Editorial 258

Welcome to the first Books for Keeps of 2023. Issue number 258 is filled with predictions, from which books will be setting trends in the year ahead – huge thanks to all the editors who shared their tips – to the issues likely to be preoccupying us.

We’re opening with a look back, however. This time last year, Oxford University Press had just revealed anxiety as the 2021 Children’s Word of the Year. Of 8,000 children surveyed, almost a quarter had plumped for anxiety (21%) as number one word, with 19% choosing challenging and 14% isolate. This year, in what might appear to be a complete turnaround, almost half of children surveyed chose Queen (46%) as their word of the year, and over a third (36%) selected happy. Although when asked why they chose Queen, many of the children cited sadness – not surprising in the year of her death – almost half of children (48%) felt hopeful and over a quarter (29%) felt excited about the year ahead. Perhaps we should follow their lead and trust that things will improve, cost of living crisis, the looming threats of environmental breakdown and further pandemics notwithstanding.

One of the things giving us reason to be positive for 2023 is the resurgence in children’s poetry – publishing, performance and writing, all ably championed by our Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho of course. While publishers Macmillan, Otter-Barry Books, Troika, the Emma Press and Bloomsbury continue to champion poets new and established, it’s exciting to hear that Scallywag Press are launching a poetry list this year. This year too, the CLiPPA turns twenty, with special events and announcements promised, while Poetry By Heart, the national poetry speaking competition for schools and colleges is ten. Both competitions celebrate what poetry offers children and young people – opportunities to explore feelings and emotions, to connect, escape, expand experiences, and the freedom to play with words and language – something even the 14% of children who described themselves to Oxford as worried should relish.

Whatever you plan to do in 2023, we hope you’ll continue to read Books for Keeps as we continue to report on the books, the words and pictures shaping children’s lives.

As always, if you appreciate what we do, do please make a contribution via PayPal – work to transfer 40 years of our archive to the website continues and all donations, small or large, are very welcome.

Happy reading, 2023!