The Mapmakers’ Race by Eirlys Hunter – A Mapmaker’s Review!

We are SUPER-excited to bring you a review of Eirlys Hunter’s latest gripping adventure book, ‘The Mapmakers’ Race’, from Bedford’s very own cartographer-extraordinaire, mapmaker ‘Captain’ Alice Gadney of ‘Mini Map-Makers‘! “I knew when I saw this book it would be good… but not until I read the first few pages did I realise it would […]

His Dark Materials: The Transcript…

His Dark Materials: Philip Pullman In Conversation with Ali Nicholl The Panacea Museum, Bedford Monday June 18th 2018 Transcribed by Emily Ross [PP was asked about whether he intended to write more about Lyra’s world (etc) and was a short way through his answer when recording began] PP …In The Amber Spyglass, I thought that […]

Books for tweens and teenagers or You Just Don’t Know What It’s Like…

As a mother who is a bibliophile, there is often a temptation to try and find the answer to all of life’s trials in the pages of a book. Kids won’t sleep?  Kids won’t eat?  Kids won’t do anything they are supposed to do, including getting their uniforms on, eating their breakfast and JUST GETTING OUT OF […]

Inspirational Women!

You may have noticed we like to celebrate women in the shop – inspirational women, significant women, powerful women… Now we want to let you celebrate the women who have made a difference to your world! In the run up to International Women’s Day, tell us about your role models – they can be historical […]

Beetle Queen with M G Leonard

Every now and then you meet an author who manages to inspire the same enthusiasm and excitement in their readers on and off the page – MG Leonard is one of those authors! Packing assemblies, chats, book signings and general awesomeness into one day, Maya managed to create a whole new generation of entomologists… EVERYONE […]

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World

As a self-proclaimed feminist children’s bookshop, we were delighted when Bloomsbury released Kate Pankhurst’s ‘Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World’! A descendent of the infamous Emmeline, suffragette and key player in winning votes for women 100 years ago, Kate’s book is a wonderful introduction to some of the incredible women in our history.  Watch […]

Bad Mermaids with Sibéal Pounder

Another fantastic event with Bloomsbury! Sibéal returned to Bedford after her hugely popular workshop at BookTastic last year, and had the children spellbound with her tales of life under the sea…   https://www.facebook.com/rogansbooks/photos/a.1038699956161334.1073741828.961268523904478/1562186210479370/?type=3

Big Hid, by Roisin Swales

Most of you will, by now, be aware of my extreme fandom of publishing house Flying Eye, producers of such deliciousness as Francesca Sanna’saward-winning The Journey, Briony May Smith’s eye-dazzling Imelda and the Goblin King, and the exquisite Wild, by Emily Hughes… I have been known to salivate over their Latest Releases catalogue. So imagine, if you […]

Why bother learning sign language, anyway..?

Think learning BSL is just about doing something for others? Think again… Many people learn British Sign Language because they want to help deaf people and hearing people communicate more easily, and whilst promoting inclusivity is fantastic, the benefits of learning sign language definitely go both ways. Andy Palmer is Deputy Editor of The Limping Chicken, a […]

They All Saw a Cat, by Brendan Wenzel

Pity the poor customers I have greeted, over the past few days, with an evangelical gleam in my eye. Watch, as they slowly back away from Crazy Book Lady, who babbles excitedly about a book so special, so important, so TRUE, that they MUST READ IT IMMEDIATELY. Cringe, as Crazy Book Lady starts to read […]