Children's Books - Keeping up

I was talking with someone about children's fiction and they asked me how I kept up with what was being and had been published. This coincided with my frustration at finding out about several books that I'd missed. Normally I just go and browse in Waterstone's. Occasionally, when we visit London, I'll do Foyle's and the second-hand bookshops around Shaftesbury Avenure.
There are a couple of good websites. For keeping up to date, I subscribe to the lovereading4kids newsletter

http://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/

whereas for exploring an author and reviews, there are various sites

http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site

and individual author sites

The two books that I'd missed being published were Frank Cottrell Boyce's second Chitty Chitty Bang Bang book (Race Against Time) and Riddell & Stewart's The Phantom of Blood Alley.

To be truthful, a lot of my books come from charity shops as they are so affordable. I picked up a hardback, first US edition of Clay by David Almond at the weekend in Newcastle for £1.99. It was even signed. I know I'm sad but to think that the person who gives me so much pleasure when I read their book (and David Almond is certainly one) has actually held my copy.

Not all my purchases give me pleasure. Some I get quite screwed up over. More about that in a future blog.