SF Said
@whatsfsaid.bsky.social
10K followers 2.5K following 1.2K posts
Author of the Varjak Paw books, Phoenix and TYGER! I also write about children's books & all things connected - libraries, literacy & reading for pleasure. http://www.sfsaid.com/
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whatsfsaid.bsky.social
I believe the books we love when we’re young are THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS OF ALL! They make us readers, change our lives, and shape us in the deepest ways. That’s why I write for young readers - and why I put everything I know and love into every book I write!
www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sf-said...
The Most Important Books of All: A Guest Post by SF Said - B&N Reads
With breakneck pacing and an enchanting sense of place, this is a story that moves. Speaking to compelling and resonant themes, it’s a treasure for readers of all ages. Read on for an exclusive essay ...
www.barnesandnoble.com
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whatsfsaid.bsky.social
Incredible news: Tyger is a bestseller in the US! THANK YOU to everyone @penguinschoollib.bsky.social for bringing it to the US, everyone @barnesandnoble.com for making it their monthly pick, and all the brilliant booksellers, educators & librarians who've embraced the book & made dreams come true!
Bestseller announcement poster for TYGER by SF Said illustrated by Dave McKean, with the incredible words "AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER" above a picture of the book cover, showing half a tyger's face, some interior artwork from the book, showing a tyger in the forests of the night, and a picture of the author
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bigbeardybooks.bsky.social
Can you tell what book this is from my review opening line?

Science fiction fantasy cowboy friends to lovers middle age romance with disco dragons.
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brianmosespoet.bsky.social
On #InternationalCatsDay read about the 'Lost Kitty in New York City' - a poem that @piecorbett.bsky.social and I wrote while visiting NYC for a book shop event. brian-moses.blogspot.com/2023/06/lost...
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booksforkeeps.bsky.social
The Inclusive Books for Children Awards are open. The awards celebrate outstanding new children’s literature in 3 categories with a shared prize fund of £30K plus, NEW, @ibc-reads.bsky.social is also launching Children’s Choice Awards for primary schools #KidLit
booksforkeeps.co.uk/inclusive-bo...
The Inclusive Books for Children Awards logo 2026 Image of two young children sharing books.
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deemclachlan.bsky.social
This poem was written for an anthology of #spacepoems for young people. The first version wasn’t quite right so didn’t make the cut. An updated version here for #poemsabout #blacksky

#poetsofbluesky #poetry #poemsforkids #poemsforall #poetryforall #PoemAltText
 Once an astronaut 
Dawn McLachlan 

When I was deemed too old to fly
 they gave me a clock and said goodbye
      and all that I had left was time
          so I sat and watched it turn 

Tired of waiting for something more
 I bought a cabin on a deep lake shore
and settled to let myself grow old
 dreaming of times long past

But on perfect nights when the pale clouds fled
and darkness leaked from the skies and bled
 into all the forest around my home
I went down to the lake alone

When the breeze is gone and the night is still
 I dip my oars in black water until
   I row out beyond the reach of all
 and look to the skies above
 
I think of those who went before
 brave souls risking everything to explore
Mariners watching out for land
as they sailed the blackened seas

I wonder then if they too yearned
 with aged bones and long rest earned
 for times gone past, out there alone
with stars guiding them home
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louiestowell.bsky.social
Grammar question: when you're talking about answers to a multiple choice quiz, is it correct to say "Mostly As" or "Mostly A's"? They both look wrong to me now...
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mariannedoherty.bsky.social
I finished 2 excellent magical books this week. Both expertly weave magic into our own world, making it feel like the most natural of phenomena and helping me look at our world with a different slant. What brilliant magical books would you recommend? #KidsBooksFriday #KidLitUK #UKKidLit
Book cover for The Uninvited by Ross MacKenzie Book cover for Artezans: The Forgotten Magic by L. D. Lapinski
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gabliotecaria.bsky.social
Well, I'm an @ldlapinski.bsky.social evangelist til I die, so I'm going to throw their Strangeworlds Travel Agency series in! 🥰 Also adored Tyger by @whatsfsaid.bsky.social, City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak, Otherworld and the Dragon in the Library series by @louiestowell.bsky.social /
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cazapr1.bsky.social
Latest favourite would be The Spick and the Span by Pil Van Martin. Funny fantasy at its finest!
#KidsBooksFriday#KidLitUK
Cover with illustration of 2 children and a frog with mops and surrounded by bubbles in a town.
Strapline: The only thing scarier than magic...is cleaning it up.
Unflrtunately I don't have it to hand to check the cover illustrator.
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themerl.bsky.social
those damned outdoor pigs can't keep getting away with this
A book titled "Outdoor Pigs: How to Make them Pay."
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booksforkeeps.bsky.social
Community organisation Comics Youth has launched the UK's first Youth Comics Laureate. The role builds upon the existing UK Comics Laureate, currently held by Bobby Joseph & supported by the Lakes International Comics Festival. Application deadline 13 Aug #Comics
booksforkeeps.co.uk/young-comics...
Graphic advertising Young Comics Laureate 2025 - 2026 with drawing of three young people holding comics. They are of different ages and ethnicities and all wearing superhero type cloaks and holding comics one reading Diversity Matters in Comics and another Comics for All.
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letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
Who has been excluded from the UK canon of ‘classic’ children’s literature?
Which author voices are heard?

Teachers- A rich resource/book pack for Key Stages 1&2, complete with discussion plans.

#KidLitUK
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silver-press.bsky.social
Publishing 25 September, So Far So Good by Ursula K. Le Guin 🌛

The final book of poetry from Ursula K. Le Guin, finished weeks before her death in 2018. It is a huge honour to bring these into print in the UK. You can pre-order now:

www.silverpress.org/collections/...
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penguinschoollib.bsky.social
We’re excited to share more #BacktoSchool teacher talks. #PenguinClasroomPartner and educator Nawal Qarooni shares how RUBY RENÉ ALWAYS GETS HER WAY by Ashley Iman and Gladys Jose is great for the classroom for teachable moments, mentor texts, and more. #ad #EDUSky
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heykellyjensen.bsky.social
The lies of "local control" over public school & public libraries. What new actions in Florida and Texas say about the roadmap of book censorship to come.

Florida is demanding book bans without review; Texas is allowing parents to make library book decisions.

bookriot.com/the-lie-of-l...
The Lie of "Local Control," as Texas and Florida Signal What's Next in Book Censorship: Book Censorship News, August 8, 2025
The actions Florida and Texas legislation is taking to target school libraries showcase what's to come nationwide. It's not "local control."
bookriot.com
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suchmayer.bsky.social
I have packed WAY TOO MANY clothes for the way too many seasons happening between London (26*) and Glasgow (17*, 10* at night) & also my best event shirt from Cats Protection Shawlands, plus SO many snacks for the road trip b/c I am EXCITED AS HECK for this event.

See you there?! Sun, 6.30 pm, EFI
suchmayer.bsky.social
This has rocked up shockingly fast – I will be @edbookfest.bsky.social THIS SUNDAY with the brilliant Rose Keating, talking about the speculative, the Gothic, the unreal & the impossible aka writing short fiction ;) Come get weird.

Sun 10, 6.30pm, Venue B

www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival...
Rose Keating & So Mayer: Beyond Reality
From Sun 10 Aug - Everything is not as it seems in Rose Keating and So Mayer's unique and lively new short story collections. Join them for a discussion with Sasha de Buyl about their playful, provoca...
www.edbookfest.co.uk
whatsfsaid.bsky.social
Thank you so much, Una! And that's a wonderful thought - from a clearly wonderful editor!
whatsfsaid.bsky.social
Thank you so much Paul!
whatsfsaid.bsky.social
Thank you so much! I will never forget the lovely message you sent me when you read the UK edition of Tyger, a while back. I think I remember saying something like "Tade Thompson? THE Tade Thompson?!" A response like that from a writer you love yourself makes all the hard work worthwhile!
whatsfsaid.bsky.social
Thank you so much! I wanted to edit the post, so I've deleted it, but reposted it again now!
bsky.app/profile/what...
whatsfsaid.bsky.social
Incredible news: Tyger is a bestseller in the US! THANK YOU to everyone @penguinschoollib.bsky.social for bringing it to the US, everyone @barnesandnoble.com for making it their monthly pick, and all the brilliant booksellers, educators & librarians who've embraced the book & made dreams come true!
Bestseller announcement poster for TYGER by SF Said illustrated by Dave McKean, with the incredible words "AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER" above a picture of the book cover, showing half a tyger's face, some interior artwork from the book, showing a tyger in the forests of the night, and a picture of the author
whatsfsaid.bsky.social
Incredible news: Tyger is a bestseller in the US! THANK YOU to everyone @penguinschoollib.bsky.social for bringing it to the US, everyone @barnesandnoble.com for making it their monthly pick, and all the brilliant booksellers, educators & librarians who've embraced the book & made dreams come true!
Bestseller announcement poster for TYGER by SF Said illustrated by Dave McKean, with the incredible words "AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER" above a picture of the book cover, showing half a tyger's face, some interior artwork from the book, showing a tyger in the forests of the night, and a picture of the author
Reposted by SF Said
hannahloveswords.bsky.social
📚 Books also promote empathy, help us understand ourselves better, and spark interesting discussions!
#Booksky
whatsfsaid.bsky.social
Why read books? Because books are still the most powerful, reliable, transportive & magical storytelling technology we've invented - and all they need to work is YOUR OWN IMAGINATION! #booksky

(Cartoon by @mariascrivan.bsky.social)
Cartoon by Maria Scrivan: Benefits of Books, with a graphic of a book and its benefits: no glare, no battery, dog ears, probably won't get stolen at the beach, smells good, no pop up ads