iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 7h

Some autumn colour, none of which is in my garden ☹️

Sulphur cosmos. Bright orange cosmos blossoms and fern-like leaves

A mass of bright orange rudbeckia with brown centres.

Close up of yellow helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ in the foreground with glimpse of grey brick building behind.

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Finished watching series 4 of #BlueLights Really going to miss those characters 🥲

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Joel Morris @gralefrit.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I often wondered why Conan Doyle used a real London address for Sherlock Holmes - wasn’t that going to annoy someone? - but I recently found out that Baker Street at the time didn’t go up as far as 221, so it was a safe “fake address”.

Holmes n Watson doing their thing in the Granada series

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Trees planted opposite our house had a little sign asking residents to water them in hot weather (which some of us did). I notice more recent plantings don’t even have a water bag or a sign and are looking withered after the summer heat. This is a great idea.

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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Yesterday we celebrated National Poetry Day. I confess poetry is not my main area of expertise so I particularly look forward to everyone’s recommendations. What great children’s poems/poetry books would you suggest for #KidsBooksFriday? #KidLitUK #KidLit #UKKidLit #Poetry #ChildrensPoems

Book cover for Poems on Toast by Attie Lime illustrated by Emily Ford.

Book cover for A Great Big Cuddle by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Chris Riddle

Book cover for Poetry Prompts: All sorts of ways for start a poem by Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Georgie Burkett, Grasya Oliyko, Amanda Quartey and Viola Wang.

Book cover for Being Me: Poems about Thoughts, Worries and Feelings by Liz Brownlee, Matt Goodfellow and Laura Mucha, illustrated by Victoria Jane Wheeler

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I'm currently reading The Original by Nell Stevens which is set in the Victorian era and is about a young girl with a talent for copying paintings. As the cover blurbs indicate, it has echoes of Janey Eyre and Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. Below are five more fiction titles that feature art

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BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 01/10/2026

📚 NEW: Our #GreatBooksGuide 2026-27! Explore 100 recommendations from the past year for primary school children, covering a range of age ranges, accessibility levels, formats and genres. A physical copy of the guide is being sent to primary schools, take a look online⤵️ bit.ly/4hl3Di2

BookTrust's Great Books Guide 2026-27 is here!

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Cambridge University Press @universitypress.cambridge.org · 30/09/2026

What's your reading habit? This National Year of Reading, authors from the Cambridge Elements series 'Publishing and Book Culture' share their reading habits and quirks, because there's no single way to be a reader.📖 Read more 🔗 cup.org/4qXMjTj #NYR2026 #NationalYearofReading

An open book is held up against a clear blue sky. Text overlay reads: "Read your own way. ‘Publishing and Book Culture’ Elements authors share their reading habits.

Image of an Element titled 'The Social Life of Books' by Rebecca Roach with a quote: 'I date all my books when I finish them. Nerdy, but I like being able to fit my reading back into my life and memories of a particular place and time.' The text is accompanied by the message 'Read your own way' and mentions Dr. Rebecca Roach as the author.

The image features a Cambridge blue background with a quote: "Sticky notes! if I’m really paying attention to a physical book that I’m reading, then it’s full of sticky notes. I have dozens of sticky pads in a drawer in my office." It is attributed to Dr. Gavin Miller, author of "Penguins on the Couch Element." A book cover titled "Penguins on the Couch: Penguin Books and the Psychologisation of Britain, c.1945-c.1980" by Gavin Miller is shown.

A quote about reading habits is displayed on a Cambridge blue background. To the right, there is a book cover titled "Innovations in Digital Comics: A Popular Revolution" by Francesca Benatti. Below the quote, Dr. Francesca Benatti is mentioned as the author of "Innovations in Digital Comics" Element.

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I liked Sense & Sensibility (2026) much more than I thought I would. It was a bit Brontë-fied (brooding landscapes and wild hair), Willoughby came across as a wrong ‘un immediately (IMO) and what was up with the dance arrangements? 👀 but Daisy Edgar-Jones & George McKay very good.

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Dislikeable people doing dislikeable things, but that doesn’t mean I’m not enjoying it.

Look What You Made Me Do by John Lanchester

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Brian Groom @groomb.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The lane outside Grandma's had a stream running down the middle of it and plenty of mud. They held hands and slithered along together. Illustration by children's author Shirley Hughes, born in West Kirby.

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Andrew Locking @andrews-walks.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Tempting lakeland gates

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Veep @princesssofvp.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Bluesky, does anyone remember an alphabet book that for ‘i’ had “industrious ants eating indigo ice cream”? It’s got to be at least 45 years old and probably more. Should it ring any bells I would be delighted to find a copy 🐜💙🍦

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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

A family friend has just had a new wee baby which has sent me down a rabbit hole of the best books for babies. So for this week’s #KidsBooksFriday what books would you particularly recommend for reading with babies? #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit

Book cover for Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

Book cover for Little Miss Austen: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Alison Oliver.

Book cover for A Great Big Cuddle: Poems for the Very Young by Michael Rosen and Chris Riddell

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Author of the book I’m reading says she attended a ‘small, fairly mysterious university’. I’m thinking Lampeter. Anyone any other suggestions?

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

The stress of seeing tiny children holding soft-whip ice cream with a flake in the top at a perilous angle.

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Flicking through an old diary before throwing it out, I notice I was worried about lines and wrinkles and really looking my age. I was 29 years old! Maybe I’d read too much Jane Austen about 26 year olds having lost their bloom.

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

This is such a cheering book, written in mostly brief diary entries and very funny.

Receipts from the Bookshop by Katie Clapham.

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Andrew Male @andrewmale.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Bizarre things that happened in your assembly: A neighbour of one of the teachers gave us a five-minute lecture about kwashiorkor which involved him reciting a list of his favourite words (yes, ‘kwashiorkor’ was one of them). Included the unforgettable phrase, “Diarrhoea, another beautiful word.”

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The Booker Prizes @thebookerprizes.com · 22/09/2026

Presenting the Booker Prize 2026 shortlist. Find out more about the books and authors that make up this year's list. thebookerprizes.com/bp2026

The Booker Prize 2026 shortlist in full:

The End of Everything by M. John Harrison
The Disappearers by Marlon James
Black Bag by Luke Kennard
May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry
The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
John of John by Douglas Stuart

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Sitcom People @sitcompeople.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

What’s the single funniest scene in sitcom history?

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Decided that being 37th in the queue for this at the library would mean waiting too long, so splashed out and bought a copy

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Emma Finlayson-Palmer @finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

The next #ukteenchat will be on Tues 22nd Sept 8-9pm BST with the fabulous @savitakalhan.bsky.social who will be chatting all about her new #YA - The Lost Name Society. All welcome to join in the chat, this one will be here on BlueSky 🙂 #writerslife #writingcommunity #folkhorror #darkacademia

Book cover with five teenagers all looking worried at at open book that is glowing. The book title is The Lost Name Society by SR Krish.

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The Wainwright Prizes @wainwrightprize.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

It's our pleasure to announce that the 2026 winner of the Wainwright Prize Book of the Year is... The Book of Birds, Jackie Morris and @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social (Hamish Hamilton) #WainwrightPrize #StoriesThatConnect

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Current read. The descriptions of art, the workings of the museum and the grief suffered by Patrick Bringley come together to create a story that’s informative and moving.

All the Beauty in the World: a museum guard’s adventure in life, loss and art. The Bodley Head, 2023.

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Dr Laura Molloy @lmhatii.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

At last! This is apparently the first UK exhibition of Tove Jansson's illustration work (which seems difficult to believe): on at the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration in London, 21 November 2026 to 9 May 2027. qbcentre.org.uk/exhibitions/... #art #illustration #mustsee #moomins

qbcentre.org.uk

Tove Jansson and her Families | Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration

The world’s largest dedicated space for illustration, founded by Quentin Blake and producing collaborative exhibitions and creative projects.

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The Carnegies @carnegiemedals.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Could you be a Carnegie judge? 📚🏅 We’re recruiting our 2028–29 panel from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, East Midlands & Eastern regions. 🗓️Applications close 9 Oct informationprofessionaljobs.com/job…

Green recruitment poster inviting applications to become a judge for The Carnegies 2028-29 from various UK regions.

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

If you are interested in books for children and young people, here are some excellent people to follow. Marianne posts a prompt every Friday morning

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

@stninianslib.bsky.social If it's ok with you, have added you to the School Librarians Starter Pack

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

@snarhooked.bsky.social Have added you to the UK School Library Starter Pack. Hope that's OK with you

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The Wainwright Prizes @wainwrightprize.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

We’re delighted to announce the 2026 #WainwrightPrize Winners! 🍃 From powerful nature writing & urgent conservation stories to extraordinary illustration, this year’s winners celebrate the many ways stories can connect people & planet. wainwrightprize.com #StoriesThatConnect

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Who knew weather forecasting could be so tense? Straightforward war drama about forecasting the weather ahead of the Normandy landings with top performances. Would just watch Andrew Scott thinking his thoughts whilst looking into the camera so everything else was a plus #Pressure

Poster for the film Pressure shows Brendan Fraser as Eisenhower and Andrew Scott as James Stagg

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Little granddaughter has been at school a whole week and wants to ‘live there as it’s so much fun!’

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Trung Le Nguyen @trungles.com · 10/09/2026

Alright 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice here we go.

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Books for Keeps, the children's books review journal @booksforkeeps.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Out now! Our September issue #BfK280. Authorgraph interview David Solomons, Windows into Illustration Carly Gledhill, 20 years of Lulu, Guy Bass & David Roberts interview, NEW Beyond the Secret Garden, NEW insights into reading for pleasure & much more, inc new book reviews #KidLitUK bit.ly/4rfrQtp

The cover of the UK's children's book review journal, Books for Keeps September 2026 issue, no. 280. Cover features illustration from Guy Bass and David Roberts' new book THE WORST THING THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN.

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Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Hey gang! My pal Abi is setting up a community bookshop and space in Glasgow focusing on good food. In dark times, bringing communities together feels extra important. Can you chip in a few quid to help them create an accessible space? #Booksky #Glasgow www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/glasgowcul...

crowdfunder.co.uk

Set the Table for Glasgow's only Culinary Bookshop

Let's fund a fully accessible fit-out of Local Honey Books, a new culinary bookshop, pantry, and community food events space in Glasgow.

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Spooky Old Mark Monro | He/Him 🌈 @thatidiotmonro.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Need to harness the power of Bluesky, so reposts are appreciated. If anyone here, or anyone you know attends Bangor University (the Welsh one) and needs a room for the upcoming year, get in touch. One of my son's housemates has dropped out at the last minute, so their house is one short.

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Words From Darran @shinraalpha.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Strange & Mysterious Ghosts is out TODAY!! please share it far and wide and buy it so i keep being allowed to write horrible little books for children 👻

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Viv Schwarz @vivschwarz.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Seriously get in touch and tell me what really worked for your library/school - what kind of printables and activities do the kids like to connect with books? Crafting? Creative writing? Colouring? Trails? Games? Puzzles? You tell me, I make them

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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Kids books are riddled with terrible parenting and untrustworthy grown-ups. But sometimes an adult character will get to shine through as a source of kindness, refuge, wisdom or fun. For this week’s #KidsBooksFriday which books feature the lesser-spotted decent adult? #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit

Book cover for Boy in the Tower by Polly Ho-Yen.

Book cover for Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega and Rose Bousamra

Book cover for Wee Granny’s Magic Bag by Elizabeth McKay and Maria Bogade

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World Book Day UK @worldbookdayuk.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

They're here! Get your first look at the 2027 £1/€1.50 books! 📚✨ From exciting adventures to laugh-out-loud stories, there's something for everyone. Children can choose their own book from 11 February 2027, FREE with a £1/€1.50 book token. Find out more at www.worldbookday.com

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I really enjoyed Tuner (available to rent) and found it tense and touching. Top performances all round and great use of sound.

Poster of Leo Woodall in Tuner wearing ear buds that dampen sound. His character wears them because he has a rare condition called hyperacusis.

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It's Pipes, Mum! Pipes is here! @scriblit.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Every time someone on here gets anxious about library use I like to slide in all 'diiiiid you know the author was probably better paid for your borrow by PLR than they would have been if you'd got it on sale from Amazon???'

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