Connecting people through books

Schools across Wales are receiving free books that reflect more of our stories, people and communities as the Rhyngom scheme of books for children and young people is completed.

The Books Council of Wales is sending over 49,000 free books to schools across the country this term, as part of the Rhyngom scheme funded by Welsh Government and Adnodd.

Rhyngom is a three-year, £810,000 project to publish more reading books for pleasure that celebrate and promote diversity, for children and young people. Since it started in 2022, the project has supported the creation of brand-new original books in both Welsh and English, as well as the adaptation of English-language books into Welsh, to create books that reflect more of our stories, people and communities.

The twenty new, original books, which were specially commissioned for the programme, include works by first-time writers as well as established authors, some of which have been shortlisted for or won awards since their launch in November 2024.

These were followed in spring 2025 by Welsh-language adaptations of 28 existing English-language titles that promote and celebrate diversity – including Windrush Child by Benjamin Zephaniah (Un o Blant y Windrush, adapted/translated by Rhys Iorwerth) and Boys don’t Cry by Malorie Blackman (Gormod o Ddyn, adapted/translated by Manon Steffan Ros).

The themes for the original books and the titles for adaptation were chosen by members of an independent panel who represented a variety of organisations and backgrounds, and who are keen ambassadors in their fields of expertise. All the books in the series come with educational resources to help teachers and learners to explore the themes and questions they raise in more depth.

After three years this ambitious project is now drawing to a close as the final book-gifting phase of the scheme ensures the books reach young readers across Wales. Every state primary school will receive a free copy of the books for readers aged 3–11 years, and every state secondary school will receive a copy of the books for readers aged 8-16 years. Schools will also receive printed educational resources to accompany the 20 original books. Educational resources for all 48 titles are available digitally through Hwb.

Pupils at Ysgol Hamadryad in Cardiff have received their box of free books, as deliveries to 1,269 primary schools and 205 secondary schools get underway.

Learners attended a special event at Ysgol Hamadryad Primary School in Cardiff to celebrate the free books arriving in schools across the country and to mark the successful completion of the project.  Rebecca Wilson, author of one of the original books The Winter Festival / Gŵyl y Gaeaf, led Year 2 pupils in a creative workshop to explore the themes in the book. They were also joined by Emyr George, Chief Executive of Adnodd, and Delyth Ifan, Rhyngom Project Manager at the Books Council of Wales.

Delyth Ifan, Books Council of Wales, Emyr George, Adnodd and author Rebecca Wilson

Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle, said: “We want children to enjoy reading and key to this is providing books that children can enjoy and stories that represent them. The Rhyngom scheme aims to capture a modern Wales, telling stories that children and young people can see themselves, their family and their friends reflected in the books they are reading.

“I want to congratulate the authors and thank everyone who has contributed to this project. It is so important for our schools to have new reading books, in both Welsh and English, that support the teaching of diversity across the curriculum, supporting our learners with their literacy and empathy skills, and contributing towards their mental and emotional well-being.”

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales said: “We are very grateful to Welsh Government and to Adnodd for embracing our vision for this important programme, which has made such a huge impact – enabling us to commission books in Welsh and English that celebrate all of our communities in Wales.

“I would also like to thank our many partners who have contributed their experience and expertise throughout this co-produced project; including the members of our panel who helped select the books for adaptation; the mentors and sensitivity readers who have supported authors; the panel to create the educational resources, and of course the publishers throughout Wales that have supported the project, and the authors themselves. We could not have done any of this without them, and young readers across Wales now have more fantastic books to enjoy that reflect more of their own stories and experiences.”

Lowri Gwyn, Reception-Year 2 Leader at Ysgol Hamadryad, said: “It was a special experience for our Year 2 pupils to meet The Winter Festival author Rebecca Wilson. They all enjoyed the workshop discussing the variety of celebrations in our community and within our school. It was also lovely to hear the author read part of her special story which will appeal to children across Wales.”

Emyr George, Chief Executive of Adnodd said: “At Adnodd, we’re proud to have supported the Rhyngom project. These books reflect the diversity of Wales today and offer learners stories they can see themselves in, whether through language, culture, experience or identity. We know that when learners feel seen, they engage more deeply in their learning.  And when teachers have high-quality, inclusive resources, they can spark powerful conversations in the classroom, school yard and beyond. Rhyngom is a celebration of creativity, inclusion and co-production, things that Adnodd is focused on through our strategy, and we are thrilled to see these books reaching schools across the country.”

Emyr George, Adnodd with learners at Ysgol Hamadryad

All of the books published under the Rhyngom scheme are available to buy from your local bookshop. You can find out more about Rhyngom on the Books Council of Wales website: Rhyngom: Rhestr teitlau / List of titles

Wales’ first UNESCO City of Literature

Aberystwyth Ceredigion joins gobal network of Creative Cities

Today, 31 October 2025, Aberystwyth Ceredigion has become Wales’ first UNESCO City of Literature, joining a global network of 350 Creative Cities that have been recognised for their excellence in creative fields across the world’.

Aberystwyth Ceredigion joins over 50 Cities recognised by UNESCO for their contribution to literature, including Barcelona, Dublin, Seattle and Rio de Janeiro. The City of Literature designation also makes Aberystwyth Ceredigion the first UNESCO Creative City in Wales.

With literary culture at its heart, Aberystwyth Ceredigion has a vibrant infrastructure of festivals, bookshops, theatres, cultural events, lectures, centres of academic excellence and research, publishing, poetry and writing that connects all parts of the county. The new City of Literature was created after a compelling application by the Dinas Llên strategic partnership. The UNESCO designation brings together Aberystwyth and the wider county of Ceredigion to celebrate the centuries-old literary traditions of the area and its thriving bilingual cultural scene.

Professor Mererid Hopwood, of the Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies at Aberystwyth University and member of the Dinas Llên partnership said: “As the first area in Wales to be recognised by the UNESCO Creative City network, the significance of the designation announced today goes beyond Aberystwyth and the county of Ceredigion and on to a national and global stage. It’s an opportunity to reinforce the vibrant literary heritage that we enjoy right here as we share it with the world. We have a saying in Welsh that reminds us that winning a prize is when the work begins. We now look forward to taking on the responsibility that comes with this significant privilege.”

The Dinas Llên partnership was formed in 2021 to move forward a programme of research and local consultation and to prepare the application ahead of submission in March 2025. The partnership comprises Aberystwyth Town Council, Aberystwyth University, Books Council of Wales, Ceredigion County Council, the National Library of Wales and University of Wales Trinity Saint David (including The Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, Wales Literature Exchange and Literature Across Frontiers).

Why Aberystwyth Ceredigion?

Aberystwyth Ceredigion might not constitute a city in the traditional sense, but the area’s rich literary scene, universities and national literary institutions means that it qualifies for a UNESCO Creative City designation.

Literature and creativity in many forms, and in both Welsh and English, are an integral part of everyday life here, for people of all ages and backgrounds. Literature is at our feet as we walk Aberystwyth Promenade. It adorns the Quay at Cardigan and the woodland trail in Llandre. Aberystwyth alone can claim a connection to over 300 poets and is the first Welsh town to employ a Town Poet.

Ceredigion is home to a high concentration of publishers, as well as to Welsh literary institutions of national and international importance including the National Library of Wales and the Books Council of Wales. The University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David is an international centre of excellence for Celtic Studies, and Aberystwyth University is world-renowned for its excellence in teaching and research in languages and literature, including Welsh, English and Creative Writing. Through Wales Literature Exchange and Literature Across Frontiers we connect Wales to the world and share literature from Wales with new audiences through translation.

Aberystwyth Ceredigion joins other Creative Cities around the world in recognising that creativity is a catalyst for sustainable development, focused on people, place and local communities.

Councillor Emlyn Jones, Mayor of Aberystwyth said: “It’s fantastic that Aberystwyth Ceredigion has been awarded this status, putting our county on a worldwide stage and celebrating our distinctive cultural and literary heritage. Literature is for everyone, and we’ve now joined a global network of cities that have creativity rooted in their local communities to create a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable future.

Literature and creativity help make Aberystwyth Ceredigion an amazing place to live, work, study and visit and we believe that being Wales’ first City of Literature will be a catalyst for further growth in the creative industries, benefit local businesses and help more people to discover us and our many stories. This designation belongs to everyone in Aberystwyth Ceredigion and there are so many opportunities to take part and share ideas – this is just the first step!”.

First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan said: “Llongyfarchiadau Aberystwyth Ceredigion! Congratulations to Aberystwyth Ceredigion for becoming Wales’ first UNESCO Creative City and City of Literature.

“Wales is a land of creativity, made up of great authors, poets, singers and actors. Of course, many of these come from the Aberystwyth area and attended the University, and this announcement is testament to the vibrancy of the literary scene, in both Welsh and English, throughout the county.

“Achieving UNESCO City of Literature status is thoroughly deserved, and I am looking forward to seeing opportunities unfold and Wales’ new City of Literature flourish.”

UNESCO representatives sent the following message:

“Llongyfarchiadau / Congratulations to Aberystwyth Ceredigion on becoming Wales’ first UNESCO Creative City and City of Literature!

This mark of global recognition shines a light on the vibrancy and strength of Wales’s bilingual literary culture and its contribution to creativity nationally & internationally.

As part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, Aberystwyth Ceredigion joins a community that promotes inclusion, sustainability, and innovation through culture and creativity.

It demonstrates how local and international efforts can prioritise literature, helping to strengthen Wales and the UK’s cultural influence and their voice on the world stage.”

UK Ambassador to UNESCO, Anna Nsubuga
UK National Commission for UNESCO Chair, Professor Anne Anderson
Secretary-General of the UK National Commission for UNESCO, James Ömer Bridge

You can find out how you can get involved and keep up to date with Aberystwyth Ceredigion City of Literature at https://cityofliterature.wales/,on social media @AberystwythDinasLlen or search for ‘Aberystwyth City of Literature’.

Showcasing Wales at Frankfurt Book Fair: Publishers from Wales to visit the world’s largest content fair

Publishers from Wales will once again be promoting Welsh literature on an international stage at Frankfurt Book Fair this October. This is the third consecutive year that Wales has had a presence at Frankfurt, funded by Welsh Government via Creative Wales, and co-ordinated by the Books Council of Wales.
Frankfurt Book Fair takes place each year over five days in October and is the largest content fair in the world, with representation from countries from across the globe travelling to Germany to showcase the very best of their books and literature across all genres.

In 2024, this key cultural event attracted around 230,000 visitors with 4,300 exhibitors from 92 countries[1]. This year, 15 Wales-based publishers will be attending to meet representatives from other creative industries such as film and games, as well as other publishers, to discuss collaborations, rights and licensing, and build relationships.

 

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales said: “Thanks to funding from Welsh Government, the Wales in Frankfurt stand will return to Frankfurt again this year. The bilingual publishing sector in Wales forms part of the foundational economy which is a Welsh Government priority sector within the Creative Industries, and we’re delighted that we have been able to secure Wales’ presence at this major international event in the publishing calendar to promote the very best of our books and authors from Wales on an international stage.”

Jack Sargeant, Culture Minister said: “It’s great that Welsh publishers will once again have such a prominent presence at Frankfurt Book Fair, one of the world’s most important cultural events. Creative Wales and Books Council support for this important trade mission helps establish Wales’ vibrant publishing sector on an international stage, all whilst showcasing our rich literary heritage.

 

“With a mix of Welsh and English language literature and a wide array of content, our publishers represent the very best of Welsh creativity, and our presence at Frankfurt provides an invaluable platform for them to build new partnerships and reach global audiences. This is exactly the kind of support that helps our creative industries to continue to grow and thrive.”

Frankfurt Book Fair is open from 15–19 October 2025. You can find out more about the fair here: Frankfurter Buchmesse | Home

[1] https://www.buchmesse.de/en/about-us.

Announcing the Winners of the Wales Children’s & Young People’s Book Cover of the Year Awards 2025

Today, Friday 26 September, the Books Council of Wales has announced the winning titles of its Children’s & Young People’s Book Cover of the Year Awards 2025.

The awards have two categories – English-language Book Cover and Welsh-language Book Cover. The winners are:

English-language category winner:

Fishfolk (Firefly Press). Cover illustration: Hannah Doyle. Author: Steven Quincey-Jones.

Welsh-language category winner:

Nos Da Blob (Y Lolfa). Cover Illustration: Huw Aaron. Cover design: Opal Roengchai. Author: Huw Aaron.

Hannah Doyle said: “Thank you so much for choosing Fishfolk for the Children’s Book Cover of the Year Award! I am thrilled. Thank you to Firefly Press, and especially to Becka Moor for working her design magic to make the cover really stand out. And obviously to Steven Quincey-Jones for writing such an inspiring and atmospheric book. It was a wonderful project to be involved in.”

Huw Aaron said: “They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover… but everybody does, because care given to a cover indicates that the inside’s been cared for as well. So it’s great that we have these prizes celebrating the important craft of cover design. And, of course, I’m over the moon that little Blob has won this year! Huge thank you to Clare Doughty for steering this cover to its final form.”

The awards were established to celebrate the contribution of illustrators and designers in bringing stories to life, and creating eye-catching, attractive books that appeal to young readers. They were awarded for the first time in 2024.

The six shortlisted books and the winning titles were selected by members of the Books Council of Wales’ Young People’s Panel. The designer/illustrator of the winning cover in each category wins or shares a cash prize of £500.

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, said: “Huge congratulations to the winners of this year’s awards. It’s wonderful to be able to showcase the hard work of designers and illustrators in this way and to celebrate the incredible talent we have working in the sector in Wales. Many thanks also go the members of our Young People’s Panel who had the difficult task of judging this year’s prize from so many worthy contenders.”

The other shortlisted titles were:

Shortlisted – English-language:

• Colours of Home (Graffeg). Cover illustration: Miriam Latimer. Author: Miriam Latimer.
• The Street Food Festival (Atebol). Cover illustration: Valériane Leblond. Cover design: Tanwen Haf, Whitefire Designs. Author: Gail Sequeira.

Shortlisted – Welsh-language:

• Gwen ac Arianrhod (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch). Cover Illustration: Lleucu Gwenllian. Cover design: Eleri Owen. Author: Lleucu Gwenllian.
• Ysgol Arswyd (Y Lolfa). Cover Illustration: Sian Angharad. Author: Catrin Angharad Jones.

The Awards are supported by the Welsh Government Education Department under the Curriculum for Wales Grant Support Programme.

Story Garden Summer Reading Challenge launches in Wales, helping young readers to grow their reading skills

Children from schools in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Newtown and Cardiff joined top children’s authors last week at special events in their local libraries to launch the Summer Reading Challenge in Wales.

The events celebrated this year’s Challenge theme, ‘Story Garden’, where magical creatures, wild tales and the wonders of nature come to life. Children can sign up to the scheme at their local library and discover new reading adventures all summer long.

At Penylan library in Cardiff, pupils from Roath Park Primary School enjoyed a workshop with author Ian Brown, the creator of the Albert the Tortoise and the Hugg ‘n’ Bugg book series, while at Newtown Library Claire Fayers, author of award-winning Welsh Giants, Ghosts and Goblins, joined pupils from Ysgol Calon y Dderwen to discover the magical creatures that lurk in forest and valleys, and in our own gardens.

Bethan Gwanas and pupils from Ysgol Maenofferen discussed the much-loved Cadi series at Blaenau Ffestiniog Library. Bethan was awarded the Mary Vaughan Jones Award in 2024 for her outstanding contribution to children’s literature.

Author Ian Brown said: “It was a ‘Tortal’ privilege to help launch this year’’s Summer Reading Challenge. Telling the stories of Albert and his garden gang to an amazing group of children at Penylan Library was very special indeed. Supersize thanks to everyone involved. Happy reading to all.”

Author Claire Fayers said: “I had a wonderful time at Newtown Library, launching the Summer Reading Challenge. It’s such a great opportunity to spread the love of stories. Everyone should take part.”

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, said: “Thank you to all the authors, libraries, schools and pupils for getting this year’s Summer Reading Challenge off to a brilliant start! Libraries are fantastic places to discover books of all kinds, and thanks to the support of Welsh Government, we’re so pleased that children across Wales can take up the Challenge and keep reading over the holidays.”

The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle, said: “We are once again funding the Summer Reading Challenge to ensure all children have the opportunity to enjoy reading during the summer holidays. The Challenge helps capture children’s imaginations and discover new authors and books, alongside developing their reading skills throughout the school holidays.”

Produced by The Reading Agency and delivered with public libraries, the Summer Reading Challenge aims to keep children reading over the summer holidays with events, activities and brilliant books – all available to access for free from local libraries. It provides a free, fun way to keep young minds active, ready for a great start to a new school year in the autumn.

From Saturday 5 July, young readers aged 4–11 can sign up at a local library, or online at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk. Read at least six books to complete the challenge – you can choose stories, graphic novels, non-fiction books, or listen to audio books – anything goes! Unlock rewards, discover new reads, and receive a medal and certificate once the challenge is completed.

With a new theme every year, the Challenge is aimed at children age 4–11. It supports this age group and their families by:

• Preparing children to get back to the classroom in the autumn.
• Supporting the move into a new year group or key stage.
• Boosting children’s confidence and self-esteem by supporting independent reading.
• Providing free access to books and fun family activities during the summer.

The Summer Reading Challenge is delivered by The Reading Agency. It is supported in Wales by the Books Council of Wales and funded by Welsh Government. From 2025 this project is funded by the Curriculum for Wales Grant Support Programme, thanks to Welsh Government.