Why read books? Because reading opens minds & hearts. It helps us imagine different lives and different worlds; it can help us build a better world. So please keep reading books with kids, and encouraging them to read. There is nothing more important. #literacy #books #reading

We borrowed some very strong elves tonight to help with something we’ve been wanting to do for ages - move our sofas downstairs. (Thank you elves!) So now, if you need some comfortable seating, you don’t need to go all the way up the stairs. Watch this space for more helpful changes coming up 😊

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… Huge thank you to all of the elves who have helped us to make the bookshop look super festive so far. All will be ready in time for Sedbergh Christmas Late Night opening this Wednesday 4th December. Hopefully see you there! 🎄☃️🎅

It’s Colour Friday! An annual event that encourages customers to rethink their holiday shopping & support local artisans, independent shops, & creators. This year, spend with purpose & intention, & help us celebrate the colour & creativity small businesses bring to the UK Artwork: Rebecca Strickson

Let's rename Black Friday Book Friday. See, sounds way better!

Ok authors & readers of BlueSky… a year ago I posted a call out on that *other* place for upcoming books & authors to come & do events with us, but family health issues derailed 2024 plans so it was a lot quieter than I’d hoped. Do we have any suggestions or volunteers for some 2025 events? 🤞🏻📚😬🙏

In the newsletter this week - the New Naturalist series - a collection of books about the natural history of the British Isles. Some of our collection are listed for sale online but many more are available in the shop. If you’re looking for a specific edition do get in touch to see if we can help.

Don’t feed the billionaires.

There are some cracking books out right now, but these are a handful that we are championing at Westwood Books this Christmas. All available in store & online on our website. @herdyshepherd.bsky.social @pollyrowena.bsky.social

Pretty much, yep.

Hey authors, don’t forget that if you use bookshop.org instead of that great big place, you will be helping out indie bookshops - very few of who make so much they are dabbling with building rockets - you can even choose which bookshop uk.bookshop.org/shop/booksho...

I am clearly going mad - THIS is the link to support Storyville Books that needs your support after a flood - just order any books you want using this link uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyvi...

Every single school should have a library & a librarian, to help every single child find the books that will make them readers, and give them all the lifelong benefits of literacy. Libraries & librarians change children's lives FOREVER! #literacy #libraries #librarians

Typical neurodivergent - I can’t remember why I went in the cupboard under the stairs but now I’ve emptied the entire contents out and I’m cleaning everything 😂🙈

Optimist: The cup is half full Pessimist: The cup is half empty Bookseller: I don't care what's in the cup, but you will kindly put it in the bin when you're finished with it and NOT DUMP IT ON THE SHELVES

My favourite place is at home in bed reading 📖 (and also with a cup of tea in hand of course! 🫖)

Support local booksellers. Support local booksellers. Support local booksellers. Support local booksellers. Support local booksellers. Support local booksellers. Support local booksellers. Support local booksellers. Support local booksellers. Support local booksellers. Support local booksellers.

Was attempting to get a photo of my favourite bookshelf at home. But as they’re precious I put them on the top shelf which makes them harder to photograph 😂 but anyway… behold! My Tove Jansson collection. Or some of it at least 🙈

Also me! 😂

A wonderful, and perfectly timed for me article, featuring my favourite - the Moomins. Thank you @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social for posting it 😊

Leading up to Christmas is a time that indie businesses make the majority of their income for the whole year If you want to support indie bookshops there's a growing list/directory at www.indiebookshops.com

So gutted we had to cancel our trip to Edinburgh to see our son, because of the weather. Hunkered down with food and the log fire on but still super sad

Thank you to everyone who ventured out in the cold last night for an evening with @pollyrowena & The Company of Owls. If you’d like signed copies of The Company of Owls or Some of Us Just Fall by Polly Atkin they are available in store & online now.

I often hear Tawny owls 🦉calling in the woods surrounding my house & now there's a book to read about them! If you're around Sedbergh in Cumbria uk 🇬🇧 this eve 22 Nov this author talk by @pollyrowena.bsky.social at @westwoodbooks.bsky.social sounds a good plan. Just a shame I'm too far away to go.

When you ask people about the books that changed their lives, they almost always mention a children's book. They're the books that make us readers, shape us at the deepest levels, and stay with us FOREVER. That's why I think children's books are the most important books of all! #kidlit #books

This thread from @jambookshopuk.bsky.social makes so many relatable and valid points about running a bookshop.

What’s everyone reading? @heatherthomasuk.bsky.social current read is The Edge of Solitude from @katiescribbles.bsky.social and @paulthomasuk.bsky.social is reading Bloodlines by Chris Wraight.

Frosty school walk today.

My day mostly looked like this and now my head hurts. But now straight back into the juggle that is business owner/SEN parent/wife/perimenopausal frazzled woman. 🤯

Picking my favourite books, or top three reads etc etc would be like asking me to pick my favourite child. I simply cannot. I can however, give many examples of brilliant books I have enjoyed at various times in my life 😊 I do admire people who are able to narrow it down though!

Weather seems appropriate for my current read 😊 @katiescribbles.bsky.social

I woke up in Narnia today ❄️🥶

Actually beginning to wonder where the bookshop ends and I begin? Or vice versa? My job is books. Bookshop is life. A symbiotic relationship.

I made an official account for the bookshop… 😊 go there for bookshop stuff. Stay here for bookshop stuff plus my own blathering 😂

Would be remiss of me not to mention here that the fabulous @pollyrowena.bsky.social will be coming to Westwood Books this Friday to talk about her latest book The Company of Owls. Polly will be in conversation with the lovely @katiescribbles.bsky.social Tickets available online & in the shop.

Never forget: READING FOR PLEASURE has the biggest positive impact of any factor on children's life chances. So never stop sharing books with kids. Never stop reading to them, and helping them to read. Never stop changing lives. #literacy #kidlit #books

Still working out this place but in the meantime, here’s a frosty photo from beside the bookshop this morning. Brrr 🥶 Happy Monday all!

Bookshops don’t just exist so you can buy the books you want. They also exist so you can browse around and discover the books you did not know you needed.

Hello BlueSky people (is there an official group name yet?!) I run Westwood Books in Sedbergh, Cumbria with my husband @paulthomasuk.bsky.social I’ve just joined the app and so this is me figuring out how it works! Say hi if you’re a bookish type 😊