Marianne Doherty
LightNews LightNews
banner
mariannedoherty.bsky.social
Marianne Doherty
@mariannedoherty.bsky.social
3.1K followers 2.8K following 2.4K posts
Digital Project Manager for Scottish Book Trust. Children’s books and comics enthusiast. Dyslexic. ME/CSF. Here for the kids book chat. All views my own. #KidsBooksFriday 📚🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
mariannedoherty.bsky.social
Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 1d
Earlier this week, @alomshaha.bsky.social was chatting about how the message of loving each other should inform more public discourse (beyond religion).

So, for #KidsBooksFriday this week what kids books help kids to understand the importance of love in all its forms?

#KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit
Book cover for Aalbert and Aalfred: A Love Story by Morag Hood Book cover for What’s That in Dog Years by Ben Davis Book cover for Another Kind by Cait May and Trevor Bream Book cover for The Boy I Love by William Hussey
Reposted by Marianne Doherty
booksforkeeps.bsky.social
The shortlist for the Ruth Rendell Award is here. Run by @alcs.co.uk & @literacy-trust.bsky.social it recognises the writer or author who has had the most significant influence on literacy in the UK over the past year. Congrats to all on the work they do 👏

booksforkeeps.co.uk/eight-author...
Image showing the eight authors on the shortlist for the Ruth Rendell Award - left to right top row Rod Biddulph, Maisie Chan, Maz Evans, Laura Henry-Allain. Left to right bottom row: MC Grammar, Nicola Garrard, Nathanael Lessore, Piers Torday
February 14, 2026 at 10:03 AM
Reposted by Marianne Doherty
jonnybid.bsky.social
Our Reading Champions spent some time this week finding out about which children's books are being published in 2026 and then helping create a display. It was fantastic to see other pupils getting excited about a new book in a favourite series or from a favourite author.
February 14, 2026 at 9:13 AM
Reposted by Marianne Doherty
mrskirstbarrett.bsky.social
I think most of my options have been shared already.
I'll add a couple more that I haven't seen shared - love of friendship, family and more
#kidsbooksfriday
February 13, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Reposted by Marianne Doherty
mariamotunrayo.bsky.social
I’m going to try and post every day until I get a World Book Day booking, let’s see if it works!

I am a children’s author with ADHD who LOVES doing super energetic events. If you haven’t got a writer for World Book Day for you school, please get in touch as I’m happy to travel all over for events.
February 13, 2026 at 12:47 PM
mariannedoherty.bsky.social
#KidsBooksFriday
ljfspinningbooks.bsky.social Laura Fowler-Holden @ljfspinningbooks.bsky.social · 1d
The Blue Book of Nebo is a wonderful book for exploring sibling love and loss. The Silver Blood Witches books by Sally Doherty look at the love a young carer has for those they care for. The Brooklyn Witches graphic novels have fantastic LGBTQ+ love representation and multi generational families.
February 13, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Reposted by Marianne Doherty
rburrows.bsky.social
Cross that I forgot this! #KidsBooksFriday
February 13, 2026 at 6:13 PM
mariannedoherty.bsky.social
#KidsBooksFriday
sconnor7.bsky.social Stephen Connor @sconnor7.bsky.social · 1d
Great theme. Another Kind is such a wonderful graphic novel.

Here are mine.

Love.
Friendship.
Humanity x 2
February 13, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Reposted by Marianne Doherty
hazelmpinner.bsky.social
Anything written by @ianeagletonauthor.bsky.social 🫂😍 I've loved Nen and the lonely fisherman since it was released and my copies are well worn now by many kids reading them. I'd also really recommend "In every house, on every street" by Jess Hitchman and Lili La Baleine #KidsBooksFriday
Book front cover of "In every house, on every street" by Jess Hitchman and . The view is looking down a street from the middle of the road with colourful terraced houses on each side and children and families walking, talking, playing and living life.
February 13, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Reposted by Marianne Doherty
ravenbooks.bsky.social
Aalfred & Aalbert is such a joy! Four others showing different kinds of love:
Mary Murphy's I Love You
Sophie Beer (tr. Shanna Ní Rabhartaigh, Gillian Nic Ionmhain) Croí an Teaghlaigh an Grá
Eoin McLoughlin & Polly Dunbar's The Kiss
Robin Boyden's Raindrops
#kidlit #KidsBooksFriday
February 13, 2026 at 10:57 AM
mariannedoherty.bsky.social
#KidsBooksFriday
ainemccaul.bsky.social AineMcCaul ✍🏼 @ainemccaul.bsky.social · 1d
This book tackles difficult relationship issues - ones usually avoided in children's literature e.g. blended families, pregnancy loss, childhood illness/death. Particularly striking was the parental love theme and how one character's experience of abuse had left him feeling unworthy of love #KidLit
The cover of 'The Light In Everything' by Katya Balen depicting a grey clad boy beside a brightly clad girl on a rock by the tumultuous sea. An origami crane floats on the water.
February 13, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Reposted by Marianne Doherty
dickyingrey.bsky.social
Not on BlueSky, but have to share contact details for my local indie bookshop. They are amazing!!!
David’s Bookshop in Letchworth.
February 13, 2026 at 10:24 AM
mariannedoherty.bsky.social
As there’s been some chat this morning about using alternatives to Amazon and Waterstones to buy books - here’s a reminder that I’ve done a list of and the UK and Ireland indie bookshops that I’ve found so far on BlueSky. I can make it into a starter pack if easier?

bsky.app/profile/did:...
February 13, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Reposted by Marianne Doherty
maisiechanwrites.bsky.social
I think there are a lot of books about love but you might not think of that when you read them as other themes might be more obvious. The Last Bear by Hannah Gold - father and daughter love, lost love, ove of animals and nature.

An Island of Our Own - Sally Nicholls. Sibling love.

#KidLitFriday
February 13, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Reposted by Marianne Doherty
gntread24.bsky.social
Picture books that capture different kinds of love #KidsBooksFriday #KidLitUk #UKKidLit #Picturebooks
Two male penguins with a baby penguin . Grey rock backdrop. Blue sky & green grass. Different types of families represented. Blue background. Coloured letters. Different types of families represented. Shades of blue, purple and orange. Two children at dress up play. Boy with red flowers in his hair.
February 13, 2026 at 9:51 AM
mariannedoherty.bsky.social
#KidsBooksFriday
eyesshutteacher.bsky.social Teaching with my eyes shut @eyesshutteacher.bsky.social · 1d
I’ll Always Love You by Paeony Lewis is a classic from my children’s childhood
February 13, 2026 at 9:55 AM
mariannedoherty.bsky.social
#KidsBooksFriday
sophiacollins.bsky.social sophiacollins.bsky.social @sophiacollins.bsky.social · 1d
I love this book. It’s partly about love for family, friends, etc. But it’s also about love for humanity, each other, the planet, about focusing on the right things and trying to have a kinder world.
Text reads: What if you found a perfect world - but no one believed you..? INTO the SIDEWAYS WORLD ROSS WELFORD The illustration shows a big moon in the sky, with two children sitting on a flying rocket type thing, flying over a seaside holiday park.
February 13, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Reposted by Marianne Doherty
ljwattswales.bsky.social
The importance of love - teenage edition #KidsBooksFriday More information in the ALT text.
Wranglestone by Darren Charlton unites a great sense of place, plenty of tension, gory zombies and a tender love story. Trouble by Non Pratt. Hannah is 15 and pregnant and Aaron, a new boy at school, offers to pretend to be her baby’s father. A book about sex, love and friendship for older readers. The Soup Movement by Ben Davis. Jordan offers some soup to a homeless man and starts a chain of events that angers as many people as it helps. Warm hearted story told with humour. Pax by Sara Pennypacker. The USA is in a state of war and Peter’s father thinks Pax, Perer’s fox, should be returned to the wild. Peter runs away to find him. Story told from the viewpoints of both Pax and Peter.
February 13, 2026 at 8:51 AM
mariannedoherty.bsky.social
#KidsBooksFriday
stephenjdilley.bsky.social Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 1d
The Boy I Love would have been one of my top picks too! Here are some others for teenagers.
February 13, 2026 at 8:53 AM
mariannedoherty.bsky.social
#KidsBooksFriday
kidsstoryworld.bsky.social Kirsten Allen (@kidsstoryworld) @kidsstoryworld.bsky.social · 1d
These books are all gorgeous and full of love in all its forms …even Miserable Aunt Bertha 💕
@karlnewson.bsky.social @smritihallsauthor.bsky.social @dc-litchfield.bsky.social
February 13, 2026 at 8:46 AM
Reposted by Marianne Doherty
cazapr1.bsky.social
My immediate thought is The Boy Who Loved Everyone by Jane Porter and Maisie Paradise Shearring #KidsBooksFriday #KidLitUK
The Boy Who Loved Everyone cover, showing a boy wrapped up warm offering bread to a small bird.
February 13, 2026 at 8:37 AM
mariannedoherty.bsky.social
#KidsBooksFriday
franceslievens.bsky.social Frances Lievens @franceslievens.bsky.social · 1d
Anna Woltz’s books always have love front and center I think. My Especially Weird Week With Tess comes to mind. Also Talking to Alaska. Love isn’t the main theme in these books, but it’s what helps them in the end.
February 13, 2026 at 8:31 AM
mariannedoherty.bsky.social
#KidsBooksFriday
wabbits.bsky.social Caz 💖💜💙 @wabbits.bsky.social · 1d
Probably a random take but my first thoughts are The Suitcase and It’s A No-Money Day: stories about the power of community/mutual aid (both of which always make me cry!)

#KidLitUK #KidsBooksFriday
Cover of Kate Milner’s picture book “It’s a No-Money Day” showing a watercolour & pencil illustration of a white mum and her small daughter (3 or 4-ish). Mum is sitting cross-legged and the little girl stands in front of her, smiling at the reader. They are almost holding hands - mum has one arm in front of the little girl. Child is wearing clean clothes, good shoes and her hair is neatly brushed. Cover of Chris Naylor-Ballesteros’ The Suitcase. Against a plain cream background, a blue lizard-type creature is dragging a heavy grey suitcase behind it, towards 3 seated friends - a rabbit, hen and fox, who look at the blue newcomer curiously. The left side of the page is drawn to look like the bands on the suitcase, red with neat stitching running down.
February 13, 2026 at 8:28 AM
mariannedoherty.bsky.social
#KidsBooksFriday
gabliotecaria.bsky.social Gabby @gabliotecaria.bsky.social · 1d
I love @simonjamesgreen.bsky.social for this -- exploring the breadth and depth of feelings in friendships and family (and the people we have crushes on). Likewise @ianeagletonauthor.bsky.social and @ldlapinski.bsky.social. So many kinds of love. 💖
February 13, 2026 at 8:20 AM
Reposted by Marianne Doherty
louiestowell.bsky.social
It's friday! That means it's time for the weekly good news thread. What's your good news from the week? What's made you smile?
a man and a woman are standing next to each other and the man is saying surprise
Alt: Gif from the live action version of Lower Decks with Mariner and Boimler saying SURPRISE!
media.tenor.com
February 13, 2026 at 7:43 AM
Reposted by Marianne Doherty
madhmstr.bsky.social
#KidsBooksFriday

I'll keep hunting for more books featuring love, in many guises.

Storytime books about self esteem: storytimesolidarity.com/i-love-me/
The boy who tried to shrink his name by Sandhya Parappukkaran & Michelle Pereira. I love me by Sally Morgan & Ambelin Kwaymullina. The garden of broken things by Freya Blackwood. Angus & Robertson, 2024. A pocket full of rocks. Written by Kristin Mahoney. Illustrated by E.B. Goodale.
February 13, 2026 at 7:55 AM