There’s no such thing as a ‘bad’ children’s book

YESTERDAY I got to see a proof of the forthcoming paperback edition of (shameless plug alert) my book The Liberty Tree, all fantastic graphics and fantastic review quotes (end of shameless plug), and it made me feel so glad that (a) my book exists and (b) all books exist.

Not just because this particular book paid for my kids and I to have a nice camping trip in France, but because without books all we’d have is Twitter and telly. Neither of which you can take in the bath, without crossing major health and safety boundaries.

Years ago, writers Neil Gaiman and Douglas Adams were having a pre-internet conversation about books. Adams said books were like sharks — they had been around forever, because they were the best at being what they are, and as such cannot be improved. E-books are great if you’re travelling on CryinAir or anywhere else where your bag is measured in micrograms and millimeters, but can you put an e-book on your shelf? Admire its cover? Give it to a friend for their birthday?