MaryEsther Judy
@fallenstarmary.bsky.social
Childrens books reader, reviewer, blogger & editor; artist; weaver of words & wool; and good human (I hope)
Lilys' Monster by Cliff McNish: a psychological, chilling story that exams grief & haunting; complex, emotional, intriguing, consuming; a ghost story that will stay with you for a long time. This is one you cannot out down. @foxandinkbooks.bsky.social
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/11/08/l...
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/11/08/l...
November 8, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Lilys' Monster by Cliff McNish: a psychological, chilling story that exams grief & haunting; complex, emotional, intriguing, consuming; a ghost story that will stay with you for a long time. This is one you cannot out down. @foxandinkbooks.bsky.social
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/11/08/l...
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/11/08/l...
Where The Shadows Hide by @amyclarkinwrites.bsky.social PSI are back with their most gripping investigation yet; intriguing & emotional;twists in both the plot & the lives of our characters; intense; thrilling ghost story. @theobrienpress.bsky.social
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/11/04/w...
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/11/04/w...
November 4, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Where The Shadows Hide by @amyclarkinwrites.bsky.social PSI are back with their most gripping investigation yet; intriguing & emotional;twists in both the plot & the lives of our characters; intense; thrilling ghost story. @theobrienpress.bsky.social
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/11/04/w...
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/11/04/w...
Reposted by MaryEsther Judy
We are BEYOND delighted to have two nominations for the 2026 Carnegie Medal for Writing!
A FIX OF LIGHT and SOLO!
Huge congratulations to YA debut authors Kel Menton and Gráinne O’Brien!
@kelmenton.bsky.social @grainneobrien.bsky.social @carnegiemedals.bsky.social #Carnegies2026
A FIX OF LIGHT and SOLO!
Huge congratulations to YA debut authors Kel Menton and Gráinne O’Brien!
@kelmenton.bsky.social @grainneobrien.bsky.social @carnegiemedals.bsky.social #Carnegies2026
November 3, 2025 at 9:20 AM
We are BEYOND delighted to have two nominations for the 2026 Carnegie Medal for Writing!
A FIX OF LIGHT and SOLO!
Huge congratulations to YA debut authors Kel Menton and Gráinne O’Brien!
@kelmenton.bsky.social @grainneobrien.bsky.social @carnegiemedals.bsky.social #Carnegies2026
A FIX OF LIGHT and SOLO!
Huge congratulations to YA debut authors Kel Menton and Gráinne O’Brien!
@kelmenton.bsky.social @grainneobrien.bsky.social @carnegiemedals.bsky.social #Carnegies2026
"Oh! Hello...I have been waiting. Are the others coming?....Good. I'll put the kettle on...."
#HappyHalloween🎃👻🧙🧙🧙🎃
#HappyHalloween🎃👻🧙🧙🧙🎃
October 31, 2025 at 6:52 PM
"Oh! Hello...I have been waiting. Are the others coming?....Good. I'll put the kettle on...."
#HappyHalloween🎃👻🧙🧙🧙🎃
#HappyHalloween🎃👻🧙🧙🧙🎃
Tonight....we fly. Happy Halloween!
#HappyHalloween🎃👻🧙
#HappyHalloween🎃👻🧙
October 31, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Tonight....we fly. Happy Halloween!
#HappyHalloween🎃👻🧙
#HappyHalloween🎃👻🧙
Late October rainbows bring the most joy...and the most rejuvenation. #OctoberOctober #octoberrainbow🌈🍁
October 29, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Late October rainbows bring the most joy...and the most rejuvenation. #OctoberOctober #octoberrainbow🌈🍁
Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica. 175mph sustained winds, 13ft storm surge, 40 inches of rainfall in some areas. Beyond catastrophic. #hurricanemelissa
October 28, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica. 175mph sustained winds, 13ft storm surge, 40 inches of rainfall in some areas. Beyond catastrophic. #hurricanemelissa
The Cloud Kingdom by Máire Zepf & Andrew Whitson: stories within a story; seamlessly woven together; Magical, imaginative, playful & utterly, magnificently beautiful. One to cherish. @littleislandbooks.bsky.social #DiscoverIrishKidsBooks
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/28/w...
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/28/w...
October 28, 2025 at 10:39 AM
The Cloud Kingdom by Máire Zepf & Andrew Whitson: stories within a story; seamlessly woven together; Magical, imaginative, playful & utterly, magnificently beautiful. One to cherish. @littleislandbooks.bsky.social #DiscoverIrishKidsBooks
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/28/w...
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/28/w...
Congratulations, Catherine Connolly!!! I could not be happier with this result!
Left-leaning independent Catherine Connolly wins Irish presidential election www.nbcnews.com/world/irelan...
Left-leaning independent Catherine Connolly wins Irish presidential election
Connolly, 68, said she would champion diversity and be a voice for peace, one that “builds on our policy of neutrality.”
www.nbcnews.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Congratulations, Catherine Connolly!!! I could not be happier with this result!
Just a reminder...the time goes back one hour at 2am.So an extra hour gets added tomorrow morning. It all happens online now. But I miss the simple little ritual of setting the clocks back. It felt somehow...human? Anyway, happy time change eve, everyone. #TimeChange🕰
October 25, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Just a reminder...the time goes back one hour at 2am.So an extra hour gets added tomorrow morning. It all happens online now. But I miss the simple little ritual of setting the clocks back. It felt somehow...human? Anyway, happy time change eve, everyone. #TimeChange🕰
Reposted by MaryEsther Judy
A good news story! Lovely idea 👏👏👏https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/oct/24/booker-prize-launches-childrens-booker-frank-cottrell-boyce
Booker prize launches £50,000 children’s award
Children will help judge the new prize along with children’s laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce
www.theguardian.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:19 AM
A good news story! Lovely idea 👏👏👏https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/oct/24/booker-prize-launches-childrens-booker-frank-cottrell-boyce
Return to Old Ireland! Tír Na n'Og by @erikamcgann.bsky.social & Conor Busuttil & The Stolen Child by W.B.Yeats, illustrated by Erin Brown; glorious gifts that evoke a timeless, magical past. Perfect! @theobrienpress.bsky.social #DiscoverIrishKidsBooks
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/24/r...
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/24/r...
October 24, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Return to Old Ireland! Tír Na n'Og by @erikamcgann.bsky.social & Conor Busuttil & The Stolen Child by W.B.Yeats, illustrated by Erin Brown; glorious gifts that evoke a timeless, magical past. Perfect! @theobrienpress.bsky.social #DiscoverIrishKidsBooks
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/24/r...
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/24/r...
The Grand Central Cinema Club by Alan Nolan: Dublin 1937; a story that combines friendship, love of cinema & a renowned sneak-thief; imaginative, memorable, fast-paced, fun, clever, heart-warming; a five-star adventure! @theobrienpress.bsky.social
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/23/t...
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/23/t...
October 23, 2025 at 9:54 AM
The Grand Central Cinema Club by Alan Nolan: Dublin 1937; a story that combines friendship, love of cinema & a renowned sneak-thief; imaginative, memorable, fast-paced, fun, clever, heart-warming; a five-star adventure! @theobrienpress.bsky.social
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/23/t...
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/23/t...
Meanwhile, outside the U.S. Embassy in Dublin....
October 19, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Meanwhile, outside the U.S. Embassy in Dublin....
Happy Dwali!!! One Dwali Day by Dev Kothari & Aditi Anand: celebration of the Indian Festival Lights with family & community; warm, welcoming; filled with family & happiness...and making Dwali Lanterns and Dwali pedas (yum!) @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/18/c...
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/18/c...
October 18, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Happy Dwali!!! One Dwali Day by Dev Kothari & Aditi Anand: celebration of the Indian Festival Lights with family & community; warm, welcoming; filled with family & happiness...and making Dwali Lanterns and Dwali pedas (yum!) @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/18/c...
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/18/c...
Daily Bear: LB has 2 new recommends from @theobrienpress.bsky.social Puffling & the Stormy Sea by Erika McGann & Gerry Daly; Run Home, Little Fox by Tom McCaughren, Erika McGann & Shannon Bergin; heartfelt, full of adventure & fun & the natural world.
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/16/l...
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/16/l...
October 16, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Daily Bear: LB has 2 new recommends from @theobrienpress.bsky.social Puffling & the Stormy Sea by Erika McGann & Gerry Daly; Run Home, Little Fox by Tom McCaughren, Erika McGann & Shannon Bergin; heartfelt, full of adventure & fun & the natural world.
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/16/l...
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/16/l...
Reposted by MaryEsther Judy
Trump, speaking in the Israeli parliament, boasts about the weapons the U.S. has provided and says "you obviously used them very well."
An estimated 20,000 children have died in the war in Gaza.
An estimated 20,000 children have died in the war in Gaza.
October 13, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Trump, speaking in the Israeli parliament, boasts about the weapons the U.S. has provided and says "you obviously used them very well."
An estimated 20,000 children have died in the war in Gaza.
An estimated 20,000 children have died in the war in Gaza.
Reposted by MaryEsther Judy
AI DEEPFAKE OF ME SPEWING RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA.
This is very disturbing because, with the exception of the moving image of me at the beginning of my segment, the words and images are not mine. My voice is AI generated and - I assume - sounds very like me. (I can't hear the join) Disgraceful.
This is very disturbing because, with the exception of the moving image of me at the beginning of my segment, the words and images are not mine. My voice is AI generated and - I assume - sounds very like me. (I can't hear the join) Disgraceful.
Also featured in the latest batch of Russian disinformation videos are comedian @geoffnorcott.bsky.social and children's author @philipardagh.bsky.social, again with their voices being deepfaked to attack Armenia.
October 10, 2025 at 2:20 PM
AI DEEPFAKE OF ME SPEWING RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA.
This is very disturbing because, with the exception of the moving image of me at the beginning of my segment, the words and images are not mine. My voice is AI generated and - I assume - sounds very like me. (I can't hear the join) Disgraceful.
This is very disturbing because, with the exception of the moving image of me at the beginning of my segment, the words and images are not mine. My voice is AI generated and - I assume - sounds very like me. (I can't hear the join) Disgraceful.
Making It Up As You Go Along by @pforde123.bsky.social ; a wondrous guide to encourage childrens' writing & creativity; imaginative, exciting, funny, joyous! This is no ordinary creative writing guide…not by a long shot. @littleislandbooks.bsky.social
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/11/m...
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/11/m...
October 11, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Making It Up As You Go Along by @pforde123.bsky.social ; a wondrous guide to encourage childrens' writing & creativity; imaginative, exciting, funny, joyous! This is no ordinary creative writing guide…not by a long shot. @littleislandbooks.bsky.social
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/11/m...
fallenstarstories.wordpress.com/2025/10/11/m...
Reposted by MaryEsther Judy
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
October 10, 2025 at 7:38 AM
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...
Reposted by MaryEsther Judy
Calling all nature people and orgs, please consider adding your name to Naturalists for Palestine.
It's essential we recognise that ecocide and genocide are two sides of the same coin, and resist both.
share.google/gLPRtQzDGC3v...
It's essential we recognise that ecocide and genocide are two sides of the same coin, and resist both.
share.google/gLPRtQzDGC3v...
Naturalists for Palestine
Naturalists for Palestine is a call from individuals and organisations in the UK nature sector to stand for an end to the genocide in Gaza, and to the suffering and oppression of the people of Palesti...
share.google
October 7, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Calling all nature people and orgs, please consider adding your name to Naturalists for Palestine.
It's essential we recognise that ecocide and genocide are two sides of the same coin, and resist both.
share.google/gLPRtQzDGC3v...
It's essential we recognise that ecocide and genocide are two sides of the same coin, and resist both.
share.google/gLPRtQzDGC3v...
Reposted by MaryEsther Judy
‘Really shocking’: Independent Dublin bookstore damaged in arson attack
‘Really shocking’: Independent Dublin bookstore damaged in arson attack
Books Upstairs manager hopes to partially open the D’Olier Street store later on Monday
www.irishtimes.com
October 6, 2025 at 11:05 AM
‘Really shocking’: Independent Dublin bookstore damaged in arson attack
Happy 28th Birthday to my oldest grandson, Jackson Layton ...who continues to amaze and astound me every day. Jack, you are a hero. 💖🧁🎈🎉
(Here he is...my oldest grandchild holding my youngest grandchild.)
(Here he is...my oldest grandchild holding my youngest grandchild.)
October 4, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Happy 28th Birthday to my oldest grandson, Jackson Layton ...who continues to amaze and astound me every day. Jack, you are a hero. 💖🧁🎈🎉
(Here he is...my oldest grandchild holding my youngest grandchild.)
(Here he is...my oldest grandchild holding my youngest grandchild.)
These teeny little superguys turned 1 a couple of weeks ago...which hardly seems possible. I love them so much! 💙💙
October 4, 2025 at 6:22 AM
These teeny little superguys turned 1 a couple of weeks ago...which hardly seems possible. I love them so much! 💙💙
Reposted by MaryEsther Judy
UK counsel Ben Cooper KC urges immediate government action to protect citizens aboard the peaceful Gaza flotilla facing IOF threats. Email the Foreign Office—demand protection now.
#GlobalSumudFlotilla #Gaza #SailToGaza #FreePalestine #BreakTheSiege
#GlobalSumudFlotilla #Gaza #SailToGaza #FreePalestine #BreakTheSiege
October 1, 2025 at 6:30 PM
UK counsel Ben Cooper KC urges immediate government action to protect citizens aboard the peaceful Gaza flotilla facing IOF threats. Email the Foreign Office—demand protection now.
#GlobalSumudFlotilla #Gaza #SailToGaza #FreePalestine #BreakTheSiege
#GlobalSumudFlotilla #Gaza #SailToGaza #FreePalestine #BreakTheSiege