Who Next...? A guide to children’s authors is an interactive online tool designed to help parents, teachers and librarians in schools and public libraries to encourage children and young people to read more widely, by suggesting authors they might enjoy. The tool can be used to guide children who have already enjoyed stories by one writer to find others who write in a similar way.
For each of the authors listed, other authors who write in a similar style are suggested. By moving from one entry to another, young readers can expand the number of writers they enjoy. Older children can also use the guide themselves. The same system has been used successfully in a similar guide to adult fiction, also published by Fiction Explorer Ltd, www.whoelsewriteslike.com.
The links that have been made between authors are based on genre and theme, and also of styles of writing, or similar aspects of characterisation and settings. The most popular titles by each author are listed and the information is arranged in four age groups: 5-7, 8-11, 12-14 and 14+. Who Next ...? also suggests suitable titles for dyslexic and reluctant readers.
Most of the authors listed have written several books. We have tried to include books that are easily available, so you should be able to find the recommended titles in either a library or available from a bookshop/online supplier. Symbols have been used to indicate, where known, if a title is available as an ebook or talking book.
There are lots of ways to search Who Next...?, for help, see our Key features page (under the Information tab).
We very much hope that this site will help many readers to enjoy more children’s books. As the award winning author, Jacqueline Wilson says, Who Next…? is “the perfect answer to get children to broaden their reading habits and discover the huge and varied and fantastic world of children’s literature”.