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Marianne Doherty

@mariannedoherty.bsky.social

2.9K followers 2.6K following 1.5K posts

Manager of Bookzilla and Bookbug apps for Scottish Book Trust. Children’s books and comics enthusiast. Dyslexic. ME/CSF. Here for the kids book chat. All views my own. #KidsBooksFriday 📚🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 2d

My fab colleague Paul and I got to write the autumn children's book reviews for the Scotsman. I think they were in the paper at the weekend but you can read them here online...
www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...

#UKKidLit #KidLitUK #KidLit

The best new children's books for autumn 2025

Among the heroes of this autumn’s best kids books are a sleepy bear, a water-loving rabbit and a pair of hyper-competitive turtles. Reviews by Paul Kane and Marianne Doherty

www.scotsman.com

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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 4h

Looks gorgeous. Look forward to reading it!

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Reposted by Marianne Doherty

Helen Jones @hfj0108.bsky.social · 5h

No social media at school. By the time I get home, most of my favourites have been mentioned already! I couldn’t see these though and have probably missed several others. #KidLitUK #KidsBooksFriday

Cover of High Rise Mystery by Sharna Jackson

Cover of The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood by Farhana Islam

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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 4h

I never know what’s the best time to post. I try as early as I can to catch school staff before school but often depends on how my own morning is going! But all recommendations are welcome at any time (or any day!) and I always think doublers help folk know it’s something REALLY worth seeking out. 😁

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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 5h

It’s such a beautiful book.

Reposted by Marianne Doherty

Fleur Hitchcock @fleurhitchcock.bsky.social · 7h

By total chance - Just read this excellent book by @sufiyaahmed.bsky.social #UnderFire so clear, so interesting #kidsBooksFriday #sharedhistory - review here with a link to buy: www.waterstones.com/book/under-f...

Under Fire by Sufiya Ahmed | Waterstones

Buy Under Fire by Sufiya Ahmed from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.

www.waterstones.com

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Good Night To Read @gntread24.bsky.social · 11h

An astonishment of authors with wonderful stories full of adventure & emotion. #KidsBooksFriday #DiverseBooks #UKKidLit #BookBloggers #Librarians

Lilac, black & gold. Pink strands of branches curling in from left & right. Girl in silhouette blowing stars ✨

🐻 Bear, leopard 🐆 , whale 🐳 & elephant 🐘 against different backdrops. Green jungle, orange sky, blue water. Set of 4 books.

Purple sky with red border of branches & leaves. Fireworks 💥 exploding in sky. 3 silhouettes of children in centre

Different shades of light & dark blue. Back of boy with red rucksack 🎒 & brown hair, silhouette of child sitting in window watching stars ✨, Red bus with silhouettes in windows & child facing open door with strip of light. Set of 4.

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Caroline Fielding @cazapr1.bsky.social · 12h

How about the winners of The Diverse Book Awards, announced last night! #TheDBAwards

2025 winners: Until You Find the Sun for picturebook, Birdie for kids, Wild East for YA, Allow Me to Introduce Myself for adult.

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Reposted by Marianne Doherty

JohnChalmers+SandraMarrs=Metaphrog @metaphrog.bsky.social · 12h

Sharing some classic graphic novels here: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed, New Kid by Jerry Craft, Timid by Jonathan Todd. #KidsBooksFriday

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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 12h

Good luck! 😅

Reposted by Marianne Doherty

Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 13h

One of the things about this study is that a lot of baby and toddler books are written in house, by editors. So the study reveals the whiteness of editorial in kidlit even if not explicitly. But, big picture, this trend is unacceptable. I remember so many promises www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...

‘Catastrophic decline’ in Black representation in children’s books

A report by charity Inclusive Books for Children found that of the 2,721 books surveyed, only 51 featured a Black main character, down by 21.5% since 2023

www.theguardian.com

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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 13h

I’ve lived in Roehampton, Putney, Clapham, Southfields and Earlsfield in my day. Lots of happy memories of youth!

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Claire Linney Author @clairelinney.bsky.social · 13h

My Black book for today is (and excuse the blowing of one’s own trumpet) my own. Because it won the Readers Choice Award at the Diverse Book Awards last night and I’m still feeling v emotional about it! This explores Black Tudor history through time travel and I’m so bloody proud of it!

Time Tub Travellers and the Silk Thief by Claire Linney

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Sinéad O'Hart @sineadohart.bsky.social · 1d

Delighted and honoured to announce that Ellora McGee, Trainee Banshee: The New School is one of several BRILLIANT books chosen by @childrensbooksireland.ie and Eason as their quarterly Recommended Irish Reads. Check them out in your local branch of Eason! And keep an eye out for signed copies...

Front cover of Ellora McGee, Trainee Banshee: The New School, written by Sinéad O'Hart and illustrated by Úna Woods. There's a graphic on the left which looks like a sticker announcing it as 'Recommended by Children's Books Ireland'.

Covers of all the books in the Eason/CBI quarterly book promotion. From left to right, top row: The Waters and the Wild by Eilish Fisher; The Museum of Lost Umbrellas by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick; The Moon Seeker by Dee Barragry; The Grand Central Comedy Club by Alan Nolan. Second row from top, left to right: Strange Nature, by Mary Watson; Dino Mode Activated, by Jen Wallace and illustrated by Alan O'Rourke; Any Way You Slice It by Méabh O'Donnell; Ellora McGee, Trainee Banshee: The New School, by Sinéad O'Hart, illustrated by Úna Woods. Third row, left to right: Puisín na mBróg by Fergus MacLochlainn, illustrated by Paddy Donnelly; The Cloud Kingdom by Máire Zepf, illustrated by Andrew Whitson; Milo and the Mountain, by Jamie Carroll; Nature at Night by Dara McAnulty. Fourth row, left to right: Oíche Mhaith, a Ghrá! by Sadhbh Devlin, illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald; Lantern Smoke by Dagogo Hart and Anita Schmidt, and This That What by Katy Ashworth and Colleen Larmour.

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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 13h

I’m on holiday! 🎉 And we’re heading down to our old stomping grounds in Putney where we first met 20 years ago.

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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 13h

Folk just keep writing great books! It’s a hard job keeping up!

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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 13h

#KidsBooksFriday

Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 13h

And there’s lots to celebrate-check out the wonderful #DiverseBookAward #DBAAward winners!

www.instagram.com/thediversebo...

Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 14h

With the IBC Excluded Voices report making for sober reading this week, let’s use #KidsBooksFriday to celebrate brilliant books from global majority writers.
#KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit

www.inclusivebooksforchildren.org/excluded-voi...

Reposted by Marianne Doherty

Jacqui Sydney 📚 @jacquisydney.bsky.social · 13h

Splendid choices there! I’m going to add the brilliant Rani Reports series by Gabrielle & Satish Shewhorak, illustrated by Navya Raju 😊 x

#KidsBooksFriday

Cover of Rani Reports on the Missing Millions, which shows Mauritian Rani running along the beach in shorts and t-shirt with a camera slung around her neck.

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Hazel Pinner @hazelmpinner.bsky.social · 14h

#KidsBooksFriday starting with my fave non-fiction of 2024! The Amazing Asia encyclopedia by @rashmiwriting.bsky.social @jasonlyon.bsky.social is stunning & kids love it. @kellyyang.bsky.social is vocal the fight against #BannedBooks in the US ✊ I adore the Onyeka series too. #EduSky

Front cover of Amazing Asia and encyclopaedia of an epic continent by Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Jason Lyon.

Front covers of the Front Desk series by Kelly Yang

Front covers of the Onyeka series by Tolá Okogwu

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Lesley Watts @ljwattswales.bsky.social · 14h

Here are some I’ve enjoyed, aimed at teenagers #KidsBooksFriday

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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 14h

I’m glad you’ve discovered the joys of It Might Be An Apple. One of my faves. Must seek out the others.

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Laura Fowler-Holden @ljfspinningbooks.bsky.social · 14h

#KidsBooksFriday there are so many amazing ones but 4 I have particularly loved this month are; Guardians of the New Moon by Eric Huang, The Doomsday Date by Àbíké - Lyímídé, It might be an Apple by Shinsuke Yoshitake and Freedom we Sing by Amyra Léon

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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 14h

Yes, I loved that too. I listened to it and it’s so atmospheric. And from knowing nothing about Jamaican mythology before I was able to be indignant that the Sewing Bee judges said Yasmin’s La Diabless outfit wasn’t scary enough when I now knew just how scary it actually was!

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Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 14h

Just read a proof of Iqbal Hussain's kidlit debut - out in Feb I believe, The Night I Borrowed Time. Great flawed hero - on the one hand, he's very ethical (trying to help his parents) but he's also prickly and angry and messy. #KidsBooksFriday www.penguin.co.uk/books/468581...

The Night I Borrowed Time

A funny, heartbreaking and uplifting tale about family, bravery and living in the here and now, perfect for fans of Time Travelling With a Hamster and Wonder. I’m going back in time to save this fami...

www.penguin.co.uk

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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 14h

Will need to see if I can get hold of a copy. It sounds great. I love a good flawed hero.

Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 14h

#KidsBooksFriday

Gill Ower @gillow.bsky.social · 14h

Our year 4s are currently mad for Planet Omar books.

Planet Omar covering showing the main character