl, Author, London
  111. Anji Baker, Therapist, Edinburgh
  112. Ayaan Mohamud, Author, London
  113. Filza Ahmad, Teacher, Reviewer, Mamma Filz
  114. Catherine Wardle, Librarian, NHS, London
  115. Marie Basting, Author, Manchester
  116. Becky Cameron, Illustrator, Sheffield
  117. Maria Tunney, Editor, London
  118. Lucy Ann Unwin, Author, Brighton
  119. Liz McLeish, Book Reviewer, Manchester
  120. Tia Fisher, Author and librarian, Croydon Libraries, Croydon
  121. Eibhlís Carcione, Author, Cork
  122. Hannah Moffatt, Author, London
  123. Becky Palmer, Illustrator and educator, London
  124. Bea Colley, Freelance Literature Programmer, London
  125. Sabeena Akhtar, Writer, London
  126. Sandra Dieckmann, illustrator author, Sandra Dieckmann, Sheffield
  127. Sarah Dyer, Illustrator, Hove
  128. Naomi Jones, Author, Truro
  129. Ruby Wright, Illustrator, London
  130. Gemma Scott, Artist/illustrator, Gemma Scott Studio, Kirkcaldy
  131. Helen Stephens, Illustrator, Berwick-upon-Tweed
  132. Nadeine Asbali, Author, London
  133. Emma Block, Illustrator, Colchester
  134. Mariska Gewald, Illustrator, Leiden
  135. Anna Doherty, illustrator-author, Cambridge
  136. Emily Mackenzie, Illustrator, Edinburgh
  137. Gerry Turley, Illustrator, Berwick-upon-Tweed
  138. Benji Davies, Author & Illustrator, London
  139. Sue H Cunningham, Author, Manchester
  140. Benjamin Mantle, Author/illustrator, Leamington Spa
  141. Ian Eagleton, Author, Chelmsford
  142. Yasemin Gyford, Artist, Illustrator, Cambridge
  143. Yusof Hassan, Student/Author, N/A, Lincoln
  144. Sally Dunne, Illustrator, Ireland
  145. Frances Ives, March
  146. Lizzie Huxley-Jones, Author, London
  147. Ella Beech, Illustrator and author, Cambridge
  148. Helen hancocks, Illustrator/bookseller, Shelf editions, Lincoln
  149. Louie Stowell, Writer/illustrator, London
  150. Stacey Williamson-Michie, Illustrator, Leigh-on-Sea
  151. Carly Gledhill, Illustrator/author, Manchester
  152. Damla Elmasli, Graphic designer, Cambridge
  153. Lucy Brandt, Author, Brighton
  154. Sarah Dyer, Writer, Somerset
  155. Rachael Ball, Cartoonist, Self employed, London
  156. Michelle Harrison, Author, Essex
  157. Simon James Green, Author, London
  158. Aysha Awwad, Illustrator, London
  159. Vera Parente, Children's Book Reviewer & Bookstagram Content Creator, The Kids Bookstagrammer, London
  160. Hannah Raymond, Illustrator, Pembroke
  161. Jan Dunning, Author, Somerset
  162. Suzi Wright, Teacher/bookreviwer, Primary teacher, Instagram children’s book reviewer, Essex
  163. LD Lapinski, Author, Nottingham
  164. Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author, Oxford
  165. Sarah Driver, Author, Brighton
  166. Katherine Woodfine, Author, Lancashire
  167. Mayo Agard-Olubo, Author, London
  168. A M Dassu, Author, Leicestershire
  169. Saira Shah, Teacher/Writer, Lancashire
  170. Swapna Haddow, Author, Dunedin
  171. Caroline Eden, Author, Edinburgh
  172. Lucy King, Writer, Byfield
  173. Darren Simpson, Author, Nottingham
  174. Sophie Cameron, Author
  175. Abi Moore, Author, Hinckley
  176. Sophia Blackwell, Author, London
  177. Fleur Hitchcock, Author, Bath
  178. Melissa Castillon, Illustrator, Ely
  179. Richard Price, Poet, Hornsey
  180. Sue Reed, Author, Sue Reed Writes, Hexham
  181. Richard ONeill, Author, Northern England
  182. Kristian Evans, Poet, Editor, Bridgend
  183. Frances Durkin, Author, Aylesbury
  184. Natasha Holmes, Writer, Independent, Barnsley
  185. Diane Shipley, Writer, Sheffield
  186. Victoria Gosling, Author, Marlborough
  187. David Farr, Writer, London
  188. Jessica Corkran, Artist, Sunshine coast
  189. Stephen Kelman, Author, UK
  190. Hannah Nicholson, Writer and Library Assistant, Aberdeen
  191. Lisa Thompson, Author, Suffolk
  192. Natasha Hastings, Author, Freelance, London
  193. Mark Brownless, Writer, Carmarthen
  194. So Mayer, Writer & bookseller, Burley Fisher Books, London
  195. Paul Ian Cross, PhD, Scientist & Author, London
  196. Emma Finlayson-Palmer, Author, Wolverhampton
  197. Zeena Gosrani, Author, London
  198. Ashley Thorpe, Author, Manchester
  199. Jo Cotterill, Author, Oxford
  200. Holly Ryan, Writer, Plymouth
  201. Lexy Hudson, Author, London
  202. Jon Doyle, Writer, Port Talbot
  203. Holly Swain, Illustrator, Hove
  204. Virginia Moffatt, Freelance, Shaftesbury
  205. Keith Dickinson, Author, n/a, Leeds
  206. Robert Dresh, Poet, Lincoln
  207. Matthew Land, Events Manager/Bookseller, Edinburgh
  208. Karin Celestine, Author illustrator, Monmouth
  209. Mel Four, Book cover designer, London
  210. Oliver Brooks, Illustrator- author, Self-employed, Rye
  211. Kereen Getten, Author, Birmingham
  212. Julia Hien, Writer, London
  213. Reyhana Ismail, Illustrator, Lancashire
  214. Sylvia V. Linsteadt, Author, Devon
  215. Tandri, Reader/Reviewer, Galashiels
  216. Inda Ahmad Zahri, Doctor, author, illustrator, Riyadh
  217. Gavin Hetherington, Book YouTuber, Gavin Reads It All, Gateshead
  218. Kuchenga Shenjé, Author, Manchester
  219. Nicola Spurr, NA, London
  220. V Daggers, Preston
  221. Q Manivannan, Writer, Edinburgh
  222. Julianna Dunn, Editor, Self-employed, Glasgow
  223. Patrick Samphire, Author, Abergavenny
  224. Sharada Keats, Writer, London
  225. Michelle Kenney, Author, Combeinteignhead
  226. Melissa Welliver, Author, Manchester
  227. Holly Macdonald, Book Cover Designer, London
  228. Branwen Llewellyn, Communications Lead, Cardiff
  229. Tom Lloyd, Author, OXFORD
  230. Gill Lewis, Author, Author, Pembrokeshire
  231. Niamh Finucane, Business owner, Crime-Ink Books, Liverpool
  232. Beverley Naidoo, Author, Bournemouth
  233. Sital Gorasia Chapman, Author, London
  234. Simon Moreton, Author, academic, Bristol
  235. Fran Moldaschl, Archaeology Student & children's writer, University of Aberdeen, Insch
  236. Rachel Stubbs, Illustrator, London
  237. Abi Fellows, Literary agent, DHH Literary Agency, Brighton
  238. Carla Fronea, Graphic designer, Carla Fronea Grafikdesign, Berlin
  239. Lizzie Ingram, Writer, Literacy Counts, Horwich, Bolton
  240. Julia Fleming, Illustrator, Cambridge
  241. Kirsten Gill, Author, Thestoryshed, Durham
  242. Matt Abbott, Author (poet), Matt Abbott Poet Ltd., Leeds
  243. Jo Boyles, Bookseller, Rocketship Bookshop, Salisbury
  244. Victoria MacKenzie, Author, Fife
  245. Lucy Robinson, Artist, Halesworth
  246. Emily Sharratt, Editor, writer, London
  247. Helen Saville, Bookseller, Wonderland Bookshop, Nottinghamshire
  248. Kimberly Whittam, Author, Manchester
  249. Tashmia Owen, Artist and writer, Self employed, London
  250. Louise Finch, Author, Hampshire
  251. Jo Drugan, Academic, Herriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
  252. Tom Huddleston, Author, London
  253. Jesse Lynn Squire, Bookseller, East Sussex
  254. Ùna Blyth, Writer, Shetland
  255. Titilayo Farukuoye, Writer, Glasgow
  256. Tamsin Cooke, Author, Somerset
  257. Yaba Badoe, Writer, Self employed, London
  258. Lisa Rathane
  259. Stephanie Burgis, writer, Abergavenny
  260. LU HERSEY, WRITER, Glastonbury
  261. Joey Connolly, Writer, St Albans
  262. Arden Jones, Author, Brentwood
  263. Julie Pike, Author, Monmouth
  264. Christina Wallace, Book seller / library volunteer, Usborne Community Partnerships, Aberdeen
  265. MaryAnn Johanson, film critic, FlickFilosopher.com, London
  266. Yvonne Banham, Author, Stirlingshire
  267. Deborah Holland, Librarian, bookseller, Lincoln
  268. Sally Huband, Writer, Freelance author, Shetland
  269. Liam Owens, Librarian, Tyne & Wear
  270. Nicola Davies, Haverfordwest
  271. Tracey, Teacher, Nottingham
  272. Hilary McKay, Children's Author, Tansley
  273. Helenka Stachera, Author, Bristol
  274. Dawn Amesbury, Children's author, Mirfield
  275. Catherine Cawthorne, Author, Guildford
  276. Hao-Ning Lin, Print Production, PRH, New Malden
  277. Polly Atkin, writer and bookseller, Ambleside
  278. Alex Cotter, Author, Bath
  279. Hannah Gold, Author
  280. Eloise Williams, Author, Saundersfoot
  281. Nikita Gill, Writer, Basingstoke
  282. Aliya Gulamani, Commissioning Editor, Unbound, Surbiton
  283. Ayesha Ansari, Independent bookseller, Mirror Me Write, Manchester
  284. Jules Aspinall, Author, Leamington Spa
  285. Alex Langstone, Author, Bodmin
  286. Salena Godden, Author, London
  287. Noah Angell, Artist, Author, Berlin
  288. Kate Weston, Author, London
  289. Alex Falase-Koya, Author, London
  290. Mikey Walsh, Author
  291. Imrana Mahmood, The Book Club Show, Inspire FM, Luton
  292. Saira Ibrahim, Teacher, Derbyshire
  293. Clare Harlow, Author, London
  294. Emily Kenny, Author, Self employed, South Croydon
  295. Adriana De Persia Colón, PhD Candidate, University of Cambridge, Cambridge
  296. Cathy Fisher, Picture Book Illustrator, St Davids, Pembrokeshire
  297. Agnes Monod-Gayraud, writer, London
  298. Claire Darbourne, Teacher, London
  299. Nathan Holder, Author/Publisher
  300. Farhana Shaikh, Publisher, LE5 6HF, Leicester
  301. Katherine Langrish, Writer, Wantage
  302. Louise Redshaw, Illustrator, West Yorkshire
  303. Kate McEwen, Illustrator
  304. Ramona McCloskey, Artist/Writer, Ballymena, Co. Antrim
  305. Dapo Adeola, Author/illustrator, London
  306. Lorraine Wilson, Author, Fife
  307. Fabiana Santiago, Author & illustrator, London
  308. Emma Bradley, Author, Worthing
  309. Christopher Moore, Author, Manchester
  310. Sarah Hagger-Holt, Author, Sarah Hagger-Holt, Hertfordshire
  311. Burhana Islam, Author, Greater Manchester
  312. Jo Barber, PhD Student, Buckinghamshire
  313. Sarah Harrison
  314. SJ Wills, Author, London
  315. Struan Murray, Author, Oxford
  316. Hiba Noor Khan, Author, London
  317. Berlie Doherty, Writer, Hope Valley
  318. Mayowa Precious agbabiaka, Author, Aseda Press LTD, London
  319. Sophie Robins, Teacher, London
  320. Rose Black, Author
  321. Siobhán Rodgers, Writer, Antrim
  322. Clare Povey, Author, Chelmsford
  323. Mina Ikemoto Ghosh, Author, London
  324. Rachel Faturoti, Writer
  325. Humayra Rahim, Teacher, London
  326. Charlotte Ingham, Author
  327. Hayley Webster, Author,, Reading
  328. Nina Douglas, Publicist, NDPR, London
  329. Andrea McLoughlin, Tutor, Educa8 Wirral Tutor, Wirral
  330. Joanne Harris, Author, Huddersfield
  331. Tessa Sheehan, Illustrator, Bradford
  332. Mary Rees
  333. Raimy Greenland, PR executive, Visit Lancaster, Lancaster
  334. Lauren Ace, Author, Bristol
  335. Anna McQuinn, Writer, Waterville
  336. Holly Stroud, Illustrator and library assistant, Bournemouth
  337. A.M Howell, Author, Suffolk
  338. Tamsin Mori, Author, Bath
  339. Tasmin Nash, Curator, Newport Gallery, Haverfordwest
  340. Skye McKenna, Author, Scotland
  341. Tammy Taylor, School Librarian, London
  342. Simone Greenwood, Writer, Caerphilly
  343. Maria Motunrayo Adebisi, Author, Self employed, Manchester
  344. Hayley Hoskins, Author, Gloucestershire
  345. R. Kaur, Teacher, Glasgow
  346. Megan Carroll, Literary Agent, Watson, Little Ltd, London
  347. Amie Jordan, Author, Salford
  348. Amy Enever, Reading lead teacher, Cornwall
  349. Lindsay McInally, Writer, Canterbury
  350. Dhruti Shah, Author, Have You Thought About, London
  351. Nazima Abdillahi, Commissioning Editor, London
  352. Humaira Kauser, Teacher, Birmingham
  353. Sanaa Hyder, Writer, Manchester
  354. Stephanie Holland, Writer, Kirkcaldy
  355. Alice Melvin, Illustrator, Burntisland
  356. Ingrid Brubaker, Writer, Inverness
  357. Becky Watson, Editor
  358. Sarah Todd Taylor, Author, Aberystwyth
  359. Seema McArdle, Teacher/Writer/Administrator, UEA, Norwich
  360. Ekua Bayunu, Artist, Global Arts Mcr, Manchester
  361. Rula Khatib Yanis, Artworker, Little Tiger Press, London
  362. Dom Conlon, Poet, Chorley
  363. Holly Edgar, Editor, London
  364. Joelyn Rolston-Esdelle, Production Manager, Hachette UK, London
  365. Kimberly Appleton, Teacher, Barnsley
  366. Debra Perrin, Libratian, Haywards Heath
  367. Neill Cameron, Writer / Artist, Oxford
  368. Jessica Townsend, Author, Sunshine Coast
  369. Pav Akhtar, Preston
  370. Elle Sorridente, Illustrator, Brighton
  371. Niamh Foy, Writer, Liverpool
  372. Grace Varley, Author, Kent
  373. Dev Kothari, Author, London
  374. October Jones, Children’s Librarian, London
  375. SF Layzell, Author, Cambridge
  376. Juliet Maney, Publisher, Oneworld, London
  377. Irene Campbell, Reader, Edinburgh
  378. Maisie Chan, Author, Glasgow
  379. Sarah New, Writer, London
  380. Alom Shaha, Author and Teacher, London
  381. Kathryn Foxfield, Writer, Oxford
  382. Anika Hussain, Author, Bristol
  383. Ash Bond, Author, Bristol
  384. Deirdre Power, London
  385. Asma Akhtar, GP, London
  386. Karl Newson, Author, London
  387. Sharan Dhaliwal, Editor, Burnt Roti, London
  388. Sarwat Chadda, Writer, London
  389. Sidra Ansari, Author and Teacher, Halesowen
  390. Clare Weze, Author, North West
  391. Zulekha Afzal, Author, Bath
  392. Elle McNicoll, Author, London
  393. Anne Booth, Writer, Canterbury
  394. Jade Mutyora, Writer, YORK
  395. Rachel Shaw, Writer, Lincoln
  396. Sam Suthurst, Publishing Freelancer, London
  397. Charlie Morris, Marketing, London
  398. Fiona Lumbers, Author-Illustrator, London
  399. Clodagh Mulrooney, Illustrator, Toronto
  400. Morgan Owen, Writer, Birmingham
  401. Ellie Irving, Author, Southend-on-Sea
  402. Yvvette Edwards, Author, London
  403. Jini Reddy, Author, London
  404. Yasmine Choudry, School Librarian & teacher, Rossendale
  405. Devon Holzwarth, Illustrator/Author, Aachen
  406. Martin Moriarty, Writer, London
  407. Kat Dunn, Author, London
  408. Annabelle Sami, Writer, London
  409. Tracy Curran, Author, Cornwall
  410. Emma Norry, Author, Bournemouth
  411. Patricia Murphy, Author, Oxford
  412. Beth Roberts, Academic and writer, Guildford
  413. Nazneen Ahmed Pathak, Author and lecturer, SOUTHAMPTON
  414. Nicky Parker, Literature & human rights specialist, Ware
  415. Adamma Okonkwo, Editor, Berkshire
  416. Merith Jones, Teacher, Llandudno
  417. Mattie Whitehead, Editor, London
  418. Shabnam Ahsan, Teacher, Keighley
  419. Halima Mohammed, Writer, London
  420. Alison Kriel, Education, London
  421. Shareefa Energy, Writer, Leicester
  422. Shash Trevett, Poet, N/A, York
  423. Matthew Paul, Poet, Rotherham
  424. Jennifer Killick, Author, London
  425. sk grout, Writer, London
  426. Margy Mayell, Retired, Gloucester
  427. Benjamin Dean, Author, London
  428. Ruthine Burton, Illustrator, London
  429. Lesley Price, Bookseller, Bridge Books, DROMORE
  430. Nia Morais, Writer, Cardiff
  431. Gabriela Houlgraves, public library worker, Sittingbourne
  432. Ann Sei Lin, author, London
  433. Siân Harrington, Teacher, Port Talbot
  434. Abia Afsar-Siddiqui, Editor, Ta-Ha Publishers, LONDON
  435. Aidan McQuade, Writer, London
  436. Vera Kubenz, Researcher, Birmingham
  437. Robyn Makings, Designer, Yorkshire, UK
  438. Katy Wedderburn, Librarian, Alnwick
  439. Catherine Doyle, Writer, Galway
  440. Flavia Zorrilla Drago, Illustrator & author, Ely
  441. Chris Naylor-Ballesteros, author illustrator, Limoges FR
  442. Kirsty Woods, Bookseller, Leicester
  443. Elizabeth Hopkinson, Author, Bradford
  444. Sara Jafari, Author, London
  445. Awo Ibrahim, Assistant Editor, PRH, London
  446. Cabbi Charles, author/illustrator, UK
  447. Diana Anyakwo, Author, Manchester
  448. Aoife Greenham, author-illustrator, Manchester
  449. Esther Brown, Teacher, North Yorkshire
  450. Emma, Book Reviewer, Liverpool
  451. Kate Wakeling, Writer, Oxford
  452. Yarrow Townsend, Author, SOUTHAMPTON
  453. Eilidh Cameron Nicol, Doctor, Glasgow
  454. Kirsty Lowe-Brown, Northampton
  455. Kate Rafiq, Author / Illustrator, DUNE BOOKS, Machynlleth
  456. Chloe James, School Librarian, Hertfordshire
  457. Kezia Ruxton, Bristol
  458. Iestyn Tyne, Writer & Publisher, Cyhoeddiadau'r Stamp, Caernarfon, Wales
  459. Mrs Sally Jane I'Anson, Hospital and Stories Officer, Read for Good, Malmesbury
  460. Grug Muse, Writer, Cyhoeddiadau'r Stamp, Machynlleth
  461. Aisha Bushby, Author, UK
  462. Julie Baugh, Librarian, Hitchin Boys' School, Hitchin
  463. Nicole Miles, illustrator, Yorkshire
  464. Chris Callaghan, Author, HarperCollins, London
  465. Jeanne Kasten, retired librarian, Olathe
  466. Casia Wiliam, Writer, Caernarfon
  467. Denise Dowdell-Stent, Author, Godmanchester
  468. Rosalind Essakhi, Letchworth Garden City
  469. Lucy, Children's Book Reviewer, The Children's Book Nook, Leeds
  470. Sarah Bowie, Author/Illustrator, Waterford
  471. Nicola Kent, Author/illustrator, London
  472. Serena Patel, Author, Birmingham
  473. Aisha Mussa, Teacher, Leicester
  474. Emma Carpendale, Artist/Illustrator, Northampton
  475. Meghan McConnell, Parent & Book Blogger, Megh's Bookshelf, Huddersfield
  476. Elin Tomos, Writer
  477. Eve McDonnell, Author, Wexford
  478. Kerry Mason, Bookseller, Letterbox Library, London
  479. Camille Whitcher, Illustrator, London
  480. Sanchita Basu De Sarkar, Owner, Children's Bookshop, London
  481. Farhana, Principal, Bury
  482. Mared Roberts, Writer, Paris
  483. Seb Jones, Writer, Paris
  484. Kathryn Hannan, Archivist, London
  485. Billy Ruffian, Illustrator, Devon
  486. Leah Soeiro, Writer, Paris Lit Up, Paris
  487. Joni O'Dea, Writer and poet
  488. Marisa TayLor, Author, Lingobabies, London
  489. Kate Lee, Parent/IT professional, Dudley
  490. Neil Clark, Author Illustrator, York
  491. Jaynie Heckel, Bookseller, Bromley
  492. Kim Kinloch, Author, London
  493. Sameera Patel, Publishing Ops Assistant, Little, Brown, London
  494. Samantha Greaves, Forest school leader, Nursery/after school care provider, Leeds
  495. Amy Goodman, Children's occupational therapist, Truro
  496. Stef Murphy, Illustrator, Norwich
  497. Daisy Hirst, Author-Illustrator, London
  498. Erica Gillingham, Bookseller, London
  499. Zanib Mian, Author, London
  500. Catherine Barter, Author, London
  501. Jonny Sly, Lots of things, Paris Lit Up, Paris
  502. Mark Jennett, Education Consultant, London
  503. Housmans Bookshop, Booksellers, London
  504. Peter Basma-Lord, Artist, Berlin
  505. Bridget Everett, Newcastle upon Tyne
  506. Philippa Leathley, Author, Hull
  507. Caroline Coetzee, Librettist / Arts Educator, Cambridge
  508. Joshua idehen, Writer, Stockholm
  509. Liz Flanagan, Author, West Yorkshire
  510. Kate, Teacher, St Cleopas primary, Liverpool
  511. Helen Weir, Editor, London
  512. Chitra Soundararajan, Author, Author, London
  513. Farrah Akhtar, Literacy Trainer, Sound Training Ltd, Greater Manchester
  514. Chloe Seager, Literary Agent, Madeleine Milburn, London
  515. Lotte North, Teacher, Cumnor House Sussex, HAYWARDS HEATH
  516. Etzali Hernández, Writer, Glasgow, UK
  517. Patience Agbabi, Writer, Oxford Brookes University, GRAVESEND
  518. S K Perry, Writer, Leeds
  519. Sally Rainger, Ex teacher, Exeter
  520. Hafsah Aneela Bashir, Writer, Manchester
  521. Fio Trethewey, Writer, London
  522. Abdul Kadir Thadha, Managing Director, Sweet Cherry Publishing, Leicester
  523. Lesley Parr, author
  524. Abigail Balfe, Author and illustrator, Self employed, Brighton
  525. Phyllis Ramage, Librarian, London
  526. Josephine Lawrence, Writer, Self-Employed, London
  527. Sam Barnes, Bookseller, Oxford
  528. Nikki Bi, Beyond Books, Birmingham
  529. Cathy Lear, editor, Leicester
  530. Chris Duriez, Illustrator, Freelance, Edinburgh
  531. Will Johnson
  532. Sheila Kanani, Author, Lancashire
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