Michael Morpurgo and Jacqueline Wilson launch Guardian's new booksite for children

Children’s authors Michael Morpurgo and Jacqueline Wilson launch the Guardian’s brand new children's book site, curated by young people from all over the world.

The site went live on World Book Day - and so far 100 children from as far as Egypt and Peru have signed up. There are three reading zones on the site aimed at different age groups: seven and under, eight to 12, and 13 plus, and the content will be chosen and inspired by children reading and contributing. The site will encourage child-to-child sharing with older children discussing their favourite books and authors with the younger ones.

Guardian Books Editor, Claire Armitstead, views the child-to-child sharing element of the site as vital. She said: “When you think of the resource that older friends or siblings represent, it seems astonishing that child-to-child reading gets so little attention. A sibling or a friend stand outside the circle of school, parent and child: you obey a parent, but you look up to an older sibling and you share enthusiasms with friends. In a culture with many different models of what family means, the resource of other children becomes even more valuable. It's with this in mind that the Guardian is launching a children-only website.”
The site will go live on Thursday - World Book Day - and so far 100 children from as far as Egypt and Peru have signed up. There are three reading zones on the site aimed at different age groups: seven and under, eight to 12, and 13 plus, and the content will be chosen and inspired by children reading and contributing. The site will encourage child-to-child sharing with older children discussing their favourite books and authors with the younger ones.