iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

So excited! I have a story, in the latest edition of The People’s Friend magazine. 🎉 Really chuffed and hope it’s one you can have time to settle down and enjoy with a lovely cuppa. It’s that time of year! ☕️📖 Thank you so much to The People’s Friend! #shortstories #magazines #shells #sea #reading

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My Book Corner @mybookcorner.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

The Busiest Beaver by Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley Guest post by author Lu Fraser today! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 Review by @sareenmclay.bsky.social 🦫🦫🦫 An absolute treat! 📚📚📚 #pb#childrensbooks#illustration#childrensbooksillustration#booksforkids#kidlit#booksforchildren #TheBusiestBeaver

Picture shows the front cover of the book The Busiest Beaver by Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley with six beavers sitting together.

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My Book Corner @mybookcorner.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Owning It: Our Disabled Childhoods In Our Own Words Ed by Jen Campbell, James & Lucy Catchpole. 📚📚📚 Review by @sareenmclay.bsky.social @jenvcampbell.bsky.social @faberchildrens.bsky.social #mg#childrensbooks#booksforkids#kidlit#booksforchildren Illustrations by Sophie Kamlish.

Picture shows the front cover of the book Owning It: Our Disabled Childhoods In Our Own Words
Edited by Jen Campbell, James and Lucy Catchpole.

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My Book Corner @mybookcorner.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

The Girl with Gills by Becca Rogers A wonderful world mixed with folklore, facts and fantasy! 📚📚📚 Review by @sareenmclay.bsky.social @headofzeus.bsky.social #mg#childrensbooks#illustration#childrensbooksillustration#booksforkids#kidlit#booksforchildren#youngreaders#readingforpleasure#mudlarking

Picture shows the front cover of the book The Girl with Girls by Becca Rogers

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My Book Corner @mybookcorner.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Britannica All New Children's Encyclopedia Edited by Christopher Lloyd A veritable smorgasbord of facts. What a joy! 📚📚📚 Review by @sareenmclay.bsky.social #childrensbooks#illustration#childrensbooksillustration#booksforkids#kidlit#booksforchildren

Picture shows the front cover of the book Britannica All New Children's Encyclopedia Edited by Christopher Lloyd

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My Book Corner @mybookcorner.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Eva Wong Nava’s The Moon Rabbit, illustrated by Jason Chuang Wednesday is for Wiggling, Illustrated by Holly Sterling Review by @sareenmclay.bsky.social @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social @evawongnava.bsky.social @jasonchuangart.bsky.social #hollysterling#pb#childrensbooks#childrensbooksillustration

Picture shows the front cover of the book The Moon Rabbit by Eva Wong Nava, illustrated by Jason Chuang
and Wednesday is for Wiggling by Eva Wong Nava, Illustrated by Holly Sterling.

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

All about pink today! 🌸🌸🌸 Loving these Autumn colours and flowers. #garden #flowers #gardening #autumngardendays #autumngardendays

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Delighted to be featured in the latest SCBWI Words and Pictures Writer’s Minds by @sarahbroadley.bsky.social Discussing everything to do with the fabulous My Book Corner review site in my role as Director. www.wordsandpics.org/2025/05/writ... @mybookcorner.reviews 📚📚📚 #childrensbooks#pb#mg#ya

wordsandpics.org

WRITERS' MINDS Sareen McLay

Words and Pictures is the online magazine of SCBWI British Isles.

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My Book Corner @mybookcorner.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

🐞🐝🪾 The Secret Life of Bugs, Bees & Trees by Moira Butterfield, Illustrated by Vivian Mineker One of my favourite books of the year! Review by @sareenmclay.bsky.social @moirabutterfield.bsky.social @quartokids.bsky.social‬ #vivianmineker#nonfiction#childrensbooks#childrensbooksillustration

Picture shows the front cover of the book The Secret Life of Bugs, Bees & Trees by Moira Butterfield, Illustrated by Vivian Mineker

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Sarah Broadley @sarahbroadley.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Delighted to interview @mybookcorner.bsky.social 's Director, @sareenmclay.bsky.social on her role, processes and vision for the well-known children's book review website. Find out more on my @scbwi-bi.bsky.social Writers' Minds feature... www.wordsandpics.org/2025/05/writ...

wordsandpics.org

WRITERS' MINDS Sareen McLay

Words and Pictures is the online magazine of SCBWI British Isles.

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Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

#WriteCBC task from @abigailj.bsky.social: Secrets are a great way to add intrigue and drama to your story. Write a mini-scene in which a character discovers that someone they know well has been keeping a secret from them. How do they deal with this discovery?

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Loved reviewing this stunning graphic novel! Wildful by Kengo Kurimoto Review on MBC by @sareenmclay.bsky.social @kengokurimoto.bsky.social @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social #mg#childrensbooks#illustration#childrensbooksillustration#booksforkids#kidlit#booksforchildren#grief#nature#graphicnovel

Picture shows the front cover of the book Wildful by Kengo Kurimoto, a girl with her dog in the middle of a wood with creatures all around them.

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Here at MBC we are loving The Worry Bee by Nicola Kinnear! Look out for our review coming soon! @scholastic.bsky.social #nicolakinnear #pb#childrensbooks#illustration#childrensbooksillustration#booksforkids#kidlit#booksforchildren

Picture shows the front cover of the book The Worry Bee by Nicola Kinnear a bee sitting on top of a toadstool.

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Puloma and the Bear by Jasbinder Bilan Illustrated by Skylar White Superb adventure! 🐻🐻🐻 📚📚📚 @jasbinderbilan.bsky.social @skyillustrates.bsky.social @barringtonstoke.bsky.social #mg#childrensbooks#illustration#childrensbooksillustration#booksforkids#kidlit#booksforchildren

Picture shows the front cover of the book Puloma and the Bear by Jasbinder Bilan Illustrated by Skylar White with a bear following a girl along a river path.

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Day out at Dr Neil’s Garden. And launch of @edbookfest.bsky.social Schools Programme at Holyrood High School. Thanks to Jenny, Rachel, Jodie, librarians; Rachel and Hannah and pupils & Joseph Coehlo! @sarahbroadley.bsky.social #bookofinstagram#kidlit#poetrycommunity#flowers#childrensbooks #garden

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Big Green Books @biggreenbooks.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

A vacancy has recently opened up at the Big Green Bookshop for a new customer. The ideal candidate will have a regular urge to buy lots of amazing books. Please email biggreenbooks@gmail.com with a list of books you'd like to buy. The position is available straight away.

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Another book recommendation! Fascinating. #dictionary#bookrecommendation#amreading#books#pipwilliams

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Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

'You should know and love the people you’re writing about as deeply as you possibly can' 💓 Bestselling romance novelist & tutor of our six-week Writing a Romance course, @jennycolgan.bsky.social talks about her approach to writing & what makes a page-turning love story. Read the full advice blog:

curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

Jenny Colgan: 'If you love a character you’ll follow them anywhere'

Interview with bestselling romance author Jenny Colgan. Find out what makes a page-turning love story with romantic leads you root for.

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

New blog post! Fascinating Icons and Patterns. Fancy a few minutes of calm? Switch the kettle on and head over to my blog! switchthekettleonlove.com #flowers#garden #zandrarhodes #textile #fashion #pattern

switchthekettleonlove.com

Switch the Kettle on, Love

Five Minutes to Yourself

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Loved this book! So interesting and confidence boosting too! So interesting to read about Georgia O’Keefe,Frieda Lawrence, Daphne Du Maurier and more. #annabelabbs #tworoadspublishing#nature#walking#women

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Beautiful blossom in our garden today and I had a wee visitor pop in to see me as I was working on the words! I’m sure, and hope, this ladybird was a bit happier when I returned it the garden. Definitely a spring day! 🌸🌸🌸🐞🐞🐞 #gardens#flowers#cherryblossom#cherryblossoms #ladybird

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

A new post on my blog! Meanderings on spring, books and more. 🌸🌻🌼 switchthekettleonlove.com #nature#flowers#readmorebooks

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ione blue @ioneblue.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

hellebore 14 #photography #macrophotography #abstractphotography #art #flowers super, super, extra, way, way, way close up look at the center of a hellebore flower. abstraction to the point of wondering what you're looking at— besides shades of chartreuse. photograph.

macro photograph. a very, very, nearly microscopic view of the center of a yellow green hellebore flower. petals. pistils and stamens. filling the frame. intense in the sunlight.

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Greta Knits @gretaknits.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Today's daily dose of daffodils 🌱

A clump of February Gold daffodils in full bloom on a lovely sunny day.

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Gaynor Andrews @gaynorandrews.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

On September 12th 2024, my debut picture book Pandora and the Story Forge, beautifully illustrated by Marie-Alice Harel , was published by Rocket Bird Books . What a lot can happen in six months! 😍

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Bert’s Books @bertsbooks.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Good morning. We are open. 📖☕️

Valentines hack: books last longer than roses and chocolates.

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

My latest review by @sareenmclay.bsky.social link in bio 💐 My Mum by Susan Quinn, Illustrated by Sarah Mathew Full of lovely moments, this book shows us what a superstar a parent often is! #pb#childrensbooks#illustration#childrensbooksillustration#booksforkids#kidlit#booksforchildren#susanquinn

Picture shows the front cover of the book, My Mum A little girl and her mum dancing on stepping stones.

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Rick M @rickmartin.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Hellebore: Helvington double white speckled for #MagentaMonday 🌱📷 #helleboreheaven #Bloomscrolling #GardensHour

A double bloomed hellebore flower with white petals patterned on the inside with magenta speckles

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Katharine Tree @treesandwords.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Hellebore time #gardensky 🌱

Five white petals with heavy magenta picotee, a tight purple internal collar

Many sharp-tipped petals, white with heavy magenta picotee

Many sharp petals, white with deep magenta throats that peter out into speckles

Mostly white, many fat petals, an ethereal scattering of magenta freckles

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SCBWI @scbwi.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Congratulations to all of our Golden Kite Award winners! Watch the ceremony on our YouTube channel!

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Lasagne layers with Tête-à-tête daffs brightening up a dull day and then … a giant rainbow. Fab! #daffodils #daffodilseason #flowers #rainbow #rainbows #nature

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

What a fab evening @abdnartmuseums for the Dame Zandra Rhodes and Dennis Nothdruft discussion on the Textiles exhibition! #aberdeen #textiles #textilesdesign #zandrarhodes

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Delighted to announce the first meeting of the Aberdeen All Stories Writing Group! Saturday 15th March 2-4pm Aberdeen Central Library Open to writers from underrepresented groups, this is free to attend. #aberdeen#aberdeenshire#writing#allstories#writingforchildren

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SF Said @whatsfsaid.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

READING FOR PLEASURE has such a powerful impact on kids, it should be at the heart of everything you do with them, every single day. Always show how them how much YOU love books. Read books to them, talk about books with them, help them find books to love - and it will change their lives! #literacy

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

I (Hate) Love Books by Mariajo Ilustrajo We have found the PERFECT book for World Book Day! Review by @sareenmclay.bsky.social link in bio #worldbookday #pb#childrensbooks#illustration#childrensbooksillustration#booksforkids#kidlit#bookstagram#booksofinstagram#MariajoIlustrajo#quartokids

Picture shows the front cover of I Hate Love Books by Mariajo Ilustrajo. A little girl throwing a book away.

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Today’s flower photo because, why not? Beautiful Hellebore, often known as the Christmas or Lenten rose. #flowers #flowersmakemehappy #flowersofinstagram #flowerphotography #nature #garden

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SF Said @whatsfsaid.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

EVERY CHILD CAN BE A READER! All kids need access to the widest possible range of books, free choice in their reading matter, and the right to read for pleasure. It only takes one book to help them find the love of reading - and that book will change their lives forever! #literacy

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Gavin, Small Beer (closed due to long covid), &c. @gavingrant.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Particularly delighted to read this post on Naomi Mitchison's short novels When the Bough Breaks (1924) & Travel Light (1952) on the publication day for @amalelmohtar.com's The River Has Roots!

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

My latest review on My Book Corner. www.mybookcorner.co.uk?p=14285&prev...

Picture shows the front cover of The Beck by Anthony McGowan. A boy, a girl and a dog in amongst trees and a beck.

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Maisie Chan 🐼 CHI CHI THE PANDA out now! 🎋 @maisiechanwrites.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Happy @worldbookdayuk.bsky.social Week! I'm super excited to talk about my novels and the Tiger Warrior books this week at schools in London. I'm bringing Betsy the ant with me! She's in my new book Nate Yu's Blast From the Past. Happy reading everyone! #WorldBookDay2025 #MaisieChan

Book covers and a women smiling at a giant ant

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Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Huge congratulations to this year's Women's Prize for Fiction longlist. We're particularly excited to see three CBC alumni on the list! Well done @nussaibah.bsky.social, #RoisínODonnell & #RosannaPike 🎉

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Sarah Broadley @sarahbroadley.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Creatives! Looking to send your work to agents and publishers but don't know where to start when it comes to querying? Then @sheilamaverbuch.bsky.social's @scbwi-bi.bsky.social on-line event is for you! Tickets available here - www.tickettailor.com/events/socie...

tickettailor.com

Buy tickets – Pitch Your Book- a Masterclass with Sheila M. Averbuch – Zoom

Agents are searching for promising new novelists, but how can writers craft the letter that hooks the agent? SCB...

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

New review up on @mybookcorner.bsky.social #antarctica#illustration#nature#environment#climatecrisis#booksbooksbooks#nonfiction#australianantarcticdivision

Picture shows the cover of Into the Ice: Reflections on Antarctica by Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch. A ship in the foreground with icebergs behind.

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Sareen McLay @sareenmclay.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Reading for www.mybookcorner.co.uk review. Crayfish. That’s all I’m saying. #bookreviews#nature

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lukelukeluke @lukelukeluke.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Here are some nice mushrooms

A cluster of five vibrant Orange Mock Oyster mushrooms grow from the side of a bare log, their orange gills radiating outward under fuzzy tops. All photos by me

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