iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

My secondary school librarian gave me one of @fleurhitchcock.bsky.social’s books as a thank you for helping out in the school library, so this was an especially cool full-circle Who, What, When, Where, Why & How? for me. ☺️

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

I’m usually the one being reined in, so this was a new - but very fun - experience for me!

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Curiosity @curiosityhull.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Who, What, When, Where, Why & How? Author and musician Martin Harwood met Ally-mai at the Big Malarkey and she put him through his quizzing paces. Supplementals: tinyurl.com/3aj5xk4h @hulllibraries.bsky.social @hullsls.bsky.social @typicallymai.bsky.social

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

We’re back playing Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How?!

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Adding “Offical Keeper of the Badges” to my list of titles this week. The list now reads: Maths Geek, Reader, Whovian, Swiftie, Official Keeper of the Badges

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Looking for more books with Percy Jackson vibes? You’re in luck!

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Today with Curiosity, I’m talking about some books that I think make great Walliams alternatives. Check it out:

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Curiosity @curiosityhull.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

What’s On The Keystage 3 James Reckitt Hull Children’s Book Award Shortlist? We now go live (not really) to Hull’s Central Library, where our Ally-mai has the runners and riders. Supplementals: tinyurl.com/3jn3cxez @hulllibraries.bsky.social @hullsls.bsky.social @typicallymai.bsky.social

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Wondering what’s on the KS2 James Reckitt Hull Children’s Book Award Shortlist this year? Wonder no more!

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Curiosity @curiosityhull.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

What Is The Best Young Adult Mystery? Our book discussers Caitlin and Ally-mai offer their selections for the YA in your life. Supplementals: tinyurl.com/yvsb5ex6 @hulllibraries.bsky.social @hullsls.bsky.social @typicallymai.bsky.social @caitymay16.bsky.social

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Curiosity @curiosityhull.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Are eBooks Better Than Physical Books? Our battling bookworms Caitlin and Ally-mai go head-to-head again to decide if screen improves on paper. Supplementals: tinyurl.com/2j44vcjn @hulllibraries.bsky.social @hullsls.bsky.social @typicallymai.bsky.social @caitymay16.bsky.social

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Curiosity @curiosityhull.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Do Audiobooks Count As Reading? They may be very useful in the car, but does the spoken word count as one of your five-a-day? Caitlin and Ally-mai swap opinions. Supplementals: tinyurl.com/bdfv2y39 @hulllibraries.bsky.social @hullsls.bsky.social @caitymay16.bsky.social @typicallymai.bsky.social

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Another Curiosity video! This time we’re talking about our favourite winter picture books!

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Today with Curiosity, Caitlin and I are talking about the modern books that we think make great Enid Blyton alternatives!

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

I just heard someone say synecdoche out loud for the first time… What do you MEAN it’s pronounced sin-eck-dough-key???? That sounds like something from Ghostbusters!! I need time to process this.

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Playing Who, What, Where, When, Why & How with Jess and Megan was a lot of fun! See how they got on and what they had to say about The Big Malarkey here:

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

In case you missed it yesterday! Another round of Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How!

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Curiosity @curiosityhull.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Who, What, Where, When, Why & How? Author and illustrator Ramzee takes a shot at our Big Malarkey quiz, while @typicallymai.bsky.social holds sway. Supplementals: tinyurl.com/mumtzc39 @hulllibraries.bsky.social @hullsls.bsky.social

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

A change of scenery for this Who, What, Where, When, Why & How? Watch it here:

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Curiosity @curiosityhull.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

Who, What, Where, When, Why & How? Author of Inkbound (and former Hull Librarian!) @prleathley.bsky.social chances her arm in our Big Malarkey quiz, hosted by @typicallymai.bsky.social Supplementals: tinyurl.com/9tasfp7t @hulllibraries.bsky.social @hullsls.bsky.social

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

How well will a writer of non-fiction do when faced with a general knowledge quiz? Find out here:

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Very excited for a lot of these, especially Skandar and the Secret Element!

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

It’s time for @simonjamesgreen.bsky.social to take on Who, What, Where, When, Why, & How! See how he got on here:

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

More Who, What, Where, When, Why, & How?!

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

I don’t know about you, but my brain needs a short break from all the chaos of a new Taylor Swift album cycle, so it feels like the perfect time for a game of Who, What, Where, When, Why, & How?! Check it out here:

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

It’s time for another game of Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How?!

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Curiosity @curiosityhull.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Who, What, Where, When, Why & How? Our @typicallymai.bsky.social puts fabulous author @clairelinney.bsky.social under scrutiny in our quiz at The Big Malarkey. Supplementals: tinyurl.com/5ebhcnwb @hulllibraries.bsky.social @hullsls.bsky.social

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

It’s time for Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How!

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

I found an excuse to go to the James Reckitt Hull Children’s Book Awards! I haven’t been since I was a kid, so it was a lot of fun seeing what has changed, and getting to see all of the fun again.

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

I had a lot of fun bombarding authors and illustrators with questions at The Big Malarkey! Here’s Sam Sedgman taking on Curiosity’s new quiz: (Bonus points for anyone who can tell me which word I mispronounced!)

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

I shared some more kids book recommendations over at Curiosity! This time they’re all fantasy! Check it out:

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

If anyone needs me in the next 13 days, you’ll probably find me scream-streaming debut 💚

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

It’s my birthday! And I made a cake! It’s inspired by one I had as a kid, and I think it turned out pretty well. 🎂

I am pointing at a cake made to resemble a TARDIS (a blue police box from the show Doctor Who), smiling somewhat maniacally. My tongue is slightly blue (from eating my the leftover icing) and I am wearing dungarees over a white t-shirt. There’s a rogue piece of icing sugar in my eyebrow.

A closer photo of the TARDIS cake. It is rectangular, with blue squares making up the panels, a black strip along the top, and small white rectangles for the windows. There is a spare blue square next to the cake (that I may have eaten immediately after taking the photo).

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

I may have been a little sneaky and included a 6th in my Top 5 Children’s Mystery Books… I guess you’ll have to watch it to figure out why! (Like a true mystery.)

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Curiosity @curiosityhull.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

What Are My Top 5 Children’s Mystery Books? Our kid’s book reviewer @typicallymai.bsky.social dives into the world of mystery stories and emerges with her five favourites. Supplementals: tinyurl.com/mruveenr @hulllibraries.bsky.social

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

My brain is just fully in Doctor Who mode. I have so many theories right now and I’m very happy about it.

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Why does Benson Boone’s new song (Mystical Magical) sound kinda like a Selena Gomez song? (Not a specific one, I could just imagine her singing it.) Thinking about it, a collab from them would be a lot of fun!

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Boosting this because I too would like to know about any accounts on TikTok talking about Middle Grade books!

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

I shared some recommendations of books for Jacqueline Wilson fans here!

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

How has it been 20 years since I first watched Doctor Who??? I know it’s true, but it doesn’t feel like it can possibly be true…

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a man and woman are standing in a dark tunnel

Alt: Rose Tyler and The Ninth Doctor running down a corridor

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

I just remembered that one day I’ll be able to listen to Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version) and I want to cry. 💚 That’s my baby! (And I’m really proud.)

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

He has been found! I’m now debating the necessity of writing a picture book about his disappearance and subsequent adventure.

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

I always have three teddies on my bed; one large bear named Aaron Burr, one medium sized bear named Aaron Dessner, and one small bunny for whom a name has never quite stuck. Aaron Dessner has gone missing.

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Ally-mai @typicallymai.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Reposting this again because there are so many good responses! I’m going to go through the replies with a notebook and pen later to gather my own list to add to my TBR. 📝

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Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Big brains of #KidLitUK - someone's asking for books that provide authentic disability representation. What are your top recs? Across all spectrums of disability.

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