Guest post written by author M.T. Khan on the challenges & joys of writing for children.

In July middle grade releases, I review four excellent books about con artists, autism, jinns, and climate change activism. From richly detailed fantasies to silly early reader graphic novels that will make kids laugh, there’s something for every reader on this list of July children’s book releases. Featuring Amir and the Jinn Princess.

As summer wears on, there are plenty of fresh adventures for the kids to lose themselves in this month with storytellers supreme like Emma Carroll, Bea Fitzgerald and M.T. Khan all publishing new books. Dive in to the best that July has to offer courtesy of the Waterstones Blog. Featuring Amir and the Jinn Princess.

Amir and the Jinn Princess is an editor's pick for Amazon's Best Books of July for ages 9-12.

Congratulations to M.T. Khan whose bewitching novel Nura and the Immortal Palace has been crowned winner of the Younger Readers category in this year's Waterstones Children's Book Prize. In this exclusive piece, M.T. Khan discusses the book that inspired her writing journey.

Nura and the Immortal Palace by M.T. Khan is crowned winner in the Younger Readers category of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2023. Steeped in the magic of Muslim folklore, Khan's enchanting children's debut sends our eponymous hero into a stunningly imagined underground world where the trickster jinns hold sway.

Our Cockatoo subscribers are heading off on a magical journey into a vibrant fantasy world this month with Nura and the Immortal Palace, a book that is original and richly imaginative. The story is packed with twists and turns, adventure and surprises. It's also an inspiring read that will prompt young readers to think deeply about the global child labour crisis. We quizzed author M.T. Khan on what inspired the book and its vivid setting, plus which new fantasy books for kids we should be reading next.