AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
@madhmstr.bsky.social
“Don't waste hate on pink geranium.”
Professional aunt.
Trans rights are human rights.
Posts about black cats, picture books, and random other stuff.
5th generation Pākehā Aucklander, of UK heritage.
Professional aunt.
Trans rights are human rights.
Posts about black cats, picture books, and random other stuff.
5th generation Pākehā Aucklander, of UK heritage.
Pinned
Time for a pinned post.
I live in Aotearoa New Zealand.
I post about, in no particular order:
Our cats: Midnight and Jasper.
My clothes.
My life.
Books.
Being a children's librarian.
Sports, especially #womenssport.
Craft.
Random shit.
Boosting / sharing creators' work.
I live in Aotearoa New Zealand.
I post about, in no particular order:
Our cats: Midnight and Jasper.
My clothes.
My life.
Books.
Being a children's librarian.
Sports, especially #womenssport.
Craft.
Random shit.
Boosting / sharing creators' work.
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
Female #kakapo Phoenix on her nest yesterday, with three eggs. We suspect they're infertile, but it's hard to tell yet as they're either very dirty or young. She's one of at least 24 female kākāpō on nests on Anchor Island, with 3 more nests found today! #kakapo2026 #conservation #parrots
February 4, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Female #kakapo Phoenix on her nest yesterday, with three eggs. We suspect they're infertile, but it's hard to tell yet as they're either very dirty or young. She's one of at least 24 female kākāpō on nests on Anchor Island, with 3 more nests found today! #kakapo2026 #conservation #parrots
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
Just so you can get your lives in order, in advance:
Winter Olympics starts today
6 Nations starts tomorrow
Premier League Gameweek 25 starts Friday
T20 Cricket World Cup starts Saturday
Winter Olympics starts today
6 Nations starts tomorrow
Premier League Gameweek 25 starts Friday
T20 Cricket World Cup starts Saturday
February 4, 2026 at 8:45 AM
Just so you can get your lives in order, in advance:
Winter Olympics starts today
6 Nations starts tomorrow
Premier League Gameweek 25 starts Friday
T20 Cricket World Cup starts Saturday
Winter Olympics starts today
6 Nations starts tomorrow
Premier League Gameweek 25 starts Friday
T20 Cricket World Cup starts Saturday
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
For the next couple of weeks, I'm championing noke waiū, the North Auckland Worm, for the Bug of the Year competition. Thanks to Toby Morris for this great little cartoon, which shows one reason I think you should give it your vote: it can grow up to 1.4 metres long!
February 4, 2026 at 7:15 AM
For the next couple of weeks, I'm championing noke waiū, the North Auckland Worm, for the Bug of the Year competition. Thanks to Toby Morris for this great little cartoon, which shows one reason I think you should give it your vote: it can grow up to 1.4 metres long!
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
Don’t let nostalgia cloud your judgment: some of the best picture books are actually the newest | Kate Temple
Don’t let nostalgia cloud your judgment: some of the best picture books are actually the newest | Kate Temple
Contemporary children’s books reflect the diversity and values of a changing world – but getting new titles into small hands is harder than ever
*
Vote for the best Australian children’s picture book
The 1980s were a great time to write a classic Aussie picture book. From Possum Magic and Animalia to Who Sank the Boat? there was a voracious appetite to see Australia represented for kids in a way it hadn’t been before. Like everyone my age, I grew up with these books and I read them to my own children.
Forty years on, these books remain beloved – it’s no wonder they’re leading Guardian Australia’s reader poll of the best picture books of all time. But today the creation of new homegrown classics – which is increasingly important – has become increasingly difficult. The publishing landscape that created and nurtured the success of legacy titles has changed and the prospect of selling five million copies is now itself a thing of storybooks. As Graeme Base said when asked what would happen if you pitched Animalia today: “You’d fail – miserably, I suspect.” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Don’t let nostalgia cloud your judgment: some of the best picture books are actually the newest | Kate Temple
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
Marilyn Waring: Librarians’ work is essential – and still treated as expendable
Marilyn Waring: Librarians’ work is essential – and still treated as expendable
After hearing their testimony to the People's Select Committee, I'm outraged at how brutally librarians' right to equal pay was legislated away....
thespinoff.co.nz
February 3, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Marilyn Waring: Librarians’ work is essential – and still treated as expendable
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
Female #kakapo Kohengi on her three eggs on Pukenui/Anchor Island today. We don't yet know if they're fertile, but will investigate soon. So far fertility on Anchor is very high: only 8 infertile out of 33 checked. We expect many more infertile eggs though. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds
February 3, 2026 at 8:54 AM
Female #kakapo Kohengi on her three eggs on Pukenui/Anchor Island today. We don't yet know if they're fertile, but will investigate soon. So far fertility on Anchor is very high: only 8 infertile out of 33 checked. We expect many more infertile eggs though. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
one thing that would be cool, when prominent creators turn out to be terrible people, would be if we didn't have to go through this performative dance of insisting that their work was never good in the first place.
February 2, 2026 at 9:48 PM
one thing that would be cool, when prominent creators turn out to be terrible people, would be if we didn't have to go through this performative dance of insisting that their work was never good in the first place.
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
"How about I kidnap the dragon," the knight said, "and you come to rescue them?"
"It's still the same story," the princess said.
"No! We're all subverting-"
"I am tired of being in stories," the dragon said.
"What?"
"If you're not in a story, what even are you?"
"I'd like to find out."
"It's still the same story," the princess said.
"No! We're all subverting-"
"I am tired of being in stories," the dragon said.
"What?"
"If you're not in a story, what even are you?"
"I'd like to find out."
February 3, 2026 at 7:31 PM
"How about I kidnap the dragon," the knight said, "and you come to rescue them?"
"It's still the same story," the princess said.
"No! We're all subverting-"
"I am tired of being in stories," the dragon said.
"What?"
"If you're not in a story, what even are you?"
"I'd like to find out."
"It's still the same story," the princess said.
"No! We're all subverting-"
"I am tired of being in stories," the dragon said.
"What?"
"If you're not in a story, what even are you?"
"I'd like to find out."
Calling all Sherryl Jordan fans in 🇳🇿📚.
Have you read Descending Fire?
I've just finished. It is a gift she left us.
How she managed to write anything is beyond me. It does explain those massive gaps between publications.
Have you read Descending Fire?
I've just finished. It is a gift she left us.
How she managed to write anything is beyond me. It does explain those massive gaps between publications.
February 3, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Calling all Sherryl Jordan fans in 🇳🇿📚.
Have you read Descending Fire?
I've just finished. It is a gift she left us.
How she managed to write anything is beyond me. It does explain those massive gaps between publications.
Have you read Descending Fire?
I've just finished. It is a gift she left us.
How she managed to write anything is beyond me. It does explain those massive gaps between publications.
No Sky Sport at the motel. Maybe, instead of watching replays of White Ferns at the T20 world cup, I could finally watch some Time Team on YouTube. Except it's only on my phone...
February 3, 2026 at 7:54 AM
No Sky Sport at the motel. Maybe, instead of watching replays of White Ferns at the T20 world cup, I could finally watch some Time Team on YouTube. Except it's only on my phone...
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
Have you voted for your favourite 3 critters for Bug of the Year? If not, show some love for noke waiū, an enormously long hairy noodle that can glow in the dark! Head to bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz to vote by Feb 16th. @tepunahamatatini.bsky.social @siouxsiew.bsky.social
February 3, 2026 at 5:49 AM
Have you voted for your favourite 3 critters for Bug of the Year? If not, show some love for noke waiū, an enormously long hairy noodle that can glow in the dark! Head to bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz to vote by Feb 16th. @tepunahamatatini.bsky.social @siouxsiew.bsky.social
Me, leaving motel room: check I have the access card, even though I put it straight back in its designated place.
Me, with door open: check for card.
Me, exiting the building: check for card.
Ridiculous, but I can't help it.
Me, with door open: check for card.
Me, exiting the building: check for card.
Ridiculous, but I can't help it.
February 3, 2026 at 7:42 AM
Me, leaving motel room: check I have the access card, even though I put it straight back in its designated place.
Me, with door open: check for card.
Me, exiting the building: check for card.
Ridiculous, but I can't help it.
Me, with door open: check for card.
Me, exiting the building: check for card.
Ridiculous, but I can't help it.
Last row knitted of my Lindal Skjort!
🇳🇿🧶.
Now to weave in the ends... so many ends. I couldn't make the carrying and floats work.
When I get home, it will be time to pick up the 196 stitches, provisionally cast on, and then graft together. Then elastic. Then sew the waistband down.
🇳🇿🧶.
Now to weave in the ends... so many ends. I couldn't make the carrying and floats work.
When I get home, it will be time to pick up the 196 stitches, provisionally cast on, and then graft together. Then elastic. Then sew the waistband down.
February 3, 2026 at 6:50 AM
Last row knitted of my Lindal Skjort!
🇳🇿🧶.
Now to weave in the ends... so many ends. I couldn't make the carrying and floats work.
When I get home, it will be time to pick up the 196 stitches, provisionally cast on, and then graft together. Then elastic. Then sew the waistband down.
🇳🇿🧶.
Now to weave in the ends... so many ends. I couldn't make the carrying and floats work.
When I get home, it will be time to pick up the 196 stitches, provisionally cast on, and then graft together. Then elastic. Then sew the waistband down.
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
hello my store has been very slow (normal for this time of year and i've not been working a lot due to neck/burnout), so a very extra special thank you to all of my sticker club pals who are helping me get through <3
your stickers for january ship this week!
your stickers for january ship this week!
February 2, 2026 at 8:05 PM
hello my store has been very slow (normal for this time of year and i've not been working a lot due to neck/burnout), so a very extra special thank you to all of my sticker club pals who are helping me get through <3
your stickers for january ship this week!
your stickers for january ship this week!
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
With the minimum wage due to rise by less than inflation in April, those on the lowest incomes will be hammered for the third year in a row from this government. 68% of workers overall got a pay rise less than CPI inflation last year. Working people and their families are going backwards right now.
February 2, 2026 at 12:24 AM
With the minimum wage due to rise by less than inflation in April, those on the lowest incomes will be hammered for the third year in a row from this government. 68% of workers overall got a pay rise less than CPI inflation last year. Working people and their families are going backwards right now.
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
A dude deliberately dive bombed on top of me at the pool yesterday, and I’m still thinking about it as an entry for my thesis: the only people men see as human are other men, & those presenting as women are viewed as objects.
This is such a regular occurrence that it’s not the first time this year.
This is such a regular occurrence that it’s not the first time this year.
February 2, 2026 at 7:03 PM
A dude deliberately dive bombed on top of me at the pool yesterday, and I’m still thinking about it as an entry for my thesis: the only people men see as human are other men, & those presenting as women are viewed as objects.
This is such a regular occurrence that it’s not the first time this year.
This is such a regular occurrence that it’s not the first time this year.
Travel day and day 1 of summer school in #librarianfashion
February 2, 2026 at 9:35 AM
Travel day and day 1 of summer school in #librarianfashion
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Kate Rolfe from Owl and Moon, about an owl’s friendship with the waxing and waning moon. The owl’s wings are made of lace, in an image that uses collage and drawn and digital techniques to create textures and effects of light. Two Hoots 5 Feb. @twohootsbooks.bsky.social
February 2, 2026 at 8:27 AM
#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Kate Rolfe from Owl and Moon, about an owl’s friendship with the waxing and waning moon. The owl’s wings are made of lace, in an image that uses collage and drawn and digital techniques to create textures and effects of light. Two Hoots 5 Feb. @twohootsbooks.bsky.social
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
The best part about this is that you do not need any apps etc to speak to your dead relatives.
You can just ... speak to them.
They're dead.
Grab a photo, sit in their fave chair, visit their grave or a special place they and you liked, look at something they made...
You can just ... speak to them.
They're dead.
Grab a photo, sit in their fave chair, visit their grave or a special place they and you liked, look at something they made...
IN DEPTH | If you could speak to your dead grandmother forever, would you?
If you could speak to your dead grandmother forever, would you?
www.independent.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 8:01 AM
The best part about this is that you do not need any apps etc to speak to your dead relatives.
You can just ... speak to them.
They're dead.
Grab a photo, sit in their fave chair, visit their grave or a special place they and you liked, look at something they made...
You can just ... speak to them.
They're dead.
Grab a photo, sit in their fave chair, visit their grave or a special place they and you liked, look at something they made...
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
No one will ever succeed in convincing me that this comes from any kind of concern about reducing other human beings' pain. It's about reducing your down time from work, and/or making you "more effective" (substitute "useful to your boss"). All I can say, as gently as possible, is: "Fuck that shit."
AI “deadbots” aim to replace the dead—and raise plenty of ethical issues, Charley Burlock argues. “Perhaps the biggest question is how such a product might shift our experience of personal grief and collective memory.”
The AI Companies Trying to Make Grief Obsolete
You can buy an AI version of your lost loved one. But should you?
bit.ly
February 1, 2026 at 10:10 PM
No one will ever succeed in convincing me that this comes from any kind of concern about reducing other human beings' pain. It's about reducing your down time from work, and/or making you "more effective" (substitute "useful to your boss"). All I can say, as gently as possible, is: "Fuck that shit."
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
Check out the cover reveal for my next book and read all about it. It's a special one to me and set here in the Hawke's Bay.
Excited comments most welcome!
Excited comments most welcome!
February 2, 2026 at 6:12 AM
Check out the cover reveal for my next book and read all about it. It's a special one to me and set here in the Hawke's Bay.
Excited comments most welcome!
Excited comments most welcome!
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
did u guys know that i made adorable banners and they're MERINO WOOL and ever so pretty? all cut, sewn, and printed in studio <3
February 1, 2026 at 7:30 PM
did u guys know that i made adorable banners and they're MERINO WOOL and ever so pretty? all cut, sewn, and printed in studio <3
Reposted by AnnieBannie (She/Her🧶📚🌈)
The message from the stars was very long and complex, but contained instructions how to decode and parse it incrementally.
There was an image, of a very cute furry creature. And a text, which loosely translated said:
"Send cat pics please!'
#MicroFiction
There was an image, of a very cute furry creature. And a text, which loosely translated said:
"Send cat pics please!'
#MicroFiction
February 1, 2026 at 10:07 PM
The message from the stars was very long and complex, but contained instructions how to decode and parse it incrementally.
There was an image, of a very cute furry creature. And a text, which loosely translated said:
"Send cat pics please!'
#MicroFiction
There was an image, of a very cute furry creature. And a text, which loosely translated said:
"Send cat pics please!'
#MicroFiction