Episode 136

Kids Media Club: guest, Louie Stowell on why children’s publishing needs more anarchy

Published on: 27th November, 2025

Author Louie Stowell (Loki series) joins the Kids Media Club to make the case for more chaos in children's books. Why do young readers crave mischief? How do illustrated books hook reluctant readers? And what's killing kids' love of reading—spoiler: it's not TikTok.

Key Takeaways:

  • Mischievous characters create powerful entry points for emerging readers
  • Illustrations aren't just for "struggling" readers—they're a legitimate storytelling medium
  • Testing culture is crushing reading joy (and what we can do about it)
  • Give kids real choice in what they read—it matters more than you think
  • Children's publishing needs more risk-taking, diversity, and yes, anarchy

https://louiestowell.com/

https://www.kidsmediaclubpodcast.com/

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About the Podcast

Kids Media Club Podcast
Kids Media Club Podcast hosted by Jo Redfern, Andy Williams, & Emily Horgan
Kids Media Club Podcast is a podcast hosted by Jo Redfern, Andy Williams, and Emily Horgan. In each episode they chat with a different guest about the world of Kids Media. The podcast covers everything from trends in animation to the rise of Edtech.
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Andrew Williams