Jane Atkin
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mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
Jane Atkin
@mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
270 followers 340 following 110 posts
Retired teacher, avid reader, aspiring children’s writer, reviewer for Just Imagine, wearer of funky jewellery, leapling 🐸, knitter and lover of 80s music.
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mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
I’m going in and it looks MAGNIFICENT!!!
April 28, 2025 at 11:38 AM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
This was wonderful and I’m sad to have finished. Set in a villa on the island in Lake Orta, Italy and took me back to my train travels last year when we visited. Rachel Joyce writes beautifully and I recommend this.
April 24, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Reposted by Jane Atkin
booksforkeeps.bsky.social
“Five new poetry collections, each with their own magic.”
Roger McGough reveals the shortlist for #CLiPPA2025, the year’s best new #poetry for children. Find out more about the shortlisted collections & #teachers, sign up for @theclpe.bsky.social Shadowing now!

booksforkeeps.co.uk/roger-mcgoug...
Graphic showing the five collections shortlisted for the CLiPPA 2025, CLPE Children's Poetry Award. They are: Wise Up! Wise Down! by John Agard and JonArno Lawson, illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura, Walker Books Let Sleeping Cats Lie, Brian Bilston, Macmillan Colossal Words for Kids by Colette Hiller, illustrated by Tor Freeman, Frances Lincoln Big Red Dragon by Jane Newberry, illustrated by Carolina Rabei, Otter-Barry Books We Are Family by Oliver Skyes, illustrated by Ian Morris, Otter-Barry Books
April 23, 2025 at 2:06 PM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
So thrilled to be supporting my bestest friend Jude on her exciting new adventure. @onlymakebelieve.bsky.social opens on April 26th at Merton Abbey Mills. Come and visit!
Tomorrow we’re going book buying and I have a humongous wish list - squeeeeeeee!!!
a woman in a library with a tote bag that says ' nlg ' on it
Alt: a woman in a library with a tote bag that she is throwing books from the shelves into
media.tenor.com
April 16, 2025 at 8:52 PM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
Going away for a fortnight and I’m packed! Think it says quite a lot about me that I start with the books first….. 📚📚📚📚
Best go sort out some clothes 🤣
A table top full of books! 13 of them to be precise. A selection of children’s and adults including Serial Killers by Jennifer Killick, Artezans by LD Lapinski, The Sirens by Emilia Hart.
March 31, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Reposted by Jane Atkin
justimaginecentre.bsky.social
Our weekend round-up of book reviews for you:
justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...
March 30, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Reposted by Jane Atkin
barneskidslitfest.bsky.social
🔊JUST ANNOUNCED! LONDON TEACHERS!

We have two new inspiring FREE events with our UK Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Joseph Coelho AND Fiona Lumbers at our Primary Schools Programme on Friday 6 June. Make sure your class doesn't miss out! BOOK NOW! www.barneskidslitfest.org/schools/
March 26, 2025 at 3:52 PM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
Had such a lovely lunch today laid on by @thefelixproject.bsky.social at Spring in Somerset House. Met some vibrant and interesting people and the food (rescued from waste) was so tasty!
Has given me much to think about. Do look the Felix Project up - they do amazing things 😍
March 13, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Reposted by Jane Atkin
barneskidslitfest.bsky.social
BARNESTORMERS! Are you ready? Of course you are! Presenting our beautiful new poster for 2025!

Giant thanks and love, love, and more love to THE Nadia Shireen! Roll on Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 June!
March 11, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Reposted by Jane Atkin
barneskidslitfest.bsky.social
TEACHERS OF KINGSTON! Our event with Liz Pichon on Monday 9 June is now fully booked. The great news is we've still got spaces for our amazing FREE events with Tracey Corderoy & @stevenlenton.bsky.social AND Jeffrey Boakye but you do need to book right now www.barneskidslitfest.org/schools/
March 4, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Reposted by Jane Atkin
barneskidslitfest.bsky.social
TEACHERS OF WANDSWORTH! How lucky are you! We've still got room for a couple of classes at our amazing FREE event with @kieranlarwood.bsky.social on Thursday 12 June.

Check out our full FREE programme + new events at Battersea Arts Centre on Wednesday 4 June NOW www.barneskidslitfest.org/schools/
March 3, 2025 at 4:20 PM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
To celebrate my ‘unbirthday’ I went to see a play last night that is just hilarious. Cleverly adapted, classic songs, 5 brilliant women who multitask to the max and very, very sweary. Do go if you can - Jane Austen would approve!

prideandprejudicesortof.com
Pride & Prejudice (sort of)
Direct from its triumph in the West End where it won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy, Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) is a unique and audacious retelling of Jane Austen's most iconic love s...
prideandprejudicesortof.com
March 1, 2025 at 8:46 AM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
Day 20 (and last one!) of children’s book covers. This book makes me happy; I have bought many copies as gifts to spread the love. Zippel is a testament to brilliant translating, I will always remember children calling out ‘Excrews me’ as they squeezed past each other. Funny, and so worth the read.
Cover of Zippel the Little Keyhole Ghost by Alex Rühle and illustrated by Alex Scheffler. Picture shows a little white ghost with a big smile coming out of a keyhole. A boy wearing a red and white stripy top is greeting him.
February 24, 2025 at 9:29 AM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
Day 19 of children’s book covers. Inside the Villains by Clothilde Perrin is a masterpiece of how to make a lift the flap book. It is intricate, ingenious and off the scale imaginative. On the strength of this and how much my class loved it, I built up a collection of her other books. Pure genius!
Cover of Inside the Villains by Clotilde Perrin. A wolf stands in a forest, with a tree to its right. An owl sits in the tree looking down. There is a snail and a mouse at its feet. The wolf is holding an open book showing the title of the book. It has a very large eye that peers at you over the book.
February 23, 2025 at 8:50 AM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
Ooooops - I’ve just taken full advantage of the 25% off preorders - 10 books ordered!!!
@waterstones.bsky.social
Thank god for my Xmas book token that was still lurking 🤣

www.waterstones.com - use PREORDER25 - until Mon 24/2
Buy books, stationery and gifts, online and in store | Waterstones
Discover our full range of books at Waterstones.com. Buy online with Free UK Delivery on Orders Over £25 or Click & Collect within hours. waterstones.com
www.waterstones.com
February 22, 2025 at 10:34 AM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
Day 18 of children’s book covers. Professional Crocodile is a brilliant wordless picture book. It is so clever, with an amazing attention to detail. Perfect.
Cover of Professional Crocodile. A crocodile is wearing a pair of pinstriped trousers with a hole for his tail. He has a snazzy yellow shirt with colourful dots. The trousers are held up by criss-crossed braces. He is looking in the mirror. In his reflection you can see that he is holding a necktie in each hand and is choosing which one goes best with his shirt.
February 22, 2025 at 7:59 AM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
Day 17 of children’s book covers. The Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber and Nicola Bayley is a dreamy tale of the sea, beautifully told and illustrated. It evokes just so many memories of childhood holidays in this tiny Cornish village, and it makes me cry every time I read it!
Cover of The Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber and Nicola Bayley. The background of the cover is of a bluey green sea looking stormy and restless. Inset is a picture of a grey bearded and curly haired fisherman in a blue jumper, wearing a cap and red and white patterned neckerchief, holding a black and white cat.
February 21, 2025 at 8:17 AM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
Day 16 of children’s book covers. Six Dinner Sid by Inga Moore is a real favourite of mine. Cheeky Sid charms food out of 6 different households, until a cough and 6 visits to the vet uncover him.
🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛
Cover of Six Dinner Sid by Inga Moore. A black cat sits on a wooden table top next to a pile of six different patterned food bowls.
February 20, 2025 at 7:25 AM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
Day 15 of children’s book covers. Fairy Tales by Terry Jones saw me through many an assembly. Just perfect stories with a twist and good discussion points, and beautifully illustrated by Michael Foreman.
Cover of Fairy Tales by Terry Jones, illustrated by Michael Foreman. A tiger is falling from the sky, just below him is a flying cat. On its’ back is a person wearing goggles and a flying helmet. There is a castle in the bottom right corner.
February 19, 2025 at 3:34 PM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
Day 14 of children’s book covers. Today is a blast from the past. I was given this book for school attendance and it has a fancy pants sticker inside. I loved Milly Molly Mandy!
Cover of Milly Molly Mandy by Joyce Lancaster Brisley. Pale yellow background. A girl on the left is cooking something in a frying pan. The boy to her right has a bottle (of sauce?) in his hands.
February 18, 2025 at 3:17 PM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
Day 13 of children’s book covers. Flotsam is just BEAUTIFUL - I see something new in every read through. I love David’s work and using wordless picture books with children brings out so much creativity.
Cover of Flotsam by David Wiesner. It is bright red, with an eye in the middle showing reflections of other fish and some money floating. Markings indicate scales and a mouth. There are smaller fish swimming in front of the red fish.
February 17, 2025 at 2:58 PM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
Day 12 of children’s book covers. ‘Mrs Smith’s Crocodile’. My copy is very well read and is held together with sellotape. It is a joy to read aloud- I’ve had classes chanting along with me : ‘Sweetiepie wouldn’t hurt a fly!’
Cover of Mrs Smith’s Crocodile. An old lady is sitting next to a crocodile on a sofa. She is offering him biscuits from a plate. The crocodile has it’s legs crossed and looks very relaxed.
February 16, 2025 at 4:35 PM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
Day 11 of children’s book covers. This was the last book my class read with me for @theclpe.bsky.social Reflecting Realities project. We adored it and the class were thrilled when I surprised them with an online q & a with @whatsfsaid.bsky.social. Such a powerful book🐅 @davemckean.bsky.social
Cover of Tyger by SF Said, illustrated by Dave McKean. There is one side of a tiger’s face taking up the cover (the back cover of the book gives you the other half of the face.) In the eye are star like twinkles and there is a view of St Paul’s and smoking chimneys in the orange cheek fur.
February 15, 2025 at 10:07 AM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
Day 10 of children’s book covers. I’m currently on a Valentine’s mini break by the sea in Hastings, so what better book to choose than Malamander by @thomastaylor.bsky.social ?
Think I’ve found Mrs Fossil on the beach 🌊 but Herbie is proving elusive 🍋
Cover of Malamander by Thomas Taylor. Illustration is of a crooked house and a figure leaning out of a lit window holding a harpoon. A white cat is in the foreground on a roof.
February 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM
mrsatkinreads.bsky.social
Day 9 of children’s book covers. I’m in awe of Nicola Skinner’s writing - Bloom was the 1st book of hers that I read and fell in love with. I read it to a Yr6 group during lockdown and we did little else but read - pure magic!
Cover of Bloom by Nicola Skinner. Teal background, a girl standing on a bit of soil with a plant starting to grow next to her. She is wearing a shirt pleated skirt and a stripy red jumper. From the top of her head flowers are growing, forming a circle around the book title.
February 13, 2025 at 9:23 AM