Celebrating International Book Giving Day

Because stories and ideas are meant to be shared.

International Book Giving Day, marked each year on 14 February, is a gentle reminder that books are one of the most meaningful gifts we can give. 

Whether it’s a brand-new picture book, a much-loved paperback, or a surprise novel slipped onto a friend’s doorstep, the day is all about spreading the joy of reading – without pressure, price tags, or pretence.

Why book giving matters

A book can educate, comfort, distract, inspire, or simply offer a few quiet minutes away from the world. For children especially, receiving a book can spark a lifelong love of reading. For adults, it can feel like being truly seen – “I thought you’d like this.”

International Book Giving Day encourages us to think beyond ourselves and remember that not everyone has easy access to books at home.

Simple ways to take part

You don’t need to do anything elaborate. Small gestures are very much the point:

Gift a book to a child – a new title or a gently used favourite

Donate books to schools, libraries, food banks, or charities such as Book Aid International https://bookaid.org

Leave a book somewhere public with a note inviting someone to enjoy it

Post a book to a friend “just because”

Share a recommendation on social media and encourage others to do the same

Even one book can make a difference.

A lovely excuse to talk about reading

For book lovers, the day is also a chance to celebrate stories and ideas themselves. It’s a great prompt to revisit childhood favourites, support local bookshops, or finally pass on that novel you couldn’t stop talking about.

At That’s Books and More, we love anything that puts books into more hands and more homes. International Book Giving Day isn’t about grand gestures – it’s about kindness, connection, and the quiet magic of a good read finding the right reader.

So if you’re looking for a thoughtful way to mark the day, skip the chocolates and share a story instead. 

New Book, Leading in Chaos, Calls for a Fundamental Revisioning of Leadership

LID Publishing has announced the publication of Leading in Chaos: A Clarion Call to a New Future From Two Pioneers in Leadership Development and Transformational Change – award-winning author Nicholas Janni and leadership development expert Amy Elizabeth Fox. The book will be published on 19 February 2026 (UK) and 7 April 2026 (US).

As leaders face an era defined by polycrisis, institutional fragility, and sustained uncertainty, Leading in Chaos argues today’s conditions demand not better tools or frameworks, not best practice, but next practice - a fundamentally different inner operating system for leadership, grounded in deeper forms of human intelligence. 

Rather than offering another methodology to master, Leading in Chaos reframes leadership itself as an embodied, developmental practice.

The book invites leaders, consultants, and changemakers to cultivate inner capacities that cannot be faked - such as receptivity, humility, and the ability to navigate paradox - so they can act with clarity and integrity amid ongoing disruption. Because, in their words, “chaos is the new black” – not a temporary situation.

Michael Watkins, Professor of Leadership and Organisational Change at IMD Business School, told That's Books and More: says: “In Leading in Chaos, ancient wisdom traditions speak to quarterly earnings. Trauma healing becomes organisational strategy. The body’s intelligence supersedes the mind’s calculations. Prayer and spreadsheets coexist. This isn’t New Age wishful thinking but a rigorous argument that unless we reunite body and mind, heart and strategy, sacred and secular, we will continue to create the conditions that threaten our species’ survival.”

Nicholas Janni and Amy Elizabeth Fox, said: “We wrote this book for leaders who find themselves operating without stable points of reference, in conditions that are increasingly volatile and destabilising. Leading in Chaos asks leaders to shift from driving harder to listening more deeply, from control to coherence, and from speed to presence—so that more profound forms of knowing can come online.”

Written as a collection of interlinked essays, Leading in Chaos draws on the authors’ combined decades of work with CEOs and senior leadership teams in global organisations. The book explores themes including sense-making in complex systems, embodied leadership, trauma-informed development, and helping leaders to become more effective through prolonged uncertainty.

Nicholas Janni has spent over 25 years advising CEOs and senior leadership teams worldwide and teaching at leading business schools. Leading in Chaos follows Janni’s previous book, Leader as Healer, which won UK Business Book of the Year in 2023.

Amy Elizabeth Fox, MA, has spent over two decades facilitating transformational leadership programmes in Fortune 500 companies and professional service firms. She is Co-founder and CEO of Mobius Executive Leadership.

www.leadinginchaosbook.com

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Why Phone-Free Events Are Set to Shape the Future of Nightlife in 2026

As organisers rethink how to bring people back to nightlife and live events, phone-free formats are increasingly being introduced into regular events scheduling. 

While still relatively new in the UK, early adopters are already reporting clearer benefits around atmosphere, audience behaviour and social connection.

Drawing on established practices in cities such as Berlin, UK organisers are now looking ahead to 2026 as the point where phone-free environments become a more familiar and intentional part of event design. Lockabl, a UK specialist in phone-free event solutions, explains why interest is growing, what organisers are already seeing in practice and how the right tools are helping phone-free nights run smoothly without confrontation or added liability.

A spokesperson told That's Books and More: “What we’re seeing now is organisers moving from testing phone-free nights to programming them with intent. Once venues introduce these formats regularly, the benefits become very clear very quickly.

“In Berlin, this approach has been embedded for years. According to Clubcommission Berlin, around 90% of venues operate a no-phones-on-the-dancefloor code. That kind of cultural shift doesn’t happen by accident – it’s the result of design, expectation and consistency.

“UK organisers aren’t trying to replicate Berlin wholesale, but they are recognising the same outcomes: stronger atmosphere, fewer distractions and audiences that are more engaged with the music and each other.”

“Importantly, successful phone-free events aren’t about enforcement. Organisers want structure, not conflict – a way to support their policy without staff having to confiscate phones or manage storage.”

“Lockable phone pouches work because the phone stays with the guest at all times. Patrons can dance the night away knowing their device is still in their possession, just secured, which removes tension and significantly limits liability for venues.”

“Based on the organisers we work with, 2026 is likely to be the year phone-free formats shift from being interesting to being expected – particularly for clubs, residencies and immersive events that want to stand out.”

Lockabl supplies rental lockable phone pouches for live events, performances, TV productions and nightlife experiences across the UK. The company provides the equipment that allows organisers to give structure to phone-free events, while ensuring guests retain possession of their devices throughout the night.

Recent successful phone-free nightlife events have included “Off-Grid”, hosted by Stormzy’s Soho concept bar venue and “Lost”, a hybrid nightclub; cinema and performance space located in the Saville Theatre.

Lockabl does not set event policies or operate venues but supports organisers in implementing their chosen approach in a clear, consistent and guest-friendly way.

https://lockabl.uk/

Yamaha Music London Opens Applications for 2026 Ambassador Competition

Yamaha Music London has announced the return of its flagship Yamaha Music London Ambassador Competition, now in its fourth year, offering unsigned solo artists and duos a powerful platform to accelerate their careers.

Open to UK-based artists within easy reach of London, the programme will select three Yamaha Music London Ambassadors for 2026, providing them with industry mentorship, professional recording opportunities, marketing and PR support, and the chance to represent the iconic music store for twelve months.

“This could be the moment that changes everything.”

The competition has already proven itself as a launchpad for breakthrough talent. Previous Ambassadors—including Cian Downing, Codyy, Kevin Davy White, Matt Kent, and Liv Lester—have gone on to perform at major venues across London and Europe, release critically praised music, and collaborate with Yamaha Music London on professional video content.

“Winning the Yamaha Music London Ambassadorship has been a huge step forward for my career.”

— Cian Downing, Yamaha Music London Ambassador

Winners will receive a comprehensive prize package, including an official 12-month ambassadorship, a Yamaha instrument, one-to-one industry mentorship, professional studio recording time, a high-quality showcase video, and inclusion in Yamaha Music London’s 2026 digital marketing campaigns.

Shortlisted artists will compete in live showcases in London, with semi-finals taking place between 18–20 March 2026 and the grand final held on 26 March 2026 at Yamaha Music London.

HOW TO ENTER

Artists must submit a 1–3 minute video showcasing their musical ability while performing original music.

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 1st March at 23:59

Enter here: https://bit.ly/4r5upNs

Terms & Conditions: https://bit.ly/49sQI7X

Applicants must be aged 18+, UK-based, unsigned, and able to perform live. Full eligibility details are available in the Terms & Conditions.

Libraries are asking young people how to make them feel more welcome

Libraries are changing - and a new national initiative is helping ensure children and young people are at the heart of that shift.

National charity Libraries Rising, previously known as ASCEL, has launched SparkSpace, a first-of-its-kind free training platform co-created with children and young people to support library professionals and volunteers to work more confidently and inclusively with younger generations.

The training supports library teams to meaningfully engage children and young people as active partners in shaping library spaces and services, moving beyond assumptions about what young people need, towards services designed with them, flipping the usual model of adults deciding what is best for children and young people.

The launch comes at a time when free community spaces for children and young people are shrinking across the UK. As a result, libraries are some of the last accessible, safe public spaces where young people can spend time, connect and feel part of their community.

This is reflected in recent findings from The Children’s Society Good Childhood Report, which highlights that children and young people want more opportunities to be involved in their communities and to have a say in the decisions that affect them.

As the UK looks ahead to the National Year of Reading 2026, Libraries Rising highlights a vital point: for young people to experience the joy and value of libraries, they need to feel they matter and that they belong.

Libraries are widely recognised as inclusive community spaces, particularly for children and families. However, SparkSpace recognises that welcome cannot be assumed, it needs to be actively built, through listening, trust and shared ownership. With this in mind, SparkSpace supports library teams to create environments where young people feel valued and heard - places they are part of, not just visitors to.

The platform includes short learning modules, videos and practical activities that support library staff and volunteers to better understand the needs of children and young people and why it matters. The training also looks at how to create more inclusive spaces including for children and young people with SEND, communicate more confidently with young people and encourage their involvement and use outreach and social media in relevant and creative ways that directly engage children and young people.

Rather than being designed without young people’s input, SparkSpace has been shaped directly by children and young people themselves. Young contributors shared honest experiences and shared what they need to feel they belong.

Developed in collaboration with youth engagement specialists Participation People, SparkSpace has been led by children and young people from the very beginning.

They were involved at every stage - identifying what library staff need to understand, shaping content, providing feedback and ensuring the training feels relevant, authentic and grounded in lived experience.

One young person who participated was fifteen-year-old Will, who found the experience empowering. He said:  “I’ve never done something like this before, but it was amazing,” he said. “As a young person, it’s great to be involved in these changes.”

The result is a practical, confidence-building platform that equips library teams with the tools, skills and understanding to engage young people in meaningful ways and embed participation into everyday practice.

Tabitha Witherick Macaulay, Chief Executive of Libraries Rising, said: "Co-creating this training with children and young people has been absolutely key. If we want young people to engage with libraries, they need to feel they are spaces where they truly belong.

“By embedding participation into everyday practice, SparkSpace will help libraries strengthen their role at the heart of communities and create environments where young people feel genuinely included. For public spaces to work for young people, we have to work with them, not just develop spaces for them.”

SparkSpace is free to use, thanks to funding from The Foyle Foundation, ensuring cost is not a barrier for libraries at a time when budgets remain under pressure.

SparkSpace reflects a wider shift in how libraries are evolving - positioning them as collaborative, youth-inclusive spaces that respond to the realities young people face today.

https://librariesrising.org.uk

The Best Information Books for Children: 2026 Information Book Award shortlist announced with a new publisher sponsor

The School Library Association (SLA) has revealed the shortlist for the 2026 Information Book Award (IBA), celebrating inspiring UK-published information books for young people, up to age 16. 

Children across the country can now read the shortlisted titles and cast their votes in the Award’s Children’s Choice categories.

All schools signing up to take part in the Book Club receive free resources, and those who do so before Friday 13th February will have the opportunity to receive a free pack of shortlisted books in one age category, thanks to generous support from the Authors Licensing and Collection Society (ALCS).

The voting period will run until May 2026, giving schools the chance to hold meaningful book club sessions across several weeks. 

Taking part in the IBA Book Club will help children develop critical thinking skills, develop confidence in communicating their opinions, find new interests and fire up their love of reading.

The SLA has also announced new sponsorship for the IBA, with DK, the UK’s number one children’s non-fiction publisher, joining the Award as sponsor. This is an exciting new development, which reflects the IBA’s growing focus on pupil voice and school engagement.

Sarah Later, Managing Director of DK Children’s told That's Books and More: "At DK, we champion the transformative power of books.

"In the National Year of Reading, school libraries matter more than ever. As many young readers gravitate toward non-fiction, the Information Book Award is essential, celebrating the remarkable talent that makes our world come alive."

The 12 books on the IBA shortlist range from picture books to choose your own adventures and encyclopaedias, covering everything from why we sleep, to where we came from:

Under 7 age category shortlist:

A Billion Ways to Be, Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Ana Sanfelippo, Franklin Watts, Hachette Children’s Group

Frog: A Story of Life on Earth, Isabel Thomas, illustrated by Daniel Egneus, Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Recycling Day: What Happens to the Thing We Throw Away, Poly Faber, illustrated by Klas Fahlén, Nosy Crow

Where Did She Go?, Cariad Lloyd, illustrated by Tom Percival, Hodder, Hachette Children’s Group

8 – 12 age category shortlist:

About Time, Rebecca Struthers and Alom Shaha, illustrated by Lucy Rose, DK

Choose Your Own Evolution, Jules Howard, illustrated by Gordy Wright, Nosy Crow

Science Detective Agency, Steve Derrick, illustrated by Miriam Serafin, Wayland, Hachette Children’s Group

Why Do We Sleep?, Cathy Evans, illustrated by Polya Plavinskaia, Cicada Books

13– 16 age category shortlist:

Explodapedia: The Brain, Ben Martynoga, illustrated by Moose Allain, David Fickling Books

It’s a Brave Young World, Anu Adebogun, illustrated by Soofiya and Lila Cruz, Little Tiger

Normal Women, Philippa Gregory, illustrated by Alexis Snell, Red Shed, Farshore

Owning It: Our Disabled Childhoods in Our Own Words, edited by Jen Campbell, James Catchpole and Lucy Catchpole, illustrated by Sophie Kamlish, Faber and Faber

The shortlist was selected by a panel of judges made up of SLA member librarians, industry representatives and authors, including SLA Patron Smriti Halls.

Chair of judges, Helen Cleaves said: “From automata to autism, this shortlist is nothing if not diverse, offering a wealth of information adventures for children from toddler to teen. What's more, these books have the whole package: stunning artwork and meticulous design combine with engaging text for maximum impact.”

Judges’ comments about each individual title on the shortlist are available ​​​​​​here.​​​​:- https://slassoc.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/IQCsXiNfZBMeQK4mdIqbxLseARAHB9Ls98mT07vCHFxvn6s?e=IGuseS

The winners of the IBA and the Children’s Choice accolades will be announced in the summer. Four awards will be given by both the judges and the school children shadowing the Award, with each group choosing a winner in each age category and an overall winner. Last year’s overall IBA winner was Black History for Every Day of the Year by David, Yinka and Kemi Olusoga, while the overall Children’s Choice went to Amazing Asia by Rashmi Sirdeshpande, illustrated by Jason Lyon.

Victoria Dilly, CEO of the SLA said: “For librarians, teachers, parents and children, information books can offer a new route into reading, which encourages curiosity about the world around us, and creates an ideal opportunity for a shared experience: whether that’s sharing newfound facts, looking at engaging illustrations together, or exploring a freshly discovered interest. 

"This year’s IBA shortlist showcases a diverse collection of books that cover a vast range of subjects. I can’t wait to hear from all the librarians and pupils who will be exploring these books through the IBA Book Club.”

Book packs of the shortlisted titles will be available to buy from Peters Books at a discount of 20%.

https://www.sla.org.uk