iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Hilary McKay @hilarymckay.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Japanese Glass Flower is flowering at last. It's been at least 10 years getting round to it.

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RedruM @dorsalstream.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

The horse op-ed is an instant classic. I can't tell you how much joy this piece gives me. It should be taught in every introductory writing class in no small part because the horse arguments are so compelling. "I have noticed that human children get to eat cake. But I am bigger than the children."

I Work Very Hard, And I Would Like To Try Cake

By A Horse

Hello. I am a horse. I work very hard at my job of being a horse. When humans say move the heavy thing, I move the heavy thing. When humans sit on top of me and pull on my head, I carry them where they want to go. The main food the humans give me is hay and oats. But I am thinking it would be nice to have a different food.

I am thinking I would like to try cake.

Yes, yes. Cake. I know all about it. When humans eat cake, it is in glad times. It is the food for a celebration, such as when a woman becomes 47. I have seen cake on the Fourth of July. When humans have a cake, they stand around it and clap hands and smile and say happy birthday at each other. Sometimes there are beautiful markings on a cake, such as balloons or a pink shape.

Sometimes the top of a cake is on fire and a boy must blow on the fire with mouth wind. This is the scariest cake. I do not want this kind. But I will eat any other cake. Any cake that is not the fire cake that tries to kill the boy.

Please understand: I do not get money for doing work. I do not get to go inside the house. All I am either doing my horse job or standing in my pen or eating food off the floor. I always do these things. But I have never once gotten cake and I would like it very much.

I have noticed that human children get to eat cake. But I am bigger than the children. I am more helpful to the farm. Children do not move the heavy things like me or let anyone ride on them. And yet they get cake. Maybe the humans will realize this. Maybe they will say, "You know who deserves cake? That horse. That horse whose back we are always on."

Every day I dream about what it will be like if I get to eat cake. Here is what will happen. First, I will walk to the cake and putt my nose at it like hrrfff to make and stomping my hooves to make sure it is not a snake. Then I will trot in a circle to show that I am a horse and I am large. After that, I will nuzzle the cake to …

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Nicolette Jones @nicolettejones.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Julia Moscardo who studied in Valencia, Leeds & Cambridge. From her picturebook Moon’s Lullaby, about a mother goose’s bedtime story. Painterly enjoyment of the effects of light above, on the surface of, & below the water. Little Tiger 2 April. @littletigeruk.bsky.social

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Nicolette Jones @nicolettejones.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Charles Santoso from Kobi Yamada’s beautiful picturebook Others, about our common humanity. It refutes the othering of people from elsewhere/beyond the hedge, seen here as wrongly imagined. Ten Speed Press 31 March. @tenspeedpress.bsky.social @charlessantoso.bsky.social

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Hilary McKay @hilarymckay.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Yes, but I did it first! Congratulations, Rachael, I am delighted for you. (Here's to the 1 * review team).

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Rebecca Wheeler @botanybeck.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Peak primrose unlocked! For #wildflowerhour #storyplants, in the Middle Ages, concoctions of these beautiful flowers were used to treat gout & rheumatism, & more fittingly I think, also employed in love potions! They certainly seemed a great favourite with the Bee-flies today!💛

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johnfen1.bsky.social @johnfen1.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Jostling for your attention. A sunlit patch of Early Dog Violets under the Sarcococca shrub at the very end of my front garden path. #WildflowerHour

Violet Blue flowers of Early Dog Violets amongst their heart shaped leaves sheltering under the waxy leaves of Sarcococca (Christmas Box)

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Hilary McKay @hilarymckay.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Tomorrow is closing day for our winter garden birdlist. So, rough order of appearance:Wren,Tawny owl, Rook,Blackbird,Robin,Jackdaw,Dunnock,Bluetit,Housesparrow, Great tit,Chaffinch, Siskin, Goldcrest,Woodpigeon,Longtailed tit,Coal tit, Greenfinch, Nuthatch, Mistle thrush, Lesser redpoll, Treecreeper

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Nicolette Jones @nicolettejones.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Gill Smith from Where Are You, Eddie? by Michael Rosen, about a cat’s wisdom and how those we’ve lost are present in memories. Thoughtful image, in watercolour and crayon, with reminders of joys. Walker 12 March. @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social

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Hilary McKay @hilarymckay.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Nothing is up. But, the Chiffchaffs are back here in Derbyshire.

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Hilary McKay @hilarymckay.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

What a brilliant choice, Lizza.

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Nicolette Jones @nicolettejones.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Ellie McKenna from Stay!, written by her sister Fran Harlow and based on the true story of a dog found sitting by a suitcase. Lovely scribbly but precise drawing that makes the back views of the dog and the old man speak volumes. Graffeg 5 March. @graffegbooks.bsky.social

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Nicolette Jones @nicolettejones.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay. Spread by Ruth Brown from her gorgeous new picturebook Tick-Tock Around the Clock: A day in the life of a cat. Stunning draughtsmanship in a wonderfully detailed handmade scene of the cat going out into the garden, with squirrels, birds, mouse, dog. Scallywag Press 3 March.

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Hilary McKay @hilarymckay.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

At least 100 Fieldfares, maybe twice that number- a lovely flock in a field of winter wheat. In the garden this morning: Chaffinches, Green&Gold finches, Siskins, L.Redpolls, Robins, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, House sparrows, Jackdaws,Woodpigeons, Great,Blue & Longtailed tits.

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Nicolette Jones @nicolettejones.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Chiara Fidele from Mr Darwin‘s Tortoise, Angela McAllister’s story of a local boy who meets Charles Darwin on the Galápagos Islands. This spread is an exuberance of foliage and wildlife with The Beagle at anchor in the distance. Zephyr 12 Feb. @zephyrbooks.bsky.social

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Nicolette Jones @nicolettejones.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Seng Soun Ratanavanh from The Paper Bridge, one of 19 books longlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration; 11 had featured in my daily posts, plus the illustrators of 2 more. This, photographing paper sculpture, would’ve done if I’d seen it. @florisbooks.bsky.social

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womensartbluesky.bsky.social @womensartbluesky.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Tamara de Lempicka, Autoportrait (Tamara in a Green Bugatti)" (1929) #WomensArt

Painting featuring a white woman at the wheel of a green car in close-up

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Mar Hicks @histoftech.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition. Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

nature.com

Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology

She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

February takes its name from februa, a Roman festival of purification held in readiness for spring and new beginnings. The month’s birthstone is amethyst, so here is a small gathering of amethyst-hued February flowers, welcome heralds of the turning year & the lengthening light.

A nine-image collage of amethyst-toned February flowers, including hellebores, violets, crocuses and pansies, shown close up in shades of purple, lilac and pink, with delicate petals, pale stamens and soft green foliage, celebrating early spring colour and renewal.

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Nicola Chester @nicolawriting.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

‘The Book of Bogs contains fragile, furious, resilient ecosystems of writing, demanding the protection of a vulnerable environment we need more than we know.’ Wonderful review of a spell of a book I’m so proud to be in, by @jennychambles.bsky.social @caughtbytheriver.bsky.social

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Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

“About Time” has been shortlisted for the #InformationBookAwards run by @sla.org.uk Here’s an interview my co-author Rebecca Struthers and I did about writing the book. Rebecca was a joy to work with.

fcbg.org.uk

About Time by Alom Shaha and Rebecca Struthers

We welcome co-authors Alom Shaha and Rebecca Struthers to the blog in an interview style format! Gain some insight into their work on About Time. Rebecca

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Hilary McKay @hilarymckay.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Today I saw 20 Peewits, Lapwings, Green Plovers tumbling against a grey sky. They were so square winged and black and white and fluttering, like half a shelf of paperback books that had decided to take flight.

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Hilary McKay @hilarymckay.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

That's nice, Sam, thank you. Especially for the comparison with the beautiful Song of Lewis Carmichael. I love that book.

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Hilary McKay @hilarymckay.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

Thank you for the shout for 'Saffy's Angel,' Nicolette. Really appreciated.

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Nicolette Jones @nicolettejones.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

A note on #NewIllustrationOfTheDay. These daily posts aim to demonstrate the range and quality of children’s book illustration today. But they are also, I hope, an oasis of skill and beauty/humour/curiosity in everyone’s day, whatever else is happening. Please share with anyone who might enjoy that.

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Hilary McKay @hilarymckay.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

Thank you so much, Sam. So pleased to hear that you enjoyed meeting Rosa.

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Nick Acheson @themarshtit.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Stop whatever it is you’re doing: I HAVE YELLOW LOOSESTRIFE BEES ON MY DOTTED LOOSESTRIFE. I learned about these gorgeous beings years ago in @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social’s wonderful Dancing with Bees and have dreamed of having them in my garden ever since. Life will never be the same.

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Hilary McKay @hilarymckay.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Sarah van Fleet just opening in the garden here. This is J L Carr's #AMonthInTheCountry Rose.

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Hilary McKay @hilarymckay.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

Thanks for this, The Authors Guild.I have 6 books with these people, all with advances earned out.For years it has been very difficult to obtain payments & statements. Posted for in particular other UK authors who may not be aware of the news. @authorsguild.bsky.social @albertwhitman.bsky.social

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Hilary McKay @hilarymckay.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Thanks so much, Pippa. I've just found your ABBA review- so very kind.

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Nicolette Jones @nicolettejones.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Jennifer N R Smith, author and illustrator of Life: the Wild Wonders of Biodiversity. A hint of vintage engraving about this plate with a key, including sea otter, harbour seal, blacksmith fish, sea urchins. From Thames & Hudson on 10 April. @thamesandhudson.bsky.social

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Hilary McKay @hilarymckay.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

I'm thrilled that Jodie is included in #SparkReading this year. This fantastic programme from @BookTrust is designed to spark a love of reading in KS3 students, building reading enjoyment through sociable shared reading experiences. Find out more: booktrust.org.uk/spark-reading

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Keith Robinson @keithrobinson.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Lots of adorable cat photos on my feed today. Is that because it's #Caturday? I don't own a cat but here are some I drew for Rosa by Starlight, by Hilary McKay.

An illustration of a girl sitting on stone steps in the porch of a doorway. She is hugging a tabby cat, burying her face in its fur. She seems to be sad and taking comfort from the cat. She is surrounded by other cats including tabbys, Siamese and white kittens, who are all looking at her.

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Hilary McKay @hilarymckay.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

This is lovely. Thank you @imogenrw.bsky.social for including Rosa By Starlight.

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Hilary McKay @hilarymckay.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Thank you, Keith. (Still finding my way around these blue skies.)

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Hilary McKay @hilarymckay.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

It was a joy to write this story of Grace Darling's family and childhood, and a double joy to have it illustrated by the magnificent Keith Robinson.

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Carl Bovis @carlbovisnature.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Blackbird and berries! 😀😍🐦 #Birds 🪶

Male Blackbird in a mostly bare tree surrounded by red berries

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Keith Robinson @keithrobinson.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

It’s a huge honour to have illustrated three of the The Times best children’s books of 2024. I know that sounds like an annoying humble-brag, which it is! BUT I also mean it. Thank you @jprosewriter.bsky.social, Ross Montgomery and @hilarymckay.bsky.social for trusting me with your beautiful books 💜

Images of the covers of the titles mentioned in the text of this post

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Nicolette Jones @nicolettejones.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

If you go to the Illustrators’ Fair at Granary Square, Kings Cross on Sat 7 December, do look for the plaque just off Coal Drops Yard that commemorates Samuel Plimsoll, The Sailors’ Friend, whose history was much bound up in this site. For more about him see my book The Plimsoll Sensation (Abacus).

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