In response to the First News list of Ten Books Everyone Should Read, everyone involved with Reading Is Magic Festival and Bath Children’s Literature Festival feel it is important to make our position clear.

We disagree with the selections made by First News. Of course, there are some brilliant books on the list, however, it fails to reflect the joyous, innovative, diverse and inclusive voices that Reading Is Magic Festival was set up to champion.

We have a strong and clear manifesto, which is reflected in our programming, that we support children and young people’s reading journeys and help them experience the magic of reading wherever they find it. We celebrate exciting and diverse stories that are representative of everybody and are accessible to all.