"I want to champion the power of books to connect us and make us feel like we belong" @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social, our new Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate 2026-28, speaking powerfully about the role of stories to build connection and community - and how this will be the focus of her Laureateship.

Happy 10 years of Brexit 💃💃💃

Make that trillionaire 🙄

A society with one trillionaire and millions of people in poverty is something to be deeply ashamed of, actually

UK publishing generated £7.4 billion in revenue last year. Compare that to: Premier League football: £6.6 billion Home entertainment: £5.6 billion UK film industry: 2.8 billion Now tell me again why authors don't deserve fair contracts and better pay.

Tax the rich. The world would be a better place if no human was a billionaire.

It’s really frightening.

Sir David Attenborough… on your 100th birthday, we thank you. For a lifetime dedicated to the natural world, and for sharing its story with such grace and wonder. Generations have fallen in love with nature because of you. Happy birthday, Sir. 🎉

This.

So pro-life means jailing women who miscarry but shrugging when the deranged president says “a whole civilization will die tonight.” Do I have that right?

"I grew up across the street from a public library, and it was the only place my mom would let me go on my own. It was my second home, and I read everything that I could get." ~ Tracy Chapman Chapman by Nicholas Albrecht #Booksky

Can we get some regime change in the US asap? Preferably before he destroys the beautiful planet Artemis II has just taken such incredible photos of. #25thamendment

Every month, we review dozens of books for children and teenagers. Here are the ones we like best in February 💙 https://bit.ly/487zIVT

“No one is illegal on stolen land.” - Billie Eilish

This is the best news to wake up to. Thankful Liam and his dad have been released. Shame on all those involved in his detention.

Dear teachers, it is the #NationalYearofReading2026. I've had requests to make a video to encourage reading for classrooms. Here it is. Please share and feel free to use it however you choose: youtu.be/xrAeYD1ZQ1A

Think we need to bring back “Tidings of comfort and joy” as a saying / greeting, because all I want right now is to hear some news that brings comfort and joy, instead of horror and misery.

Unsolicited writing advice, no. 147: Don't ask yourself if a story has been told before: it has. Ask yourself how you're going to tell it in a way that is unique to you.

All of us watching #TheTraitors tonight 😮

A comprehensive list of UK children's literature awards - a great way to find new books to inspire your school book clubs and reading groups. schoolreadinglist.co.uk/resources/ch... #teamenglish #ukedchat

“The next time you seduce, you can seduce me.” QUOTE OF THE SERIES #TheTraitors

“It’s a fight!” #TheTraitors

Hang it in the Louvre #TheTraitors

Watching The Sound of Music has been a tradition on New Year’s Day since my childhood. My god, the last act hits different now we’re facing the rise of fascism again 😭

Browse our picks of the best new fiction, nonfiction, poetry and picture book children's and YA released over the past few years schoolreadinglist.co.uk/category/new... #kidlit #teachersofx #picturebooks

I do not understand authors, broadcasters, voice artists, YouTubers, ANY creative artists using quick and cheap AI for their cover images and not realising: it will be you next.

So many red flags in Haul out the Holly, I lost count. The only way that film is redeemable, is if Jordan Peele re-makes it as a horror movie.

Unsolicited writing advice, no.15555: There are no universal writing rules. There's only what works, and what doesn't work. It may not work for anyone else, but if it gets you where you want to be, that's the way for you to go.

Worth remembering that Terence Stamp was the son of a ship's stoker. Stamp desperately wanted to act, after falling in love with movies as a kid, and it was a scholarship to Drama School that allowed him to walk that path. Every time arts cuts are made, they rob us of more Terence Stamps.

It’s about to be SHOWGIRL SUMMER and I’m here for it 🧡 #taylorswift #thelifeofashowgirl

Hey, political parties, I'm a decent human being who cares about other human beings. How about pandering to me for a bit?

So very true

You may have seen a few authors posting about Waterstones 25% off preorders sale, but I have a few books in the offer too! (Even some we haven’t announced yet🤫) Enter SUMMER25 at the checkout to redeem your discount. Offer ends at 23.59 Thursday 31st July. ow.ly/VlRv50Wvp01

Pre-orders are a HUGE help for us authors, and you can get 25% off the rrp if you pre-order The Big Bad Wolf Murder from Waterstones before the end of the month! Simply use the code SUMMER25. www.waterstones.com/book/the-big... #KidLitUK #KidLit

Destiny’s Child reunite at the final show of Beyonce’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour in Las Vegas tonight! 🚨 👏🏽

Yeah, but tell me how old your face scan thought I was, Bluesky. I’m invested in knowing whether I look in my 30s, 40s, or 80s!!!!

Today-years-old learning about Manic Pixie Dream Girls. Now wondering if Manic Pixie Bog Witches are also a thing, and if so, where do I sign up?

This is so true. Whenever I ask people about the books that really changed their lives, almost always, it's a children's book they remember. They're the ones that make the deepest impact and stay with us forever. That's why I think children's books are the most important books of all!

Stop starving Gaza.

I totally support the National Year Of Reading initiative. We desperately need a culture of reading for pleasure to replace the culture of constant testing in schools, backed by proper government funding. And we need STORYTIME to be part of the school day, every day! #literacy (Art: Chris Riddell)

8 week paid virtual internship here to learn about publishing with Orion, part of Hachette. Details below. Please share :)

Aspiring writer? Here's a quick and simple thing you can do to help yourself right now. 1. Go to your bio. 2. Remove the word "aspiring" ("emerging, budding", "trainee," "wannabe" etc.) 3. Now give yourself permission to write, and to call yourself a writer. youtube.com/watch?v=Q0I_...

Happy 50th JAWS 🦈🎂

This is my little bookshop and we are launching an award! ❤️

My map of independent children's bookshops is updated regularly. Most provide an online service and they're all run by people who can make well-informed book recommendations. If we want to keep them, we need to support them. Any missing, please let me know. padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...

Enjoyed #Supergrass tonight in Cardiff, even though I’m in denial that my first year at uni was 30 years ago this year #IShouldCoco

“What the hell just happened?” wasn’t the triumphant song of the contest, but it was the defining slogan #Eurovision

Lots of charities available to support aid to Gaza. Here’s one #Eurovision www.dec.org.uk/appeal/middl...