Alison loves stories

Please read this👇 Privacy is real. It’s the thing that links all of us. We all suffer the further it erodes.

CHSTM Research Seminar, 3 February 2026 Prof Matthew Cobb The life and times of Francis Crick, or why it sometimes matters who does science

If you're in Manchester this afternoon and fancy listening to me chuntering about Francis Crick and why it sometimes matters who does science, come along! Details here:

"Those familiar with Threets, librarian and new Reading Rainbow host, will recognize his infectious library joy anywhere. His brand of spontaneous boosting is no less evident in his debut book . . . A book that embraces libraries and patrons everywhere, meant to be enjoyed and shared.” - starred review from School Library Journal for I'M SO HAPPY YOU'RE HERE: A CELEBRATION OF LIBRARY JOY by Mychal Threets, illustrated by Lorraine Nam

Happy National Library Lover’s Month!

To celebrate, we’re sharing this starred review from School Library Journal for I'M SO HAPPY YOU'RE HERE: A CELEBRATION OF LIBRARY JOY by Mychal Threets, illustrated by Lorraine Nam! 🌟

Read the full SLJ review here.

@mychal3ts.bsky.social

Friendly reminder that if you’re reading US history and it makes you feel patriotic, you’re actually reading propaganda

Stayed up late to finish this one last night & I’m not even sorry. This delightful slice of hope punk publishes late April.
I suggest you preorder.
I know a guy.

Book cover Suzanne Palmer’s Ode to the Half Broken. A mecha and a dog walk through a post apocalyptic city being retaken by natural vegetation. All tones of soft peach, soft blue, soft green

Currently reading this arc publishing in April. Really good hope punk.

Magic the Gathering card with a dragon

To all my fellow #librarians! May you channel your inner dragon as this next week begins😉

That cover is spectacular!

That looks and sounds delicious!

#BlackVelvetBand

Looking for #HopePunk? Put #OdeToTheHalfBroken on your #NewBook radar and prerequest it at your #LocalLibrary Publishing late April. This one feels so good it will break your #FictionSlump A book I am currently desperate to both resolve the conflict and linger longer among the characters and vibes 🥰

The IMLS Propaganda Machine Is In Full Swing The agency overseeing U.S. libraries and museums is now full-on regime propaganda.

The IMLS propaganda machine is in full swing, and $14 million in tax dollars just went to PragerU to do the work that libraries and museums are actually experts in.

buttondown.com/wellsourced/...

Frozen boogies! OMG so real!

Is that grilled lotus in the upper left? Grilled like sliders?

This sounds delicious!

A Black Velvet nitro Stout in a glass decorated with a clover eyed gold skull icon

Support your locals! @streetsidebrewery.bsky.social #24 is delicious!

This one just keeps getting better. It has one of my favorite things: an ever expanding non-human found family. Sentient trains are as good as sentient houses, the repurposed 1966 VW Bus, a snarky cyborg dog 🥰

Kayla T (kaylabobayla)'s review of Queen of Faces (Queen of Faces, #1) 5/5: What if swapping bodies was as easy as switching clothes? Where changing gender or escaping wounds was the simple purchase of a body swap? And what if everyone did it all the time, everywhere? T...

Queen of Faces by Petra Lord
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 📚💙

I wish this existed when I was a teen! Some of the most incredible, respectable and accessible gender discussions I’ve seen in fantasy. Unique magic, poignant gov’t commentary, and forgot it was YA!

#netgalley
#queenoffaces
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I cannot wait to read this one!! Your description makes me think a little of Frances White's Voyage of the Damned which I loved.

If you’re over 30, quote with life advice.

No matter how awkward it is, confront the friend that you are worried about. You have that gut feeling for a reason.

P Djeli Clark

If you’re over 30 quote with life advice:
You honestly never know when it’s the last time. Act accordingly and deliberately.

So far we’ve received many excellent pieces, but we’re still short on short stories. If you have a short‑story translation you're eager to share with the world, do send it our way!

Quote 5 jobs you’ve had:
Amusement Park snack shack operator
Salad Bar Attendant
A Census Taker
Beer Vendor
Middle School Teacher

Please read and share

"Libraries and Library Workers are well-placed to provide a variety of services to those who wish to protest"

Bellingcat has further analysed videos of the shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents. The footage shows an agent wearing a black beanie step behind Pretti. His right arm then appears to recoil at the same time the first shot is heard.

In solidarity with the boycotts, my indie books have officially been pulled from Amazon. If you have *also* pulled your books from Amazon for whatever reason, let me know. I'm putting together some more discovery for people whose books no longer benefit from or support Amazon.

a little girl is laughing with her fist in the air while wearing a vest and tie . Alt: a little black girl is laughing squeezing her fists with joy in front of holiday lights while wearing a vest and tie .

I do love a good leftover transformation

For indoor use I recommend the peppermint one. The original smell can be off putting indoors.