Today sees the sad news of the death of Eric Carle the creator so many children’s classics. Eric Carle was an American designer, illustrator, and writer of children’s books. His picture book The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been translated into more than 66 languages and sold more than 50 million copies. I know from the many hours I spent reading and re-reading classics like The Very Busy Spider what a creative talent he was.

An exciting shortlist for the annual Gordon Burn Prize. I am particularly looking forward to reading Lanny by Max Porter (Faber) which my brother bought me for my birthday. Also I’m going to borrow Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls (Penguin) from my mum, so I’ve got some good summer holiday reading ahead.

The winner will be announced at Durham Book Festival on Thursday 10 October.