This weeks Literary Ledger 17 to 24 October 2025

Welcome to your weekly roundup of all things books! We’re keeping it short and sweet, just five stories to keep you in the loop without overwhelming you. Think of this as your quick fix for staying connected to the book world.

I) Tiny Judges, Big Impact: The New Children’s Booker Prize

The Booker Prize has announced a brand-new award dedicated to children’s fiction, and what makes it so exciting is the judging panel itself. Alongside three experienced adult judges (including Frank Cottrell-Boyce, author of Millions, which won the CILIP Carnegie Medal in 2004), there will also be three children helping to choose the winning book.

At least 30,000 copies of the shortlisted and winning titles will be gifted to children, ensuring these stories reach young readers directly. Each shortlisted author will receive £2,500, while the winning author will take home £50,000.

Publishers will be able to submit entries in spring 2026, when the remaining two adult judges will be announced. The shortlist of eight books will be revealed in November next year, and the overall winner will be celebrated at an event for young readers in February 2027.

This news isn’t a total shock, especially if you’ve read my last few blog pieces. We already know that children’s reading for pleasure is at an all-time low. With the announcement of the National Year of Reading 2026, it’s clear there’s a very real concern that reading isn’t heading in the direction we’d like. It’s genuinely encouraging to see organisations coming together to try to change that.

II) Kate Elton Appointed CEO of HarperCollins UK

As discussed two weeks ago, HarperCollins UK CEO Charlie Redmayne, has resigned. Kate Elton initially stepped in as interim CEO, but it’s now been confirmed that she has been formally appointed to the position.

Elton will sit on the global executive committee and report directly to HarperCollins president and CEO Brian Murray. She previously served as group managing editor for the publisher’s adult commercial divisions.

Here’s what Elton had to say about the appointment:

“The HarperCollins team is second to none – their creativity, passion, and dedication are genuinely inspiring – and I'm deeply honored to now be asked to lead the team as CEO.”

Congratulations to Kate Elton!

III) Royalty Rumble: Hachette’s New System Hits a Glitch

Hachette UK has recently moved to a new royalty-accounting system and has just completed its first full batch of royalty statements using the new software. However, the rollout hasn’t gone entirely smoothly, reports suggest there have been “discrepancies” in the statements.

While payments to authors are being made, the statements sent to agents and authors are said to be “riddled with errors.” Katie Espiner, CEO of Hachette UK’s adult divisions, has acknowledged the issues in a statement to the Association of Authors’ Agents (AAA) and promised the matter will be treated with the “utmost urgency” to resolve delays.

This doesn’t look great for Hachette. When royalty statements are faulty, it can really undermine authors’ trust in their publisher. There’s also the issue of workload, it’s likely they didn’t anticipate just how much time and staff power it would take to fix these problems quickly. It’s also not ideal for their reputation; one mistake and the internet’s on it like wildfire (here I am adding to those numbers).

It’s a good reminder that publishing isn’t just about books, it’s also about the operational infrastructure and the business behind it. Never forget that.

IV) National Year of Reading 2026 is Here: And It’s Time to Go All In!

The National Reading Campaign that we’ve all been hearing about has finally unveiled its official brand identity, and a new director. Delivered by the National Literacy Trust in partnership with the Department for Education, the campaign is titled “Go All In”, with the tagline: “If you’re into it, read into it.”

The idea is to reframe reading as a way into things people already love, music, sport, culture, socialising, rather than something purely academic or obligatory. The campaign is directed by David Hayman, and I’m genuinely excited to see where it goes. Here’s hoping all the hard work pays off and helps reignite a love of reading across the country.

V) Tiny Detectives, Big Mysteries: Christie for Kids!

Agatha Christie, the “Queen of Crime” and the best-selling novelist of all time, is hitting another milestone, four of her famous mysteries are being adapted for children! Goodness, what a year for young readers, they’re getting spoiled over here! Even better, these adaptations are in collaboration with Mr Men and Little Miss, making them even more fun and accessible for kids.

The illustrated books will feature Christie’s iconic detectives, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, teaming up with Roger Hargreaves’s much-loved children’s characters. The first two titles, Little Miss Marple: Muddle at the Vicarage and Mr Poirot: Mischief on the Nile, will be published this Thursday, with two more set to follow in February.

James Prichard, Agatha Christie's great grandson, said it was a "dream collaboration"

The partnership will form part of Agatha Christie Limited’s anniversary programme next year, marking 50 years since the celebrated author’s death. It’s so exciting that young readers will be introduced to such classic stories much earlier than previous generations. What a wonderful idea!