Helen Tamblyn-Saville (she/her)

Little bit of news time! A bookseller who is taking on the London Marathon for @booktrust.org.uk! Excited to celebrate my 40th year with this challenge. #kidlituk

SO good!

Helen in Wonderland's London Marathon for BookTrust Help Helen Tamblyn-saville raise money to support BookTrust

Little bit of Sunday news:

www.justgiving.com/page/helen-t...

In my experience, when a child isn't enthused about books, it's because they are being pushed towards things they don't like and feel like a chore. Some readers don't like fiction, they prefer facts. Some like prose. Some like pictures. Some like audio. All valid.

2026 is The Year of Reading, and I am determined I promote that reading is fun, and how it's important to understand that fun reading is different for everyone.

Allow children to choose. A joke book may not be your jam, but it may be the definition of reading being fun for someone else!

They do the best crisps though.

This!

Helped to organise a Pride event. Mostly went well, unfortunately some homophobia on social media but largely a great day.

And then today a vaguely threatening comment on one of the social media posts stating "hope nothing happens to you" followed by a derogatory term.

What is WRONG with people?

ALWAYS! They promised to make it their next order!

I was talking about Some Body Like Me yesterday!

There are now signed copies of Some Body Like Me, Strangeworlds and Artezans at @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social. Huge shoutout to D for recognising me instantly when I was trying to be coy and cool and subtle asking where the hardback scifi was 😭🥰🩵

Yes! This is really annoying.

I saw them in London a few weeks back!!

Overload reached a whole new level last night. I lay on the bed for an hour trying to work out what I wanted for my dinner, couldn't work out dinner because thinking was too hard, and ended having a bowl of broccoli.

See also: stepping stone.

(provokes a similar reaction)

Children's books are never "just a children's book." They stay with us. They can shape us. The stories can become part of us.

And so, when a loved children's author leaves us, it isn't just news, but it's grief.

The stories last a lifetime.

Thank you Allan Ahlberg for the magic. ❤️

#kidlituk

Book cover of Burglar Bill by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

Each Peach Pear Plum was the early memory. But I LOVED Burglar Bill. My daughter loved it too.

I am so sad to learn that Allan Ahlberg has died. When children and adults of all ages can quote lines from his works, and his works with Janet, that's a special legacy, isn't it?

Iconic.

#kidlituk

Retford Pride. August 2nd.

Get it in the diaries!

Time is so weird. Shall we go and do something nice soon?

You look lovely!

Is there a word for that feeling when you feel a bit peculiar because your child has now finished primary school and in your mind, they only just started, but also, you feel like you only just left school yourself?!

So lovely to do this today!

Yes!!!!

Yes!

YES to this!!!

I do absolutely agree with this. However, there are also a lot of people who are very keen to move children on and this fell into that category.

There's a Ghost in This House is GORGEOUS.

Have you seen Begin Again?

Picture books art an art form. So much can be conveyed through pictures. Many are great for full school books and particularly good for older children. There are even some aimed at grown-ups - you're never too old!

Four year olds are not too old for picture books. A beautiful book was turned down by someone in the shop yesterday due to the child being about to start school, and therefore "too old" for picture books.

Please don't force children to give up picture books too quickly.

#kidlituk